1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,000 If you have your Bible, Ephesians 3, 2 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:10,040 hello, Ephesians 3, 3 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:18,280 we are going to finish chapter three this morning. 4 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:23,160 Beginning next week, we are going to begin a summer series 5 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:25,480 of going through the book of Hosea. 6 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,600 Now, Hosea is a book that tends to not get 7 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:30,560 a lot of attention. 8 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,080 In fact, if I ask everyone in this room, 9 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,200 hey, what's your favorite Bible passage? 10 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,640 I can almost guarantee that nobody's going to say 11 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:40,800 a passage in Hosea, right? 12 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,800 I don't think any of us do that. 13 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,560 Nonetheless, Hosea is a beautiful story 14 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:48,880 of how God loves his people. 15 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,040 The gospel is sprinkled throughout the book, 16 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:54,840 and I hope this summer that you will get a lot out of it. 17 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:58,400 So we're going to take a 12-week break from Ephesians 18 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,560 before we pick up chapter four in the fall. 19 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:03,960 That should be good news for you, 20 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,480 because as we're trying to memorize Ephesians, 21 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:10,040 if you are like me, you're a little behind. 22 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:11,800 Anybody else behind? 23 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:13,040 Fantastic. 24 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:13,960 Let's catch up. 25 00:01:13,960 --> 00:01:15,840 All right, let's spend the summer to catch up, 26 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:19,040 and we'll pick up chapter four here in the fall. 27 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,440 I would love that once we are done with Ephesians, 28 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:24,600 in the next, I don't know, I don't know. 29 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:29,600 Next year or so, that many of us will be able to say, 30 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,640 hey, I have an entire book memorized. 31 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,600 I've dedicated an entire book of the Lord memorized, 32 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:38,040 and I would love for us to be able to share that 33 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:40,160 with the congregation together, all right? 34 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:42,360 So let's read the last two verses of Ephesians three 35 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:45,080 this morning, and then we'll dive into it. 36 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:46,520 Paul says in verse 20, 37 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,400 now to him who is able to do far more abundantly 38 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,000 than all that we ask or think. 39 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,360 According to the power at work within us, 40 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,480 to him be glory in the church, 41 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:58,480 and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, 42 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,720 forever and ever, amen. 43 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:03,120 We know that passage, right? 44 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:04,360 It's a well-known passage. 45 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:06,160 If I were to ask you what's your favorite passage, 46 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:07,880 this might be one of them. 47 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:10,680 Now, if you remember, the first three chapters of Ephesians 48 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,120 are predominantly doctrine. 49 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:15,440 The first half of the book is doctrine. 50 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,520 Paul has given us an immense amount of truth, 51 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,920 of who God is, what he has done, 52 00:02:21,920 --> 00:02:24,320 and how our relationship to him works. 53 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:26,480 Then beginning in chapter four in the fall, 54 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:27,880 when we get to chapter four, 55 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:31,040 Paul will begin to get to the practical side 56 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,440 of all of that knowledge, okay? 57 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:36,640 And so how are we supposed to live 58 00:02:36,640 --> 00:02:39,680 in light of all that God has done for us? 59 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:42,480 How are we supposed to interact with one another? 60 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,960 How are we supposed to live our lives 61 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,160 as people who understand all of these amazing truths 62 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:50,880 in chapter three? 63 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:52,880 But before he gets to chapter four, 64 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:56,800 he writes that God is able to do far more abundantly 65 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:58,440 than we can ever ask or think. 66 00:02:59,960 --> 00:03:02,640 It's like he's transitioning, right? 67 00:03:02,640 --> 00:03:04,920 He's transitioning to chapter four. 68 00:03:04,920 --> 00:03:09,320 But in one sense, he has already told us 69 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:11,560 the things that God has already done, 70 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:13,080 things we can't imagine, 71 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:15,880 things that are better than any plan 72 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,000 that you and I could come up with. 73 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,160 So let's view this passage with the understanding 74 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,920 of what God has already done. 75 00:03:23,920 --> 00:03:27,160 And I have those listed for you in your sermon notes already. 76 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:29,280 Look at those. 77 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:32,880 Look at all of those truths. 78 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,080 And tell me that you could think of a better way 79 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:41,400 that allows God to remain full of love 80 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:43,280 and full of justice at the same time. 81 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,800 He has chosen us and he's brought us into his family. 82 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:52,920 His grace doesn't come with conditions. 83 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:54,800 He freely gives it. 84 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:57,440 He doesn't extend grace to you 85 00:03:57,440 --> 00:03:59,680 and then you mess up and he takes it back. 86 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,760 We were having this discussion the other day with my boys. 87 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:09,760 Apparently Asher, through a baseball that belonged to River 88 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:11,920 in the Creek Byer House a few weeks ago. 89 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:15,520 Well, on Friday, Asher gets a new boomerang. 90 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:20,520 And River, not intentionally, gets it stuck in a tree. 91 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,520 Guess how that conversation went? 92 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:28,520 River told Asher, if you get my ball, 93 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:29,520 I'll get your boomerang. 94 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:32,520 Right? I mean, that's how it went. 95 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:33,520 Now I get it. 96 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:35,520 That's human nature. 97 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:39,520 If you do something for me, then I'll do something for you. 98 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,520 I'll help you out if you help me out. 99 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,520 What have you done for me lately? 100 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,520 These are all things that are part of our vocabulary. 101 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,520 That is how our depraved minds work. 102 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:53,520 But that's not how God works. 103 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:55,520 He just gives grace. 104 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:57,520 And it doesn't cost you anything. 105 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,520 But it sure cost him, didn't it? 106 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:06,520 Go through that list and look at how good God has been to us. 107 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,520 He's better than anything we can imagine. 108 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:14,520 I am over 20 years into my walk with the Lord. 109 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:18,520 And I am still blown away that he would redeem somebody like me. 110 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:21,520 That he would choose somebody like me. 111 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:24,520 He has already done far more than I could ever imagine. 112 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:29,520 In John 15, 13, Jesus says that greater love has no one than this. 113 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:33,520 That someone lay down his life for the sake of God. 114 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:38,520 That someone lay down his life for his friends. 115 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:40,520 Now I have many good friends. 116 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,520 Friends that I would sacrifice for. 117 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:48,520 If I can help you out by giving you some of my time, I will gladly do it. 118 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:54,520 If I need to sacrifice some money so that you can eat or pay your mortgage, 119 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,520 I will figure out a way to make that happen. 120 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:02,520 There have been many people in my life that have sacrificed for me. 121 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,520 And they've done all kinds of things for me and my family. 122 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:09,520 And I will agree that that is a great act of love. 123 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:14,520 But I believe that that kind of love comes to a point, doesn't it? 124 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:19,520 Notice that Jesus says that you will lay down your life for your friends. 125 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:22,520 He doesn't say the life of a loved one. 126 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,520 He doesn't say the life of one of your own children. 127 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,520 Now I'm not a police officer. 128 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:29,520 I'm not a soldier. 129 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:33,520 I'm not a firefighter or anyone else who puts their life on the line for others. 130 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:41,520 But I do believe that I would lay down my life for someone if the need arose. 131 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:47,520 If my sacrifice would be a moment where someone comes to know the Lord, 132 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:50,520 I would do it in a heartbeat. 133 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:52,520 Now I'm not looking for it. 134 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:56,520 But I don't think any of the martyrs of the Christian faith were. 135 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,520 I don't think Stephen in Acts chapter 7 woke up that morning 136 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:03,520 and hoped to be pummeled by rocks until he died. 137 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:11,520 But his sacrifice caused a chain of reaction that spread the gospel. 138 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,520 His story is etched in history. 139 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:19,520 We now have the gospel here in Iowa because of men and women like Stephen 140 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:23,520 who said it was worth it. 141 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:29,520 I can't think of a more honorable way to die than to die for the cause of Christ. 142 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:33,520 But I'm not giving up my kid. 143 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:35,520 I love you. 144 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:41,520 But if your eternal security in heaven means that I have to sacrifice my kid, 145 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:44,520 you're out of luck. 146 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:49,520 I can't imagine what that must have been like for God, the Father, 147 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:55,520 to turn his back on his son. 148 00:07:55,520 --> 00:08:04,520 Tell me that that alone isn't something that is abundantly more than we could ask or imagine. 149 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:06,520 But God does it. 150 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:08,520 He does it. 151 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:10,520 But he doesn't stop there. 152 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:12,520 He grounds us. 153 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,520 He reveals his will to us. 154 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:18,520 He reconciles us to himself. 155 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:20,520 He gives us the church. 156 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:24,520 Now this place is one of God's greatest gifts to me. 157 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:26,520 I love being here each week. 158 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:28,520 I love that I get to work here. 159 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:31,520 I love that I get to be a part of Cornerstone. 160 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:39,520 And I hope that you feel the same way that this place is a great gift from the Lord. 161 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:45,520 Now this passage that we're in, it's a very popular passage. 162 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,520 In fact, it might be your favorite passage. 163 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:51,520 And it's a good one to have as your favorite passage. 164 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:57,520 But I've also seen this passage taken out of context so many times it blows my mind. 165 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:03,520 I've seen men and women twist this passage to mean something that it doesn't. 166 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:08,520 Prosperity, gospel preachers love this verse. 167 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:09,520 But here's what you need to know. 168 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:13,520 God is not a genie. 169 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:18,520 This isn't one of those passages that you can claim when you're asking for a $15,000 car 170 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:23,520 and God gives you a $100,000 car. 171 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:30,520 This verse is not meant for us to ask God for things that are going to benefit us. 172 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:36,520 This passage is not meant for us to think that God is going to break the rules of science just for you. 173 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:43,520 Now he can and he might, but that should not be our motivation for asking him. 174 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:49,520 He has already proven that he can do more than we can even think of or imagine. 175 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:53,520 But it doesn't mean that he is done and all his work is complete. 176 00:09:53,520 --> 00:10:01,520 But I hear too many people claim this verse as a way to do something stupid 177 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:06,520 and ignore all wisdom and counsel from those around them. 178 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:11,520 I used to work with this guy, made 25 grand a year. 179 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:14,520 Barely making ends meet. 180 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:17,520 He was renting furniture because he couldn't go buy furniture. 181 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:19,520 Now there's nothing wrong with that. 182 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:20,520 That's what you have to do. 183 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:22,520 That's fine. 184 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:25,520 But he claimed this verse. 185 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,520 God's going to give me that $300,000 house. 186 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:30,520 I'm going to ask him for it. 187 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:33,520 I'm going to go pray for it and he's going to do it. 188 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,520 I can't imagine how he's going to do it, but no. 189 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:38,520 You can't even pay your bills, bro. 190 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:44,520 Like, let's not use it that way. 191 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:53,520 If the only time, if the only time you approach God in prayer is to ask him for something, 192 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:59,520 you might only view him as a genie to give you things. 193 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:04,520 That isn't to say that what you're asking him for aren't worthy things and are needed things, 194 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:08,520 but our prayer time should be much more than that. 195 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:10,520 It should be deeper than that. 196 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:16,520 As you mature in your walk with the Lord, your prayer life should mature with it. 197 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:21,520 Now, your parents can probably relate to this, but when our kids were younger, 198 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,520 we hated taking them to the store. 199 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:27,520 Anybody else? 200 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:29,520 It didn't matter what store it was. 201 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:34,520 If we could avoid taking them to any store whatsoever, we would. 202 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:41,520 If it was the grocery store, they would still find all kinds of things in that store that they wanted. 203 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:44,520 I'm not even talking about candy. 204 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:46,520 I remember I was in the grocery store one time with one of my boys. 205 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:49,520 I don't remember which one it was. 206 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:57,520 And he asked me if we could get a tub of lard. 207 00:11:57,520 --> 00:11:59,520 He didn't know what it was. 208 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:01,520 He just liked the colors on the package. 209 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:03,520 Can we get this tub of lard? 210 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:05,520 Can we get that? 211 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:11,520 When I told him no, in fact, we aren't getting a big tub of fat. 212 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:14,520 He lost his mind. 213 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:20,520 He lost his mind and he made a scene in the store. 214 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:26,520 If we went to a store with toys in it, and they wanted everything, right? 215 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:28,520 They want everything. 216 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:29,520 Can I have this? 217 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:30,520 Can I have that? 218 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:34,520 It was a constant noise in our head. 219 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:39,520 When they didn't get their way, it always ruined the rest of the trip that day, right? 220 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:40,520 Because then they're upset. 221 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:42,520 And then we're trying to barter. 222 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:47,520 And we're trying to decide, do we risk having CPS called on us 223 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:49,520 because I'm about to whoop some tail, right? 224 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:54,520 Like, all these things are going on in our mind as these kids are having these meltdowns. 225 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:59,520 Now, as they've gotten older, it really isn't the case anymore. 226 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:04,520 They don't just view us as people that can just buy them stuff. 227 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:08,520 We can have real meaningful conversations. 228 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:10,520 We can talk about the future. 229 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:11,520 We can talk about the Lord. 230 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:13,520 We can talk about goals and plans. 231 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:15,520 We can talk about life. 232 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:21,520 And they've developed a trust in me as their dad. 233 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:23,520 So now they understand me better. 234 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:29,520 And as our relationship continues to grow, it goes better for us. 235 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:31,520 It goes better for them. 236 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:38,520 So my challenge to you is work on developing a strong, personal relationship with the Lord. 237 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:41,520 And his voice. 238 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:44,520 Understand his heart. 239 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:49,520 Celebrate what he has already given us in Jesus. 240 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:54,520 So that when you do ask him for things, you are more in line. 241 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:57,520 You're more in tune with what you actually need. 242 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:01,520 And you understand his heart better. 243 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:03,520 God's not a genie. 244 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,520 He's so much better than that. 245 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:10,520 Finally, we need to have an expanded vision of who God is. 246 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:15,520 I had a call this week about Operation Christmas Child. 247 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:20,520 Can you believe that? 248 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:25,520 Each year as a congregation, we will pack shoeboxes. 249 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:30,520 And those shoeboxes will go overseas to children who live in poverty. 250 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,520 It's a pretty cool ministry, right? 251 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:35,520 A few weeks ago, we had Compassion Sunday. 252 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:40,520 We were given the opportunity to sponsor a child in a developing country 253 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:47,520 who doesn't have access to basic things like healthcare and education. 254 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:53,520 Now, both of those organizations are worthy ministries to support. 255 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:59,520 The goal of both of those, Compassion and Operation Christmas Child, 256 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,520 is to share the gospel with children around the world. 257 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:07,520 They use the small gift of a shoebox, the small donation of $38 a month 258 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:12,520 to share the hope of Jesus to children and their families. 259 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:17,520 Some kids are excited to get a pair of socks and a toothbrush. 260 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:24,520 When it comes to Christmas time, do you think my kids are asking for a toothbrush or a pair of socks? 261 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,520 Do you think they're going to be happy with that? 262 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:28,520 No. 263 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:30,520 They want something bigger. 264 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:32,520 They want something more expensive. 265 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:36,520 Now, they might ask for clothes, but it's never a necessity. 266 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,520 It's because they want more clothes. 267 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:43,520 Some kids who have parents that earn a different tax bracket than I am, 268 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,520 they might ask for a car, won't they? 269 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,520 They might ask for something really big. 270 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:54,520 And sometimes I wonder about myself, about us, 271 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:59,520 if our prayers are not more in keeping with the poor children than the rich one. 272 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:03,520 What are the kinds of things that you pray for? 273 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:08,520 Are you praying for a toothbrush? 274 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:12,520 You're praying for a pair of socks. 275 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:16,520 Are you praying for things that are bigger? 276 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:21,520 If prayer requests in our church and the prayer chain are any indication, 277 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:27,520 one of our most frequent and fervent requests is for physical health for ourselves 278 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:31,520 and for those we love. 279 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:40,520 Please hear me when I say that is absolutely a valid thing to pray for. 280 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:44,520 We should pray for healing. 281 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:49,520 We should bring before God any request large or small that is on our heart. 282 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:53,520 We are commanded to do so. 283 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:57,520 Paul says in Philippians, 284 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:06,520 Have you ever prayed for someone who is terminally sick? 285 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:10,520 I have. I have. 286 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:15,520 What if God answered my prayers? 287 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:19,520 I would be incredibly thankful. 288 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:24,520 It would be a huge answer to prayer, wouldn't it? 289 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:28,520 But would it mean that they weren't going to die? 290 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:32,520 Would it mean that they weren't going to die eventually? 291 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:37,520 No. Even though it would have been huge to me, 292 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:45,520 it was really a prayer that would have encompassed just a short amount of time. 293 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:50,520 In that sense, in the grand scheme of things, from an eternal perspective, 294 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:53,520 it's a really small prayer, isn't it? 295 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:56,520 Again, please don't think I'm saying, 296 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:59,520 don't pray for healing for your loved ones. 297 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:03,520 Or that praying for healing is some kind of lower grade of prayer. 298 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:05,520 It's not. That's not what I'm saying. 299 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:13,520 I hope that you know, that I know how it feels to watch someone you love battle death. 300 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:18,520 I know how desperately important that battle becomes. 301 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:24,520 I know the fear that clutches your stomach when they take a turn for the worse. 302 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:31,520 I know how heart-wrenching it is when they lose that battle. I get it. 303 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:34,520 But can you see that in light of eternity? 304 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:39,520 Asking for someone to be healed is a small prayer. 305 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:44,520 A bigger, eternal prayer is that they would know Christ. 306 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:47,520 That they would receive the free gift of salvation. 307 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:51,520 Because that means that even though we lost them for a little while, 308 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:56,520 we have not lost them forever, that's a big prayer. 309 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,520 It's not the only kind of big prayer. 310 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:01,520 Not the only kind of eternal prayer. 311 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:03,520 There are all kinds of big prayers out there. 312 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:05,520 Life-transforming prayers. 313 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:07,520 Are you praying those? 314 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:09,520 Community-transforming prayers. 315 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:11,520 Nation-transforming prayers. 316 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:14,520 World-transforming prayers. 317 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:19,520 Prayers that will impact lives for eternity. 318 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:22,520 Even prayers that impact what happens in the heavenly realms, 319 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:27,520 according to this chapter a few verses ago. 320 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:34,520 Billy Graham once said that heaven is full of answers to prayers we've never prayed. 321 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:38,520 Don't you see it? 322 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:47,520 This big, huge room full of answers to prayers waiting to be prayed? 323 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:50,520 We haven't even imagined what we should be praying for? 324 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:54,520 We need to ask God to even guide us in our prayers. 325 00:19:54,520 --> 00:20:00,520 So that we might pray for these things that He wants to give us. 326 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:06,520 We need an expanded vision of who God is and what His purposes are. 327 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:13,520 That we might begin to pray for those things to be fulfilled in our midst. 328 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:17,520 How many of us start our day with a prayer of something like, 329 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:20,520 oh Lord, get me through this day. 330 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:24,520 Get me to Friday. 331 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:28,520 Just get me from one end of the day to the other. 332 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:32,520 I've prayed it. How many of us pray that prayer? 333 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:36,520 What would your day look like if instead of praying, 334 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:40,520 oh Lord, get me through another day? 335 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:48,520 You prayed, Lord, do something today that is above and beyond anything I could ever imagine. 336 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:51,520 I don't know how your life would change, 337 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:55,520 but if I were the betting kind, I'd be willing to bet that it would. 338 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:57,520 It would be changed. 339 00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:01,520 Back in February, there was a revival at Asbury University. 340 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:05,520 You saw it on the news? 341 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:07,520 It wasn't planned. 342 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:09,520 It just happened. 343 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:14,520 Some students showed up on a mandatory chapel day, 344 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:19,520 and then it went on for 24 hours a day for over two weeks. 345 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:26,520 It is estimated that 70,000 people from all over the country came to participate. 346 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:29,520 I don't think anyone anticipated it, 347 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:33,520 but God did some great things over that period of time. 348 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:38,520 It started out when one student stayed a little longer once the service was over. 349 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:42,520 He stayed and confessed his sins to his peers, 350 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:44,520 and then it just took off. 351 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:48,520 That's how it started. People didn't want to leave. 352 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:52,520 Now, I know that couldn't have been easy, 353 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:56,520 but what if that kid woke up that day and prayed, 354 00:21:56,520 --> 00:22:03,520 Lord, do something today that I can't even imagine? 355 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:07,520 The power God uses is already in us. 356 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:09,520 It's already in us. 357 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:12,520 Paul says that God does those great things according to his power, 358 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:16,520 which is working among us. 359 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:18,520 If you are a follower of Christ, 360 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:22,520 then the very spirit of God dwells in you. 361 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:26,520 That probably isn't new news to you, right? 362 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:28,520 But think about what that means. 363 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:38,520 The spirit, the essence, the being of God is in you and me. 364 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:44,520 What does it look like when God demonstrates his glory in and through his church? 365 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:46,520 What would that look like? 366 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,520 Well, I don't know all the details, 367 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:54,520 but I know what it means is that when it's displayed through the church, 368 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:57,520 I know it means that people will come to Christ. 369 00:22:57,520 --> 00:23:01,520 I know that it means that lives will be transformed. 370 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:06,520 It means that there will be hope when there once was despair. 371 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:11,520 It means that there will be life when once there was a stench of death. 372 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:18,520 God wants to do things in and among us that we can't possibly do ourselves. 373 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:23,520 And when people start doing things they can't possibly do by themselves, 374 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:26,520 people will begin to take notice. 375 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:31,520 They are no longer impressed by how good of a Christian you are. 376 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:35,520 In fact, they cease really noticing you at all 377 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:38,520 and what you're doing, and they begin to say, 378 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:41,520 there's something going on over there at Cornerstone. 379 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:44,520 There's something going on over there, and I don't know what it is, 380 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:47,520 but I want to be a part of it. 381 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:50,520 I want to experience it. I want to walk in it. 382 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:53,520 As we become more mature in our faith, 383 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:55,520 as we begin to follow the Lord closely, 384 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:59,520 and as we are filled more and more with the fullness of God, 385 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:02,520 then God receives the glory. 386 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:04,520 Cornerstone doesn't receive the glory. 387 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:06,520 Daniel doesn't receive the glory. 388 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:09,520 The volunteers for VBS don't receive the glory. 389 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:11,520 God receives the glory. 390 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:15,520 But as we've seen, and as Paul points out in this passage, 391 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:22,520 we're not capable of being filled with God's fullness on our own. 392 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:24,520 We can't do it. 393 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:31,520 Certainly that is something that is immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine. 394 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:36,520 That's why we need His power at work in our lives. 395 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:42,520 I don't even know the kid's name who started that revival. 396 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:46,520 I searched for it this way. You couldn't find it. 397 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:49,520 It really doesn't matter. 398 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:57,520 It really doesn't matter because it is the Lord who gets the glory for it. 399 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:05,520 Are you bold enough to pray those kinds of prayers? 400 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:12,520 Big prayers, live transforming prayers. 401 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:24,520 Are you trusting enough that He can do more than you can imagine today? 402 00:25:24,520 --> 00:25:35,520 Are you bold enough and are you trusted enough? 403 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:36,520 What if that was our prayer? 404 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:41,520 God, do something to me today that I can't even imagine. 405 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:46,520 See, we're so limited by what we think. 406 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:49,520 I say them and I hear them all the time. 407 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:52,520 That person will never come to church. 408 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:57,520 They're too busy. They're too anti-establishment. 409 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:01,520 They're too anti-whatever. They'll never come to church. 410 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:07,520 How many of us have been in a position where we want to share our faith but we just don't know how? 411 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:09,520 We're overwhelmed by fear. 412 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:13,520 We're overwhelmed that they're going to ask us a question we don't know the answer to. 413 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:17,520 What if your prayer was, God, do something to me that I can't even imagine? 414 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:20,520 I can't imagine having all the answers. 415 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:26,520 Guess what? When you do, guess who gets the glory? 416 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:29,520 I don't know how many years this church has done in VBS. 417 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:31,520 I hear about it in the community. 418 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:35,520 Oh, you're the church that does VBS. 419 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:38,520 You're the church that has all those inflatables in the front yard. 420 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:44,520 We hear things like that, right? 421 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:48,520 I don't know if anybody in this room has come to this church because of something we did at VBS. 422 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:51,520 That's the case. 423 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:57,520 Our prayer this week, as you're serving food, as you're watching a bounce house, 424 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:02,520 as you're helping a teacher navigate a classroom to the next space, 425 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:07,520 what if your prayer is, God, do something to me that I can't even imagine today? 426 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:11,520 Do something in this place that I can't even imagine? 427 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:14,520 Do you think our VBS would look different? 428 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:18,520 Yeah. You think we'd get past the routine? 429 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:21,520 We've done VBS enough now. We've done it enough. 430 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:24,520 We know how it's supposed to go, right? 431 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:28,520 We know from this time to this time we're in big, you know, big group time. 432 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:30,520 We know from this time to this time we're in music. 433 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:32,520 This time to this time we're doing crafts. 434 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:34,520 This time to this time we're hearing the Bible story. 435 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:37,520 We know the routine. 436 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:43,520 Are you bold enough to pray to God, God, do something in this place this week that I can't even imagine? 437 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:47,520 What if it messes up the schedule? 438 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:51,520 Do you think we're going to survive that? 439 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:58,520 What if in this place today, you're like, God, do something to me that I can't even imagine? 440 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:05,520 And the service runs long, and we don't get our doughnut. 441 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:09,520 You ready for that? 442 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:19,520 We're about to celebrate communion together. 443 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:25,520 For those of you that have children, grandchildren, 444 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:36,520 for those of you that love somebody, can you imagine giving them up? 445 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:42,520 Can you imagine sacrificing themselves? 446 00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:46,520 I can't. 447 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:50,520 But God does things that we can't imagine. 448 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:54,520 And so, Sandy, my prayer this week, it might mess you up this week, 449 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:59,520 is that God would do something in this place that we can't imagine. 450 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:04,520 That this place next week is filled with people who heard the gospel. 451 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:13,520 This place is filled with children who experienced the gospel and drug their parents to this place. 452 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:21,520 We know the results of DBS. 453 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:24,520 Let's expect better. 454 00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:26,520 Let's think bigger. 455 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:30,520 Let's start praying that our church will be transformed. 456 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:35,520 Because as our church is transformed, eldritch will be transformed. 457 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:39,520 And as eldritch is transformed, it'll just spread from there. 458 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:46,520 Do you believe that? Do you believe that God can do things in your neighborhood 459 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:50,520 that you can't even imagine? You can't wrap your mind around it? 460 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:56,520 That God could do something in your workplace that you can't wrap your mind around? 461 00:29:56,520 --> 00:30:03,520 Are you bold enough to pray those things? And are you trusted enough to understand that He can do it? 462 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:07,520 So, you might ask for a $15,000 car and He might give you $100,000. 463 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:15,520 I'm not saying He won't do it. But that's not what this passage is. 464 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:23,520 Are you content? Or do you want bigger? I want bigger, because I know a God that can do it. 465 00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:28,520 I'm not asking for a toothbrush. 466 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:35,520 I'm not asking for a shoebox. 467 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:42,520 I'm asking for more. I'm not going to be content with what we can accomplish on our own. 468 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:48,520 I want something to happen here that all we can say is God did something. 469 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:53,520 That's what I want in this place, so that we can look back and say, 470 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:58,520 there's no way that a bunch of sinners in this room pulled that off. 471 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:08,520 There's no way that a bunch of talking about myself rejects and losers can pull that off. 472 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:14,520 It was only God. That's what I want. And I hope you want the same thing. Let's pray. 473 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:22,520 I pray right now that you will give us a bigger vision. 474 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:31,520 That you will give us an eternal perspective. 475 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:37,520 And that eternal perspective won't be to benefit us. 476 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:42,520 It'll be to expand the kingdom. 477 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:47,520 You've done so much for us. You've given us so much. 478 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:53,520 Help us be good stewards of it. Help us not be content with the routine. 479 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:58,520 Help us not be content with what we know is supposed to happen. 480 00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:00,520 So we pray for revival. 481 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:03,520 Pray for revival in this church and this town. 482 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:07,520 We pray for revival to sweep the nation. 483 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:11,520 And Father, we know that you get all the glory for it. 484 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:17,520 And so God, I pray that as we take communion, 485 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:24,520 that your spirit will fill us. 486 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:33,520 That as we think about you giving up your son, 487 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:39,520 it helps us understand your eternal perspective better. 488 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:43,520 That it will help us understand that act of love is better. 489 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:50,520 So God, I pray that as we take this juice and bread, 490 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:54,520 pray God that you'll just dwell inside of us, 491 00:32:54,520 --> 00:32:57,520 that your spirit will move freely in this place. 492 00:32:57,520 --> 00:32:59,520 Pray God that you do great things in this place. 493 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:01,520 Great things through our people. 494 00:33:01,520 --> 00:33:03,520 Things that we can't even imagine. 495 00:33:03,520 --> 00:33:05,520 Things that we're not even comprehending. 496 00:33:05,520 --> 00:33:07,520 Things that we can't even think of. 497 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:09,520 We pray God that you do great things. 498 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:38,520 That's all these things in your name. Amen.