WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:21.859 The book, I don't expect you to read it at all, but the book Hamlet's Blackberry likens our digital age to a gigantic room with more than a billion people in it with everyone in really close proximity. 00:00:21.859 --> 00:00:36.920 And in the room, people are constantly coming up to you and tapping you on the shoulder, a text, a hit, a comment, a tweet, a post, a message, an email, a new thread, and the taps never stop. 00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:46.500 Well, the taps come while you're eating, while you're sleeping, while you're driving, while you're on vacation, and when you're even on the toilet. 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:55.560 The digital age is, according to the book, is somewhat like the Eagle Song Hotel California. 00:00:56.060 --> 00:00:58.980 You can check out any time, but you can never leave. 00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:06.500 But what if we actually prefer it that way? 00:01:06.920 --> 00:01:21.740 We complain about it, but what if we actually prefer the endless noise to the deafening silence of our own hearts? 00:01:21.739 --> 00:01:40.619 What if the trivialities and the distractions and the latest posts and the TV, the rush of our day, are not actually forced upon us by the busyness of our society? 00:01:41.419 --> 00:01:44.399 What if, in fact, they were not forced upon us at all? 00:01:44.400 --> 00:01:50.680 Hence the question of Hamlet's Blackberry. 00:01:52.740 --> 00:02:00.460 Our age of distracted busyness threatens us with what is known as acedia. 00:02:01.560 --> 00:02:05.100 The word acedia had its origins in the 17th century. 00:02:05.099 --> 00:02:15.180 It's roughly equivalent in meaning to the words sloth or listlessness, purposelessness. 00:02:15.579 --> 00:02:26.719 In the 17th century, it was particularly attached to spiritual and mental apathy when it came to relationship with God. 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:40.800 Ascedia is purposelessness, slothfulness, listlessness disguised by constant commotion. 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:43.819 The inability to stop. 00:02:43.819 --> 00:02:55.579 In fact, a lot of sociologists nowadays are saying that society actually wants to be harried. 00:02:56.079 --> 00:03:03.740 It wants to be hassled and busy because it fears the silence, the stillness and the rest. 00:03:03.740 --> 00:03:07.340 Because we would not know what to do with it. 00:03:07.340 --> 00:03:10.939 And particularly, we would not know what to do with ourselves. 00:03:11.640 --> 00:03:20.640 And to listen to our hearts and see the gaping hole in our lives, the gaping hole of purposelessness, 00:03:20.939 --> 00:03:24.120 that the constant commotion hides. 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:33.480 Modern society are terrified by the restlessness of the soul. 00:03:33.740 --> 00:03:48.300 The hyperactivity of today's contemporary society makes the reflective lifestyle a lost art. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:54.000 And it's one of the biggest roadblocks to personal transformation in any life, 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:57.660 but personal transformation in the life of the Christian. 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:03.700 All too many Christians, as I've said a few times in this series, 00:04:03.740 --> 00:04:08.920 know a set of beliefs that float around in the mind, 00:04:09.700 --> 00:04:18.759 but have not been working those beliefs down into their character and their priorities in life 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:25.879 in such a way that they interact with God, with people and society in a different way. 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:38.259 It requires time and attention and discipline to bring about personal transformation in character and priorities. 00:04:38.259 --> 00:04:44.079 And the point of today's message, it takes daily connection with God. 00:04:44.219 --> 00:04:48.920 If we are going to be transformed into the image of God. 00:04:50.060 --> 00:04:59.339 Daily communion and relating with God, daily pondering his excellencies and our own shortcomings and working on the gap. 00:04:59.339 --> 00:05:01.159 And so there's three points today. 00:05:02.899 --> 00:05:06.019 Hopefully it's in your outline. 00:05:06.299 --> 00:05:08.739 It's on the St. Paul's app if you want to go there with it. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:10.599 So firstly, daily listening to God. 00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:14.519 I'm not really going to unpack all the stuff that lies behind this. 00:05:14.599 --> 00:05:16.399 We did a series on this late last year. 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:21.339 You can go back and listen to those messages instead of me repeating everything here. 00:05:21.339 --> 00:05:31.000 So just briefly, the God of the Christian Bible is quite profoundly a God who speaks. 00:05:31.659 --> 00:05:33.479 He's a God who communicates. 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:39.039 He speaks and when he speaks, his words have power in and of themselves. 00:05:39.159 --> 00:05:41.939 He doesn't need power to accompany his words. 00:05:41.939 --> 00:05:50.680 And so when he speaks, the universe is created from non-pre-existing material. 00:05:51.860 --> 00:06:00.899 More importantly, and certainly more personally, God has consistently spoken to humanity throughout history. 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:09.560 That is, he does not leave us in the dark about who he is, what he's like, how to live in relationship with him, 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:17.139 what the purpose of life is, how to navigate life well in a world for his glory and for our joy. 00:06:18.860 --> 00:06:28.259 As Moses reiterated the Ten Commandments to the generation of Israelites that was about to move into the promised land, 00:06:28.379 --> 00:06:31.120 he said this to them in Deuteronomy 4. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:58.379 Which is another way to say that what, look at the privileges we have. 00:06:58.379 --> 00:07:08.579 God speaks to us and we get to speak to him and communion and connection and closeness is the result of that. 00:07:09.500 --> 00:07:21.120 To have a God you could pray to with confidence and to have a God who speaks to his people with instruction and decree is a remarkable thing. 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:30.939 But as Israel's history unfolded, the people of God got bored with God's word. 00:07:33.280 --> 00:07:36.639 With disastrous consequences. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:45.180 The cultural narratives and the norms of the surrounding nations were far more interesting to them. 00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:55.439 In the face of a God who brought everything into being and speaks, we too can find ourselves yawning. 00:07:56.560 --> 00:07:58.319 It is just all too familiar. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:10.579 The headlines flashing in our faces and the cultural norms softly telling and retelling their story in thousands of ways every day. 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:19.399 And we're constantly tuning into it in everything that we read, everything we see, social media, the rest of the media. 00:08:19.719 --> 00:08:22.139 Whatever it is, retelling the story. 00:08:22.139 --> 00:08:24.019 And it seems more interesting. 00:08:24.019 --> 00:08:26.360 It seems more urgent. 00:08:27.079 --> 00:08:28.959 And it is certainly diverting. 00:08:31.659 --> 00:08:37.519 It seems that the constant noise of our society has in fact more authority. 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:53.240 The apostle Peter reminds us that we have the words of the Old Testament prophets made more certain in 2 Peter 2 verse 19. 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:59.100 Made more certain because Jesus is the one who has fulfilled all of their expectations. 00:09:00.220 --> 00:09:04.939 Indeed, we have the words of Jesus himself, the greatest prophet of all. 00:09:04.940 --> 00:09:09.700 But we prefer to tune into the doomsday predictions of the news. 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:14.460 Binge on a whole season of Netflix in two evenings. 00:09:15.680 --> 00:09:24.620 Or mindlessly, relentlessly, endlessly scroll through social media. 00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:32.720 There is a better story to turn into every day. 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:41.120 One in which we are not just mere spectators, but in fact active participants. 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:54.539 It's a story of a God who gave up all of heaven's privileges to live amongst his wayward, restless people in order to bring them rest. 00:09:55.100 --> 00:09:59.820 And to bring them rest, he died on a cross in our place. 00:09:59.820 --> 00:10:14.740 And when we thought that story was over, he burst forth from the grave to inaugurate a kingdom that is not of this world. 00:10:15.160 --> 00:10:18.760 A kingdom that he invites us into to participate in. 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:34.559 It's such a better story than the chaos, the numbness or the vanity of most of the stories that we digest in our unthinking routines and daily habits. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:47.359 As the Apostle Peter said, we have the words of the prophets, the word of God, much more certain and confident now in Jesus. 00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:53.759 And in the very next breath, he says, you will do well to pay attention to it. 00:10:53.759 --> 00:11:08.159 What he's talking about there is he's talking about the story of Scripture, the story of the Bible. 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:13.379 Now packaged very conveniently for us in about a thousand pages. 00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:19.819 It's a much better story and we would do well to pay attention to it. 00:11:20.419 --> 00:11:23.679 And that's what Psalm 1 starts with for us. 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:25.519 It was just read out to us. 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:32.620 The call of Psalm 1 is to meditate on this more certain word. 00:11:33.740 --> 00:11:37.659 Meditate on God, his law, his word, the Bible, God's story. 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:43.120 The story that does not interpret history, does not give a view of history. 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:46.080 It's a story that in fact creates history. 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:56.139 The rhythm is to so dwell on what God has said, as it says in Psalm 1, day and night. 00:11:56.580 --> 00:11:57.440 That's the rhythm. 00:11:57.440 --> 00:12:02.100 And it says when we do, God promises three things. 00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:06.200 There's three things that we are promised when we do that in Psalm 1. 00:12:06.260 --> 00:12:07.260 The first is stability. 00:12:07.259 --> 00:12:17.960 The person experienced in biblical meditation is like a tree rooted so that the wind cannot blow it away. 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:23.180 Those who meditate on the word become people of substance. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:28.000 Who have thought things out and have deep convictions. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:33.259 Who can explain difficult concepts in simple language. 00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:36.899 And who have good reasons behind everything they do. 00:12:36.899 --> 00:12:38.580 Every value and every principle. 00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:43.879 Notice that this tree is planted by streams of water. 00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:50.259 Trees that are by streams of water do so well even when there is little rain. 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:52.480 Their roots are so deep. 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:57.240 And therefore they keep going. 00:12:58.720 --> 00:12:59.759 They keep growing. 00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:04.820 Even in hard and dry and difficult times. 00:13:05.899 --> 00:13:08.120 Times of great adversity. 00:13:08.779 --> 00:13:09.379 Upheaval. 00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:10.779 Grief. 00:13:10.920 --> 00:13:11.480 Chaos. 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:19.840 By contrast in Psalm 1, the chaff, which is the husk around the grain, it's not even a living thing. 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:20.240 Anything. 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:26.600 Any little puff, a breeze will blow it away. 00:13:27.820 --> 00:13:29.000 Anything will move it. 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:34.879 And it says here it's meditation on God's word. 00:13:35.300 --> 00:13:36.720 The word of life. 00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:42.240 Which is the difference between the blessed person and the cursed person. 00:13:42.800 --> 00:13:43.600 That's the difference. 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:50.139 We are all told, number two, that meditation also brings the promise of character. 00:13:51.240 --> 00:13:59.440 Those who meditate on the word have stability in life and character to match that stability, that belief. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:02.720 Meditation bears fruit. 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:06.759 Which in the Bible means character traits. 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:08.139 Galatians 5.22. 00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:11.919 Things like love, joy, peace, patience, humility, self-control. 00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:19.460 Biblical meditation changes our character. 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:24.879 Finally, meditation on God's word brings blessedness. 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:31.980 The very first words, blessed is the one, evokes joy. 00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:39.279 It evokes gratitude as a person lives daily with their God. 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:46.480 Blessedness in the Bible, it's not deserved. 00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:51.800 Blessedness is itself a gift from God. 00:14:51.799 --> 00:15:05.240 God declares sinners to be righteous and he freely grants them newness of life in which he protects them from the full effects of the world that's under judgment. 00:15:07.359 --> 00:15:11.500 And outside of God's blessing, a person is cursed. 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:25.580 And ultimately, it leads to a meaninglessness of life, trying to strive and gain and pursue the whole world. 00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:29.159 It's like chasing after the wind. 00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:35.799 Like a piece of chaff floating around, chasing after the wind with a net. 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:52.479 Meditating constantly on God's word results in character growth, stability, no matter the circumstances of life, purpose in life, and delight in life. 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:57.059 Which brings me to the second point. 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:02.879 The word delight there in verse 2 is really important. 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:12.379 What this psalm is not calling us to do is just read the Bible. 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:21.759 Just read the Bible and just to know what God has said, but to in fact delight in what God has said. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:34.360 So how do we get to that point where we grow in delight in God's word and therefore enjoy all the blessings that this psalm promises? 00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:36.600 The blessed life. 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:38.319 The flourishing life. 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:46.139 Well, the key word there is meditate on God. 00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:56.819 Biblical meditation is the thing that moves us beyond mere duty in reading God's word to delight in God's word. 00:16:58.059 --> 00:16:58.740 Joy. 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:09.139 The psalms is, if you like, the Bible's prayer book. 00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:11.779 It's the prayer book of the Bible. 00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:22.119 It is noteworthy, though, that the first psalm, the one we're looking at right in front of us, 00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:28.000 which is in prime position because it's the introduction to the whole psalta, 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:30.920 is not a prayer. 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:35.819 It's not even about prayer. 00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:40.879 It's a meditation on meditation. 00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:54.700 That is, the first psalm is a psalm, a meditation to get us ready to pray in the rest of the psalta. 00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:56.439 That's what it is. 00:17:56.440 --> 00:18:08.759 That is, there is a bridge between God's word and a life of prayer that flows out of God speaking to us. 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:15.720 That is, the way to encounter God, to connect with God, to commune with God, 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:25.680 to truly hear God is going deeper spiritually into prayer through meditation of what God has said in his word. 00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:37.440 The way to encounter God is meditating on what God, in other words, the way to hear God is to meditate on what he has said. 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:41.059 So I've got a couple of sub points here about meditation. 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:43.759 First of all, meditation in the mind. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:51.700 Many modern forms of meditation, a lot of things to do with meditation in Eastern religion, 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:55.059 transcendental meditation, that kind of stuff, 00:18:55.460 --> 00:19:06.019 have the goal of meditation is to sit in silence and with the purpose of emptying the mind of all consciousness. 00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:08.839 That's not biblical meditation. 00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:14.180 Biblical meditation fully engages the mind. 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:20.960 When this psalm calls us to meditate, it uses a word that literally means to mutter. 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:29.839 And that's because in ancient times, the Bible was recited aloud for the purpose of memory. 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:34.039 You didn't sit there silently reading, you actually spoke it. 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:38.440 And so it's referring there to muttering the word of God. 00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:42.920 Other words translators meditate in the Psalter, 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:48.119 mean to ponder, to question, to think, to linger over. 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:56.680 So the first step of listening to God is to engage the mind 00:19:56.680 --> 00:20:03.500 and study to understand rightly what God is saying in this passage. 00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:11.940 We cannot reflect on or enjoy what you don't understand. 00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:20.299 So this is a corrective. 00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:21.080 It's not in your notes. 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:22.380 Let me just put a corrective in here. 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:29.080 Too many Christians nowadays open up the Bible, read a verse, and then meditate. 00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:33.880 God, what are you saying to me about this verse? 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:43.060 And the verse might say, God told Abraham, go left, not right. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.740 Ah, God, okay. 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:55.500 So you, when I come to the top of Fuller Road, you want me to go left, where are you journeying me? 00:20:55.760 --> 00:20:57.180 You don't want me to go to the city. 00:20:57.360 --> 00:20:59.320 You want me to move to Newcastle. 00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:01.419 Is that where you're leading me, God? 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:03.539 Thank you, God, for your message to me in my life. 00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:07.799 Meditation for too many Christians begins right at the very beginning. 00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:09.659 That's not what's happening here. 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:16.079 You must work hard on the text to hear what is God specifically saying. 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.819 And so there's first things. 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:20.460 To understand what the Bible is saying very specifically, 00:21:21.179 --> 00:21:28.000 what did the original author intend to convey to his readers in its context, in its passage? 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:34.319 Secondly, what does this passage play in the whole Bible? 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:42.799 How does it contribute to the gospel message and move along the main narrative arc of the Bible, 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:46.759 which climaxes in the salvation of Jesus Christ? 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:53.319 In other words, we must understand Scripture for what it actually is in its context, 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:57.619 as God is communicating it through history to a people. 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:05.019 We must understand things like the genres of it, the context of it, all that sort of stuff. 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:11.960 Unless we do the hard work of engaging the mind, of answering those questions about a passage, 00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:18.799 our meditations will not be grounded in what God is actually saying to us in his word. 00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:22.200 It's actually not listening to the voice of God. 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:29.240 But we are listening instead to our own hearts, our own desires, our own passions, 00:22:29.600 --> 00:22:34.640 or the spirit of our culture, not to the voice of God. 00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:43.740 Martin Luther said that before he could turn a biblical text into praise, 00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:49.460 he first needed to understand that that text is instruction. 00:22:51.620 --> 00:22:54.839 It is truthful information from God. 00:22:56.019 --> 00:23:00.339 And therefore, I need to understand what that truthful information is. 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:07.579 Biblical meditation is founded on the work of sound biblical interpretation and study. 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:13.319 And there is a whack of resources that I can help you with in that, 00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:15.659 or we could help you with here at St. Paul's. 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.919 Secondly, meditation and the heart. 00:23:18.939 --> 00:23:22.639 Biblical meditation is, however, more than just deep Bible study. 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:27.899 For those of us in the, you know, let me use this technical term here, 00:23:27.980 --> 00:23:29.439 reformed evangelical camp, 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:33.180 we love the first bit I've just said. 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:34.880 The second bit is much harder. 00:23:37.600 --> 00:23:40.700 Biblical meditation is more than just deep Bible study. 00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:44.140 The Bible contains information, but it's much more than information. 00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:48.440 When Paul talks about the word of God dwelling richly within us, 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:50.380 in Colossians 3 verse 16, 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:56.440 he's clearly talking of something much more than just agreeing with what has been said. 00:23:56.440 --> 00:24:01.680 He's talking about deep and penetrating contemplation 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:04.519 that enables the Bible's truth message, 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:06.100 its true message, 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:10.620 to have a transforming power at the centre of my being, 00:24:11.620 --> 00:24:13.400 right down in my heart. 00:24:14.820 --> 00:24:16.680 The theologian John Calvin wrote, 00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:18.380 that for the word of God, 00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:21.860 for the word of God is not received by faith 00:24:21.860 --> 00:24:25.059 if it flits about in the top of the brain, 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:29.419 but when it takes root in the depths of the heart, 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:35.179 the heart's distrust is greater than the mind's blamefulness. 00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:40.879 It is harder for the heart to be furnished with assurance of God's love 00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:46.059 than for the mind to be endowed with the thought of it. 00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:54.339 We must never be settled with an informed mind, 00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:56.500 with an engaged heart. 00:24:57.319 --> 00:25:01.839 If we are, go back to the Gospels 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:06.779 and see the encounters that Jesus has with the religious elite, 00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:10.279 the teachers of the law, the Pharisees. 00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:14.619 You see, Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3 00:25:14.619 --> 00:25:18.200 suggests that Christians have blessings in Christ 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:19.740 that we don't experience. 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:22.279 Paul prays for his readers 00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:25.000 that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith, 00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:25.779 verse 17, 00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:29.639 and that they would grasp the love of Christ 00:25:29.639 --> 00:25:31.460 in verses 18 and 19, 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:34.339 and finally prays that they would be filled 00:25:34.339 --> 00:25:37.759 with all the fullness of God in verse 19. 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:41.579 What Paul is talking about there 00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:45.059 is the difference between having something 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:48.440 that is true of you in principle 00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:51.879 and fully appropriating it, 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:54.720 using it and experiencing it, 00:25:55.140 --> 00:25:56.759 living in it right now. 00:25:58.759 --> 00:26:02.640 Paul is praying that by the Spirit's power 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:06.580 we may have our hearts and our affections 00:26:06.580 --> 00:26:08.680 engaged and shaped 00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:12.140 by the truths of the faith that we hold in the mind. 00:26:14.820 --> 00:26:17.000 In a similar way, I've got three daughters. 00:26:17.780 --> 00:26:19.740 They know that I love them. 00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:21.360 They know that they are my daughters. 00:26:22.020 --> 00:26:22.840 I am their father. 00:26:24.580 --> 00:26:26.860 And that will never change. 00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:28.440 I will always be their father. 00:26:28.560 --> 00:26:29.920 They will always be my... 00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:31.800 There's a truth that will never change. 00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:35.019 But if I was to get off this platform right now 00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:36.720 and go and find one of them 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:38.799 and hug them and tell them, 00:26:39.159 --> 00:26:39.720 I love you. 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:41.000 I am proud of you. 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.940 No matter where you are, 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:44.180 I will always love you. 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.700 I will always support you. 00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.759 I will never leave you. 00:26:46.819 --> 00:26:47.680 I will never abandon you, 00:26:47.899 --> 00:26:48.599 apart from when I die, 00:26:48.659 --> 00:26:49.299 because it's not always true. 00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:53.079 That in that moment, 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:55.019 what they know to be true, 00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:57.180 they experience in their heart 00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:57.799 and their affections. 00:26:59.399 --> 00:27:00.379 That's the difference. 00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:05.099 And that's what Paul is praying here 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:06.000 for the Ephesians. 00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:09.639 And so how do we do that? 00:27:12.159 --> 00:27:13.700 The good place to start, 00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:15.799 and I say this is a place to start. 00:27:16.159 --> 00:27:17.139 Use the questions 00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:19.440 of the German church reformer 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.579 and theologian Martin Luther. 00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:22.480 This is how he used to meditate on Scripture. 00:27:22.879 --> 00:27:24.200 It was four steps. 00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:27.340 What does God want me to know 00:27:27.340 --> 00:27:29.080 from this verse, 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:29.700 this word, 00:27:29.840 --> 00:27:31.340 this passage? 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.920 What does he want me to know? 00:27:33.120 --> 00:27:35.319 What is the passage actually teaching? 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:38.000 What is it that God's commanding me? 00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:39.299 What does he require of me? 00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:40.299 In other words, 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.779 what is the information? 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.920 What is the instruction? 00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:43.960 Secondly, 00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:46.059 in this text, 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:48.500 what is it that I can be thankful for? 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.680 Where's the praise moment? 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:53.519 Where's the moment of gratitude? 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:55.700 Thirdly, 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:58.839 based on who God is 00:27:58.839 --> 00:28:00.259 and what he's calling me to, 00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:02.220 and this is my life, 00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:04.460 what do I need to confess? 00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:06.920 From this, 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:07.839 what do I need to confess? 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:09.200 Look at the gap 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:10.640 between what God wants of me 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.400 and what I am. 00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.579 What do I need to confess? 00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:15.779 Where's the gap? 00:28:16.619 --> 00:28:17.679 What do I need to work on? 00:28:18.179 --> 00:28:18.960 And the fourth step, 00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:19.379 he says, 00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:21.480 when you do that, 00:28:21.679 --> 00:28:24.419 you are meditating on God's word, 00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:27.500 you are listening to the voice of God, 00:28:28.099 --> 00:28:30.519 and that will be turned into prayer. 00:28:31.699 --> 00:28:34.159 You will immediately communicate back to God 00:28:34.159 --> 00:28:35.579 what you have heard from him. 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:37.679 So here's a, 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.799 this is a, 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.639 by the way, 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.920 point for 00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:44.360 us individually 00:28:44.360 --> 00:28:45.840 doing our devotional life, 00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:46.960 but also for you 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:48.180 as a community group, 00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:49.080 in your community group. 00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:51.400 Do you discover 00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:52.940 that there is a disconnect 00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:55.120 between the reading of God's word 00:28:55.120 --> 00:28:55.720 and what, 00:28:55.940 --> 00:28:57.600 and the content of your prayers? 00:29:00.600 --> 00:29:01.360 That is, 00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:02.500 there's no connection 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:04.240 between what you're currently praying 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.600 and what you've just read? 00:29:07.780 --> 00:29:09.340 Then the psalmist would say 00:29:09.340 --> 00:29:10.520 the missing element there 00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:11.579 is the meditation bit. 00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:15.200 You're not driving it into your heart. 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:17.500 You're not actually listening 00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:18.379 to God's word. 00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:20.740 You're picking up information 00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:22.480 and you're communicating back to God 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.920 your desires and passions and will. 00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:27.759 So these questions are very searching. 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:30.059 As you work a truth in, 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:31.019 you may be convicted, 00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:31.839 you may be humbled. 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:32.700 So, 00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.359 you know, 00:29:33.420 --> 00:29:34.119 there might be comfort, 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.980 there might be calm, 00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:36.639 there might be joy. 00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:38.380 Now, 00:29:38.580 --> 00:29:39.940 Luther was very realistic. 00:29:41.300 --> 00:29:42.320 He says 00:29:42.320 --> 00:29:43.620 that sometimes 00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:44.360 the Holy Spirit 00:29:44.360 --> 00:29:46.360 begins immediately 00:29:46.360 --> 00:29:48.600 to preach the truth of word 00:29:48.600 --> 00:29:48.980 to you 00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:50.120 and you can see the gap 00:29:50.120 --> 00:29:52.040 and gets you to ponder 00:29:52.040 --> 00:29:53.300 and work on that issue 00:29:53.300 --> 00:29:54.120 and confess it. 00:29:54.860 --> 00:29:55.460 Sometimes 00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:56.700 it doesn't happen. 00:29:57.060 --> 00:29:57.460 Sometimes 00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:58.000 it doesn't matter 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.740 what we do. 00:29:59.060 --> 00:30:00.520 We simply cannot concentrate. 00:30:01.020 --> 00:30:02.020 We find our thoughts 00:30:02.020 --> 00:30:02.560 to, 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.080 you know, 00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:03.960 are not big. 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:05.720 They're not affecting thoughts. 00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:07.819 We feel we're bored, 00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:08.680 we're hard, 00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.539 we're distracted 00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:12.220 and Luther would say 00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:13.900 that's not a waste of time either. 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.720 You haven't got it wrong 00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.400 in that moment. 00:30:17.900 --> 00:30:19.680 Use that moment 00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:20.460 there 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:22.380 to be reminded 00:30:22.380 --> 00:30:23.559 of your need 00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:24.400 for God's help 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.799 to meditate on his word. 00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:28.420 That that in itself 00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:29.480 is a revealing 00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:30.480 of a disconnect 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:31.519 between a God 00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:32.220 who speaks 00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:33.340 and the ability 00:30:33.340 --> 00:30:33.840 to hear. 00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:35.360 And so take 00:30:35.360 --> 00:30:36.160 your weakness 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:37.980 and your insufficiency 00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:39.460 back to God 00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:39.880 in prayer. 00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:42.500 But the key 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.079 to it all 00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:44.460 is 00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.340 meditating 00:30:45.340 --> 00:30:46.360 on the word 00:30:46.360 --> 00:30:47.340 made flesh. 00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:48.160 See, 00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:49.200 when we feel 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:49.759 that emptiness 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:50.600 and that weakness, 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.620 how do we get 00:30:51.620 --> 00:30:52.100 the energy 00:30:52.100 --> 00:30:52.860 and the motivation 00:30:52.860 --> 00:30:54.240 to do the heart work? 00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:56.120 Because head work 00:30:56.120 --> 00:30:57.059 is much easier 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:57.980 than heart work. 00:31:00.120 --> 00:31:01.160 Especially in a season 00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:02.160 where we feel dry. 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:04.240 Psalm 1 tells us 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:04.960 the godly person 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:05.500 meditates 00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:06.380 on the law of the Lord 00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:07.320 day and night 00:31:07.320 --> 00:31:08.220 and delights in it. 00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:09.779 It is clearly 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.620 slow work, 00:31:10.700 --> 00:31:11.779 it is intentional work, 00:31:11.860 --> 00:31:12.900 it is heart work. 00:31:12.900 --> 00:31:16.160 And the answer, 00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:17.960 where does the energy 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:18.600 come from? 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:19.580 Where does the motivation 00:31:19.580 --> 00:31:20.200 come from? 00:31:20.300 --> 00:31:20.960 Where does the power 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:21.600 come from? 00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:23.560 Meditating 00:31:23.560 --> 00:31:25.620 on the meditation 00:31:25.620 --> 00:31:26.160 of God. 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:28.640 The answer 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:29.500 is to look 00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:30.759 to the central figure 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.980 of the written word, 00:31:32.680 --> 00:31:33.420 the one that 00:31:33.420 --> 00:31:34.880 John 1, 14 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:36.040 following calls 00:31:36.040 --> 00:31:37.220 the word 00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:38.700 made flesh. 00:31:40.300 --> 00:31:41.360 Jesus Christ, 00:31:41.860 --> 00:31:43.140 the ultimate expression 00:31:43.140 --> 00:31:44.320 and communication 00:31:44.320 --> 00:31:45.660 and voice of God 00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:47.820 and find your delight 00:31:47.820 --> 00:31:48.759 in him. 00:31:49.900 --> 00:31:50.279 Him. 00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:53.360 Jesus is the one 00:31:53.360 --> 00:31:54.080 who delights 00:31:54.080 --> 00:31:55.340 in doing God's law. 00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:56.379 He's the one 00:31:56.379 --> 00:31:57.139 who prays 00:31:57.139 --> 00:31:57.839 day and night. 00:31:58.159 --> 00:31:58.859 He's the one 00:31:58.859 --> 00:31:59.799 who when he 00:31:59.799 --> 00:32:00.980 looks to God 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:02.179 experiences the light. 00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:02.879 He's the one 00:32:02.879 --> 00:32:03.839 who meditated 00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:04.919 so profoundly 00:32:04.919 --> 00:32:05.819 and used scripture 00:32:05.819 --> 00:32:06.899 so profoundly 00:32:06.899 --> 00:32:07.839 that he 00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:09.199 virtually bled 00:32:09.199 --> 00:32:09.679 scripture. 00:32:10.099 --> 00:32:11.399 He's quoting it 00:32:11.399 --> 00:32:12.439 instinctively 00:32:12.439 --> 00:32:13.179 in the most 00:32:13.179 --> 00:32:14.319 extreme 00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:15.419 and difficult 00:32:15.419 --> 00:32:16.079 moments 00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:17.279 of his life. 00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:19.839 Even 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:21.459 in the infinite 00:32:21.459 --> 00:32:22.000 agony 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:22.859 of the cross. 00:32:22.859 --> 00:32:23.839 Jesus 00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:25.319 is the true 00:32:25.319 --> 00:32:26.699 strong 00:32:26.699 --> 00:32:27.619 enduring 00:32:27.619 --> 00:32:28.399 tree 00:32:28.399 --> 00:32:29.079 planted 00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:30.179 by streams 00:32:30.179 --> 00:32:30.559 of living 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.000 water. 00:32:31.859 --> 00:32:32.879 He is that one 00:32:32.879 --> 00:32:34.419 always bearing 00:32:34.419 --> 00:32:34.939 fruit. 00:32:36.399 --> 00:32:36.759 But 00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.659 Jesus is not 00:32:37.659 --> 00:32:38.339 simply a good 00:32:38.339 --> 00:32:38.839 example. 00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:40.019 If he was 00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:41.479 then his life 00:32:41.479 --> 00:32:42.519 would crush us 00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:43.799 because we can't 00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:44.740 do what he does. 00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:47.900 the main 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.579 message of the 00:32:48.579 --> 00:32:49.400 Bible is 00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:50.460 salvation by 00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.220 grace through 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:51.599 him. 00:32:51.960 --> 00:32:52.660 The Bible 00:32:52.660 --> 00:32:53.380 is all 00:32:53.380 --> 00:32:54.259 about him. 00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:55.140 The written 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:56.000 word and its 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:57.460 law can be a 00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:58.660 delight for us 00:32:58.660 --> 00:33:00.779 because the 00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.759 incarnate word 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:02.920 came and 00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:04.440 died for us. 00:33:05.180 --> 00:33:05.839 Securing 00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:06.720 pardon for 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:07.359 our sins 00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:07.700 and our 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:08.400 shortcomings 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:09.660 for not living 00:33:09.660 --> 00:33:10.460 up to all 00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:11.079 that God has 00:33:11.079 --> 00:33:11.579 called us to 00:33:11.579 --> 00:33:12.220 in his word. 00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:15.000 We can 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:15.440 never 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:16.299 delight 00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:17.259 in the 00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:17.839 law of 00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:18.460 the Lord 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.140 with 00:33:19.140 --> 00:33:20.000 understanding 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:20.880 the central 00:33:20.880 --> 00:33:21.380 part of 00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:21.980 Jesus in 00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:22.200 it. 00:33:23.180 --> 00:33:23.420 Without 00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:23.980 him 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:25.279 the Bible 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:26.220 is nothing 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:27.259 but a 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:27.920 curse. 00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:30.180 A 00:33:30.180 --> 00:33:31.019 condemnation. 00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:32.839 It is 00:33:32.839 --> 00:33:33.559 nothing but a 00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:34.259 witness against 00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.640 us. 00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:37.620 Jesus 00:33:37.620 --> 00:33:38.380 obeyed the 00:33:38.380 --> 00:33:38.860 law fully 00:33:38.860 --> 00:33:39.800 for us 00:33:39.800 --> 00:33:41.000 so now 00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:41.520 it's a 00:33:41.520 --> 00:33:42.420 delight to 00:33:42.420 --> 00:33:43.600 us not 00:33:43.600 --> 00:33:44.480 a source 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:45.300 of despair 00:33:45.300 --> 00:33:45.960 so look 00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:46.440 to him. 00:33:47.360 --> 00:33:47.820 Look to 00:33:47.820 --> 00:33:48.080 him. 00:33:50.280 --> 00:33:50.740 And then 00:33:50.740 --> 00:33:51.860 the third 00:33:51.860 --> 00:33:52.440 stage of 00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:52.740 all of 00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:53.200 this and 00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:53.520 I'll say 00:33:53.520 --> 00:33:54.040 this very 00:33:54.040 --> 00:33:54.500 quickly. 00:33:57.020 --> 00:33:57.440 Daily 00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:57.960 talk to 00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:58.640 God about 00:33:58.640 --> 00:33:59.100 what he 00:33:59.100 --> 00:33:59.660 has said 00:33:59.660 --> 00:34:00.080 to you 00:34:00.080 --> 00:34:00.560 in his 00:34:00.560 --> 00:34:00.900 word. 00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:03.060 Good 00:34:03.060 --> 00:34:03.900 communication 00:34:03.900 --> 00:34:04.660 leads to 00:34:04.660 --> 00:34:05.200 relational 00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:06.519 closeness. 00:34:07.300 --> 00:34:07.560 It 00:34:07.560 --> 00:34:08.240 leads to 00:34:08.240 --> 00:34:08.820 connection. 00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:09.940 Communication 00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:11.500 is the 00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:12.139 key to 00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:12.720 intimacy 00:34:12.720 --> 00:34:13.559 and 00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:14.039 intimacy 00:34:14.039 --> 00:34:14.960 is the 00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:15.660 key to 00:34:15.660 --> 00:34:16.519 relational 00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:17.180 delight. 00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:18.680 It's 00:34:18.680 --> 00:34:19.500 essential to 00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:20.180 all flourishing 00:34:20.180 --> 00:34:20.940 relationships. 00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:21.780 One of the 00:34:21.780 --> 00:34:22.680 exercises that 00:34:22.680 --> 00:34:23.180 I do 00:34:23.180 --> 00:34:24.639 in preparing 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:25.240 couples for 00:34:25.240 --> 00:34:25.559 marriage 00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:26.700 is the 00:34:26.700 --> 00:34:27.500 exercise of 00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:27.960 active 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:28.519 listening. 00:34:29.579 --> 00:34:30.119 Not just 00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:30.500 hearing, 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:31.139 active 00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:31.559 listening. 00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:34.779 listening is 00:34:34.779 --> 00:34:35.719 so crucial. 00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.299 It's a 00:34:36.299 --> 00:34:37.360 skill that 00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:38.019 involves 00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:39.039 listening 00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:40.099 intently 00:34:40.099 --> 00:34:41.539 to what 00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:42.599 has been 00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:43.340 communicated 00:34:43.340 --> 00:34:44.099 to me. 00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:45.739 Not just 00:34:45.739 --> 00:34:46.299 the words 00:34:46.299 --> 00:34:46.519 that have 00:34:46.519 --> 00:34:47.360 been spoken 00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:48.380 but the 00:34:48.380 --> 00:34:49.039 intent of 00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:49.420 the word, 00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:50.059 the feeling, 00:34:50.199 --> 00:34:50.840 the emotions 00:34:50.840 --> 00:34:51.599 of those 00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.119 words. 00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:53.519 And 00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:54.440 listening to 00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:55.559 it 00:34:55.559 --> 00:34:57.559 without 00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:58.360 interruption, 00:34:59.420 --> 00:34:59.900 without 00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:00.900 justification, 00:35:01.800 --> 00:35:02.280 hearing 00:35:02.280 --> 00:35:02.599 it, 00:35:03.720 --> 00:35:04.500 and then 00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.539 restating 00:35:05.539 --> 00:35:07.160 back to 00:35:07.160 --> 00:35:07.660 the other 00:35:07.660 --> 00:35:08.519 person 00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:10.820 what you 00:35:10.820 --> 00:35:11.519 have heard, 00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:12.860 acknowledging 00:35:12.860 --> 00:35:13.720 to them, 00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:14.440 not just 00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:15.180 the words 00:35:15.180 --> 00:35:16.619 but the 00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:17.539 content, 00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:17.880 not just 00:35:17.880 --> 00:35:18.300 the content 00:35:18.300 --> 00:35:18.720 but the 00:35:18.720 --> 00:35:19.280 feelings. 00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:21.519 And 00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:21.900 generally 00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:22.440 what happens 00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:22.900 in active 00:35:22.900 --> 00:35:23.340 listening, 00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:23.900 there is 00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:24.700 this to 00:35:24.700 --> 00:35:25.160 and fro, 00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:25.800 to and 00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:26.820 fro of 00:35:26.820 --> 00:35:27.660 greater 00:35:27.659 --> 00:35:28.839 pursuing 00:35:28.839 --> 00:35:29.779 understanding 00:35:29.779 --> 00:35:30.379 of each 00:35:30.379 --> 00:35:30.639 other 00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:30.899 and 00:35:30.899 --> 00:35:31.500 clarification 00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:32.879 and 00:35:32.879 --> 00:35:33.099 then 00:35:33.099 --> 00:35:33.559 from 00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:33.940 that 00:35:33.940 --> 00:35:35.099 there's 00:35:35.099 --> 00:35:36.219 always, 00:35:36.359 --> 00:35:37.219 always, 00:35:37.299 --> 00:35:38.619 always a 00:35:38.619 --> 00:35:39.399 next step 00:35:39.399 --> 00:35:43.179 to take 00:35:43.179 --> 00:35:43.339 the 00:35:43.339 --> 00:35:43.839 relationship 00:35:43.839 --> 00:35:44.399 further. 00:35:47.819 --> 00:35:48.259 I mean 00:35:48.259 --> 00:35:48.519 I could 00:35:48.519 --> 00:35:48.899 have just 00:35:48.899 --> 00:35:50.119 told you 00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:50.420 in fact 00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:50.659 that's 00:35:50.659 --> 00:35:50.920 how you 00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:51.159 connect 00:35:51.159 --> 00:35:51.500 with God 00:35:51.500 --> 00:35:51.799 daily, 00:35:51.899 --> 00:35:52.179 isn't it? 00:35:52.179 --> 00:35:52.639 The process 00:35:52.639 --> 00:35:53.079 of active 00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:53.460 listening. 00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:57.820 having 00:35:57.820 --> 00:35:58.280 heard God 00:35:58.280 --> 00:35:58.599 speak 00:35:58.599 --> 00:35:58.800 through 00:35:58.800 --> 00:35:59.019 his 00:35:59.019 --> 00:35:59.380 word, 00:35:59.500 --> 00:35:59.740 taking 00:35:59.740 --> 00:35:59.900 it 00:35:59.900 --> 00:36:00.119 down 00:36:00.119 --> 00:36:00.340 into 00:36:00.340 --> 00:36:00.579 our 00:36:00.579 --> 00:36:01.099 life, 00:36:02.420 --> 00:36:04.119 then we 00:36:04.119 --> 00:36:04.420 take it 00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:04.720 back to 00:36:04.720 --> 00:36:04.980 him 00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:05.940 in 00:36:05.940 --> 00:36:06.280 prayer. 00:36:07.340 --> 00:36:07.740 This is 00:36:07.740 --> 00:36:08.059 what I'm 00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:08.320 hearing, 00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:08.740 this is 00:36:08.740 --> 00:36:09.059 what I'm 00:36:09.059 --> 00:36:09.300 thankful 00:36:09.300 --> 00:36:09.619 for, 00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:10.019 this is 00:36:10.019 --> 00:36:10.300 what I 00:36:10.300 --> 00:36:10.619 need to 00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:11.059 confess, 00:36:11.460 --> 00:36:11.780 help me 00:36:11.780 --> 00:36:12.440 to change, 00:36:13.139 --> 00:36:13.500 help me 00:36:13.500 --> 00:36:14.079 to see 00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:14.639 my next 00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:15.480 step and 00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:15.840 empower 00:36:15.840 --> 00:36:16.119 me to 00:36:16.119 --> 00:36:16.480 do it. 00:36:18.179 --> 00:36:18.579 Friends, 00:36:18.820 --> 00:36:19.159 just to 00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:19.639 swing really 00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:20.159 back where 00:36:20.159 --> 00:36:20.679 we were, 00:36:20.679 --> 00:36:25.079 the ADHD 00:36:25.079 --> 00:36:25.899 of our 00:36:25.899 --> 00:36:26.319 contemporary 00:36:26.319 --> 00:36:26.980 culture 00:36:26.980 --> 00:36:28.440 makes 00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:29.259 slow 00:36:29.259 --> 00:36:30.139 reflective 00:36:30.139 --> 00:36:30.879 meditation 00:36:30.879 --> 00:36:31.559 on God's 00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:32.159 word a 00:36:32.159 --> 00:36:32.960 lost art. 00:36:33.879 --> 00:36:34.500 We are 00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:35.039 much more 00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:35.739 content just 00:36:35.739 --> 00:36:35.940 with 00:36:35.940 --> 00:36:36.619 information, 00:36:37.719 --> 00:36:38.859 but 00:36:38.859 --> 00:36:39.579 information is 00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:40.139 not godliness 00:36:40.139 --> 00:36:40.539 and it's 00:36:40.539 --> 00:36:40.719 not 00:36:40.719 --> 00:36:41.199 transformation. 00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:42.960 There is 00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:43.539 no quick 00:36:43.539 --> 00:36:43.879 fix, 00:36:43.980 --> 00:36:44.279 there's no 00:36:44.279 --> 00:36:44.679 simple 00:36:44.679 --> 00:36:45.359 formula to 00:36:45.359 --> 00:36:45.739 connecting 00:36:45.739 --> 00:36:46.239 with God 00:36:46.239 --> 00:36:46.579 in his 00:36:46.579 --> 00:36:47.799 word and 00:36:47.799 --> 00:36:48.339 prayer. 00:36:48.579 --> 00:36:49.159 It takes 00:36:49.159 --> 00:36:49.599 time, 00:36:49.919 --> 00:36:50.279 it takes 00:36:50.279 --> 00:36:50.659 planning, 00:36:50.899 --> 00:36:51.059 and it 00:36:51.059 --> 00:36:51.279 takes 00:36:51.279 --> 00:36:51.739 constant 00:36:51.739 --> 00:36:52.259 attention. 00:36:52.839 --> 00:36:53.219 And so, 00:36:54.279 --> 00:36:55.159 next slide 00:36:55.159 --> 00:36:55.480 please, 00:36:55.579 --> 00:36:55.739 Wendy. 00:36:56.519 --> 00:36:56.839 What's 00:36:56.839 --> 00:36:57.199 your next 00:36:57.199 --> 00:36:57.440 step? 00:36:59.859 --> 00:37:00.659 It would 00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:01.219 be a 00:37:01.219 --> 00:37:01.759 massive 00:37:01.759 --> 00:37:02.599 mistake 00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:03.779 for me 00:37:03.779 --> 00:37:04.339 just to 00:37:04.339 --> 00:37:05.000 step down 00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:05.940 right now 00:37:05.940 --> 00:37:06.819 and say 00:37:06.819 --> 00:37:09.480 that's 00:37:09.480 --> 00:37:09.739 it, 00:37:10.079 --> 00:37:11.779 without 00:37:11.779 --> 00:37:12.659 giving you 00:37:12.659 --> 00:37:13.480 the opportunity 00:37:13.480 --> 00:37:14.099 to meditate 00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:14.859 on God's 00:37:14.859 --> 00:37:15.139 word, 00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:15.759 even really 00:37:15.759 --> 00:37:16.159 quickly. 00:37:17.779 --> 00:37:18.219 Meditating 00:37:18.219 --> 00:37:18.899 on God's 00:37:18.899 --> 00:37:19.339 word 00:37:19.340 --> 00:37:19.800 word, 00:37:19.800 --> 00:37:20.500 really 00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:20.920 quickly, 00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:22.140 what is 00:37:22.140 --> 00:37:22.660 your next 00:37:22.660 --> 00:37:22.980 step? 00:37:24.579 --> 00:37:25.160 If the 00:37:25.160 --> 00:37:25.620 call of 00:37:25.620 --> 00:37:26.160 psalm, 00:37:26.220 --> 00:37:26.539 and you 00:37:26.539 --> 00:37:26.960 want the 00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:27.200 blessed 00:37:27.200 --> 00:37:27.500 life, 00:37:27.559 --> 00:37:27.840 you want 00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:27.980 the 00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:28.340 flourishing 00:37:28.340 --> 00:37:28.620 life, 00:37:28.680 --> 00:37:28.980 the call 00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:29.539 of psalms 00:37:29.539 --> 00:37:30.079 here is 00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:30.860 to meditate 00:37:30.860 --> 00:37:31.559 on God's 00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:32.320 word day 00:37:32.320 --> 00:37:32.720 and night, 00:37:32.780 --> 00:37:33.100 in other 00:37:33.100 --> 00:37:33.280 words, 00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:33.760 constantly, 00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:34.180 daily 00:37:34.180 --> 00:37:34.860 communicating, 00:37:35.019 --> 00:37:35.280 connecting 00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:36.200 with the 00:37:36.200 --> 00:37:37.000 life source, 00:37:37.220 --> 00:37:37.740 your life 00:37:37.740 --> 00:37:38.079 source, 00:37:38.180 --> 00:37:38.519 the creator 00:37:38.519 --> 00:37:38.780 of all 00:37:38.780 --> 00:37:39.220 things, 00:37:39.600 --> 00:37:39.880 the God 00:37:39.880 --> 00:37:40.360 who knows 00:37:40.360 --> 00:37:41.019 all things, 00:37:41.219 --> 00:37:41.900 if that 00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:42.619 is where 00:37:42.619 --> 00:37:43.000 we get 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:43.539 stability 00:37:43.539 --> 00:37:43.820 and 00:37:43.820 --> 00:37:44.280 transformation 00:37:44.280 --> 00:37:46.259 and in 00:37:46.259 --> 00:37:46.780 life, 00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:49.259 then what's 00:37:49.259 --> 00:37:49.639 your next 00:37:49.639 --> 00:37:49.980 step? 00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:49.980 step? 00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:49.980 step? 00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:49.980 step? 00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:49.980 step? 00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:49.980 step? 00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:49.980 step? 00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.039 step? 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.039 step? 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.039 step? 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.039 step? 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.039 step? 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.039 step? 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.039 step? 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.039 step? 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.039 step? 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.039 step? 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.039 step? 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:49.480 Next 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:49.980 Next step.