WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.639 It doesn't rate in my top 10 of all-time favourite movies. 00:00:04.740 --> 00:00:06.839 That's because I've actually never watched it. 00:00:08.220 --> 00:00:11.339 That's because I saw the shorts and decided not to watch it. 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:15.580 But it did, however, win a 1989 Academy Award for Best Picture. 00:00:15.740 --> 00:00:17.100 It's called Driving Miss Daisy. 00:00:17.740 --> 00:00:20.519 It doesn't rate up there amongst my all-time favourites. 00:00:20.519 --> 00:00:23.320 There's no guns from what I understood in the shorts, 00:00:23.460 --> 00:00:27.199 and Clint Eastwood doesn't star in it, so it doesn't rate for me. 00:00:27.199 --> 00:00:33.460 But it is apparently a good movie, from what I understand. 00:00:33.579 --> 00:00:35.759 I've read all about it and so on and so forth. 00:00:36.700 --> 00:00:41.240 There is, throughout the movie, an undercurrent of racial tensions in the movie. 00:00:42.579 --> 00:00:49.239 But the main plot is the developing relationship between the two main characters. 00:00:49.500 --> 00:00:56.560 The two main characters are Miss Daisy, a stubborn 72-year-old widow, 00:00:56.560 --> 00:00:59.580 and her African-American driver, Hoke. 00:01:00.539 --> 00:01:06.120 Miss Daisy has an accident because she puts her foot on the accelerator instead of the brake. 00:01:06.240 --> 00:01:08.520 I mean, that's the sort of thing that can happen at any time. 00:01:08.600 --> 00:01:10.840 You see it occasionally, they pop up in the newspaper. 00:01:11.960 --> 00:01:14.920 And no insurance company will touch her. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:19.760 And so she has to get a driver in order to drive her around. 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:23.580 And she hates the thought of losing her independence. 00:01:24.780 --> 00:01:26.260 She wants nothing to do with Hoke. 00:01:26.320 --> 00:01:30.500 In fact, on one occasion, she angrily blurts out to him, 00:01:30.859 --> 00:01:34.040 I don't need you, I don't want you, I don't like you. 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:39.580 However, over the years, their relationship develops. 00:01:39.579 --> 00:01:47.980 And the film ends, the movie ends on Thanksgiving Day in a retirement village where Miss Daisy now lives. 00:01:48.060 --> 00:01:50.959 It's sort of 25 years since they first met. 00:01:51.640 --> 00:01:54.700 Miss Daisy is 97, Hoke is 81. 00:01:55.799 --> 00:01:57.480 And Hoke is visiting Miss Daisy. 00:01:57.480 --> 00:02:03.180 And he notices that she has not eaten her pumpkin pie, which is tradition on Thanksgiving Day. 00:02:03.700 --> 00:02:09.980 And she tries to pick it up with her fork, but he gently takes the plate from her and her fork from her. 00:02:10.360 --> 00:02:12.520 And he says, let me help you with it. 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:17.140 And he cuts a small piece of the pie off and he gently feeds her. 00:02:17.659 --> 00:02:20.240 And she's delighted, it tastes great. 00:02:20.759 --> 00:02:25.819 And then he gets another piece and feeds her and then another piece and feeds her. 00:02:27.479 --> 00:02:34.120 And the film ends with a car apparently fading in the background, sort of making all the connections come together. 00:02:34.959 --> 00:02:41.120 What the film does, it documents the wonderful transformation of their relationship 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:50.939 from a refusal to be dependent on Hoke, the driver, to a delightful dependence upon him for even a piece of pie. 00:02:50.939 --> 00:02:57.780 And the movie portrays beautifully, I think, the journey of the Christian life. 00:02:58.539 --> 00:03:05.939 It is a journey from self-reliance and independence to God-reliance and dependence. 00:03:05.939 --> 00:03:22.079 It's a journey from self-confidence and strength to God-confidence and a humbling and acknowledgement of our utter total weakness in everything. 00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:28.480 And so we have this core value as a church called devotion to prayer. 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:35.960 And this core value makes a statement as a church, it's a statement to God, to the world, even to our own consciences, 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:41.880 that we exist to do things that we cannot do without the supernatural grace of God. 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:53.560 It's a statement, devotion to prayer is a statement that says we are weak and our confidence is in the supreme majesty of God and his goodness. 00:03:54.519 --> 00:04:00.019 We are totally dependent upon God for everything, no matter how big or small. 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:05.780 St. Paul's as a church exists mainly to do the humanly impossible. 00:04:05.780 --> 00:04:13.520 Everything good, everything worthwhile, everything eternal and God-glorifying that we want to do as a church, 00:04:13.580 --> 00:04:17.160 we cannot do without the supernatural grace of God. 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:25.279 And it is pride and it is arrogance where we think we can build the church, we can see ministry flourish, 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:31.560 we can see people come to Christ just by putting in the right strategies, saying the right words, 00:04:31.660 --> 00:04:35.560 having the right programs in place, even the right people leading the programs in place. 00:04:35.779 --> 00:04:42.679 Our culture is a culture of independence. 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:50.399 And when we let that culture permeate the church, you have pride and arrogance. 00:04:51.819 --> 00:04:55.599 And Ephesians 6, this is why we're reading this passage for us tonight, 00:04:55.719 --> 00:05:02.739 Ephesians 6 verse 12 puts all of our ministry visions and plans and activities in their rightful context. 00:05:02.740 --> 00:05:10.139 It says, and you should have Bibles open at this point, Ephesians 6 verse 12, 00:05:10.139 --> 00:05:17.079 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, 00:05:17.379 --> 00:05:21.699 against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual force of evil in the heavenly realms. 00:05:21.699 --> 00:05:28.819 The context in which we're gathering right here, right now at 6.42 on a Sunday afternoon, 00:05:28.819 --> 00:05:35.639 and the context in which we seek as a church to labour, to know, to treasure and to represent Jesus is a battlefield. 00:05:38.779 --> 00:05:42.159 We're in the middle of a long and protracted wall. 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:48.420 And I suspect that most of us, when we came to church tonight, never even had that on our radar. 00:05:50.560 --> 00:05:57.980 You know, we didn't jump into a sort of Humvee with a big gun on the back of it, fighting our way to church. 00:05:57.980 --> 00:06:05.340 It's difficult for us to understand as we sit here in church, in this building in Chatswood, 00:06:05.660 --> 00:06:10.740 in the most affluent city of the luckiest country during the longest period of peace that we've known. 00:06:12.580 --> 00:06:15.340 It doesn't seem like a battlefield, but what did I say last week? 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:19.180 What I said last week is that what the Bible does for it, 00:06:19.500 --> 00:06:24.400 what God, who is ultimate reality, helps us to see things the way they actually are. 00:06:24.920 --> 00:06:25.939 And that's what the Bible does. 00:06:25.939 --> 00:06:29.660 And so here, Paul helps us to see reality. 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:32.180 He helps us to see things the way they are. 00:06:32.459 --> 00:06:35.879 So verse 10 of Ephesians 6 opens with the word finally. 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:41.160 Now it's not Paul signalling that he's getting to his final point of his letter. 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:43.259 You know, finally, this is my last point. 00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:44.819 Everyone goes, breathe a sigh of relief. 00:06:44.899 --> 00:06:45.759 It's nearly supper time. 00:06:47.339 --> 00:06:52.620 The word is better translated for the remaining time. 00:06:52.620 --> 00:07:02.079 Paul is making a statement in his final verses that the whole of the remaining time before Christ returns will be characterized by conflict, 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:05.699 tension and hardship for the Christian and for the church. 00:07:06.500 --> 00:07:08.620 And frankly, this should not be a surprise for us. 00:07:08.680 --> 00:07:11.780 We've just finished going through the book of Revelation. 00:07:11.779 --> 00:07:23.219 Revelation deals, a whole chunk of Revelation in the middle there, deals with this cosmic war that rages until Christ comes and finishes it all. 00:07:24.699 --> 00:07:31.819 And so our expectation of the Christian life and Christian ministry is that it will not be easy. 00:07:32.059 --> 00:07:34.139 It will be hard work. 00:07:34.519 --> 00:07:38.059 Verse 12 says that the war that we're engaged in is not against flesh and blood. 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:39.779 It is a supernatural war. 00:07:39.779 --> 00:07:49.659 It is therefore futile if we fight this war by and in our own strength. 00:07:51.159 --> 00:07:53.719 We're involved in a battle with a formidable enemy. 00:07:53.899 --> 00:07:55.619 And Paul is quite specific about our enemy. 00:07:55.739 --> 00:08:00.819 He says our struggle is against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, 00:08:00.899 --> 00:08:04.279 and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 00:08:04.279 --> 00:08:11.579 And so if we attempt in any sense to try and spread the influence of the kingdom of God, 00:08:11.699 --> 00:08:15.279 that is to see people in Chatswood to know, treasure, and represent Jesus, 00:08:15.319 --> 00:08:20.479 we try and spread that influence by using conventional human tactics and wisdom, 00:08:20.699 --> 00:08:28.859 that is we trade strength with strength and sarcasm with sarcasm and cunning with cunning and manipulation with manipulation and power with power, 00:08:28.860 --> 00:08:30.360 we will lose. 00:08:32.940 --> 00:08:34.820 Our opponents are too great. 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:44.379 You see, the devil and his angels are a great demonic enemy with a defined and disciplined chain of command. 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:51.840 And even though he doesn't possess anything like the power of God himself, Satan is still terribly powerful. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:57.200 He can only be at one place at one time, but with his army of evil spirits, 00:08:57.379 --> 00:09:04.519 he imitates God's presence everywhere and he imitates God's power over all things. 00:09:05.280 --> 00:09:09.180 And he imitates God because he desires to be God more than anything else. 00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:16.879 And it's that desire to be God, which is at the center of his terrible total spiritual evil. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:26.259 Verse 12 alludes to this by describing the enemy as the power of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil. 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:32.620 So there are plenty of people in history who have gone pretty low in terms of perpetrating evil. 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:36.500 You can think of a few, you know, Stalin and Hitler and a bunch of others like that. 00:09:36.899 --> 00:09:40.600 But they're not even coming close to Satan's evil. 00:09:41.960 --> 00:09:43.580 You see, Satan has no conscience. 00:09:43.580 --> 00:09:45.060 He has no compassion. 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:46.860 He has no remorse. 00:09:46.980 --> 00:09:48.040 He has no morals. 00:09:48.460 --> 00:09:51.080 He feeds on pain and anguish and filth. 00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:53.600 He is supremely cunning. 00:09:54.180 --> 00:09:58.720 Verse 11 speaks of the devil's schemes or the devil's methods, if you like. 00:09:58.940 --> 00:10:03.259 And he's been honing his schemes and his methods for millennia. 00:10:03.700 --> 00:10:08.000 He is an accomplished philosopher and theologian and psychologist. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:14.799 He has studied for thousands of years enough time to be astonishingly brilliant at every discipline. 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:18.919 He is the ultimate manipulator and subverter and actor. 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:25.120 And 2 Corinthians 11 says that one of his deadly methods is he masquerades as an agent of God. 00:10:25.460 --> 00:10:27.139 He sets himself up. 00:10:27.320 --> 00:10:31.799 He presents himself as one on God's side. 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:37.459 Whatever his tactic, he seldom attacks openly. 00:10:38.299 --> 00:10:45.719 His strategies, which are administered by his devils and nearly always unseen, shrewd and perfectly tailored for the victim. 00:10:46.199 --> 00:10:51.939 He operates best when he can convince people and even God's people that he doesn't exist or that he's not powerful. 00:10:52.319 --> 00:10:56.399 And can persuade us that life, in fact, is not a battle. 00:10:56.399 --> 00:11:03.120 He is evil beyond our comprehension and without conscience or principle. 00:11:03.579 --> 00:11:07.459 He is diabolically cunning and he is against us. 00:11:07.959 --> 00:11:09.179 He hates Christ. 00:11:10.439 --> 00:11:12.439 He hates God's children. 00:11:13.959 --> 00:11:15.299 He hates the church. 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:23.439 He hates the mission of St. Paul's Chatswood to see Jesus known, treasured and represented in such a way 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:28.480 that more and more people are rescued from his evil clutches. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:32.700 He hates the plans that we have to go deeper together in fellowship with Christ, 00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:36.680 to serve each other in love and to connect better in our community for the glory of God. 00:11:36.920 --> 00:11:39.740 He hates what we're doing with our building project right now. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:42.220 He hates the establishment of ICS. 00:11:42.700 --> 00:11:46.840 He will do whatever he can to destroy the work of the gospel in your life. 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:52.280 That is Paul's cosmic perspective. 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:56.040 With all its chilling implications. 00:11:56.200 --> 00:11:59.080 See the value of prayer so far? 00:12:01.260 --> 00:12:06.960 And frankly, all would be despair except that it's only part of Paul's cosmic perspective. 00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:11.080 You see, on earth, amongst mortals, Satan has no equal. 00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:12.440 You don't match him in power. 00:12:12.520 --> 00:12:13.260 Not even close. 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:19.500 But in the heavenly realms, on the other hand, he is far exceeded by the triune God. 00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:27.700 Colossians 1 and 2 says that the entire spiritual realm owes its existence to Christ. 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:34.559 Thrones, powers, rulers, authorities, invisible and visible in heaven and on earth. 00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:39.779 And so Christ is not only more powerful by virtue of the fact that he created Satan, 00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:43.559 but because he also defeated Satan at the cross. 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:46.719 He has sealed Satan's doom. 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:56.279 Although in this present age, he still exercises control over those who have not found freedom in Christ. 00:12:57.479 --> 00:13:03.079 And for those of us, and this is a warning, for those of us who neglect Christ's resources 00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:11.820 and rely upon our own strength and human wisdom, we place ourselves in harm's way. 00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:22.040 When we decide to take matters into our own hands, rather than patiently relying upon God, 00:13:23.020 --> 00:13:28.340 we take matters into our own hands, we place ourselves in harm's way. 00:13:29.580 --> 00:13:30.379 And so what are we to do? 00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:32.080 That's what the rest of this section is about here. 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:34.040 In Ephesians 6. 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:39.400 Paul leaves us with two commands that dominate his advice in this last letter, verse of the letter. 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:41.139 The first is in verse 10. 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:45.240 It says, finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 00:13:45.520 --> 00:13:51.340 That is, for the remaining time, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 00:13:51.560 --> 00:13:53.800 And this command is in fact a passive command. 00:13:53.920 --> 00:13:56.700 That is, it says, be made strong in the Lord. 00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:58.700 In other words, don't find your strength in yourself. 00:13:59.300 --> 00:14:00.860 Be made strong in the Lord. 00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:03.120 Find your strength in Christ. 00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:07.419 We are totally dependent upon Christ. 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:08.980 The power is his. 00:14:09.180 --> 00:14:10.240 The victory is his. 00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:13.899 And without his strength and his victory, we will falter and we will fall. 00:14:13.899 --> 00:14:19.559 And yet, we still need to pursue being made strong in him. 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:26.959 And so what Paul does here is he sort of expresses here a proper combination of divine enabling and human cooperation. 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:35.240 And he does it again in verse 11, where he says, put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:48.000 So if your aim is to persevere in the Christian life and not be defeated by the cunning schemes of the devil, then you must put on the armor, take up the weapons as described here in these verses. 00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:53.779 The armor is meant to protect us from the attack of the evil one. 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:55.579 And it's really simple. 00:14:55.699 --> 00:14:56.659 Truth, verse 14. 00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:58.000 Righteousness, verse 14. 00:14:58.199 --> 00:15:00.039 The gospel of peace, verse 15. 00:15:00.459 --> 00:15:01.559 Faith in 16. 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:02.819 Salvation in 17. 00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:06.279 And the weapon is the word of God in verse 17. 00:15:06.439 --> 00:15:12.399 All things referred to earlier in Ephesians as gifts coming to us from Jesus himself. 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:23.919 Now, when you look at Ephesians 6 and you see this bigger picture of the Christian soldier in the armor of God, they look pretty formidable. 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:30.379 It's like you've got the whole armor on, the helmet, the breastplates, and all of a sudden, your big sword, and you feel like you're 10 foot tall. 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:33.340 Sort of like I do when you give me a big gun. 00:15:33.579 --> 00:15:36.039 I feel like a whole bigger man than what I actually am without a gun. 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:38.019 That's what happens in movies as well, I think. 00:15:38.199 --> 00:15:39.559 It kind of feels a bit like that. 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:42.559 And that's kind of what this soldier can feel like. 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:49.059 Because they've dressed up, formidable image, and there's a call to action. 00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:52.039 And so the soldier gets ready for action. 00:15:52.439 --> 00:15:56.619 They've got their sword, they've got all their armor, and then they do something incredibly amazing here. 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:59.659 They fall to their knees and they pray. 00:16:00.839 --> 00:16:02.579 Now, that doesn't mean that there's no action. 00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:13.440 It means that every action of this soldier, dressed out, ready for this formidable battle, is that every aspect of it is bathed in prayer. 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:18.060 You see, prayer isn't just another one of the bits of the armor. 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:20.440 It's just not another sort of weapon you've got. 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:28.460 It's meant to pervade everything, all aspects of the cosmic wall that the disciple of the Lord Jesus is engaged in. 00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:36.300 But there is a temptation here, I think. 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:39.220 You know, you've got truth, you've got salvation. 00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:40.360 You know, I'm a Christian. 00:16:41.060 --> 00:16:43.120 I've got my theology worked out. 00:16:44.900 --> 00:16:46.379 Come into a good church. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:50.720 And you start to think, I can fight this battle. 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:58.040 In the same way, I feel like I'm pretty much indestructible when you've got a 308 strapped over your shoulder. 00:16:58.500 --> 00:17:00.160 I feel like I'm pretty indestructible here. 00:17:03.040 --> 00:17:06.100 And yet, in verse 19, we see that's not Paul's temptation. 00:17:06.099 --> 00:17:18.959 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me, so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains. 00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:23.259 Pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should. 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:25.000 Now, let's be frank here. 00:17:25.439 --> 00:17:31.699 If ever there was a fearless and competent soldier in the cosmic battle, it would have to be Paul. 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:35.539 You see, he's the Chuck Norris of the early apostles. 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:41.100 That's his picture, or the Clint Eastwood, or the John Wayne, depending how old you are. 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:43.640 This is Paul. 00:17:45.100 --> 00:17:48.740 He's an awesome figure as an apostle of the Lord Jesus. 00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:55.500 Wrote one third of the New Testament, planted churches all over the Middle East, spread the gospel as far as you can imagine. 00:17:55.500 --> 00:18:01.779 He stood before people like Felix and Agrippa, officials of Rome, soldiers and commanders. 00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:05.839 And he fearlessly spoke the gospel. 00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:11.180 And he says here, I can't do that without your prayers. 00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:21.740 He says, I am fearful that I would lose courage and I would fail in the pressure of this battle. 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:24.460 And so he asked them to pray for him. 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:28.140 I need your prayers that I would be fearless in this battle. 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:31.500 And that's why he instructs them in verse 18. 00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:35.039 To pray in the Spirit at all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:41.460 With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints, including me, the Apostle Paul. 00:18:44.360 --> 00:18:47.740 Now, the prayer he's calling for here is comprehensive. 00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:50.299 We're to pray on all occasions. 00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:53.620 That means it's both regular and it's constant. 00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:59.420 And what he's calling us to do here as Christians who have been adorned with the armor, 00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:02.819 he's calling us to consistently be praying. 00:19:04.340 --> 00:19:10.440 Adopt an attitude of prayerful dependence on God for everything in their life. 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:17.000 That's why he says pray with all kinds of prayers and requests. 00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:21.120 Being alert and always keep on praying because you don't want to give up. 00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.539 You don't want to fall asleep. 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:25.200 Prayer is essential. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:37.640 And if prayer is so essential for Paul in this cosmic battle, I seriously have to ask the reason. 00:19:37.860 --> 00:19:41.759 Is the reason why we're losing ground, particularly in the Western church, 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:47.700 has it got anything to do with the lack of genuine prayer and commitment to prayer? 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:49.840 Have we got comfortable? 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:57.559 It's my conviction that we are weak because we do not pray as we ought. 00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:05.299 As American theologian Joel Beeky says, the greatest prayer problem with the church is prayerless praying. 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:12.419 And prayerless praying is where we don't really see our need and our dependence upon God, 00:20:12.659 --> 00:20:14.159 but we just mouth it anyway. 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:20.619 It's where we can articulate real and right knowledge and needs, 00:20:20.879 --> 00:20:24.440 but actually don't give ourselves up to God, 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:26.579 pour our hearts out to God, 00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:33.619 as if we actually needed God to act in order for there to be a victory. 00:20:37.139 --> 00:20:42.740 Prayerless praying is mouthing words without a heart or an attitude of prayerfulness. 00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:48.799 It's praying, 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:53.759 Lord, give me today my daily bread. 00:20:56.579 --> 00:21:01.399 But having a fridge full of food, 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:06.019 not really needing to pour my heart out to God, 00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:07.539 because I know there's some in the freezer. 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:11.000 I pray the prayer, 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:14.000 but do I really, truly believe 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:18.359 that God provides for my needs every single day 00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:19.599 and without his provision, 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:22.379 it doesn't exist. 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.279 It doesn't happen. 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:27.460 That's prayerless praying. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:30.519 Mouthing the right words, 00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:32.319 but with a heart that says, 00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.980 I'm not really dependent. 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:39.039 The other problem with prayer is a lack of prayer altogether. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:43.119 Because a non-existent prayer life means that I'm self-righteous 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:44.920 because I don't confess my sins to God. 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:48.099 It means I'm ungrateful because I do not give thanks to God. 00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:49.440 It means I'm presumptuous 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:52.759 because I just assume he's going to provide my daily bread for me. 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:55.099 I don't ask God for my daily needs. 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:57.859 I'm self-centered because I don't ask God to bless other people. 00:21:58.220 --> 00:22:01.460 I'm irreverent because I do not praise God or seek his kingdom to come. 00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:04.980 I'm unfriendly to God because I don't enjoy relating to him. 00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:07.400 And let me tell you, 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:09.819 I've been a Christian for just over 20 years. 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:15.099 And nothing makes me feel more like a faithless hypocrite 00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:16.460 than prayerlessness. 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:19.559 This is the one Christian discipline 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:23.500 that I have struggled with for 20 years. 00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:28.620 And for the last few years, I've worked out why. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:31.799 Because I like to be in control. 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:42.000 And I suspect I'm meant to feel like a faithless hypocrite 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:44.339 because of my prayerlessness. 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:49.039 Jesus ends his parable on the persistent widow in Luke 18 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:50.740 with a really important question. 00:22:52.419 --> 00:22:54.980 You see, the beginning of the parable in verse 1, 00:22:55.460 --> 00:23:00.460 Jesus tells the reason why he's sharing this parable. 00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:03.259 It's to show them, that is to show his disciples, 00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:07.259 that they should always pray and not give up. 00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:11.980 The very thing that Paul has encouraged the Ephesians to do in chapter 6, 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.819 to keep on praying. 00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:17.000 That's the point of the parable. 00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:20.039 And so his question at the end of the parable 00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:22.299 has some real force to it. 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:24.740 It's there in verse 8. 00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:26.880 When the Son of Man comes, 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:29.700 will he find faith on the earth? 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:32.059 See what Jesus does there? 00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:33.740 He connects prayer, 00:23:33.900 --> 00:23:35.340 that's the point of the parable, 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:38.259 with the question of, 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:40.720 will there be faith when I come? 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:43.319 He connects prayer and faith, 00:23:43.600 --> 00:23:44.980 trust, dependency on him, 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:45.740 together. 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:46.539 Together. 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:54.099 Jesus is saying in Luke 18, 00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:57.319 that continual prayer until he comes 00:23:57.319 --> 00:24:00.000 is not only the evidence 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:02.599 that we are people of faith, 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:06.559 but also the means of building faith 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:09.240 and dependence on him until he returns. 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:14.920 prayerless praying or non-existent prayer life 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:17.220 reveals an independent, 00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:18.960 self-confident, 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:20.519 faithless heart. 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:25.000 Can you see the conflict 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:27.519 between that and the person 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.660 who declares themselves 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:30.579 to be someone who trusts in the Lord Jesus? 00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:33.859 You see, 00:24:33.939 --> 00:24:35.159 we can say all that we like, 00:24:35.199 --> 00:24:36.339 all we like that we believe 00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:37.720 in the sovereignty of God 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:39.500 and that God ordains everything 00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.519 and that he elects stuff 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:42.399 and he purposes all things to be, 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.779 he's in control of all stuff, 00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:45.720 and we can marvel people 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.679 with our knowledge 00:24:46.679 --> 00:24:48.899 and of these doctrines of grace 00:24:48.899 --> 00:24:49.139 and, 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:52.399 but the place where we demonstrate 00:24:52.399 --> 00:24:54.279 that those things that we say 00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:55.099 that we value, 00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:57.980 we actually value in our hearts, 00:24:57.980 --> 00:25:00.579 is metaphorically 00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:02.380 on our knees in prayer. 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:08.360 Prayer is where our theology 00:25:08.360 --> 00:25:09.980 of the sovereignty 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:11.900 and the goodness of God 00:25:11.900 --> 00:25:14.900 translates into actual action, 00:25:15.360 --> 00:25:17.200 which is what core values do. 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.279 My friends, 00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:22.900 the context in which we as a church 00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:24.539 exist to know Jesus 00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:25.400 and treasure Jesus 00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:26.220 and represent Jesus 00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:26.880 for God's glory 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:27.860 and the joy of all people 00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:29.839 is a cosmic war. 00:25:29.979 --> 00:25:30.959 That's the context 00:25:30.959 --> 00:25:32.559 in which we gather here right now 00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:34.279 and in which we seek to do 00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:35.699 all the ministry that we're doing 00:25:35.699 --> 00:25:37.539 and it doesn't look like it 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.059 on the surface. 00:25:38.159 --> 00:25:38.719 It doesn't look like 00:25:38.719 --> 00:25:39.799 we're involved in cosmic war. 00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:40.959 The people driving past there 00:25:40.959 --> 00:25:42.079 at Fuller's Road right now 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.839 are not thinking, 00:25:42.959 --> 00:25:43.099 ooh, 00:25:43.219 --> 00:25:44.339 battlefield going on there. 00:25:44.699 --> 00:25:45.799 That's not what they're thinking 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.759 and let me tell you, 00:25:46.919 --> 00:25:48.299 when they drive past here 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.639 and if they do, 00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.219 you know, 00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:50.719 if they're not watching 00:25:50.719 --> 00:25:51.099 where they're going, 00:25:51.199 --> 00:25:52.159 they have a glance over here 00:25:52.159 --> 00:25:52.859 and they see a sign 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.579 on the front of the building 00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:54.579 that says time to build 00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:55.740 and they notice 00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:56.779 that we've got some building program 00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:57.479 going on here 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.740 and if they drive a bit further 00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:59.819 just before they turn left 00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:00.440 or go straight ahead, 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:00.900 they'll notice 00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:01.500 there's another one 00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.220 right next door. 00:26:02.360 --> 00:26:03.980 Alto are doing a building project too 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:05.339 and on the surface, 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.720 both of them look 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:08.039 the same kind of thing 00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:09.400 except Alto's bigger than ours. 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:11.200 It's the same kind of stuff. 00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:12.980 Alto's got a building project 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.799 and Paul's Chatswood's 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.640 got a building project. 00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.960 It all looks the same 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:23.299 but our one draws the attention 00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:24.200 of Satan 00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:26.019 in a way that Alto's one doesn't. 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:29.500 Satan is against us 00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:31.120 in the way that he's not against them. 00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:35.059 Alto will sell and service cars, 00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:36.240 Holden cars, mind you, 00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:37.460 on their site 00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:40.360 and ours is a battlefield headquarters 00:26:40.360 --> 00:26:41.640 for the souls of lost people 00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:42.259 in Chatswood. 00:26:43.299 --> 00:26:44.660 Two very different things. 00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:47.279 We are locked in battle 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:48.920 every day for everything we do 00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:51.160 and let me tell you, 00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:51.720 right now, 00:26:51.840 --> 00:26:52.440 your leadership, 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.060 God, 00:26:53.560 --> 00:26:55.060 and I can only thank God for this, 00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:56.340 your leadership in your church 00:26:56.340 --> 00:26:56.860 right now 00:26:56.860 --> 00:26:58.400 is more acutely aware of it 00:26:58.400 --> 00:26:59.960 than I've noticed 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:01.320 in the last number of years. 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.779 More acutely aware 00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.900 of the battle that rages 00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:05.900 every day 00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:09.340 and it's causing us 00:27:09.340 --> 00:27:10.080 to pray. 00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:11.200 We've been walking 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:12.620 in some very hard days 00:27:12.620 --> 00:27:13.440 for months now 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:14.680 and we are being driven 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.320 to prayer 00:27:15.320 --> 00:27:16.740 and God is revealing 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.900 that he is in control 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:19.140 on a whole number of things. 00:27:21.060 --> 00:27:22.320 But bit by bit, 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:24.420 God has been humbling us. 00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:25.980 We have become 00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:26.820 less confident 00:27:26.820 --> 00:27:27.740 in ourselves 00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.700 and more confident 00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.400 in God. 00:27:31.340 --> 00:27:32.560 Everything we want to see 00:27:32.560 --> 00:27:33.519 happen here as a church 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.039 will happen 00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:35.160 will not happen 00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:36.480 without the supernatural 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:37.639 grace of God. 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:39.220 Are you aware of it? 00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:40.420 Are you aware 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:41.279 that he's in control 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:42.379 of everything 00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:44.460 in life? 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:49.019 You see, 00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:51.460 we don't exist 00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:52.319 to preach. 00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:55.339 We exist 00:27:55.339 --> 00:27:56.519 as a church 00:27:56.519 --> 00:27:57.160 to preach 00:27:57.160 --> 00:27:57.819 in the power 00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:58.759 of the Holy Spirit 00:27:58.759 --> 00:28:00.039 so that people 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:01.759 are supernaturally awakened 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:03.000 from unbelief 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:04.680 and changed 00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:06.039 beyond what 00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:07.779 any human being 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.740 can cause 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:10.000 in their life. 00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:13.259 We don't exist 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:14.220 to teach kids' church. 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:14.900 That's going on 00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:15.640 over there right now 00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:15.960 somewhere. 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:16.920 We don't exist 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:18.079 to teach kids' church 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:19.779 but to teach kids' church 00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.559 in the power 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:21.359 of the Holy Spirit 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:22.640 so that young people 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:24.140 are supernaturally converted, 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:25.180 built up in the faith 00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:26.660 and loved beyond 00:28:26.660 --> 00:28:28.039 what any of the kids' church 00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:28.740 teachers can do 00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:29.079 for them. 00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:32.679 We don't exist 00:28:32.679 --> 00:28:33.460 to sing 00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:35.139 but to sing 00:28:35.139 --> 00:28:35.599 in the power 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:36.059 of the Spirit 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.960 because the affections 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:37.579 of our hearts 00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:39.119 have been supernaturally awakened 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:40.799 and the glory 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.419 of Christ 00:28:41.419 --> 00:28:42.759 is treasured 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.559 beyond what 00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:44.759 any music 00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:46.159 can produce 00:28:46.159 --> 00:28:47.159 for us. 00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:49.940 We don't exist 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:50.960 to do evangelism 00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:51.420 and missions 00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:52.580 but to do evangelism 00:28:52.580 --> 00:28:52.920 and missions 00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:53.360 in the power 00:28:53.360 --> 00:28:54.060 of the Holy Spirit 00:28:54.060 --> 00:28:55.200 so that hard 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:56.540 unbelieving hearts 00:28:56.540 --> 00:28:58.060 will be supernaturally changed 00:28:58.060 --> 00:28:59.019 to soft 00:28:59.019 --> 00:29:00.540 Jesus receptive 00:29:00.540 --> 00:29:02.220 believing hearts. 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:02.940 Friends, 00:29:03.040 --> 00:29:03.860 I want to see people 00:29:03.860 --> 00:29:04.600 come to Christ, 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.460 treasure Jesus, 00:29:05.880 --> 00:29:06.560 I want to see people 00:29:06.560 --> 00:29:07.160 living lives 00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:07.940 for his glory, 00:29:08.060 --> 00:29:08.960 I want to see people 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:10.060 healed from scars, 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.519 from grudges, 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:12.560 grudge bearers 00:29:12.560 --> 00:29:13.700 turning into forgivers 00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.319 and haters 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:14.819 to lovers 00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.819 and grumblers 00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.460 and whingers 00:29:16.460 --> 00:29:18.799 turned into joyless 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.640 rejoicers, 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:21.920 I want to see 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:22.900 joyless people 00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:23.880 into hopeful people 00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:24.840 that judgmental 00:29:24.840 --> 00:29:25.779 turned into 00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:28.519 people who are merciful. 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.900 I want to see all that 00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:32.259 happening in people's lives 00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:35.680 and I can't do it. 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:37.279 It is a supernatural 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:38.519 work of God. 00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:41.819 Everything we aim 00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:42.440 to accomplish 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:42.980 as a church 00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:44.000 is impossible 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:45.539 without God's 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.740 supernatural action 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:47.799 and frankly 00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:50.519 that is so liberating 00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:52.059 but it's also 00:29:52.059 --> 00:29:53.779 so incredibly humbling 00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:54.920 because it means 00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:57.839 that I am weak 00:29:57.839 --> 00:30:02.500 and I guess 00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:04.259 weakness 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:06.619 and humiliation 00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:07.779 which always 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:08.500 comes before 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.079 humility 00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:10.619 is one of the 00:30:10.619 --> 00:30:11.279 first things 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.159 needed for a 00:30:12.159 --> 00:30:13.379 vigorous prayer life. 00:30:16.859 --> 00:30:17.419 Recognizing 00:30:17.419 --> 00:30:18.799 that you have 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.539 no power 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:22.039 in this world 00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:24.939 but God does 00:30:24.939 --> 00:30:25.919 and so friends 00:30:25.919 --> 00:30:26.599 I want to call 00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:27.279 for you to pray 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:27.839 right now 00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:28.479 for our building 00:30:28.479 --> 00:30:29.079 project 00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:30.299 for it to be 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:31.179 finished on time 00:30:31.179 --> 00:30:31.979 and in budget. 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:34.339 There is right now 00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:35.979 and I can't believe 00:30:35.979 --> 00:30:36.459 I'm saying this 00:30:36.460 --> 00:30:36.880 with a smile 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:37.259 on my face. 00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.100 Right now 00:30:38.100 --> 00:30:38.480 there is 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.860 $50,000 to $60,000 00:30:39.860 --> 00:30:41.000 that could go 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:41.880 against us 00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:42.960 and the immediate 00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:43.480 response is 00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:44.259 take control of that. 00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:45.279 Don't spend the money. 00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:46.140 No, no, no, no. 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.579 It's stuff that's 00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:48.180 already committed 00:30:48.180 --> 00:30:49.319 and it could go 00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:49.759 against us. 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:49.980 You know 00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:51.299 if you stick 00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:51.900 an excavator 00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:52.340 out there 00:30:52.340 --> 00:30:53.299 in the car park 00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:53.779 and all of a sudden 00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:54.440 they start digging 00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:55.319 stuff and they find 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:56.220 dirty dirt in there 00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:56.980 I know that's 00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:57.539 a weird statement 00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:58.240 they find 00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:59.680 dirty fill in there 00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:01.420 all of a sudden 00:31:01.420 --> 00:31:02.200 the bills go 00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:03.759 through the roof. 00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:05.240 Find a couple 00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:06.339 of sheets of asbestos 00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:07.140 in the car park 00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:08.039 boom 00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:08.819 through the roof 00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:09.440 and expenses 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:11.200 and we can't 00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:11.779 cover that 00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:13.380 and so 00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:13.920 there's about 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:14.759 50 to 60 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.819 in this project 00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:16.319 that could go 00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:16.759 against us 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.359 we've got no 00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:18.319 control over it 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:19.000 whatsoever 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:21.319 and if it goes 00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:21.720 against it 00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:22.000 it's going to 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:22.599 hurt us a lot. 00:31:23.380 --> 00:31:24.259 So pray 00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:25.299 that it will 00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:26.380 go in our favour. 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:28.200 Pray that God 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:28.779 would act. 00:31:29.200 --> 00:31:29.720 Pray that 00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.940 George Altamonte 00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:31.819 the chairman 00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:32.759 of the Altai group 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.140 over there 00:31:33.140 --> 00:31:33.519 who's been 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:34.279 generous to us 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:34.720 already 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:37.279 will be even 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.099 more generous 00:31:38.099 --> 00:31:38.639 towards us 00:31:38.639 --> 00:31:39.220 just because 00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:40.059 we're his neighbours. 00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:41.440 If God 00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:41.960 can get 00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:42.599 Pharaoh 00:31:42.599 --> 00:31:44.139 to move 00:31:44.139 --> 00:31:44.980 Pharaoh's heart 00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.639 to say to the 00:31:45.639 --> 00:31:45.819 Israelites 00:31:45.819 --> 00:31:46.920 yeah go 00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:48.180 and take 00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:48.819 all the wealth 00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:49.240 of Egypt 00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:49.759 with you 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:50.599 he can move 00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:50.899 the head 00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:51.799 of the Altai group 00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.220 to give us 00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:53.319 a few more dollars. 00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:55.119 Seriously 00:31:55.119 --> 00:31:56.720 pray that 00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.200 God 00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:58.160 would move. 00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.480 God 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:01.220 has promised 00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:02.019 to do for us 00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.599 things that we 00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:03.220 cannot do 00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:03.900 for ourselves 00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:04.720 when we 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.019 pray. 00:32:05.339 --> 00:32:05.620 God 00:32:05.620 --> 00:32:06.400 has designed 00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:07.100 and ordained 00:32:07.100 --> 00:32:07.900 and planned 00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:08.720 and promised 00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:09.680 that he will 00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:10.740 act when we 00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:11.180 pray. 00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:11.900 God 00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:12.480 has promised 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.120 to act 00:32:13.120 --> 00:32:13.440 when we 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:13.920 get on our 00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:14.339 faces 00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:15.420 before him 00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:15.720 and we 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.420 confess our 00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:16.720 sins 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.660 and give 00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:18.200 thanks for 00:32:18.200 --> 00:32:18.680 his grace 00:32:18.680 --> 00:32:19.279 and plead 00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:19.720 for him 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.579 to pour 00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:21.140 out his 00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:21.680 supernatural 00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:22.339 blessings 00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:23.480 on our 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:23.920 lives 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:24.180 and our 00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:24.559 families 00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:24.880 and our 00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:25.220 church 00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:25.500 and our 00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:25.880 city. 00:32:25.880 --> 00:32:29.560 when we 00:32:29.560 --> 00:32:30.080 pray we 00:32:30.080 --> 00:32:30.620 are declaring 00:32:30.620 --> 00:32:31.000 that the 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.460 supernatural 00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:32.140 action of 00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:32.500 God 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.920 is essential 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:35.280 in the 00:32:35.280 --> 00:32:35.980 life of 00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:36.560 St. Paul's 00:32:36.560 --> 00:32:37.060 Chatswood. 00:32:38.820 --> 00:32:40.360 So is it 00:32:40.360 --> 00:32:41.380 not breathtaking 00:32:41.380 --> 00:32:42.640 to hear Jesus 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.160 say 00:32:43.160 --> 00:32:43.920 ask 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:45.280 and it will 00:32:45.280 --> 00:32:45.700 be given 00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:46.220 to you? 00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:48.000 Is it not 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.480 breathtaking 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:49.560 to hear Jesus' 00:32:49.780 --> 00:32:50.540 brother James 00:32:50.540 --> 00:32:50.880 say 00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:51.680 you want 00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:52.020 something 00:32:52.020 --> 00:32:52.340 but you 00:32:52.340 --> 00:32:53.020 don't get 00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:53.299 it 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:54.740 because you 00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:55.160 do not 00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:56.400 ask God 00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:58.059 or to put it 00:32:58.059 --> 00:32:58.599 out positively 00:32:58.599 --> 00:32:59.700 if you'd 00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.639 asked me 00:33:00.639 --> 00:33:01.160 I would 00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:01.720 have given 00:33:01.720 --> 00:33:02.519 it to you. 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:05.539 It's astonishing 00:33:05.539 --> 00:33:06.960 that God 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:07.539 acts in 00:33:07.539 --> 00:33:08.160 response to 00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:08.420 prayer. 00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.480 It's astonishing 00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:10.119 because the 00:33:10.119 --> 00:33:10.819 all-knowing 00:33:10.819 --> 00:33:12.039 all-seeing 00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:13.099 all-planning 00:33:13.099 --> 00:33:14.019 all-powerful 00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:14.420 God 00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:15.720 wills 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:16.619 for our 00:33:16.619 --> 00:33:18.180 Christ-exalting 00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:18.940 prayers 00:33:18.940 --> 00:33:19.720 to be the 00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:20.279 occasion 00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:20.879 of his 00:33:20.879 --> 00:33:21.279 action. 00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:22.859 that's 00:33:22.859 --> 00:33:23.819 mind-blowing 00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.299 in my 00:33:24.299 --> 00:33:24.960 mind. 00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:27.859 And so 00:33:27.859 --> 00:33:28.660 devotion to 00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:29.079 prayer is a 00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:29.500 core value 00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:29.740 of this 00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:30.079 church. 00:33:32.379 --> 00:33:33.319 My desire 00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:33.759 for us 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:34.019 at St. 00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:34.399 Paul's 00:33:34.399 --> 00:33:34.920 is to be 00:33:34.920 --> 00:33:35.460 more like 00:33:35.460 --> 00:33:36.680 the 97-year-old 00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:37.420 Miss Daisy 00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:38.399 than the 00:33:38.399 --> 00:33:39.399 72-year-old 00:33:39.399 --> 00:33:40.059 Miss Daisy. 00:33:41.740 --> 00:33:42.259 Joyfully 00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:43.160 dependent on 00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:44.039 our gracious 00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:44.639 God's 00:33:44.639 --> 00:33:45.160 provision 00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:46.859 daily 00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:47.460 provision 00:33:47.460 --> 00:33:49.480 in such 00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:49.819 a way 00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:50.220 that when 00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:50.980 we pray 00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:51.940 give us 00:33:51.940 --> 00:33:52.420 today 00:33:52.420 --> 00:33:53.200 our daily 00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:53.680 bread 00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:54.880 we 00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:55.799 actually 00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:57.039 mean it. 00:33:59.259 --> 00:33:59.900 We 00:33:59.900 --> 00:34:00.299 actually 00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:01.180 mean that 00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:01.440 we are 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:01.940 dependent 00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:02.400 upon him 00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:02.579 for 00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:03.420 everything. 00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.240 And so 00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:07.759 may this 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:08.320 core value 00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:08.780 not just 00:34:08.780 --> 00:34:09.280 be written 00:34:09.280 --> 00:34:09.599 on the 00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:10.059 paperwork 00:34:10.059 --> 00:34:10.460 and on 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:10.840 the walls 00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:11.320 and posters 00:34:11.320 --> 00:34:11.740 and stuff 00:34:11.740 --> 00:34:12.179 around the 00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:12.539 place 00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:14.019 but written 00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:14.320 in our 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:14.659 hearts 00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:15.119 in such 00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:15.440 a way 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:15.860 that it 00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:16.320 shapes 00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:17.360 the 00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:17.780 attitude 00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:18.039 and 00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:18.639 activity 00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.639 of our 00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:20.179 lives. 00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:20.659 Let me 00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:20.900 tell you 00:34:20.900 --> 00:34:21.119 what it 00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:21.440 does for 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:21.719 the full 00:34:21.719 --> 00:34:22.199 time staff 00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:22.460 here at 00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:22.839 St. Paul's 00:34:22.839 --> 00:34:23.159 this is how 00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:23.659 we shape 00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:23.879 it. 00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:24.920 Likewise 00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:25.400 with Christ 00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:25.599 in a 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:25.980 Bible 00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:26.579 situation. 00:34:27.279 --> 00:34:27.759 I give 00:34:27.759 --> 00:34:28.219 full time 00:34:28.219 --> 00:34:28.940 staff here 00:34:28.940 --> 00:34:29.519 one day 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:29.960 a month 00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:30.559 committed 00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.259 to just 00:34:31.259 --> 00:34:31.779 prayer 00:34:31.779 --> 00:34:32.940 for this 00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:33.239 church 00:34:33.239 --> 00:34:33.480 and for 00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:33.579 the 00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:33.839 ministry 00:34:33.839 --> 00:34:34.139 of this 00:34:34.139 --> 00:34:34.480 church. 00:34:35.159 --> 00:34:35.440 One 00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:35.759 day a 00:34:35.759 --> 00:34:35.920 month 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:36.139 and I 00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:36.239 think 00:34:36.239 --> 00:34:36.379 it's 00:34:36.379 --> 00:34:36.699 the most 00:34:36.699 --> 00:34:37.000 valuable 00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:37.199 thing 00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:37.480 not that 00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:37.779 they do 00:34:37.779 --> 00:34:38.179 other things 00:34:38.179 --> 00:34:38.400 which are 00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:38.659 valuable 00:34:38.659 --> 00:34:39.179 but it's 00:34:39.179 --> 00:34:39.679 the most 00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:40.079 valuable 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:40.539 thing. 00:34:40.539 --> 00:34:40.900 I'm 00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:41.380 always 00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:41.860 encouraged 00:34:41.860 --> 00:34:42.099 when I 00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:42.340 look at 00:34:42.340 --> 00:34:42.500 my 00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:42.820 diary 00:34:42.820 --> 00:34:43.380 and know 00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:43.860 that staff 00:34:43.860 --> 00:34:44.179 member is 00:34:44.179 --> 00:34:44.480 committed 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:44.960 today in 00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:45.239 prayer. 00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:45.719 They're 00:34:45.719 --> 00:34:45.960 praying 00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:46.279 today. 00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:49.860 And 00:34:49.860 --> 00:34:51.400 they also 00:34:51.400 --> 00:34:52.300 report to 00:34:52.300 --> 00:34:52.579 me on 00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:53.539 their private 00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:54.179 devotional 00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:54.579 lives. 00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:54.840 They're 00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:55.340 actually being 00:34:55.340 --> 00:34:55.800 saturated 00:34:55.800 --> 00:34:56.039 in the 00:34:56.039 --> 00:34:56.259 scriptures 00:34:56.259 --> 00:34:56.739 and actually 00:34:56.739 --> 00:34:57.019 have a 00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:58.059 life of 00:34:58.059 --> 00:34:58.639 prayerfulness. 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:00.739 And so 00:35:00.739 --> 00:35:01.519 St. Paul's 00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:02.460 as a church 00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:02.940 we're committed 00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:03.539 to constantly 00:35:03.539 --> 00:35:04.039 bringing all 00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:04.360 things to 00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:04.679 God in 00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:04.980 prayer, 00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:06.420 intentionally 00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:06.840 building 00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:07.320 prayer into 00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:07.880 the centre 00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:08.320 of our 00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:09.000 life together 00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:10.000 and developing 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:14.199 a culture 00:35:14.199 --> 00:35:14.679 where 00:35:14.679 --> 00:35:16.199 natural 00:35:16.199 --> 00:35:16.539 and 00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:17.579 unstructured 00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:18.360 prayerfulness 00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:20.119 just comes 00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:21.340 out in 00:35:21.340 --> 00:35:21.519 our 00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:22.079 interactions 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:22.500 with one 00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:22.780 another. 00:35:23.159 --> 00:35:23.679 Not just 00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:24.400 it's time 00:35:24.400 --> 00:35:24.780 for prayer 00:35:24.780 --> 00:35:25.039 meeting. 00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:26.119 Not just 00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:26.340 that. 00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:27.780 I pulled 00:35:27.780 --> 00:35:28.980 the face 00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:29.239 kind of 00:35:29.239 --> 00:35:29.400 stuff. 00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:30.260 But not 00:35:30.260 --> 00:35:31.340 just the 00:35:31.340 --> 00:35:32.079 prayer meeting 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:32.559 time but 00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:33.579 natural 00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:34.179 interactions 00:35:34.179 --> 00:35:34.460 with one 00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:34.760 another where 00:35:34.760 --> 00:35:35.360 we converse 00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:35.980 about stuff 00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:36.519 and we 00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:37.199 share things 00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:37.500 with one 00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:37.599 other. 00:35:37.719 --> 00:35:37.840 We just 00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:38.619 pray for 00:35:38.619 --> 00:35:38.719 your 00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:38.920 brother. 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:39.059 I just 00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:39.199 want to 00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:39.480 pray for 00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:39.599 your 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:39.840 sister. 00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:40.760 Natural 00:35:40.760 --> 00:35:41.119 prayer 00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:41.519 flowing 00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:41.880 out. 00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:45.059 We're 00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:46.480 as a 00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:46.659 church 00:35:46.659 --> 00:35:47.119 committed 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:47.599 to 00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:48.480 encouraging 00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:49.139 and equipping 00:35:49.139 --> 00:35:49.719 for prayer 00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:50.019 on a 00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:50.380 personal 00:35:50.380 --> 00:35:50.960 family level 00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:51.559 and incorporating 00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:52.400 prayer into 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:53.599 every church 00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:54.199 activity. 00:35:54.820 --> 00:35:55.280 And so let 00:35:55.280 --> 00:35:55.599 me just 00:35:55.599 --> 00:35:56.179 take Jesus' 00:35:56.380 --> 00:35:57.460 question and 00:35:57.460 --> 00:35:57.940 make it a 00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:58.420 little bit more 00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:58.960 pertinent for 00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.400 us at 00:35:59.400 --> 00:35:59.579 St. 00:35:59.579 --> 00:36:00.039 Paul's. 00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:01.800 When the 00:36:01.800 --> 00:36:02.099 Son of 00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:03.000 Man comes, 00:36:04.599 --> 00:36:05.239 will he 00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:06.239 find faith 00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:07.400 at St. 00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:07.920 Paul's? 00:36:07.920 --> 00:36:13.059 I want to 00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:13.500 ask you, 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:13.980 are you 00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:14.619 more like 00:36:14.619 --> 00:36:15.280 the 72 00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:15.780 year old 00:36:15.780 --> 00:36:16.019 Miss 00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:16.500 Daisy 00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:17.480 clinging 00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:17.740 to 00:36:17.740 --> 00:36:18.440 independence 00:36:18.440 --> 00:36:20.619 or the 00:36:20.619 --> 00:36:21.139 joyfully 00:36:21.139 --> 00:36:21.780 dependent 00:36:21.780 --> 00:36:22.760 97 year 00:36:22.760 --> 00:36:23.019 old 00:36:23.019 --> 00:36:23.260 Miss 00:36:23.260 --> 00:36:23.579 Daisy? 00:36:23.579 --> 00:36:27.960 I believe 00:36:27.960 --> 00:36:28.679 Christ will 00:36:28.679 --> 00:36:29.360 find faith 00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:29.699 at St. 00:36:29.759 --> 00:36:31.079 Paul's if 00:36:31.079 --> 00:36:31.759 we learn to 00:36:31.759 --> 00:36:32.380 live a 00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:33.639 life of 00:36:33.639 --> 00:36:34.159 prayerful 00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:34.739 dependence 00:36:34.739 --> 00:36:36.139 until he 00:36:36.139 --> 00:36:37.519 comes in 00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:38.400 every day 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:39.860 across all 00:36:39.860 --> 00:36:40.460 the church 00:36:40.460 --> 00:36:41.259 and all the 00:36:41.259 --> 00:36:41.840 activities of 00:36:41.840 --> 00:36:42.400 this church. 00:36:43.400 --> 00:36:44.559 And my hope 00:36:44.559 --> 00:36:44.880 and my 00:36:44.880 --> 00:36:45.920 prayer is 00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:46.279 that we 00:36:46.279 --> 00:36:47.019 become more 00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:47.860 like 97 00:36:47.860 --> 00:36:48.659 year old 00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:48.920 Miss 00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:49.279 Daisy. 00:36:49.280 --> 00:36:51.360 And this 00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:52.080 core value 00:36:52.080 --> 00:36:52.540 of devotion 00:36:52.540 --> 00:36:52.980 to prayer 00:36:52.980 --> 00:36:53.800 is written 00:36:53.800 --> 00:36:55.240 in our 00:36:55.240 --> 00:36:55.760 hearts. 00:36:56.620 --> 00:36:57.160 Let's pray. 00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:00.560 Gracious 00:37:00.560 --> 00:37:00.980 Father, 00:37:01.580 --> 00:37:02.920 you are 00:37:02.920 --> 00:37:03.260 sovereign 00:37:03.260 --> 00:37:03.960 over all 00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:04.580 that is 00:37:04.580 --> 00:37:06.800 and we 00:37:06.800 --> 00:37:07.200 are so 00:37:07.200 --> 00:37:07.560 dependent 00:37:07.560 --> 00:37:07.980 upon you 00:37:07.980 --> 00:37:08.280 and yet 00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:08.600 Lord, 00:37:08.780 --> 00:37:09.060 in our 00:37:09.060 --> 00:37:09.680 sinfulness 00:37:09.680 --> 00:37:10.040 and our 00:37:10.040 --> 00:37:10.360 sinful 00:37:10.360 --> 00:37:10.920 pride, 00:37:11.500 --> 00:37:12.320 we cling 00:37:12.320 --> 00:37:12.860 to our 00:37:12.860 --> 00:37:13.740 independence. 00:37:15.460 --> 00:37:15.580 Oh, 00:37:15.660 --> 00:37:15.880 Father, 00:37:15.980 --> 00:37:16.340 there is so 00:37:16.340 --> 00:37:16.800 much more 00:37:16.800 --> 00:37:17.560 power and 00:37:17.560 --> 00:37:18.200 freedom just 00:37:18.199 --> 00:37:18.939 by surrendering 00:37:18.939 --> 00:37:19.519 to you 00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:21.039 the God 00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:21.559 who is not 00:37:21.559 --> 00:37:22.659 just a 00:37:22.659 --> 00:37:23.059 God who 00:37:23.059 --> 00:37:23.559 is sovereign 00:37:23.559 --> 00:37:23.879 but a 00:37:23.879 --> 00:37:24.299 God who 00:37:24.299 --> 00:37:25.019 is merciful 00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:25.659 and good 00:37:25.659 --> 00:37:26.319 and just. 00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:27.819 Father, 00:37:27.919 --> 00:37:28.339 we pray 00:37:28.339 --> 00:37:28.719 that we 00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:29.119 would be 00:37:29.119 --> 00:37:29.919 delightfully 00:37:29.919 --> 00:37:31.000 and joyfully 00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:31.439 dependent 00:37:31.439 --> 00:37:32.039 upon you 00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:32.679 in all 00:37:32.679 --> 00:37:33.139 things. 00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:34.899 Lord, 00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:35.339 as I've 00:37:35.339 --> 00:37:36.279 asked our 00:37:36.279 --> 00:37:36.960 church across 00:37:36.960 --> 00:37:37.439 all the 00:37:37.439 --> 00:37:38.139 services today 00:37:38.139 --> 00:37:38.739 to pray 00:37:38.739 --> 00:37:39.719 for our 00:37:39.719 --> 00:37:40.000 building 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:40.619 project, 00:37:40.779 --> 00:37:41.239 I pray 00:37:41.239 --> 00:37:41.619 that this 00:37:41.619 --> 00:37:41.939 50, 00:37:42.039 --> 00:37:42.599 60 grand, 00:37:42.679 --> 00:37:43.079 whatever it 00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:43.980 is that 00:37:43.980 --> 00:37:44.419 could go 00:37:44.419 --> 00:37:45.279 against us, 00:37:45.319 --> 00:37:45.519 that it 00:37:45.519 --> 00:37:45.859 will go 00:37:45.859 --> 00:37:46.639 for us. 00:37:48.199 --> 00:37:48.619 I pray, 00:37:48.919 --> 00:37:49.019 Father, 00:37:49.079 --> 00:37:49.679 that you 00:37:49.679 --> 00:37:50.139 would 00:37:50.139 --> 00:37:51.599 intervene 00:37:51.599 --> 00:37:52.679 and act 00:37:52.679 --> 00:37:54.019 in amongst 00:37:54.019 --> 00:37:54.699 the lives 00:37:54.699 --> 00:37:55.299 of all 00:37:55.299 --> 00:37:55.859 these people 00:37:55.859 --> 00:37:56.079 that we 00:37:56.079 --> 00:37:56.379 have no 00:37:56.379 --> 00:37:57.000 control over, 00:37:57.119 --> 00:37:58.559 builders and 00:37:58.559 --> 00:38:00.619 Alto Group 00:38:00.619 --> 00:38:01.119 and everything 00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:01.699 else. 00:38:02.759 --> 00:38:03.559 Willoughby Council, 00:38:03.739 --> 00:38:04.139 everyone, 00:38:04.759 --> 00:38:05.099 so that it 00:38:05.099 --> 00:38:05.739 will go in 00:38:05.739 --> 00:38:06.279 our favour. 00:38:07.759 --> 00:38:08.379 And when it 00:38:08.379 --> 00:38:08.819 does, 00:38:08.980 --> 00:38:09.219 that it 00:38:09.219 --> 00:38:09.939 would cause 00:38:09.939 --> 00:38:10.639 us to 00:38:10.639 --> 00:38:11.259 rejoice, 00:38:12.879 --> 00:38:13.859 deeply rejoice 00:38:13.859 --> 00:38:14.279 and give 00:38:14.279 --> 00:38:15.039 thanks to you. 00:38:15.039 --> 00:38:16.659 may we 00:38:16.659 --> 00:38:17.340 be reminded 00:38:17.340 --> 00:38:18.000 constantly, 00:38:18.340 --> 00:38:18.380 Father, 00:38:18.460 --> 00:38:18.860 that you're 00:38:18.860 --> 00:38:19.440 in control, 00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:20.259 you have 00:38:20.259 --> 00:38:20.779 all the 00:38:20.779 --> 00:38:21.219 power in 00:38:21.219 --> 00:38:21.579 the world 00:38:21.579 --> 00:38:21.900 where we 00:38:21.900 --> 00:38:22.539 virtually have 00:38:22.539 --> 00:38:22.800 none. 00:38:24.019 --> 00:38:24.539 May that 00:38:24.539 --> 00:38:25.259 be a comfort 00:38:25.259 --> 00:38:25.759 and a joy 00:38:25.759 --> 00:38:26.219 for us, 00:38:26.380 --> 00:38:26.800 in Jesus' 00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:27.179 name. 00:38:27.719 --> 00:38:28.059 Amen.