WEBVTT 00:00:00.780 --> 00:00:05.200 Well, good morning. We're going to continue on in our series in Ephesians this morning. 00:00:05.339 --> 00:00:10.240 If you would take the Word of God with me and go to Paul's letter to the Ephesians, 00:00:10.540 --> 00:00:16.780 chapter 3, and we'll finish out to the first section of the book of Ephesians, 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:21.260 who we are in Christ, our identity in Christ. 00:00:22.940 --> 00:00:25.560 The teens have been going over that on Wednesday nights, 00:00:25.640 --> 00:00:27.300 talking about their identity in Christ, 00:00:27.300 --> 00:00:31.900 and that's what we've all been looking at as a church in this first half of the book of Ephesians. 00:00:32.140 --> 00:00:38.439 So if you go to chapter 3, we're going to continue on verses 14 through 21, the end of the chapter. 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:41.159 If you're able to, would you stand with me? 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:51.780 And let's take the Word of God and read together Ephesians 3, verse 14. 00:00:51.780 --> 00:01:01.900 For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:07.280 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:11.980 to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, 00:01:12.760 --> 00:01:15.799 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 00:01:15.799 --> 00:01:22.120 I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 00:01:22.920 --> 00:01:26.819 may be able to comprehend with all the saints 00:01:26.819 --> 00:01:33.879 what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love, 00:01:34.259 --> 00:01:37.599 and to know Christ's love that surpasses knowledge, 00:01:37.859 --> 00:01:41.000 so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:46.400 Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think, 00:01:46.620 --> 00:01:49.060 according to the power that works in us, 00:01:49.640 --> 00:01:53.719 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, 00:01:54.140 --> 00:01:56.939 to all generations, forever and ever. 00:01:57.659 --> 00:01:57.960 Amen. 00:01:59.079 --> 00:02:01.159 God, I pray that you would bless the reading of your Word. 00:02:01.700 --> 00:02:03.079 I pray that you would speak to us. 00:02:04.340 --> 00:02:05.799 Show us how important it is 00:02:05.799 --> 00:02:09.139 to not forsake daily communication with you through prayer. 00:02:09.139 --> 00:02:10.819 And it's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:02:11.179 --> 00:02:11.459 Amen. 00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:12.819 You may be seated. 00:02:18.519 --> 00:02:20.039 Before we get started, 00:02:20.119 --> 00:02:23.159 is there any news from any burnt orange wearing people in the audience? 00:02:23.539 --> 00:02:24.679 Just want to get that out there. 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:28.399 What elephant in the room kind of thing. 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:29.659 No? We're still waiting? 00:02:29.879 --> 00:02:30.199 All right. 00:02:31.299 --> 00:02:34.239 Well then y'all just let me preach and don't tell me till the end, all right? 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:38.900 So, there's a Jimmy Moses for Alabama 00:02:38.900 --> 00:02:41.180 and a few of us Longhorn fans are kind of waiting to see 00:02:41.180 --> 00:02:43.500 how this whole college football playoff thing works out. 00:02:43.760 --> 00:02:48.379 But let's take our minds off of that for just a few minutes 00:02:48.379 --> 00:02:50.320 and let's get into the book of Ephesians, all right? 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:54.300 So, we've been talking in our series on Ephesians, 00:02:54.439 --> 00:02:56.360 of course, who we are and how we live. 00:02:56.360 --> 00:02:58.940 Much of the study from this book 00:02:58.940 --> 00:03:02.120 and kind of the outline for today's sermon in particular 00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:06.320 comes from this Christ-centered exposition commentary series 00:03:06.320 --> 00:03:09.280 and Pastor Tony Merida from out in North Carolina 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:12.660 wrote that particular book in that series. 00:03:13.220 --> 00:03:14.900 The background of the book of Ephesians 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:17.560 written by Apostle Paul around AD 62. 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:22.760 Anno domini means in the year of our Lord, all right? 00:03:22.759 --> 00:03:27.139 So, that's kind of giving you that, that Tony was quizzing y'all on that. 00:03:27.219 --> 00:03:28.859 Tony's always good for a Bible quiz, man. 00:03:29.139 --> 00:03:30.599 Just trivia with Tony sometimes. 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:31.399 It's awesome. 00:03:32.459 --> 00:03:35.199 The setting was Paul's Roman imprisonment 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:38.479 and he was very familiar with this church in Ephesus, 00:03:38.979 --> 00:03:41.479 far away from Rome, had to be taken by courier, 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:43.659 his letter to this church 00:03:43.659 --> 00:03:45.859 and then distributed to other churches around the area. 00:03:46.060 --> 00:03:47.319 But he knew this church well 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:49.379 because he had been their pastor for three years. 00:03:49.819 --> 00:03:52.000 So, he was very intimate with these people 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:54.879 and God gave him these words to write to them 00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:58.479 and then to send on to all of us for all time. 00:03:59.180 --> 00:04:01.240 The word of our Lord lives forever. 00:04:02.039 --> 00:04:03.479 The breakdown of the book of Ephesians, 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:06.599 those first three chapters we're finishing up today, 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:08.199 talks about who we are in Christ. 00:04:08.420 --> 00:04:12.259 Next Sunday, we will begin how we live for Christ, 00:04:12.379 --> 00:04:13.520 chapters four through six. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:16.079 We'll take a break for Christmas Eve Sunday 00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:17.500 and talk about that. 00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:21.560 But we'll continue on in our series in Ephesians 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:22.560 the rest of the Sundays. 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:26.740 So, part one, we're finishing up our identity in Christ, 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:28.120 who we are in Him, 00:04:28.519 --> 00:04:30.779 and the text for today is Ephesians chapter three 00:04:30.779 --> 00:04:31.720 and verse 14. 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:34.920 We have been having some fill-in-the-blank notes for you. 00:04:35.339 --> 00:04:38.100 I didn't get those in today, this week in time, 00:04:38.139 --> 00:04:40.899 so we've just got some blanks for you to jot down notes, 00:04:40.980 --> 00:04:42.180 but I encourage you to do that 00:04:42.180 --> 00:04:44.420 if you're in the habit of taking notes in the service. 00:04:44.420 --> 00:04:48.040 The theme for today's sermon is powerful prayer. 00:04:48.660 --> 00:04:49.620 Powerful prayer. 00:04:50.960 --> 00:04:54.580 Not just prayer, not just a rote religious exercise, 00:04:54.960 --> 00:04:57.640 not just something that you've seen others do 00:04:57.640 --> 00:04:58.819 and feel like you should, 00:04:58.920 --> 00:05:03.780 but praying, communicating with Almighty God with power. 00:05:04.379 --> 00:05:05.420 So that's what we're talking about. 00:05:05.500 --> 00:05:08.319 Number one this morning, pray with humility. 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:09.759 Let's look back at the text. 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:11.080 Pray with humility. 00:05:11.079 --> 00:05:14.859 For this reason, I kneel before the Father 00:05:14.859 --> 00:05:18.219 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 00:05:20.139 --> 00:05:24.120 That is Paul's expression of ultimate humility 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:25.939 as he kneels before God. 00:05:26.819 --> 00:05:28.740 Daniel did it three times a day. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:31.919 He would kneel and cry out to his God, 00:05:32.620 --> 00:05:35.339 even in the face of imminent danger 00:05:35.339 --> 00:05:38.620 as he was breaking the law of the land to do so. 00:05:38.620 --> 00:05:43.420 But he was going to prostrate himself before God. 00:05:43.480 --> 00:05:45.740 He was going to humble himself before God. 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:48.079 We have seen, even in Scripture 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:50.920 and sometimes throughout Christian history, 00:05:51.740 --> 00:05:54.920 men and women who have a close relationship with God 00:05:54.920 --> 00:05:58.160 sometimes led to go even a step beyond kneeling 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:01.720 and truly lie down prostrate on their face before God. 00:06:01.720 --> 00:06:06.740 Whatever it is that allows you to humble yourself 00:06:06.740 --> 00:06:09.180 as you come into communication 00:06:09.180 --> 00:06:11.500 with the Master of the universe, 00:06:11.640 --> 00:06:13.060 the Creator of all that is, 00:06:13.500 --> 00:06:15.060 and the Savior of our souls, 00:06:15.620 --> 00:06:21.420 that is what is essential to effectively pray with our Lord. 00:06:21.500 --> 00:06:23.920 We must pray with humility. 00:06:24.920 --> 00:06:27.760 Psalms chapter 95, the 95th Psalm, 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:28.980 gives us a picture of this. 00:06:28.980 --> 00:06:32.060 O come, let us worship and bow down. 00:06:32.379 --> 00:06:34.439 Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker, 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:36.160 for He is our God, 00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:38.879 and we are the people of His pasture 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:41.040 and the sheep of His hand. 00:06:41.540 --> 00:06:43.780 Remember that we are just sheep. 00:06:45.060 --> 00:06:46.280 We are just sheep. 00:06:47.480 --> 00:06:48.439 There's a story. 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:51.060 Excuse me. 00:06:51.220 --> 00:06:54.720 There's a story I wanted to share with you all, 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:57.319 and I need to pull it back up here for a minute. 00:06:57.319 --> 00:07:02.000 Have any of you heard of the story of Palm Monday? 00:07:03.099 --> 00:07:04.399 The story of the donkey. 00:07:05.339 --> 00:07:07.579 Y'all know about Palm Sunday, right? 00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:12.000 When the donkey carried Jesus through the streets of Jerusalem, 00:07:12.159 --> 00:07:14.939 everybody was casting palm fronds 00:07:14.939 --> 00:07:18.819 and celebrating the coming of the Messiah, 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:20.779 the King that would deliver them from Rome, 00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:23.600 even though that's not what He was there to do. 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:26.100 He was there to deliver them from their sins. 00:07:26.100 --> 00:07:30.060 But the little donkey, 00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:34.480 this fictional story is written about Palm Monday, 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:35.660 what happened the day after. 00:07:36.760 --> 00:07:37.900 And the donkey awakened, 00:07:38.900 --> 00:07:41.240 his mind still savoring the afterglow 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:43.560 of the most exciting day of his life. 00:07:43.960 --> 00:07:45.240 He carried Jesus, right? 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:49.100 Never before had he felt such a rush of pleasure and pride. 00:07:49.540 --> 00:07:51.780 He walked into town and found a group of people 00:07:51.780 --> 00:07:53.020 by the well. 00:07:53.019 --> 00:07:54.879 I'll show myself to them, he thought. 00:07:55.399 --> 00:07:56.740 But they didn't notice him. 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:00.939 They went on drawing their water and paid him no mind. 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:03.919 Throw your garments down, he said crossly. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:05.579 Don't you know who I am? 00:08:06.139 --> 00:08:07.579 They just looked at him in amazement. 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:11.039 Someone slapped him across the tail and ordered him to move. 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:14.680 Miserable heathens, he muttered to himself. 00:08:15.160 --> 00:08:17.280 I'll just go to the market where the good people are. 00:08:17.780 --> 00:08:18.580 They'll remember me. 00:08:19.319 --> 00:08:20.460 But the same thing happened. 00:08:21.020 --> 00:08:22.720 No one paid any attention to the donkey 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:26.180 as he strutted down the main street in front of the marketplace. 00:08:27.060 --> 00:08:27.980 The palm branches! 00:08:28.379 --> 00:08:29.660 Where are the palm branches? 00:08:29.939 --> 00:08:30.480 He shouted. 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:32.740 Yesterday you threw palm branches. 00:08:33.700 --> 00:08:34.820 Hurt and confused, 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:37.180 the donkey returned home to his mother. 00:08:37.179 --> 00:08:40.799 Foolish child, she said gently. 00:08:41.319 --> 00:08:43.279 Don't you realize that without him, 00:08:43.819 --> 00:08:45.379 you're just an ordinary donkey? 00:08:47.620 --> 00:08:49.819 Folks, can I remind us that without him, 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:52.299 we're just ordinary donkeys? 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:58.000 Without him, we are just sheep. 00:08:59.159 --> 00:09:01.419 Without him, we are nothing. 00:09:02.359 --> 00:09:05.439 But with him, we are children of the king. 00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:07.840 With him, we are blood-bought. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:08.700 We are redeemed. 00:09:08.860 --> 00:09:09.620 We are valuable. 00:09:10.020 --> 00:09:11.340 We are precious in his sight. 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:12.360 We are his treasure. 00:09:13.500 --> 00:09:15.780 With him, all things are possible. 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:18.780 But without him, we are nothing. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:22.060 So it's important to come humbly in prayer. 00:09:22.500 --> 00:09:27.520 Number two, pray for God's full power and full love. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:30.680 We read about this in Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 16. 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:33.680 Pray for God's full power and full love. 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:34.500 Paul writes, 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:36.539 I pray that he may grant you, 00:09:37.019 --> 00:09:39.199 according to the riches of his glory, 00:09:39.459 --> 00:09:41.799 to be strengthened with power 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:45.079 in your inner being through his spirit, 00:09:45.599 --> 00:09:50.019 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:51.819 I pray that you, 00:09:53.099 --> 00:09:56.199 being rooted and firmly established in love, 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:58.559 may be able to comprehend with all the saints 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:00.159 what is that length and width 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:02.299 and height and depth of God's love, 00:10:02.299 --> 00:10:05.099 and to know Christ's love that surpasses knowledge, 00:10:05.639 --> 00:10:08.879 so that you may be filled with all the fullness 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:14.179 for God's full power and full love. 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:18.579 We see two key emphases here in this passage. 00:10:18.939 --> 00:10:20.839 It's power and it's love. 00:10:21.419 --> 00:10:23.759 So, we're talking about, first of all, 00:10:23.819 --> 00:10:24.959 the inner being. 00:10:25.699 --> 00:10:27.019 Look back at verse 16. 00:10:27.019 --> 00:10:28.519 He says, 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:30.419 I pray that you would be strengthened 00:10:30.419 --> 00:10:33.879 with power in your inner being. 00:10:34.659 --> 00:10:36.799 If you'll notice something about God, 00:10:37.319 --> 00:10:40.439 he's always more concerned with the inside 00:10:40.439 --> 00:10:41.819 than he is the outside. 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:45.120 We are generally just the opposite. 00:10:46.059 --> 00:10:48.220 We are far more concerned with the outside 00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:50.019 than we are the inside 00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:52.120 because we're selfish people. 00:10:52.439 --> 00:10:53.419 We're self-centered. 00:10:53.559 --> 00:10:54.360 We're self-absorbed. 00:10:54.439 --> 00:10:55.579 We're self-consumed. 00:10:55.580 --> 00:10:58.259 And so, as long as everyone else 00:10:58.259 --> 00:10:59.960 looks like everything's fine, 00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:02.400 then we don't have to worry about anything else. 00:11:03.220 --> 00:11:05.820 As long as everybody is dotting their I's 00:11:05.820 --> 00:11:06.820 and crossing their T's 00:11:06.820 --> 00:11:08.060 and everything seems fine, 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:09.800 then we're okay 00:11:09.800 --> 00:11:11.300 and we don't have to be concerned. 00:11:12.560 --> 00:11:14.920 But God is far more concerned 00:11:14.920 --> 00:11:17.800 with what's going on in our hearts. 00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:20.240 1 Samuel chapter 16. 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:24.279 The Lord does not see as man sees. 00:11:25.060 --> 00:11:27.139 For man looks at the outward appearance. 00:11:27.580 --> 00:11:30.100 But God, the Lord, looks at what? 00:11:30.860 --> 00:11:31.759 The heart. 00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:33.460 He looks at the heart. 00:11:34.139 --> 00:11:36.480 He cares about what's going on inside. 00:11:36.899 --> 00:11:39.639 He cares about not how much we profess 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:40.779 our love for Him, 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:44.240 but how much we truly love Him 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:45.620 on the inside. 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:50.060 From the abundance of the heart, 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:51.700 the mouth speaks. 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:53.080 Eventually, 00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:55.539 what goes on on the inside 00:11:55.539 --> 00:11:57.399 will come out on the outside. 00:11:58.700 --> 00:11:59.940 But man, you can fool people 00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:00.899 for a long time, can't you? 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:03.060 You can put on a good face. 00:12:03.980 --> 00:12:05.759 Sunday mornings when we all gather together, 00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:07.259 we can make it seem like 00:12:07.259 --> 00:12:08.700 we've got it all sorted out. 00:12:08.700 --> 00:12:12.360 We've got our lives under control. 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:14.160 We're dressed up nicely 00:12:14.160 --> 00:12:15.860 and everything looks like it's A-OK. 00:12:16.780 --> 00:12:18.100 God knows the truth. 00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:19.280 He knows the reality. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:21.820 And He wants us to live in that space. 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:24.520 He wants us to be real, 00:12:24.800 --> 00:12:26.540 be genuine, be authentic. 00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:28.840 For a long time, 00:12:29.580 --> 00:12:31.060 churches have struggled with that. 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:34.780 Religion has seemingly focused more 00:12:34.780 --> 00:12:36.980 on the outward than it has 00:12:36.980 --> 00:12:38.220 on what's going on in the heart. 00:12:38.700 --> 00:12:40.460 And that's not God's religion. 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:43.800 That's not what Jesus came to do. 00:12:43.900 --> 00:12:46.460 He came to save us from the inside out. 00:12:47.040 --> 00:12:48.120 And He'll save all of you. 00:12:49.060 --> 00:12:50.300 He'll save every bit. 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:56.440 But transformation on the outside 00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:58.040 is a lifelong process. 00:12:58.379 --> 00:13:00.240 It is a journey called sanctification 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:02.080 in which God is making you 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:03.259 more and more into His image 00:13:03.259 --> 00:13:05.140 until someday you cast off 00:13:05.140 --> 00:13:06.759 this fleshly, sinful body 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:08.460 and you take on your glorified body. 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:09.280 And we get to live forever 00:13:09.280 --> 00:13:10.040 in heaven with Jesus. 00:13:10.680 --> 00:13:11.780 That's the good news, right? 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:13.180 That's what we're all looking forward to. 00:13:13.400 --> 00:13:14.560 But until that day, 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:16.740 this sanctification process is happening. 00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:19.700 But that is more essential 00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:21.820 to happen from the inside out 00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:24.180 rather than the outside in. 00:13:24.280 --> 00:13:25.019 Man, it's hard 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:29.400 to just adapt yourself to something 00:13:29.400 --> 00:13:30.920 and truly be transformed. 00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:34.039 The transformation happens first 00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:37.319 through the power of the Holy Spirit of God 00:13:37.319 --> 00:13:39.360 because you and I can't change anybody. 00:13:39.839 --> 00:13:40.579 We can try. 00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:42.639 Wives, you ever tried to change your spouse? 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.879 Don't raise your hand right now. 00:13:44.019 --> 00:13:44.399 Please. 00:13:46.179 --> 00:13:47.279 We all know the answer. 00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:48.579 Of course you have, right? 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:49.620 We need it. 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:52.019 But good luck, right? 00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:54.480 We can't really change anybody, 00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:55.439 but Jesus can. 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:57.579 The Holy Spirit of God can. 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:03.379 And so that is what we must be content with. 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:05.879 God changing us on the inside. 00:14:05.980 --> 00:14:07.240 And then the adaptation happens. 00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:09.939 Then the transformation happens visibly. 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:14.639 But God is more concerned with the heart. 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:17.340 So it's all about that inner being. 00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:18.580 And then secondly, 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:20.559 under this second point here, 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:21.639 dwell. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:23.899 Get this concept of dwelling. 00:14:25.199 --> 00:14:26.240 Where do we see it? 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:28.840 Back in Ephesians 3, verse 17. 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:34.259 That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:37.379 What do we mean by this word dwell? 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:39.759 All right, now I did a study of the Greek. 00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:42.740 It's this combination of two words. 00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:45.639 I'm not going to dive into a Greek lesson with you today. 00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:48.539 I took my four semesters of Greek in college, 00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:49.820 and I'm done. 00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:50.720 I'm done with that. 00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:51.100 All right? 00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:52.720 We're not going backwards here. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:56.399 But it is helpful sometimes to look back. 00:14:56.840 --> 00:15:00.580 And the concept that we get behind this word dwell 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:01.700 is settling in. 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:04.159 Putting down roots. 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:05.700 Getting comfortable. 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:08.879 What we've been trying to do in Henrietta 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:09.899 for the last six months. 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:12.480 Dwelling. 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:17.860 That is what Christ wants to do in your heart. 00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:22.419 That is what Christ wants to do in your inner being. 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:23.919 Is dwell there. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:27.000 Make it His home. 00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:29.279 Make it His domain. 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:34.200 Rule through His Spirit in your heart and life. 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:36.019 He wants to dwell. 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:37.720 He wants to settle in there. 00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:41.120 Colossians chapter 3. 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:43.399 As I was doing my slides, 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:46.320 I realized I use Colossians a lot. 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:48.560 And there's a lot of parallels, I think, 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:49.840 between Ephesians and Colossians. 00:15:49.920 --> 00:15:51.840 So we're kind of bouncing back and forth each Sunday 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:53.740 between Ephesians and Colossians. 00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:54.340 But here we go. 00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:56.740 Colossians 3, verse 15. 00:15:56.740 --> 00:15:59.919 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. 00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:04.220 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:06.419 There we have that word again. 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:09.180 Let the word of Christ settle in 00:16:09.180 --> 00:16:11.960 and get comfortable in your heart, 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:13.600 in your life. 00:16:14.060 --> 00:16:15.500 Let it rule there. 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:17.320 Let it have its way. 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:19.379 You ever had guests over and said, 00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:20.259 make yourself at home? 00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:23.460 Did you really mean that? 00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:29.320 Did you really want them to treat your house 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:31.600 like they would their own home 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:33.039 on an average Tuesday? 00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:38.200 Did you want them to leave their shoes on the floor 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:41.379 and, you know, not put things away 00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:42.600 and leave the dishes in the sink 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:43.820 and maybe clean up in the morning? 00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:45.780 Did you really want them 00:16:45.780 --> 00:16:47.220 to make themselves at home, right? 00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:50.260 But I think that is exactly 00:16:50.260 --> 00:16:53.420 the picture that we get of Christ 00:16:53.420 --> 00:16:58.080 embracing the mess that is us on the inside. 00:16:58.180 --> 00:16:58.879 The real us. 00:16:58.980 --> 00:16:59.879 The real us, right? 00:17:00.540 --> 00:17:02.000 Yeah, we're a mess inside. 00:17:02.920 --> 00:17:04.720 Yeah, we've got dishes sitting out. 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:06.980 Yeah, we've got a mess to clean up. 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:09.640 Like I said, we put on our best front, 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:12.080 but we know inside things are not always 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:14.019 exactly as we would want them to be. 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:16.939 And that is where Christ wants to dwell. 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:19.119 That's where he wants to live. 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:21.240 That's where he wants to help you 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:23.500 little by little clean up 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:26.379 and morph into his image. 00:17:26.419 --> 00:17:27.859 And that's going to be a lifelong process. 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:29.119 So don't get in a hurry. 00:17:30.639 --> 00:17:33.059 But Jesus can transform it. 00:17:33.139 --> 00:17:34.179 He's telling you, 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:35.439 I'm not scared of the mess. 00:17:36.179 --> 00:17:37.039 I know it all. 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:39.539 I know the worst of you, 00:17:39.639 --> 00:17:40.759 the worst you'll ever do. 00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:42.579 I know the worst you ever could do. 00:17:42.639 --> 00:17:44.039 I know what you're capable of. 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:46.980 And I saved all of it. 00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:48.579 I transformed all of it. 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:50.339 I redeemed all of it. 00:17:50.619 --> 00:17:51.519 I can help you. 00:17:52.659 --> 00:17:53.599 Let me dwell. 00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:59.079 And then experience love 00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:01.480 through this way, being secure. 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:04.079 So what did we have? 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.880 The inner being, 00:18:07.259 --> 00:18:10.160 dwelling, letting God settle in, 00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:13.059 and now experiencing his love. 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:14.559 This was the other part here. 00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.759 We're talking about power. 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:17.740 We're talking about love. 00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:19.660 We experience love, 00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:23.140 and we understand that God's love for us 00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:24.360 makes us secure. 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:26.220 This is a secure love. 00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:28.720 Look back at Ephesians 3 again. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:33.140 The second part of verse 17. 00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:36.519 I pray that you being rooted 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:40.180 and firmly established in love. 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:41.360 Do you notice what it says? 00:18:41.620 --> 00:18:42.759 It does not say, 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:44.620 Paul does not tell us, 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:47.500 I want you to be rooted 00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:49.220 and firmly established in love. 00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.100 He says, 00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:52.360 I pray that you, 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:54.420 this is why English is so awesome, okay? 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:56.140 I pray that you, comma, 00:18:56.140 --> 00:19:00.000 being rooted and firmly established in love, 00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:00.440 comma, 00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:02.420 so there's a phrase right there. 00:19:03.040 --> 00:19:04.580 That's kind of parenthetical. 00:19:04.780 --> 00:19:06.360 It's like you could erase it 00:19:06.360 --> 00:19:08.259 and the sentence would still stand on its own, okay? 00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:09.940 I just lost half of you, 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.480 but that's okay. 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:12.740 I pray that you, 00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.180 skip down, 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:17.680 may be able to comprehend with all saints 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:18.740 what is the length and width, 00:19:18.820 --> 00:19:19.820 height and depth of God's love. 00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:20.200 Awesome. 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:22.340 But what was that part we skipped? 00:19:23.540 --> 00:19:26.100 Being rooted and firmly established in love. 00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:27.820 He's saying, 00:19:28.340 --> 00:19:29.360 you already are. 00:19:30.320 --> 00:19:35.300 You are rooted and firmly established in God's love. 00:19:36.840 --> 00:19:37.960 How do we know that? 00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:40.660 Because we're His children. 00:19:41.600 --> 00:19:43.100 Because we accepted Him. 00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:46.120 Now, if you haven't, 00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:49.520 then you're not rooted and firmly established in Christ's love. 00:19:50.520 --> 00:19:52.340 If there's someone here with us today 00:19:52.339 --> 00:19:56.019 who has not yet made that once-in-a-lifetime decision 00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:57.799 to put your faith in Jesus 00:19:57.799 --> 00:19:59.859 for the forgiveness of your sins 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:01.879 and becoming God's child, 00:20:02.639 --> 00:20:04.379 then this doesn't apply to you. 00:20:05.179 --> 00:20:06.619 You've got to make that first, 00:20:06.679 --> 00:20:08.099 most important decision. 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.939 I'm not talking about coming to church. 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:11.339 I'm not talking about cleaning up your life. 00:20:11.399 --> 00:20:13.179 I'm not talking about any of those things. 00:20:13.439 --> 00:20:14.859 I'm talking about just saying, 00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:17.679 I can't help myself. 00:20:19.219 --> 00:20:20.379 I need Jesus. 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:23.199 And if you repent from your sin 00:20:23.199 --> 00:20:24.679 and turn to Jesus 00:20:24.679 --> 00:20:26.339 and believe Him enough, 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:27.359 trust Him enough 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:27.839 to say, 00:20:27.899 --> 00:20:29.139 I put all my faith in Him, 00:20:29.679 --> 00:20:31.699 then He'll save you from your sins. 00:20:31.919 --> 00:20:33.079 He'll cleanse you 00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:35.299 and He'll make you His child forever. 00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:38.199 So that is the most important thing. 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:38.980 And then, 00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:41.220 if you do put your faith in Jesus 00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:42.319 and you are His child, 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.460 then you're rooted 00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:46.819 and firmly established in His love. 00:20:46.900 --> 00:20:48.140 And that love is secure. 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:49.799 It's secure forever. 00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:51.920 Romans 8 talks about this. 00:20:54.600 --> 00:20:55.519 Where are we here? 00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:57.340 Would you turn to Romans 8 with me real quick? 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:02.539 Man. 00:21:05.100 --> 00:21:06.819 God's love makes us secure. 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:10.180 And God's love is limitless. 00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:12.059 That's the second half of this. 00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:14.700 And Romans 8 kind of talks about all of it. 00:21:15.120 --> 00:21:16.559 The very end of the chapter here. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:20.000 Verses 38 and 39. 00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:24.740 I am persuaded that neither death, 00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:25.920 nor life, 00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:27.019 nor angels, 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:27.880 nor rulers, 00:21:28.100 --> 00:21:29.080 nor things present, 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:30.279 nor things to come, 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:31.319 nor powers, 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:32.019 nor height, 00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:32.720 nor depth. 00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:36.980 Remember that from over there in Ephesians 3? 00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:38.860 The length and width, 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:40.640 the height and depth of God's love? 00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:41.360 It says, 00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.299 nothing, 00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:46.299 nor any created thing 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:48.900 will be able to separate us 00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:50.220 from the love of God 00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:52.299 that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:54.240 That's the good news 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.400 you come to church to hear about. 00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:56.599 That's the good news 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:57.440 that we're reminded of 00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:58.819 whenever we open up God's Word. 00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:00.960 That is the good news 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:02.980 that God loves us 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:04.700 and nothing can change that. 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:07.039 If you put your faith in Jesus, 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:08.000 He says, 00:22:08.360 --> 00:22:09.500 you become His child 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:11.080 and He will never leave you. 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.559 He'll never abandon you. 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:14.080 He'll never forsake you. 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:15.940 No one else can change that 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:17.559 and you can't change it either. 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:19.779 You're now part of God's family. 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.900 You've been regenerated, 00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:25.340 regened into the family of God. 00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:27.819 I mean, that's an incredible truth. 00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:30.039 And I pray we never get over it. 00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:33.940 I pray that never loses its meaning for us. 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:36.700 God's love is secure 00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:38.839 and God's love is limitless. 00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:44.539 He says He casts our sins as far 00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:46.819 as the east is from the west. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:49.240 You can't get farther than that. 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:52.039 He's forgiven us forever 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:53.720 for everything. 00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:56.859 That's His love. 00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:59.119 Read about it there in Romans 8. 00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:00.119 Read about it there in Romans 8. 00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:01.119 Read about it there in Romans 8. 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:03.119 And then experience this about God's love. 00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:07.919 Filling the heart more than the mind. 00:23:08.719 --> 00:23:10.479 This is why I use the word experience. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:14.179 Now sometimes you can get into this experiential Christianity 00:23:14.179 --> 00:23:16.539 which focuses on the tangible. 00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:19.139 It focuses on the things that you can actually see. 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:21.419 And basically if God's not blessing you 00:23:21.419 --> 00:23:22.839 exactly how you want Him to, 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:25.299 then God doesn't love you 00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:26.719 or God doesn't value you 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:28.720 and vice versa. 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:30.640 If God is, you know, 00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:31.880 giving you money, etc. 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:33.420 It's this prosperity gospel. 00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:36.079 Then you'll be rich. 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:37.180 If God loves you 00:23:37.180 --> 00:23:39.240 and values you 00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:40.339 and you're His child, 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:42.200 then you'll never have a hard time 00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:43.160 and you'll always be rich. 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:45.559 I don't see how that kind of thinking, 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:47.019 obviously it doesn't line up 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:47.860 with what the Bible teaches. 00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:49.839 I don't see how it could last very long. 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:50.880 You know? 00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:51.960 At some point, 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:54.580 that's going to ring very false, right? 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:57.340 Usually it ends up with 00:23:57.340 --> 00:23:58.720 something like 00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.680 send money to me, 00:23:59.780 --> 00:24:01.840 the preacher who's telling you all this stuff 00:24:01.840 --> 00:24:03.400 so I can buy my second jet 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:04.440 or something like that. 00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.800 I don't even have one. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:07.800 I don't know what's wrong with y'all, 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:08.500 but 00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:10.880 still waiting on my first jet here. 00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:13.900 Somebody's going to buy me 00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:15.520 a little matchbox jet 00:24:15.520 --> 00:24:15.760 and say, 00:24:15.840 --> 00:24:16.460 here you go, preacher. 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.180 Thank you. 00:24:18.080 --> 00:24:18.380 Anyway, 00:24:18.820 --> 00:24:21.580 so experience 00:24:21.580 --> 00:24:23.400 is not the most important thing 00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:24.240 that we need to rely on. 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:24.960 We need to rely on 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:25.799 what the Word of God says. 00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.720 That is the foundation 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:27.900 that can't change. 00:24:28.080 --> 00:24:29.640 Our experience can be deceiving, 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.820 it can fool us, 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:32.340 it can lead us into wrong thinking, 00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:33.400 but the Word of God will not. 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:34.600 However, 00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:36.900 God is experiential. 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:37.880 God does want you 00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:38.700 to experience 00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:40.420 His love. 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.940 He wants you to experience 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.580 His goodness 00:24:42.580 --> 00:24:43.940 and not just 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:46.039 fill your mind with it. 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:48.039 He wants to dwell 00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:49.000 in your heart 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:50.379 and fill it up 00:24:50.379 --> 00:24:52.220 with all these experiences 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.500 of God's love 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.740 because that is 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:55.559 what's going to matter. 00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:57.599 That's what's going to change you 00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:59.599 is when He breaks through 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:00.220 to the heart. 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:04.279 It says it surpasses knowledge. 00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:06.079 So you can try all day 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:07.700 to understand 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:09.700 who God is, 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:11.720 what He's like, 00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:13.799 why He loves us, 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:15.480 and how much He loves us, 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:17.000 and you'll never totally 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:18.099 be able to wrap your mind 00:25:18.099 --> 00:25:18.559 around it. 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:21.140 It's beyond human comprehension. 00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.980 It surpasses knowledge. 00:25:24.099 --> 00:25:24.680 But instead, 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:26.720 you can be filled 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:28.660 with the fullness of God 00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:30.839 despite not being able 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:32.079 to fully grasp 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:35.360 the height and depth, 00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:36.700 the length and width 00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:37.519 of God's love 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:38.420 and who God is. 00:25:38.860 --> 00:25:40.700 You can still be filled 00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:41.519 with His fullness 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:43.980 because we're talking 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:45.039 about the inner being. 00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.700 We're not just talking 00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:47.660 about the mind. 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.759 That's why we say 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:51.339 you experience God's love 00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:53.039 more in your heart 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:54.400 than your mind. 00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:57.059 Andy Stanley, 00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:59.720 son of Charles Stanley. 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:01.400 Anybody ever listen 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:02.099 to Charles Stanley 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:03.339 on TV or radio, 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:03.960 read his books, 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.519 that kind of thing? 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:04.700 Yeah. 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.700 Andy's a little different. 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.359 He's gotten into, 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:07.759 you know, 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:09.420 some takes on things 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:09.940 that I don't always 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.799 necessarily agree with, 00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:12.180 but a lot of the things 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:13.140 he says is valuable 00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:14.400 and this one is very important 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:16.240 and key to what 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:17.059 we're talking about today. 00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:18.559 Read that again. 00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:19.480 Knowledge alone 00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:21.599 makes Christians haughty. 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.119 Application 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:24.779 makes us holy. 00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:28.879 Jesus said, 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:29.759 be holy 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:31.400 for I am holy. 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:34.859 You have to not just know, 00:26:35.379 --> 00:26:37.039 not just fill your head, 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:39.039 with Bible knowledge, 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:41.700 with theological understanding, 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:43.440 not just fill your head 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.599 with all these facts 00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:45.559 about God. 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:47.700 Say, look at me. 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:48.720 I can answer all your 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.839 Bible trivia questions 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:50.779 and I can know 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:53.500 exactly how and when 00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:56.539 and it happened in the Bible, 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.359 but instead, 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.980 how is that applying 00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.659 in your life? 00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:01.180 How is that actually 00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:02.879 making you more holy? 00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.759 It happens 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:05.220 when it takes root, 00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:07.440 when it's firmly established. 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:08.279 It happens 00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:10.279 when you let Christ 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:11.779 dwell in you, 00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:13.100 in your heart, 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:14.400 not just your mind. 00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:15.660 You understand 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.360 the difference there? 00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.900 We're saved 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:19.259 through faith 00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:20.380 in our heart 00:27:20.380 --> 00:27:22.019 and that's the exact 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.960 same way 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:24.319 that we grow 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.779 closer in our relationship 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.440 with God 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:27.680 is through the heart. 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:29.759 it's not just the mind. 00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:31.620 Yeah, you have to have 00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:32.340 understanding 00:27:32.340 --> 00:27:34.360 that you are a sinner. 00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:34.820 You have to have 00:27:34.820 --> 00:27:35.420 understanding 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:36.480 and knowledge 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:37.539 that Jesus did die 00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:38.019 on the cross, 00:27:38.120 --> 00:27:39.200 that he did rise 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:39.840 from the dead, 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:41.460 that he is willing 00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:42.779 and able to save you 00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:43.519 if you put your faith 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.400 in him for the forgiveness 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:44.980 of your sins. 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:45.660 You have to know 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:46.420 all those things, 00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:48.120 but the faith 00:27:48.120 --> 00:27:48.799 has to come 00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.519 from the heart 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:51.900 and nothing changes 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:52.820 after salvation. 00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:54.320 That's still 00:27:54.320 --> 00:27:54.960 where he wants 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:55.480 to reside. 00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:56.680 that's still 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.339 where he wants 00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.039 to dwell 00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:59.920 and help you grow. 00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:02.180 So knowledge alone 00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:04.120 just makes us 00:28:04.120 --> 00:28:04.839 proud of ourselves, 00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:06.660 just makes us haughty, 00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:09.000 but applying it, 00:28:09.220 --> 00:28:10.700 that can make us 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:12.120 more like God, 00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:13.079 holy. 00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:14.460 So, 00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:15.360 number three, 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.440 we spent a long time 00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:16.960 on number two, 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:17.960 but quickly, 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:18.599 number three, 00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:21.759 pray with great expectations. 00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:23.860 Great expectations. 00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:24.920 This finishes out 00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:26.360 Ephesians 3, 00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.279 this finishes out 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:28.400 the first section, 00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:29.160 the first half 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:30.080 of the book of Ephesians. 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:32.220 Pray with great expectations. 00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.500 Look back at verse 20 00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.660 of Ephesians 3. 00:28:34.660 --> 00:28:35.680 Now to him 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:36.560 who is able 00:28:36.560 --> 00:28:37.340 to do above 00:28:37.340 --> 00:28:37.960 and beyond 00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:39.160 all that we ask 00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:39.620 or think, 00:28:40.320 --> 00:28:41.620 according to the power 00:28:41.620 --> 00:28:42.519 that works in us, 00:28:42.800 --> 00:28:43.340 to him 00:28:43.340 --> 00:28:44.920 be glory in the church 00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:45.840 and in Christ Jesus 00:28:45.840 --> 00:28:46.880 to all generations 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:48.279 forever and ever. 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:48.960 Amen. 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:51.559 Expect 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:54.440 great things 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.000 from God. 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.440 Pray with great 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:57.240 expectations. 00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.500 Expect, number one, 00:28:58.819 --> 00:28:59.660 that God is able. 00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:02.059 When we pray, 00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:02.740 expect 00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:03.940 that God 00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:04.559 can. 00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:06.019 I can't, 00:29:06.340 --> 00:29:06.880 but God 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:07.380 can. 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.200 Let's say that together. 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:08.480 Ready? 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:10.000 I can't, 00:29:10.360 --> 00:29:11.039 but God 00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:11.480 can. 00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.380 Do you believe that? 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.799 You believe it in your heart? 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:14.240 Amen. 00:29:14.620 --> 00:29:15.799 That is praying 00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.940 with great expectations. 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.019 We know 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:19.220 and we expect 00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:20.460 because we believe it 00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.000 in our heart, 00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:22.139 not just in our mind, 00:29:22.399 --> 00:29:23.200 but in our heart 00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:23.960 by faith 00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:24.839 that God 00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:26.180 is able. 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.339 We see that there 00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:28.220 in the very first part 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:28.839 of verse 20. 00:29:29.159 --> 00:29:29.619 To him 00:29:29.619 --> 00:29:30.759 who is able 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.940 to do above 00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:32.559 and beyond 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.799 all that we ask 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:34.339 or think. 00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:35.619 And then secondly, 00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:37.099 expect that God 00:29:37.099 --> 00:29:38.619 will work in me. 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:39.960 God will work 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.940 in me. 00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:41.879 Expect that. 00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.579 Don't expect 00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:44.659 how he will work. 00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.700 Don't expect 00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:46.840 what he will do 00:29:46.840 --> 00:29:47.680 because that's 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.279 putting ourselves 00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:49.140 in God's shoes 00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:49.980 and determining 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.740 what is best. 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:51.620 We don't know 00:29:51.620 --> 00:29:52.200 what is best. 00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:53.100 We take our 00:29:53.100 --> 00:29:54.440 requests to him. 00:29:54.600 --> 00:29:55.180 We take our 00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:56.019 petitions to him. 00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:56.720 We take our 00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:57.600 concerns to him. 00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:58.660 We take our 00:29:58.660 --> 00:30:00.319 annoyances to him. 00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:01.000 We take our 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.920 fears to him. 00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:03.180 We lay all of this 00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:03.880 at his feet 00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:04.779 and then we say, 00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:06.140 God, please work. 00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:07.360 And then we expect 00:30:07.360 --> 00:30:08.519 that he will work 00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:09.319 because we know 00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:09.799 he's able. 00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:11.220 We believe it. 00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:13.039 And so now 00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:14.140 we expect him to work. 00:30:14.140 --> 00:30:15.500 We see that 00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:16.200 in the second part 00:30:16.200 --> 00:30:16.840 of verse 20. 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:19.160 According to the power 00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:21.380 that works in us. 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.320 Where does that power 00:30:22.320 --> 00:30:22.940 come from? 00:30:23.140 --> 00:30:23.980 It's not you. 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.280 It's not me. 00:30:25.780 --> 00:30:26.960 It comes from God 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:27.600 in us. 00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:28.540 It comes from God 00:30:28.540 --> 00:30:29.700 dwelling in us. 00:30:29.820 --> 00:30:30.840 So we expect 00:30:30.840 --> 00:30:32.620 that God will work 00:30:32.620 --> 00:30:34.060 in us. 00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:34.840 And then lastly, 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.560 we expect 00:30:35.560 --> 00:30:36.440 that God 00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:37.560 will be glorified. 00:30:38.200 --> 00:30:39.160 We expect that 00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:39.880 he'll get the glory. 00:30:40.600 --> 00:30:41.600 This is praying 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.259 with power. 00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:43.339 This is praying 00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:43.980 biblically. 00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.619 This is praying 00:30:45.619 --> 00:30:47.099 how God wants us 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:47.559 to communicate 00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:48.099 with him. 00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:49.359 We expect 00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:50.119 that he is able. 00:30:50.419 --> 00:30:50.919 We expect 00:30:50.919 --> 00:30:51.699 that he will work. 00:30:51.959 --> 00:30:52.579 And we expect 00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:53.559 that he will be glorified. 00:30:53.659 --> 00:30:54.259 Verse 21, 00:30:54.639 --> 00:30:56.159 to him be all 00:30:56.159 --> 00:30:56.679 the glory 00:30:56.679 --> 00:30:57.859 in the church 00:30:57.859 --> 00:30:59.219 and in Christ Jesus 00:30:59.219 --> 00:31:00.519 to all generations 00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:01.819 forever and ever. 00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:02.480 Amen. 00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:03.859 We expect 00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:05.419 that he will be glorified. 00:31:06.179 --> 00:31:07.419 If he doesn't 00:31:07.419 --> 00:31:08.179 get the glory, 00:31:08.939 --> 00:31:10.119 then it's not worth doing. 00:31:10.119 --> 00:31:12.219 If God 00:31:12.219 --> 00:31:12.939 doesn't get 00:31:12.939 --> 00:31:13.500 the glory, 00:31:13.979 --> 00:31:15.539 then he won't 00:31:15.539 --> 00:31:16.279 accomplish it 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:16.859 through us. 00:31:17.239 --> 00:31:18.679 It can be a minute thing. 00:31:18.879 --> 00:31:19.799 It can be a tiny 00:31:19.799 --> 00:31:20.319 little thing. 00:31:20.379 --> 00:31:20.839 We're not talking 00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:21.699 about significance. 00:31:22.219 --> 00:31:23.119 We're talking about 00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:24.159 him getting the glory. 00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:26.039 It can be 00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:27.179 the tiniest little thing. 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:28.539 You lost your keys 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:28.939 somewhere 00:31:28.939 --> 00:31:30.359 and you pray for God, 00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.139 please show me 00:31:31.139 --> 00:31:31.899 where my keys are 00:31:31.899 --> 00:31:32.459 and he leads you 00:31:32.459 --> 00:31:33.139 to them and you say, 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:34.139 thank you God, 00:31:34.199 --> 00:31:34.779 you get the glory 00:31:34.779 --> 00:31:35.279 for that. 00:31:36.159 --> 00:31:36.659 It can be 00:31:36.659 --> 00:31:37.219 the simplest 00:31:37.219 --> 00:31:38.279 little thing, 00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:40.440 but as long 00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:41.019 as God 00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:41.960 gets the glory, 00:31:42.420 --> 00:31:44.160 that's when 00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:45.079 he will work. 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:47.000 So we expect 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:48.240 him to get 00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:48.619 the glory. 00:31:49.859 --> 00:31:50.740 William Carey, 00:31:50.940 --> 00:31:51.819 they call him 00:31:51.819 --> 00:31:52.339 the father 00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:53.299 of modern missions. 00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:54.299 We're taking up 00:31:54.299 --> 00:31:55.039 an offering today 00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.779 for the Lottie Moon 00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:56.539 Christmas offering 00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:57.619 to support missions 00:31:57.619 --> 00:31:58.319 around the world 00:31:58.319 --> 00:31:59.240 and this was 00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:00.420 a man they called 00:32:00.420 --> 00:32:00.839 the father 00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:01.740 of modern missions, 00:32:01.899 --> 00:32:02.539 worked in India 00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:03.779 for his entire life 00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:04.220 just about 00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:04.639 and he said, 00:32:04.639 --> 00:32:06.379 expect great things 00:32:06.380 --> 00:32:06.980 from God 00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:07.980 and then attempt 00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:08.860 great things 00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:09.340 for God. 00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:11.940 If you truly expect 00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:13.520 God to do 00:32:13.520 --> 00:32:14.280 great things, 00:32:14.520 --> 00:32:16.500 then you'll be able 00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:17.640 to get past your fear 00:32:17.640 --> 00:32:18.780 of attempting 00:32:18.780 --> 00:32:19.480 great things. 00:32:19.820 --> 00:32:20.960 Not saying the fear 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.440 will be gone 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:21.880 completely, 00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:24.500 but if you truly 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:26.240 expect from Christ 00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:27.220 dwelling in your heart 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:28.280 that you have 00:32:28.280 --> 00:32:29.280 great expectations 00:32:29.280 --> 00:32:31.240 for God to work, 00:32:31.800 --> 00:32:32.460 then you'll go out 00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.140 and attempt something 00:32:33.140 --> 00:32:33.760 great for God. 00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:35.599 you'll step out 00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:36.400 of your comfort zone 00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:38.099 and you'll say, 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:39.740 God, work through me. 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:40.900 Whatever it is, 00:32:41.140 --> 00:32:42.059 you'll talk to a family 00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:42.940 member about Jesus. 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:45.079 You'll give more 00:32:45.079 --> 00:32:45.859 to God's work 00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:46.500 than you're used 00:32:46.500 --> 00:32:46.940 to giving. 00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:50.799 You'll deal 00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:51.579 with a broken 00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:52.579 relationship that you've 00:32:52.579 --> 00:32:53.119 been putting off 00:32:53.119 --> 00:32:53.779 for a long time. 00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:55.779 Whatever it is, 00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:57.059 you'll attempt 00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:58.519 great things for God 00:32:58.519 --> 00:32:59.660 because you expect 00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:00.539 God to work. 00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:03.700 So, to recap, 00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:05.440 powerful prayer, 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:06.299 what does it look like? 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:08.000 Praying with humility. 00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:09.759 Praying for God's 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.379 full power 00:33:10.379 --> 00:33:11.720 and full love. 00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:13.220 And praying 00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:13.920 with great 00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:15.099 expectations. 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.079 What's our 00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:17.720 takeaway today? 00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:22.119 Ask God 00:33:22.119 --> 00:33:24.099 to help you 00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:25.819 take the next step 00:33:25.819 --> 00:33:26.940 in your prayer life. 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:27.859 Very simple. 00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:29.500 But what is it? 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:30.839 What is the next 00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:31.660 step for you? 00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:33.779 What's the next 00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:34.580 step in your 00:33:34.580 --> 00:33:35.400 prayer life? 00:33:35.540 --> 00:33:36.340 You've got your 00:33:36.340 --> 00:33:37.440 regular life. 00:33:37.860 --> 00:33:38.880 You've got the life 00:33:38.880 --> 00:33:39.860 that everybody sees 00:33:39.860 --> 00:33:41.820 and you interact 00:33:41.820 --> 00:33:42.320 with people, 00:33:42.420 --> 00:33:43.140 but then you have 00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:44.140 your personal, 00:33:44.620 --> 00:33:45.060 private, 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:46.259 prayer life 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:47.000 with God. 00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:48.800 Only two 00:33:48.800 --> 00:33:49.800 are a part of that. 00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:51.240 You and God. 00:33:53.040 --> 00:33:54.019 What's the next 00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:55.279 step in your 00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:56.240 prayer life? 00:33:56.240 --> 00:33:59.220 is it just 00:33:59.220 --> 00:33:59.819 praying more? 00:34:00.620 --> 00:34:01.400 Is it praying 00:34:01.400 --> 00:34:02.240 more with humility? 00:34:03.859 --> 00:34:04.779 Is it praying 00:34:04.779 --> 00:34:06.460 more for God's 00:34:06.460 --> 00:34:07.140 full love, 00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:08.000 for His full power? 00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:08.579 Is it praying 00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.440 with more 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:10.139 expectation 00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:10.760 for God 00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:11.679 to actually work? 00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:13.420 What is it 00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:13.860 for you 00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:15.139 that would 00:34:15.139 --> 00:34:15.519 constitute 00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:16.579 the next step 00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:18.179 in your prayer life? 00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:18.619 Would you pray 00:34:18.619 --> 00:34:19.280 with me right now? 00:34:19.780 --> 00:34:20.619 Would you bow your heads? 00:34:21.239 --> 00:34:21.460 Lord, 00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:22.259 please show us 00:34:22.259 --> 00:34:22.920 what it is 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.440 that would be 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.259 the next step. 00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:24.960 It's going to be 00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:25.500 different for 00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:26.219 every one of us, 00:34:26.699 --> 00:34:28.420 but there is not 00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:29.559 a man or a woman 00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.539 or a child 00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:31.519 in this room 00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.059 today 00:34:32.059 --> 00:34:33.420 who does not 00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:33.980 need to take 00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:35.000 a next step. 00:34:35.579 --> 00:34:36.219 I need to. 00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:39.619 Everybody in this 00:34:39.619 --> 00:34:40.039 church 00:34:40.039 --> 00:34:41.900 needs to take 00:34:41.900 --> 00:34:42.559 a next step 00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:43.599 in their prayer life 00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.059 with you. 00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:45.279 God, 00:34:45.359 --> 00:34:45.940 I ask that you 00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:46.639 would not leave us 00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:47.019 alone, 00:34:47.739 --> 00:34:49.039 that your Holy Spirit 00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:50.259 would stay on us 00:34:50.260 --> 00:34:52.060 continually prompting us 00:34:52.060 --> 00:34:52.880 and nudging us 00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:54.360 to take that next step. 00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:55.800 Maybe it's praying 00:34:55.800 --> 00:34:56.600 more regularly 00:34:56.600 --> 00:34:58.140 and not going 00:34:58.140 --> 00:34:59.320 hours and days 00:34:59.320 --> 00:34:59.900 and weeks 00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:00.760 at a time 00:35:00.760 --> 00:35:02.240 without communicating 00:35:02.240 --> 00:35:04.000 with our good Father, 00:35:04.100 --> 00:35:05.240 the one who loves us most. 00:35:07.760 --> 00:35:09.120 Maybe it's recognizing 00:35:09.120 --> 00:35:10.460 that God's not as concerned 00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:11.440 with all the outward 00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:12.680 that we have 00:35:12.680 --> 00:35:13.640 such a hard time with. 00:35:13.700 --> 00:35:14.280 He's concerned 00:35:14.280 --> 00:35:15.120 with what's going on 00:35:15.120 --> 00:35:15.760 on the inside. 00:35:16.700 --> 00:35:17.940 Help us to lay that 00:35:17.940 --> 00:35:18.560 in your feet. 00:35:20.260 --> 00:35:22.380 Leave that in your hands 00:35:22.380 --> 00:35:22.740 and say, 00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:23.020 God, 00:35:23.120 --> 00:35:24.620 please dwell 00:35:24.620 --> 00:35:25.420 in my heart. 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:27.320 Dwell in my heart today. 00:35:28.140 --> 00:35:29.040 Dwell in my heart 00:35:29.040 --> 00:35:29.560 right now. 00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:30.980 We'll give you 00:35:30.980 --> 00:35:31.900 all the glory for it. 00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:33.520 And it's in Jesus' name 00:35:33.520 --> 00:35:33.900 we pray. 00:35:34.300 --> 00:35:34.560 Amen. 00:35:34.780 --> 00:35:35.000 Church, 00:35:35.040 --> 00:35:35.520 would you stand 00:35:35.520 --> 00:35:36.020 to your feet 00:35:36.020 --> 00:35:36.880 if you're able to? 00:35:37.560 --> 00:35:38.480 For just a moment, 00:35:38.600 --> 00:35:39.500 I'm going to be down front. 00:35:39.560 --> 00:35:40.580 If you'd like to come forward 00:35:40.580 --> 00:35:41.360 and pray with me. 00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:44.300 I forgot to do this 00:35:44.300 --> 00:35:45.440 and I don't like 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:46.500 to let a Sunday go by. 00:35:47.260 --> 00:35:48.119 So right now, 00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:48.679 with everyone 00:35:48.679 --> 00:35:49.760 looking up this way, 00:35:50.099 --> 00:35:50.900 if there's someone 00:35:50.900 --> 00:35:51.820 who doesn't know Jesus 00:35:51.820 --> 00:35:52.559 as your Savior 00:35:52.559 --> 00:35:53.699 and you'd like 00:35:53.699 --> 00:35:54.579 to make a decision 00:35:54.579 --> 00:35:55.960 to turn from your sin 00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:57.000 and turn to Jesus today, 00:35:57.079 --> 00:35:57.440 would you just 00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:58.280 slip your hand up real quick 00:35:58.280 --> 00:35:59.179 so I can pray for you? 00:35:59.860 --> 00:36:00.219 Awesome. 00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:01.000 Thank you. 00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:02.059 All right. 00:36:02.599 --> 00:36:03.460 If that's you, 00:36:03.539 --> 00:36:04.719 I'd like you to come down front. 00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:06.059 Just step out into the aisle. 00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:07.000 Come down front 00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:07.519 and meet with me 00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:08.099 right down here. 00:36:08.139 --> 00:36:08.860 I'll pray with you. 00:36:09.679 --> 00:36:11.900 And if there's anybody else 00:36:11.900 --> 00:36:12.780 who needs prayer, 00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:13.539 how many people 00:36:13.539 --> 00:36:14.039 would be able to, 00:36:14.159 --> 00:36:14.559 listen, 00:36:14.659 --> 00:36:15.239 don't be ashamed. 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:16.340 How many would be able to say, 00:36:16.840 --> 00:36:17.579 God spoke to me 00:36:17.579 --> 00:36:18.500 about my prayer life 00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:19.860 and I need prayer right now. 00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:21.079 Would you slip your hand up as well? 00:36:21.340 --> 00:36:22.219 Let's pray for each other. 00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:22.739 All right. 00:36:22.760 --> 00:36:23.579 You can put your hands down. 00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:24.820 Use this altar. 00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:26.199 You can come pray by yourself. 00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:27.239 You can meet me down front, 00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:28.380 but use this altar. 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:29.880 If you'd like to join this church 00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:31.039 and put your membership here, 00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:32.059 meet me down front. 00:36:32.119 --> 00:36:33.440 We'll have that conversation as well. 00:36:33.760 --> 00:36:35.079 You move as God leads you.