1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,180 We're also praying for Andrew and Elle on Wednesday night. 2 00:00:02,180 --> 00:00:04,700 So if you want to pray for them again, 3 00:00:04,700 --> 00:00:06,340 then we invite you to do that. 4 00:00:06,340 --> 00:00:08,080 If you have your Bible's, 5 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:10,780 Ephesians chapter six is where we're going to be this morning. 6 00:00:18,260 --> 00:00:20,580 We're almost done, almost done with it. 7 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:22,920 You coming up already? 8 00:00:23,900 --> 00:00:24,900 Okay. 9 00:00:24,900 --> 00:00:27,980 Savannah's going to read our passage this morning. 10 00:00:27,980 --> 00:00:32,200 I would encourage you to stand as we do this together. 11 00:00:36,260 --> 00:00:37,100 It says, 12 00:00:37,100 --> 00:00:38,740 praying at all times in the spirit 13 00:00:38,740 --> 00:00:40,620 with all prayer and supplication. 14 00:00:40,620 --> 00:00:43,020 To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, 15 00:00:43,020 --> 00:00:45,300 making supplication for all the saints. 16 00:00:45,300 --> 00:00:46,140 And also for me, 17 00:00:46,140 --> 00:00:47,460 that words may be given to me 18 00:00:47,460 --> 00:00:48,820 and opening my mouth boldly 19 00:00:48,820 --> 00:00:50,980 to proclaim the mystery of the gospel. 20 00:00:50,980 --> 00:00:52,820 For which I'm an ambassador in chains 21 00:00:52,820 --> 00:00:55,260 that I may declare it boldly as I ought to speak. 22 00:00:55,260 --> 00:00:56,340 Amen, let's pray. 23 00:00:56,340 --> 00:00:57,740 Father God, thank you for your word 24 00:00:57,740 --> 00:01:00,740 and I pray that you will open our ears and hearts 25 00:01:00,740 --> 00:01:01,860 to hear from you this morning. 26 00:01:01,860 --> 00:01:03,380 We give you praise for Savannah 27 00:01:03,380 --> 00:01:04,700 and the walk that she is walking. 28 00:01:04,700 --> 00:01:06,460 I pray, Father, that you will bless her 29 00:01:06,460 --> 00:01:08,540 as she continues to dive into your word 30 00:01:08,540 --> 00:01:09,660 and proclaim it boldly. 31 00:01:09,660 --> 00:01:10,860 We ask all these things in your name. 32 00:01:10,860 --> 00:01:11,700 Amen. 33 00:01:11,700 --> 00:01:13,140 Thank you, Savannah. 34 00:01:13,140 --> 00:01:15,340 Thanks for standing on that other step too. 35 00:01:15,340 --> 00:01:16,180 Pfft. 36 00:01:16,180 --> 00:01:17,020 Pfft. 37 00:01:17,020 --> 00:01:17,860 Pfft. 38 00:01:20,500 --> 00:01:23,180 Let me tell you about my first memory as a prayer. 39 00:01:23,180 --> 00:01:26,020 Pfft. 40 00:01:26,020 --> 00:01:29,380 When I was a kid growing up in church, 41 00:01:29,380 --> 00:01:33,220 we would pray a couple times during a church service 42 00:01:33,220 --> 00:01:34,780 and that was about it. 43 00:01:34,780 --> 00:01:36,340 I never prayed on my own 44 00:01:36,340 --> 00:01:39,220 because I didn't see the importance of it 45 00:01:39,220 --> 00:01:42,740 until one day I needed the Lord to hear my prayer 46 00:01:42,740 --> 00:01:44,260 and answer it immediately. 47 00:01:45,740 --> 00:01:49,260 I was in this stage of writing my initials 48 00:01:49,260 --> 00:01:51,020 on anything that I could. 49 00:01:51,020 --> 00:01:54,940 So it started off with my notebooks at school, 50 00:01:54,940 --> 00:01:59,540 then it escalated to writing my initials on walls 51 00:01:59,540 --> 00:02:02,140 in the house, doors in the house. 52 00:02:03,580 --> 00:02:04,980 I didn't think anybody noticed 53 00:02:04,980 --> 00:02:09,580 until recently my parents repainted their home 54 00:02:09,580 --> 00:02:13,180 and all that was gone, but they noticed it then, 55 00:02:13,180 --> 00:02:15,100 so I can't get in trouble for that. 56 00:02:15,100 --> 00:02:19,140 But at the time, my dad had a brand new car. 57 00:02:19,140 --> 00:02:23,740 It was a 1989 Red Hyundai Excel. 58 00:02:23,740 --> 00:02:25,420 And I figured that would be a good place 59 00:02:25,420 --> 00:02:29,220 to put my initials so that if it ever got stolen, 60 00:02:29,220 --> 00:02:33,700 we would be able to identify it by my initials on it. 61 00:02:33,700 --> 00:02:36,940 The problem is the pen wasn't working. 62 00:02:36,940 --> 00:02:38,940 It kept rubbing off. 63 00:02:38,940 --> 00:02:41,140 So I did what any six-year-old would do 64 00:02:42,140 --> 00:02:44,780 and I grabbed a flathead screwdriver 65 00:02:44,780 --> 00:02:49,620 and got up on the trunk and I carved DJR 66 00:02:49,620 --> 00:02:51,540 into the center of the trunk. 67 00:02:52,940 --> 00:02:56,780 It didn't take long for them to notice that one though, did it? 68 00:02:56,780 --> 00:02:58,580 And I remember getting sent to my room 69 00:02:58,580 --> 00:03:00,500 and told to wait on my dad. 70 00:03:00,500 --> 00:03:01,540 You ever been there? 71 00:03:02,900 --> 00:03:04,420 I probably wasn't in there very long, 72 00:03:04,420 --> 00:03:06,820 but it felt like eternity. 73 00:03:06,820 --> 00:03:08,540 And that whole time I was praying to God 74 00:03:08,540 --> 00:03:10,300 with everything that I could, 75 00:03:10,300 --> 00:03:13,420 with everything in me that I wouldn't get punished. 76 00:03:13,420 --> 00:03:17,100 God, if you love me like I keep hearing like you love me, 77 00:03:17,100 --> 00:03:19,980 you know it would not be good for me to have to suffer. 78 00:03:21,500 --> 00:03:22,580 God, I won't do it again. 79 00:03:22,580 --> 00:03:24,620 I promise I've learned my lesson. 80 00:03:24,620 --> 00:03:28,180 Give my dad some compassion for his baby boy. 81 00:03:29,380 --> 00:03:32,620 I mean, I prayed sincerely that God would hear my prayers 82 00:03:32,620 --> 00:03:37,620 and answer them the way that I wanted him to, but he didn't. 83 00:03:39,020 --> 00:03:42,100 And I don't remember exactly how I got punished, 84 00:03:42,100 --> 00:03:45,620 but I remember that God did not answer my prayer 85 00:03:45,620 --> 00:03:48,020 the way I wanted him to and I was disappointed. 86 00:03:48,900 --> 00:03:51,340 In my six year old little mind, 87 00:03:51,340 --> 00:03:54,740 I remember feeling that God didn't care about me 88 00:03:54,740 --> 00:03:57,260 and it took me a long time to get over it. 89 00:03:57,260 --> 00:04:00,140 So if you've ever felt that way, maybe this morning, 90 00:04:00,140 --> 00:04:03,700 we'll help bring some clarification on how prayer works 91 00:04:03,700 --> 00:04:05,540 because I didn't understand it. 92 00:04:05,540 --> 00:04:06,980 And so this morning we're gonna look at the verses 93 00:04:06,980 --> 00:04:08,860 that Savannah read and as always, 94 00:04:08,860 --> 00:04:10,620 we need to begin by putting this passage 95 00:04:10,620 --> 00:04:14,460 in its proper context in verses 10 through 17. 96 00:04:14,460 --> 00:04:16,740 Paul has encouraged his readers, 97 00:04:16,740 --> 00:04:21,060 he's encouraged us to stand firm against the evil one 98 00:04:21,060 --> 00:04:24,900 and then he has described six pieces of armor 99 00:04:24,900 --> 00:04:27,780 that every believer has been given by God 100 00:04:27,780 --> 00:04:29,900 in order to be able to do so. 101 00:04:29,900 --> 00:04:34,900 Paul is not in any way indicating in these verses 102 00:04:35,540 --> 00:04:39,060 that there's an addition to the six pieces of armor 103 00:04:39,060 --> 00:04:42,980 that prayer is the seventh piece of armor. 104 00:04:42,980 --> 00:04:45,820 But the point he is making is that prayer 105 00:04:45,820 --> 00:04:48,460 is woven throughout the armor. 106 00:04:48,460 --> 00:04:51,700 When we put on the armor, we must at the same time 107 00:04:51,700 --> 00:04:54,020 also be engaged in prayer 108 00:04:54,020 --> 00:04:57,140 if we're going to be successful in the battle. 109 00:04:57,140 --> 00:05:00,460 It's quite instructive that as Paul comes 110 00:05:00,460 --> 00:05:01,980 to the end of his letter, 111 00:05:01,980 --> 00:05:04,280 his final thoughts here deal with prayer. 112 00:05:05,180 --> 00:05:07,660 If you or I were to write a letter 113 00:05:07,660 --> 00:05:12,460 to try to convince someone to take some action, 114 00:05:12,460 --> 00:05:16,140 we would make sure that our most significant arguments 115 00:05:16,140 --> 00:05:17,780 were at the end of the letter 116 00:05:17,780 --> 00:05:20,780 because that would be what would most likely end up 117 00:05:20,780 --> 00:05:22,620 in the reader's mind. 118 00:05:22,620 --> 00:05:27,080 I believe he closes his letter with this emphasis on prayer 119 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,060 because there's a danger that we need to be aware of. 120 00:05:31,540 --> 00:05:35,140 Christians who have knowledge of sound doctrine 121 00:05:35,140 --> 00:05:40,180 and at least some success with putting that practice, 122 00:05:40,180 --> 00:05:43,820 that doctrine into spiritual practice from God's work 123 00:05:43,820 --> 00:05:46,380 can easily come to a point 124 00:05:46,380 --> 00:05:49,580 where they figure they can live their lives 125 00:05:49,580 --> 00:05:51,620 with their own power 126 00:05:51,620 --> 00:05:54,300 and they lose their dependence on God. 127 00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:56,480 We can do this Christian thing long enough 128 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:58,140 and realize we have it down, 129 00:05:58,140 --> 00:06:01,620 but if we don't understand that we need communication 130 00:06:01,620 --> 00:06:05,840 with our Father, that's a real danger. 131 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:10,000 According to Paul, prayer requires us to be all in. 132 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:15,700 He instructs us to pray at all times in the spirit. 133 00:06:15,700 --> 00:06:16,900 Now we're gonna come back to that phrase 134 00:06:16,900 --> 00:06:17,860 in the spirit here in a minute, 135 00:06:17,860 --> 00:06:21,740 but right now let's just focus on that phrase at all times. 136 00:06:21,740 --> 00:06:25,900 That phrase means a period of opportunity. 137 00:06:26,860 --> 00:06:29,300 So Paul is instructing his readers 138 00:06:29,300 --> 00:06:33,500 to pray every single time there is an opportunity for prayer. 139 00:06:33,500 --> 00:06:35,660 I like the translation of Romans 12, one, 140 00:06:35,660 --> 00:06:37,420 because maybe you're like me like, 141 00:06:37,420 --> 00:06:40,280 well, how do I pray at all times? 142 00:06:40,280 --> 00:06:41,620 Maybe you were like me when I was six-year-olds. 143 00:06:41,620 --> 00:06:43,420 How do I pray at every opportunity? 144 00:06:43,420 --> 00:06:46,060 But I love this translation of Romans 12, one, 145 00:06:46,060 --> 00:06:49,660 from the message because prayer does not have to be 146 00:06:49,660 --> 00:06:52,740 sitting in a quiet place with your eyes closed 147 00:06:52,740 --> 00:06:55,100 and no distractions around you. 148 00:06:55,100 --> 00:06:58,460 It reads, so here's what I want you to do. 149 00:06:58,460 --> 00:07:02,340 God helping you, take your every day ordinary life. 150 00:07:02,340 --> 00:07:04,580 You're sleeping, eating, going to work, 151 00:07:04,580 --> 00:07:07,900 and walking around life and place it before God 152 00:07:07,900 --> 00:07:08,860 as an offering. 153 00:07:10,300 --> 00:07:13,660 My kids are not real talkative in the morning. 154 00:07:13,660 --> 00:07:15,500 In fact, they're usually pretty moody, 155 00:07:16,380 --> 00:07:18,280 which I understand, I've been there. 156 00:07:19,460 --> 00:07:21,980 But I want to take advantage of that time in the car with them 157 00:07:21,980 --> 00:07:23,900 when I'm taking them to school. 158 00:07:23,900 --> 00:07:26,320 I learned last year, and last year was the first year 159 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:28,780 actually I had to take them to school. 160 00:07:28,780 --> 00:07:31,300 But I learned last year that I actually, 161 00:07:31,300 --> 00:07:34,620 I have to be careful with what I say in the car 162 00:07:34,620 --> 00:07:39,380 to a moody teenager because it can ruin their day 163 00:07:39,380 --> 00:07:43,940 or their response to me could ruin my day. 164 00:07:44,820 --> 00:07:48,140 So I had to change how that ride went 165 00:07:48,140 --> 00:07:49,700 for that 10 minutes or so. 166 00:07:49,700 --> 00:07:53,020 The best way I knew to take advantage of that time 167 00:07:53,020 --> 00:07:54,980 was to just silently pray for them. 168 00:07:54,980 --> 00:07:58,100 So when I'm taking them to school in the morning, 169 00:07:58,100 --> 00:08:02,580 I'm just aware that their day is not in my hands. 170 00:08:02,580 --> 00:08:05,580 So I ask God to guide them throughout the day, 171 00:08:05,580 --> 00:08:08,580 trying to take advantage of that opportunity. 172 00:08:08,580 --> 00:08:12,380 As I prepare for a meeting, I'm asking God, 173 00:08:12,380 --> 00:08:13,420 you might disagree with this, 174 00:08:13,420 --> 00:08:16,060 but I'm asking God to protect my mouth 175 00:08:16,060 --> 00:08:19,620 and give me wisdom, to guard me. 176 00:08:19,620 --> 00:08:22,820 We need to understand that every day we have opportunities 177 00:08:22,820 --> 00:08:25,180 to let the Lord guide us. 178 00:08:25,180 --> 00:08:27,780 And as we do that more often, 179 00:08:27,780 --> 00:08:32,300 we will find that prayer is pivotal to protecting our minds. 180 00:08:32,300 --> 00:08:35,300 Then he tells us to have all kinds of prayer 181 00:08:35,300 --> 00:08:36,740 and supplications. 182 00:08:36,740 --> 00:08:39,500 As Paul often does, he uses two related words, right? 183 00:08:39,500 --> 00:08:43,100 For emphasis, he writes that we are to pray 184 00:08:43,100 --> 00:08:45,260 with all kinds of prayers and supplications. 185 00:08:45,260 --> 00:08:49,660 So we're translated prayers is the general word for prayer. 186 00:08:49,660 --> 00:08:52,220 It conveys a sense of being in the presence 187 00:08:52,220 --> 00:08:56,620 of God and therefore it includes ideas of adoration 188 00:08:56,620 --> 00:09:01,620 and devotion and worship and not just making requests to God. 189 00:09:02,140 --> 00:09:04,460 The word translated supplications comes from a word 190 00:09:04,460 --> 00:09:08,780 that means to want or to beg. 191 00:09:08,780 --> 00:09:11,220 It refers to making known specific needs 192 00:09:11,220 --> 00:09:14,700 and even it conveys a sense of urgency. 193 00:09:15,580 --> 00:09:18,660 Prayer is so essential that we need to employ 194 00:09:18,660 --> 00:09:22,660 every kind of prayer imaginable. 195 00:09:23,260 --> 00:09:27,460 Group prayer, individual prayer, silent prayer, 196 00:09:27,460 --> 00:09:32,460 shouting prayer, walking prayer, kneeling prayer, 197 00:09:32,940 --> 00:09:35,820 angry prayer, you ever had those? 198 00:09:35,820 --> 00:09:39,900 Thankful prayers, confessing prayers, exalting prayers, 199 00:09:39,900 --> 00:09:44,420 rehearsed prayers, spontaneous prayers, groaning prayers. 200 00:09:44,420 --> 00:09:45,980 You can find all those examples 201 00:09:45,980 --> 00:09:48,540 and more all throughout the Bible. 202 00:09:48,540 --> 00:09:52,660 The idea here is that there is an appropriate kind of prayer 203 00:09:52,660 --> 00:09:54,700 for whatever you are facing in life. 204 00:09:54,700 --> 00:09:58,140 So there is absolutely no excuse whatsoever not to pray. 205 00:09:59,220 --> 00:10:02,300 Then he tells us to have all the perseverance. 206 00:10:02,300 --> 00:10:04,220 He tells us to be alert. 207 00:10:04,220 --> 00:10:07,260 Jesus had previously connected the need 208 00:10:07,260 --> 00:10:10,180 to be watchful with prayer as he spoke 209 00:10:10,180 --> 00:10:12,060 with his disciples in Mark 14. 210 00:10:12,060 --> 00:10:13,980 He says watch and pray so that you will not 211 00:10:13,980 --> 00:10:15,660 fall into temptation. 212 00:10:15,660 --> 00:10:19,100 The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. 213 00:10:20,140 --> 00:10:23,580 Now in that context, Jesus used the idea 214 00:10:23,580 --> 00:10:27,380 of being watchful in a very individual context. 215 00:10:27,380 --> 00:10:30,180 He was encouraging his disciples to be on guard 216 00:10:30,180 --> 00:10:32,620 for those things that might tempt them to sin 217 00:10:33,540 --> 00:10:36,180 so that they could be ready to pray about them 218 00:10:36,180 --> 00:10:39,140 and we certainly would be wise to do the same. 219 00:10:39,140 --> 00:10:41,620 But in this context, I'm convinced 220 00:10:41,620 --> 00:10:44,100 that Paul is encouraging his readers. 221 00:10:44,100 --> 00:10:48,460 He's encouraging us as a church to be watchful 222 00:10:48,460 --> 00:10:51,900 of what is going on with the people around us. 223 00:10:51,900 --> 00:10:56,900 He's encouraging us to be mindful of the needs of others. 224 00:10:56,940 --> 00:10:59,460 And he's not just talking about the superficial 225 00:10:59,460 --> 00:11:00,660 and the physical here. 226 00:11:00,660 --> 00:11:02,620 That is clearly evident when we look 227 00:11:02,620 --> 00:11:06,100 at how Paul prays for others. 228 00:11:06,100 --> 00:11:08,580 He doesn't focus on their physical and emotional needs, 229 00:11:08,580 --> 00:11:12,820 but rather for their deep spiritual needs. 230 00:11:12,820 --> 00:11:16,540 Then he tells us to pray for all the saints. 231 00:11:16,540 --> 00:11:19,740 I want you to picture the armor of a soldier for a second. 232 00:11:19,740 --> 00:11:21,060 We've gone over all of it. 233 00:11:22,060 --> 00:11:24,620 Every important piece of him is covered 234 00:11:24,620 --> 00:11:28,820 as he goes into battle, except for one, his back. 235 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,940 The armor leaves your back exposed. 236 00:11:34,220 --> 00:11:37,420 As fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, 237 00:11:37,420 --> 00:11:41,660 it is imperative that we cover each other's backs. 238 00:11:41,660 --> 00:11:43,300 Now, in order to understand this better, 239 00:11:43,300 --> 00:11:45,660 we have to know the common creed 240 00:11:45,660 --> 00:11:48,420 amongst those involved in combat situations, 241 00:11:48,420 --> 00:11:51,700 both past and present, but mainly in the past. 242 00:11:51,700 --> 00:11:54,180 Those who have done any study whatsoever on this topic 243 00:11:54,180 --> 00:11:57,740 know that it was shameful conduct 244 00:11:57,740 --> 00:12:00,780 to stab or shoot someone in the back. 245 00:12:00,780 --> 00:12:03,660 If you've ever watched one of those old Western movies, 246 00:12:03,660 --> 00:12:05,620 if you shot someone in the back, 247 00:12:05,620 --> 00:12:08,740 you were perpetually labeled as a coward. 248 00:12:08,740 --> 00:12:11,020 And no one wanted that reputation, 249 00:12:11,020 --> 00:12:13,100 so they took great care to make sure 250 00:12:13,100 --> 00:12:16,940 that whatever enemy was coming their way was facing them 251 00:12:16,940 --> 00:12:20,540 when they went to battle, even in those shootouts. 252 00:12:20,540 --> 00:12:23,460 Have you ever seen some of the old war movies 253 00:12:23,460 --> 00:12:26,180 that illustrate the concept of a battle line? 254 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,500 When two armies were in battle, they would face each other 255 00:12:30,500 --> 00:12:33,060 and you'd have 50 men, 100 men, 200 men, 256 00:12:33,060 --> 00:12:36,060 lined up ready to face the other army 257 00:12:36,060 --> 00:12:39,460 and then behind them, people would fall in line. 258 00:12:39,460 --> 00:12:42,140 In other words, everyone else had someone else's back, 259 00:12:42,140 --> 00:12:45,340 except for those that were on the front line. 260 00:12:45,340 --> 00:12:47,700 There is even in ancient Roman times, 261 00:12:47,700 --> 00:12:50,620 there's even a battle formation called the tortoise. 262 00:12:55,380 --> 00:12:56,740 And it's named that way because men, 263 00:12:56,740 --> 00:13:00,420 they would take their shields, their shields of faith, 264 00:13:00,420 --> 00:13:01,780 and they would lift them over their heads 265 00:13:01,780 --> 00:13:05,540 and they would form this one big impenetrable shell, 266 00:13:05,540 --> 00:13:07,260 kind of like a turtle. 267 00:13:07,260 --> 00:13:12,260 And a group of 20 men or 50 men or whatever, 268 00:13:12,780 --> 00:13:16,260 they would each form this shell to protect one another. 269 00:13:16,260 --> 00:13:20,140 Everyone was expected to have everyone else's back. 270 00:13:20,140 --> 00:13:22,180 This gave them a great advantage. 271 00:13:23,700 --> 00:13:25,060 And I think about that, I'm like, wow, 272 00:13:25,060 --> 00:13:27,560 what if Christians could get that revelation? 273 00:13:29,180 --> 00:13:32,860 This is not corporate America where you expect 274 00:13:32,860 --> 00:13:36,500 to get stabbed in the back for a promotion. 275 00:13:36,500 --> 00:13:38,900 Or thrown under the bus so that someone else 276 00:13:38,900 --> 00:13:40,700 doesn't get in trouble. 277 00:13:40,700 --> 00:13:44,740 We as a church, we as a body of believers, 278 00:13:44,740 --> 00:13:48,260 we as Christians need to be aware that all of us 279 00:13:48,260 --> 00:13:49,680 will fall at some point. 280 00:13:51,100 --> 00:13:54,740 And it is our responsibility to pray for them, 281 00:13:54,740 --> 00:13:56,300 but it's also our responsibility 282 00:13:56,300 --> 00:13:58,660 to help them get back on their feet. 283 00:13:58,660 --> 00:14:01,340 It's our responsibility to let them know 284 00:14:01,340 --> 00:14:02,660 when the enemy is attacking 285 00:14:02,660 --> 00:14:05,500 and they're completely oblivious to it. 286 00:14:05,500 --> 00:14:09,060 We shouldn't be the ones to continually 287 00:14:09,060 --> 00:14:10,940 kick someone when they're down, 288 00:14:10,940 --> 00:14:14,180 by piling on them, by gossiping about them, 289 00:14:14,180 --> 00:14:16,480 or taking joy in their failure. 290 00:14:17,380 --> 00:14:20,420 We need to form a tortoise so that we are always covered. 291 00:14:21,620 --> 00:14:24,580 And as we pray for all the saints, 292 00:14:24,580 --> 00:14:27,460 it's important that we pray in the spirit. 293 00:14:27,460 --> 00:14:30,860 Now the concept of praying in the spirit is another, 294 00:14:30,860 --> 00:14:33,900 this verse is another one of those places in scripture 295 00:14:33,900 --> 00:14:37,500 where passage at times has been taken out of context, 296 00:14:37,500 --> 00:14:41,640 have been completely misunderstood and completely misused. 297 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:42,980 Paul is not writing here about 298 00:14:42,980 --> 00:14:46,740 some emotional ecstatic experience. 299 00:14:46,740 --> 00:14:49,260 He is not describing in this passage, 300 00:14:49,260 --> 00:14:51,580 praying in tongues or some other language. 301 00:14:51,580 --> 00:14:54,440 In fact, if taken in its proper context, 302 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:57,700 it's pretty easy to determine what Paul means here. 303 00:14:57,700 --> 00:15:02,060 To pray in the spirit simply means to pray in a way 304 00:15:02,060 --> 00:15:05,380 that is consistent with the sword of the spirit, 305 00:15:05,380 --> 00:15:08,260 which is God's revelation of himself and his word. 306 00:15:08,260 --> 00:15:12,100 So praying in the spirit is praying in a manner 307 00:15:12,100 --> 00:15:16,820 that is consistent with the nature and the will of God. 308 00:15:16,820 --> 00:15:19,060 Maybe Romans eight will help us understand 309 00:15:19,060 --> 00:15:20,580 how this works a little better. 310 00:15:21,900 --> 00:15:22,740 Paul writes in the same way, 311 00:15:22,740 --> 00:15:25,260 the spirit helps us in our weakness. 312 00:15:25,260 --> 00:15:27,660 We do not know what we ought to pray for, 313 00:15:27,660 --> 00:15:30,980 but the spirit himself intercedes for us with groans 314 00:15:30,980 --> 00:15:32,900 that words cannot express. 315 00:15:32,900 --> 00:15:36,740 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the spirit 316 00:15:36,740 --> 00:15:39,220 because the spirit intercedes for the saints 317 00:15:39,220 --> 00:15:42,040 in accordance with God's will. 318 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:43,580 I mean, isn't that exciting? 319 00:15:44,940 --> 00:15:48,260 Even when we don't know what to pray for someone, 320 00:15:49,340 --> 00:15:52,300 God's Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf 321 00:15:52,300 --> 00:15:54,380 and prays for us. 322 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:58,340 And because the Holy Spirit is God, 323 00:15:58,340 --> 00:16:01,820 those prayers are always in accordance with God's will. 324 00:16:02,740 --> 00:16:04,780 A few years ago, I was at my last church 325 00:16:04,780 --> 00:16:05,900 and I had a good friend of mine 326 00:16:05,900 --> 00:16:08,860 and he sent me the song as a joke. 327 00:16:08,860 --> 00:16:10,900 I hope it was a joke. 328 00:16:10,900 --> 00:16:13,660 Because we just wrapped up a series on prayer 329 00:16:13,660 --> 00:16:14,820 and he came up to me afterwards 330 00:16:14,820 --> 00:16:17,340 and says, I'm gonna be praying for you. 331 00:16:17,340 --> 00:16:18,180 That means a lot to me. 332 00:16:18,180 --> 00:16:19,940 When you all come up to me and say, 333 00:16:19,940 --> 00:16:21,780 I've just been praying for you this week. 334 00:16:21,780 --> 00:16:23,300 That means a lot to me. 335 00:16:23,300 --> 00:16:26,140 So he sent me the song, it's titled, Pray for You. 336 00:16:26,140 --> 00:16:29,580 So initially I thought it was going to be encouraging. 337 00:16:29,580 --> 00:16:31,740 The chorus goes, maybe you've heard it. 338 00:16:31,740 --> 00:16:34,600 I pray your breaks go out running down a hill. 339 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,000 I pray a flower pot falls from a window seal 340 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:40,160 and knocks you in the head like I'd like to. 341 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:42,900 I pray your birthday comes and nobody calls. 342 00:16:42,900 --> 00:16:46,080 I pray you're flying high when your engine stalls. 343 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:49,020 I pray all your dreams never come true. 344 00:16:49,020 --> 00:16:53,100 Just know wherever you are, I pray for you. 345 00:16:53,100 --> 00:16:56,460 Now that is not a song that depicts 346 00:16:56,460 --> 00:16:58,380 what it means to pray in the spirit. 347 00:17:00,620 --> 00:17:03,120 There's this book called The Weapon of Prayer, 348 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:05,340 which I found to be very convicting this week. 349 00:17:05,340 --> 00:17:07,940 In it there's this quote that I thought was appropriate. 350 00:17:07,940 --> 00:17:12,380 He writes, not to pray is a denial of God, 351 00:17:12,380 --> 00:17:15,660 a denial of his existence, a denial of his nature, 352 00:17:15,660 --> 00:17:18,260 and denial of his purposes towards mankind. 353 00:17:19,460 --> 00:17:21,860 Praying men and women are the only people 354 00:17:21,860 --> 00:17:24,420 in which the Holy Spirit dwells. 355 00:17:24,420 --> 00:17:27,580 For the Holy Spirit and prayer go hand in hand. 356 00:17:27,580 --> 00:17:31,780 The Holy Spirit never descends upon prayerless men. 357 00:17:31,780 --> 00:17:34,540 He never fills them, he never empowers them. 358 00:17:34,540 --> 00:17:36,340 There is nothing whatever in common 359 00:17:36,340 --> 00:17:39,020 between the Spirit of God and men and women 360 00:17:39,020 --> 00:17:40,720 who do not pray. 361 00:17:41,820 --> 00:17:44,740 How many times have we all experienced 362 00:17:46,220 --> 00:17:49,280 a nudge from the Holy Spirit to pray for someone else? 363 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:51,920 Similarly, I don't know where we get the sense 364 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:55,100 that we are to pray for someone. 365 00:17:55,100 --> 00:17:58,180 Many times not even knowing why they need our prayers. 366 00:17:59,460 --> 00:18:01,780 And I'm convinced that the more we live a life 367 00:18:01,780 --> 00:18:04,340 that is consistent with God's word, 368 00:18:04,340 --> 00:18:08,120 the more the Holy Spirit can lead us to pray in that way. 369 00:18:09,620 --> 00:18:11,140 And when we do that, we can be assured 370 00:18:11,140 --> 00:18:14,020 that we are praying in the Spirit according to God's will. 371 00:18:15,780 --> 00:18:18,580 If praying in the Spirit means 372 00:18:18,580 --> 00:18:21,020 praying according to the will of God, 373 00:18:21,020 --> 00:18:22,960 as he reveals it in his word, 374 00:18:24,540 --> 00:18:26,340 then it seems to me that the subject of those prayers 375 00:18:26,340 --> 00:18:29,180 ought to be consistent with the depth 376 00:18:29,180 --> 00:18:31,420 of the prayers that we find in scripture. 377 00:18:31,420 --> 00:18:34,100 That there is no doubt that God is concerned 378 00:18:34,100 --> 00:18:35,340 with our physical needs. 379 00:18:36,620 --> 00:18:39,740 Jesus fed people, he healed people, 380 00:18:39,740 --> 00:18:41,620 but he had a far greater purpose in mind 381 00:18:41,620 --> 00:18:44,700 than just meeting their physical needs in that moment. 382 00:18:44,700 --> 00:18:46,700 I think that Paul certainly recognized 383 00:18:46,700 --> 00:18:50,860 that in that's why his prayers dealt 384 00:18:50,860 --> 00:18:53,220 with deep spiritual issues of life. 385 00:18:53,220 --> 00:18:56,900 We rarely find Paul praying for his own needs 386 00:18:56,900 --> 00:18:59,260 or asking others to do the same. 387 00:18:59,260 --> 00:19:03,100 We need to pray for others with God's perspective, 388 00:19:03,100 --> 00:19:06,900 with God's purpose and God's power. 389 00:19:06,900 --> 00:19:08,860 So let's take a moment real quick 390 00:19:08,860 --> 00:19:12,220 to consider Paul's circumstances. 391 00:19:12,220 --> 00:19:15,140 We get a couple clues from the letter itself 392 00:19:15,140 --> 00:19:16,540 at the beginning of chapter three. 393 00:19:16,540 --> 00:19:20,220 Paul described himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 394 00:19:21,420 --> 00:19:23,060 And here in verse 20, 395 00:19:24,220 --> 00:19:26,180 he writes that he is in chains. 396 00:19:27,660 --> 00:19:29,580 Now from the accounts of the book of Acts, 397 00:19:29,580 --> 00:19:34,340 we know that Paul was awaiting trial before the emperor. 398 00:19:34,340 --> 00:19:36,060 He had been allowed to arrange 399 00:19:36,060 --> 00:19:38,900 some private lodging for himself. 400 00:19:38,900 --> 00:19:42,200 And the common practice in that situation 401 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:45,140 was that the prisoner would be bound to his guard 402 00:19:45,140 --> 00:19:48,740 by a short length of chain in order to prevent escape. 403 00:19:49,820 --> 00:19:51,900 Suppose that Paul lived in our day, 404 00:19:53,340 --> 00:19:56,260 and he heard that a local church like ours 405 00:19:56,260 --> 00:19:57,980 was having a prayer meeting, 406 00:19:59,260 --> 00:20:01,380 and that church had asked Paul to write them a letter 407 00:20:01,380 --> 00:20:04,420 to communicate his prayer requests. 408 00:20:06,020 --> 00:20:08,180 Now if you were a part of that prayer meeting, 409 00:20:08,180 --> 00:20:12,340 what would you expect Paul to ask you to pray for? 410 00:20:12,340 --> 00:20:14,420 If we're really honest, 411 00:20:14,420 --> 00:20:16,020 given the kinds of prayer requests 412 00:20:16,020 --> 00:20:18,500 that we generally share with each other, 413 00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:21,540 I think we would all expect Paul to ask us 414 00:20:21,540 --> 00:20:23,580 to pray for his release from prison, 415 00:20:24,580 --> 00:20:28,180 or at a minimum that we would pray for his comfort, 416 00:20:28,180 --> 00:20:31,620 or maybe to heal the sores on his wrists 417 00:20:31,620 --> 00:20:33,780 and legs from the shackles. 418 00:20:33,780 --> 00:20:36,500 And there certainly would have not been anything 419 00:20:36,500 --> 00:20:40,860 inherently wrong had Paul asked for those kinds of prayers, 420 00:20:40,860 --> 00:20:43,540 just as there's nothing wrong with us 421 00:20:43,540 --> 00:20:46,940 asking for people to pray for our physical needs. 422 00:20:47,900 --> 00:20:49,620 But Paul recognized that there is 423 00:20:49,620 --> 00:20:52,280 a much bigger picture involved here. 424 00:20:53,180 --> 00:20:56,820 He seemed to have this unique ability that I wish I had. 425 00:20:56,820 --> 00:21:01,020 He had this unique ability to lurk at his circumstances 426 00:21:01,020 --> 00:21:03,180 and see them from God's perspective. 427 00:21:03,180 --> 00:21:06,580 That's why he writes that he is an ambassador in chains 428 00:21:06,580 --> 00:21:08,660 on behalf of the gospel. 429 00:21:08,660 --> 00:21:11,460 In Paul's day, the same word translated chains there 430 00:21:12,380 --> 00:21:16,260 was also used to describe the gold adornment worn 431 00:21:16,260 --> 00:21:20,220 around the necks and wrists of the wealthy and powerful. 432 00:21:20,220 --> 00:21:24,340 On many occasions, an ambassador would wear such chains 433 00:21:24,340 --> 00:21:27,740 in order to show off his power and his riches 434 00:21:27,740 --> 00:21:30,360 of the government that he represented. 435 00:21:30,360 --> 00:21:33,940 So for Paul, his chains represented the power 436 00:21:33,940 --> 00:21:38,180 and the riches for the one that he was an ambassador for, 437 00:21:38,180 --> 00:21:40,660 that he was an ambassador for the Lord. 438 00:21:40,660 --> 00:21:42,660 And see, he wore them boldly. 439 00:21:42,660 --> 00:21:46,300 The nature of Paul's prayers is deeply rooted 440 00:21:46,300 --> 00:21:50,540 in his understanding of how his life fit into God's 441 00:21:50,540 --> 00:21:53,300 overall plan of taking the gospel, 442 00:21:53,300 --> 00:21:55,740 the good news to the world around him. 443 00:21:55,740 --> 00:21:58,660 We need to have God's perspective. 444 00:21:58,660 --> 00:22:00,580 Perhaps the most striking characteristic 445 00:22:00,580 --> 00:22:04,580 of Paul's request for prayer is that he is much more concerned 446 00:22:04,580 --> 00:22:08,060 about making sure that he is carrying out God's purpose 447 00:22:08,060 --> 00:22:10,460 than he is about his own needs and desires. 448 00:22:11,460 --> 00:22:16,060 His main concern is that he would fearlessly make known 449 00:22:16,060 --> 00:22:17,820 the mystery of the gospel. 450 00:22:19,220 --> 00:22:22,660 So when at the end of this letter, 451 00:22:22,660 --> 00:22:27,060 he asks his readers to pray that he might fearlessly 452 00:22:27,060 --> 00:22:29,900 make known the mystery of the gospel. 453 00:22:29,900 --> 00:22:32,940 He is in essence asking them to pray 454 00:22:32,940 --> 00:22:36,140 that he will carry out God's purposes for his life. 455 00:22:36,940 --> 00:22:39,700 First John 5 reads, this is the confidence 456 00:22:39,700 --> 00:22:42,980 we have in approaching God, that if we ask anything 457 00:22:42,980 --> 00:22:45,380 according to his will, he hears us. 458 00:22:45,380 --> 00:22:48,580 And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, 459 00:22:48,580 --> 00:22:51,180 we know that we have what we ask of him. 460 00:22:52,620 --> 00:22:55,020 God never promised to answer my prayers 461 00:22:55,020 --> 00:22:58,580 when I was begging him in my bedroom 462 00:22:58,580 --> 00:23:00,380 for my dad not to with me. 463 00:23:01,380 --> 00:23:04,060 Well, that sounds bad nowadays, but I got spanked. 464 00:23:04,060 --> 00:23:04,900 Is that fair? 465 00:23:06,260 --> 00:23:08,020 He didn't answer those prayers, 466 00:23:08,020 --> 00:23:11,140 but he never promised to answer those types of prayers, did he? 467 00:23:13,220 --> 00:23:16,860 Even though we have ample biblical evidence 468 00:23:16,860 --> 00:23:19,660 that Paul was a very effective communicator, 469 00:23:19,660 --> 00:23:22,340 he still asks his readers to pray 470 00:23:22,340 --> 00:23:25,900 that he would be given exactly the right words 471 00:23:25,900 --> 00:23:28,180 to speak every time that he opened his mouth 472 00:23:28,180 --> 00:23:29,340 to proclaim the gospel. 473 00:23:31,500 --> 00:23:33,140 And even though we have no evidence 474 00:23:33,140 --> 00:23:36,180 that Paul ever lacked boldness in his ministry, 475 00:23:37,500 --> 00:23:40,500 we have no evidence that Paul was ever fearful, 476 00:23:40,500 --> 00:23:43,060 we have no evidence that Paul got all tongue twisted 477 00:23:43,060 --> 00:23:43,900 or any of that. 478 00:23:43,900 --> 00:23:46,980 Paul twice in two verses asked for prayer 479 00:23:46,980 --> 00:23:50,220 that he would proclaim the gospel fearlessly 480 00:23:50,220 --> 00:23:53,380 in asking for that kind of prayer. 481 00:23:53,380 --> 00:23:56,380 Paul is making it quite evident to us 482 00:23:57,700 --> 00:24:01,180 that he recognizes that his ministry is totally 483 00:24:01,180 --> 00:24:05,100 and completely dependent on God's power at work in his life. 484 00:24:06,620 --> 00:24:08,540 Paul was probably gifted. 485 00:24:08,540 --> 00:24:11,380 He probably had a lot of things that we wish we had, 486 00:24:11,380 --> 00:24:14,540 but he understood that all the giftings that I have 487 00:24:14,540 --> 00:24:17,060 don't matter if I don't have God's power. 488 00:24:17,060 --> 00:24:18,500 If I don't have God's power. 489 00:24:22,100 --> 00:24:27,100 His own eloquence and his own boldness are inadequate 490 00:24:27,100 --> 00:24:31,500 to be effective in declaring the mystery of the gospel 491 00:24:31,500 --> 00:24:33,380 if it's separated from God's power. 492 00:24:35,020 --> 00:24:36,620 We need to pray like Paul 493 00:24:38,380 --> 00:24:40,420 and we need to pray with God's perspective. 494 00:24:40,420 --> 00:24:45,540 God, I'm in this situation. 495 00:24:47,140 --> 00:24:49,060 I don't know what your plan is, 496 00:24:50,620 --> 00:24:54,060 but if it fits as it fits into your will 497 00:24:54,060 --> 00:24:57,100 for the plan of redemption, help me find joy in it. 498 00:25:00,220 --> 00:25:02,940 God, how can I be effective in sharing the gospel 499 00:25:02,940 --> 00:25:04,420 through my circumstances? 500 00:25:06,220 --> 00:25:08,820 As people look at me and what I'm facing, 501 00:25:08,820 --> 00:25:11,340 how can you be glorified in it? 502 00:25:12,700 --> 00:25:15,140 God, help me understand that salvation belongs to you. 503 00:25:15,140 --> 00:25:17,020 And even when I don't have all the answers, 504 00:25:17,020 --> 00:25:19,780 even though they might ask me a question, 505 00:25:19,780 --> 00:25:24,780 I don't know, your power in me will trump my own abilities. 506 00:25:24,980 --> 00:25:27,340 It will trump my own abilities to be effective 507 00:25:27,340 --> 00:25:28,580 for your kingdom. 508 00:25:28,580 --> 00:25:29,740 God, give me your power. 509 00:25:33,380 --> 00:25:35,140 This week was ironic for me. 510 00:25:35,140 --> 00:25:40,140 I'm preparing a message on prayer in God's power 511 00:25:40,340 --> 00:25:41,860 and I get sick this week. 512 00:25:41,860 --> 00:25:43,300 Not bad, but I couldn't. 513 00:25:44,300 --> 00:25:45,140 Got flim. 514 00:25:46,700 --> 00:25:47,540 A lot of flim. 515 00:25:49,060 --> 00:25:50,740 And I'm sure you know this, 516 00:25:50,740 --> 00:25:52,620 but if you try to talk and you have a lot of flim, 517 00:25:52,620 --> 00:25:54,380 you don't sound your best. 518 00:25:54,380 --> 00:25:56,380 I probably still sound a little nasally. 519 00:25:57,460 --> 00:25:59,740 And so I had to gut check myself 520 00:25:59,740 --> 00:26:02,940 because I'm like, Drew, I need you to tap in here, right? 521 00:26:02,940 --> 00:26:07,180 Because my own abilities are not going to be able 522 00:26:07,180 --> 00:26:09,380 to get me through two services on Sunday. 523 00:26:10,620 --> 00:26:12,820 But then I was reminded, it's not about me. 524 00:26:13,820 --> 00:26:16,100 It's about what God can do through me. 525 00:26:16,100 --> 00:26:18,580 Gotta tap into that power. 526 00:26:20,820 --> 00:26:22,420 And so that's why I'm able to sleep at night. 527 00:26:22,420 --> 00:26:24,940 Years ago, I wasn't able to sleep at night 528 00:26:24,940 --> 00:26:26,580 because I'm like, I should have said that different. 529 00:26:26,580 --> 00:26:27,580 I should have said that different. 530 00:26:27,580 --> 00:26:31,180 I should have phrased that in a different way. 531 00:26:31,180 --> 00:26:33,460 And what I realized was I was relying 532 00:26:33,460 --> 00:26:37,020 on my own abilities to get the job done. 533 00:26:37,020 --> 00:26:39,380 I sleep well now because I'm gonna give you my best 534 00:26:39,380 --> 00:26:40,340 every single week. 535 00:26:40,340 --> 00:26:41,940 This week might not be my best, 536 00:26:43,340 --> 00:26:45,460 but it's the best I could do this week. 537 00:26:47,060 --> 00:26:48,500 And I'm just gonna trust 538 00:26:50,100 --> 00:26:51,660 that God's power will be seen. 539 00:26:53,340 --> 00:26:55,180 Because I can't change your life. 540 00:26:55,180 --> 00:26:57,420 I can't put words in the right order 541 00:26:57,420 --> 00:27:01,780 to convince you of the joy and the glory of the gospel. 542 00:27:03,060 --> 00:27:06,020 But his spirit moving in this place, sure can. 543 00:27:09,620 --> 00:27:12,700 And so my hope that as we start beginning 544 00:27:12,700 --> 00:27:14,940 to prepare our hearts for communion, 545 00:27:18,540 --> 00:27:21,060 that you will understand what we're about to remember 546 00:27:21,060 --> 00:27:22,660 and what we're about to celebrate. 547 00:27:22,660 --> 00:27:26,500 And I'm gonna tell you this, it's not something 548 00:27:26,500 --> 00:27:30,860 you can just mentally grasp. 549 00:27:34,820 --> 00:27:37,940 We can understand the facts about it. 550 00:27:40,220 --> 00:27:43,700 But we have to understand that Jesus came 551 00:27:43,700 --> 00:27:45,980 and lived and died. 552 00:27:45,980 --> 00:27:47,740 And as horrific as that is, 553 00:27:47,740 --> 00:27:50,900 to make your own son go through that. 554 00:27:50,900 --> 00:27:53,100 As horrific as that is, 555 00:27:53,100 --> 00:27:56,220 Jesus still had God's perspective 556 00:27:56,220 --> 00:27:58,980 because he saw what the end was gonna do. 557 00:27:58,980 --> 00:28:01,260 And that's what we remember this morning. 558 00:28:01,260 --> 00:28:03,900 So I'm gonna invite our elders and deacons to come forward 559 00:28:03,900 --> 00:28:06,100 as we get ready to pass out these elements. 560 00:28:06,100 --> 00:28:08,380 And here's my challenge to you. 561 00:28:10,940 --> 00:28:12,940 It's not just to sit there and say, 562 00:28:12,940 --> 00:28:15,940 okay God, I have all these sins, let me confess these to you. 563 00:28:15,940 --> 00:28:20,700 But more importantly, God, 564 00:28:22,380 --> 00:28:24,540 am I living with your perspective? 565 00:28:27,740 --> 00:28:29,780 Am I living my life with your purpose? 566 00:28:30,900 --> 00:28:34,180 Am I living my life in your power or my own? 567 00:28:40,340 --> 00:28:43,260 Because if you're relying on your own power, 568 00:28:43,260 --> 00:28:47,020 you're gonna be disappointed. 569 00:28:47,020 --> 00:28:48,700 And so as we pray in the spirit, 570 00:28:48,700 --> 00:28:50,260 we pray according to God's will. 571 00:28:53,620 --> 00:28:56,020 God's will is that all men may know him, 572 00:28:59,180 --> 00:29:00,820 that all men may be saved. 573 00:29:05,300 --> 00:29:06,660 And so if you don't know him, 574 00:29:06,660 --> 00:29:11,660 my prayer is that his spirit will just fall on you this morning. 575 00:29:16,900 --> 00:29:20,060 If you just know how to do church, 576 00:29:24,100 --> 00:29:26,700 you know how to make the outward appearance look good, 577 00:29:28,540 --> 00:29:30,220 but inside you're wasting away, 578 00:29:31,300 --> 00:29:33,300 my prayer is that he would reveal that to you 579 00:29:33,300 --> 00:29:36,780 so that you will call upon the name of the Lord. 580 00:29:38,180 --> 00:29:41,500 And you can boldly declare like we did earlier, 581 00:29:42,460 --> 00:29:45,340 hallelujah, hallelujah. 582 00:29:46,740 --> 00:29:49,540 And so we're gonna pass out these elements to you. 583 00:29:49,540 --> 00:29:51,140 I encourage you to, 584 00:29:51,140 --> 00:29:52,860 this is your first time with us doing communion. 585 00:29:52,860 --> 00:29:54,180 Here's how we usually do it, 586 00:29:54,180 --> 00:29:56,220 is you'll get a tray passed in front of you 587 00:29:56,220 --> 00:29:58,700 and you'll grab one and usually has two cups. 588 00:29:58,700 --> 00:30:00,340 And I'm just asking you to hold on to those. 589 00:30:00,340 --> 00:30:02,780 We'll take those together here in a second. 590 00:30:05,300 --> 00:30:09,660 But as you hold that piece of bread and that cup of juice, 591 00:30:10,500 --> 00:30:13,020 you will understand the broken body 592 00:30:13,020 --> 00:30:15,060 and spilled blood of Jesus on your behalf, 593 00:30:16,060 --> 00:30:17,460 the greatest story ever told. 594 00:30:18,940 --> 00:30:20,460 And you will prepare your hearts 595 00:30:21,780 --> 00:30:23,780 and you will lay all these things before him 596 00:30:23,780 --> 00:30:28,060 so that we don't take it in another worthy way. 597 00:30:30,660 --> 00:30:31,660 If you're a believer in Jesus, 598 00:30:31,660 --> 00:30:34,060 we invite you to the table as we remember this. 599 00:30:34,060 --> 00:30:36,620 You haven't accepted that, that's fine. 600 00:30:36,620 --> 00:30:38,780 This isn't a sales pitch, 601 00:30:38,780 --> 00:30:41,580 but we just ask you to maybe let it pass in front of you. 602 00:30:43,100 --> 00:30:47,260 And maybe you have the prayer like the father 603 00:30:47,260 --> 00:30:48,100 that came to Jesus and says, 604 00:30:48,100 --> 00:30:50,580 I believe but still help my unbelief. 605 00:30:50,580 --> 00:30:53,420 Maybe that's you, I believe intellectually, 606 00:30:53,420 --> 00:30:55,380 but something in my heart still hasn't grasped. 607 00:30:55,380 --> 00:30:58,660 Maybe that's your prayer today as it's going to be. 608 00:30:58,660 --> 00:31:00,260 So we'll pass these out and we'll come back 609 00:31:00,260 --> 00:31:01,620 and we'll take it together. 610 00:31:01,620 --> 00:31:26,060 music 611 00:31:31,620 --> 00:31:57,620 I was buried beneath my rebellion, lost without hope of redemption. 612 00:31:57,620 --> 00:32:07,620 Blind to my need for the Savior, oh, but God. 613 00:32:07,620 --> 00:32:17,620 Crushed by the weight of my failures, living like I created. 614 00:32:17,620 --> 00:32:27,620 Digging my grave without no hope but God. 615 00:32:27,620 --> 00:32:37,620 Rich in mercy, how you loan me to my sin, let me stay lost. 616 00:32:37,620 --> 00:32:51,620 My salvation sent from heaven, healing my sin to a cross, oh, but God. 617 00:32:51,620 --> 00:33:03,620 You gave me a truth worth believing, I traded my chance for your freedom, 618 00:33:03,620 --> 00:33:23,620 because you were the one that I needed, oh, but God. 619 00:33:23,620 --> 00:33:33,620 Now this is my surest test, oh, but God, oh, but God. 620 00:33:33,620 --> 00:33:43,620 Rich in mercy, how you loan me to my sin, let me stay lost. 621 00:33:43,620 --> 00:33:55,620 My salvation sent from heaven, healing my sin to a cross, oh, but God. 622 00:33:55,620 --> 00:34:05,620 Rich in mercy, how you loan me to my sin, let me stay lost. 623 00:34:05,620 --> 00:34:19,620 My salvation sent from heaven, healing my sin to a cross, oh, but God. 624 00:34:19,620 --> 00:34:39,620 No more wreckage of my choices, you have turned to life from ashes, 625 00:34:39,620 --> 00:34:49,620 lifted from death with the beating. 626 00:34:49,620 --> 00:35:11,620 Now I stand in God's hands, and no more wreckage of my choices. 627 00:35:11,620 --> 00:35:31,620 You have turned to life from ashes, lifted from death with the beating. 628 00:35:31,620 --> 00:35:45,620 Now I stand in God's hands, you have turned to life from ashes, 629 00:35:45,620 --> 00:35:51,620 how you loan me to my sin, let me stay lost. 630 00:35:51,620 --> 00:36:03,620 My salvation sent from heaven, healing my sin to a cross, oh, but God. 631 00:36:03,620 --> 00:36:13,620 Rich in mercy, how you loan me to my sin, let me stay lost. 632 00:36:13,620 --> 00:36:25,620 My salvation sent from heaven, healing my sin to a cross, oh, but God. 633 00:36:25,620 --> 00:36:31,620 Oh, but God. 634 00:36:31,620 --> 00:36:37,620 Oh, but God. 635 00:36:37,620 --> 00:36:47,620 Oh, but God. 636 00:37:07,620 --> 00:37:15,620 Friend, you want to pray for the blood? 637 00:37:15,620 --> 00:37:20,620 Father, we just come to you with grateful hearts. 638 00:37:20,620 --> 00:37:28,620 Father God, you know our hearts, Father, and we don't deserve your taking the abuse, 639 00:37:28,620 --> 00:37:34,620 the bleeding on the cross, and Father God, giving up your life. 640 00:37:34,620 --> 00:37:39,620 But as you look through our hearts, we can't lie to you in our hearts. 641 00:37:39,620 --> 00:37:45,620 And hopefully that you can come through and check and identify where we need to improve, Father God. 642 00:37:45,620 --> 00:37:57,620 Before we take this blood and this bread, Father God, we ask that you purify us and make us holy. 643 00:37:57,620 --> 00:38:00,620 Scripture says, though not he was betrayed, Jesus was with his disciples. 644 00:38:00,620 --> 00:38:01,620 He took bread and he broke it. 645 00:38:01,620 --> 00:38:13,620 He said, this is my body broken for you every time you were to do this in remembrance of me. 646 00:38:13,620 --> 00:38:14,620 Thank you. 647 00:38:14,620 --> 00:38:19,620 Pray for the Jews. 648 00:38:19,620 --> 00:38:21,620 Glory to God, Almighty. 649 00:38:21,620 --> 00:38:28,620 Father, we thank you for the ability to be here today, Father, and to commune with one another and with you. 650 00:38:28,620 --> 00:38:36,620 Father, we gather not for anything that we did, but it all has been done for us. 651 00:38:36,620 --> 00:38:41,620 All that you suffered, Jesus, is a gift to us. 652 00:38:41,620 --> 00:38:43,620 You call us to remember your gift. 653 00:38:43,620 --> 00:38:46,620 Yours is the gift that keeps on giving. 654 00:38:46,620 --> 00:38:49,620 And even this morning you give to us, Father. 655 00:38:49,620 --> 00:38:52,620 If it's peace we need, you give us peace. 656 00:38:52,620 --> 00:38:55,620 If it's health we need, you give us health. 657 00:38:55,620 --> 00:38:58,620 If it's direction we need, you give us direction. 658 00:38:58,620 --> 00:39:01,620 If it's wisdom we need, you give us wisdom. 659 00:39:01,620 --> 00:39:04,620 All things come from you, Lord. 660 00:39:04,620 --> 00:39:12,620 Everything that we have, all that we own, all that we can even think or imagine comes from you, Lord. 661 00:39:12,620 --> 00:39:16,620 We thank you for your grace this morning in Jesus' name. 662 00:39:16,620 --> 00:39:17,620 Amen. 663 00:39:17,620 --> 00:39:18,620 Amen. 664 00:39:18,620 --> 00:39:24,620 He then took the cup and he says, this is a new covenant in my blood. 665 00:39:24,620 --> 00:39:33,620 Which means when we look at the blood we do think of all the wreckage that our choices have led us to. 666 00:39:33,620 --> 00:39:36,620 And he turns it to life. 667 00:39:36,620 --> 00:39:38,620 And this blood is the new covenant. 668 00:39:38,620 --> 00:39:44,620 Every time he drinks he does this and remembers it. 669 00:39:44,620 --> 00:39:46,620 Amen. 670 00:39:46,620 --> 00:39:51,620 Amen. 671 00:39:51,620 --> 00:39:54,620 Well, it's the end of the month or it's the beginning of the month. 672 00:39:54,620 --> 00:39:55,620 Forgive me. 673 00:39:55,620 --> 00:39:59,620 And every beginning of the month we take an offering. 674 00:39:59,620 --> 00:40:10,620 And all the money that's collected in this offering is to be used for our church in the sense of helping meet needs of people in our church. 675 00:40:10,620 --> 00:40:20,620 And sometimes there's a lot of needs, sometimes there's not very many, but we want to be faithful in collecting money so that as needs come up we can help as a church take care of those needs. 676 00:40:20,620 --> 00:40:27,620 And so you might not be in a position right now where you can give and there's absolutely no obligation whatsoever. 677 00:40:27,620 --> 00:40:32,620 But maybe you're in a season of plenty and you want to help be a blessing to others. 678 00:40:32,620 --> 00:40:33,620 This is that time. 679 00:40:33,620 --> 00:40:37,620 And so we're going to pass out these baskets as we sing one more song together. 680 00:40:37,620 --> 00:40:40,620 Let me pray for this offering and then we'll worship one more time. 681 00:40:40,620 --> 00:40:42,620 Father God, thank you for this day. 682 00:40:42,620 --> 00:40:43,620 Thank you for our church. 683 00:40:43,620 --> 00:40:45,620 Thank you for the time we've had to worship. 684 00:40:45,620 --> 00:40:50,620 I pray Father that as we take this offering that you will bless every giver. 685 00:40:50,620 --> 00:40:55,620 I pray that you will bless every receiver that's on the receiving end of this money. 686 00:40:55,620 --> 00:41:02,620 We pray God that we will always be good stewards of the resources that you give us and help us honor you with everything we do with this money. 687 00:41:02,620 --> 00:41:03,620 We ask all these things in your name. 688 00:41:03,620 --> 00:41:23,620 Amen. 689 00:41:23,620 --> 00:41:33,620 I love you Lord. 690 00:41:33,620 --> 00:42:00,620 I love you Lord. 691 00:42:00,620 --> 00:42:05,620 Oh you mercy never fails me. 692 00:42:05,620 --> 00:42:12,620 And all my tears I've been held in your hands. 693 00:42:12,620 --> 00:42:16,620 For the moment that I wake up. 694 00:42:16,620 --> 00:42:20,620 Until I lay my hand. 695 00:42:20,620 --> 00:42:30,620 For I will see of the goodness of God. 696 00:42:30,620 --> 00:42:37,620 And all my life you have been faithful. 697 00:42:37,620 --> 00:42:45,620 And all my life you have been so, so good. 698 00:42:45,620 --> 00:42:51,620 With every breath that I am able. 699 00:42:51,620 --> 00:42:58,620 I will see of the goodness of God. 700 00:42:58,620 --> 00:43:03,620 I love your voice. 701 00:43:03,620 --> 00:43:08,620 You have led me through the fire. 702 00:43:08,620 --> 00:43:15,620 You have brought me through the struggle. 703 00:43:15,620 --> 00:43:23,620 You are close like no other. 704 00:43:23,620 --> 00:43:27,620 I've known you as a father. 705 00:43:27,620 --> 00:43:32,620 I've known you as a friend. 706 00:43:32,620 --> 00:43:40,620 And all my life you have been faithful. 707 00:43:40,620 --> 00:43:48,620 And all my life you have been so, so good. 708 00:43:48,620 --> 00:43:53,620 With every breath that I am able. 709 00:43:53,620 --> 00:44:00,620 I will see of the goodness of God. 710 00:44:00,620 --> 00:44:10,620 Your goodness is running after me. 711 00:44:10,620 --> 00:44:17,620 Your goodness is running after me. 712 00:44:17,620 --> 00:44:19,620 But I am laid down. 713 00:44:19,620 --> 00:44:21,620 I surrender now. 714 00:44:21,620 --> 00:44:25,620 I give you everything. 715 00:44:25,620 --> 00:44:33,620 Your goodness is running after me. 716 00:44:33,620 --> 00:44:40,620 Your goodness is running after me. 717 00:44:40,620 --> 00:44:47,620 Your goodness is running after me. 718 00:44:47,620 --> 00:44:49,620 With my life laid down. 719 00:44:49,620 --> 00:44:51,620 I surrender now. 720 00:44:51,620 --> 00:44:56,620 I give you everything. 721 00:44:56,620 --> 00:44:59,620 Your goodness is running after me. 722 00:44:59,620 --> 00:45:10,620 It's running after me. 723 00:45:10,620 --> 00:45:17,620 And all my life you have been faithful. 724 00:45:17,620 --> 00:45:25,620 And all my life you have been so, so good. 725 00:45:25,620 --> 00:45:31,620 With every breath that I am able. 726 00:45:31,620 --> 00:45:37,620 I will see of the goodness of God. 727 00:45:37,620 --> 00:45:40,620 Sing of a church this morning. 728 00:45:40,620 --> 00:45:48,620 And all my life you have been faithful. 729 00:45:48,620 --> 00:45:56,620 And all my life you have been so, so good. 730 00:45:56,620 --> 00:46:01,620 With every breath that I am able. 731 00:46:01,620 --> 00:46:09,620 I will see of the goodness of God. 732 00:46:09,620 --> 00:46:17,620 I will see of the goodness of God. 733 00:46:17,620 --> 00:46:27,620 I will see of the goodness of God. 734 00:46:27,620 --> 00:46:35,620 Amen. You can be seated for a minute. 735 00:46:35,620 --> 00:46:42,620 We are in a bittersweet season in our church. 736 00:46:42,620 --> 00:46:47,620 It's exciting but also a little hard, right? 737 00:46:47,620 --> 00:46:54,620 So I'm going to invite Drew and Louvi up to the stage. 738 00:46:54,620 --> 00:46:58,620 No tears. 739 00:46:58,620 --> 00:47:03,620 So Drew and Louvi have been in our church for over 13 years now. 740 00:47:03,620 --> 00:47:06,620 They have served our church faithfully. 741 00:47:06,620 --> 00:47:10,620 And so grateful for both of them in the two years that I've known them. 742 00:47:10,620 --> 00:47:14,620 But our church has a need and that need is associate pastor. 743 00:47:14,620 --> 00:47:19,620 And I've asked, well, not really. 744 00:47:19,620 --> 00:47:25,620 Drew has this, these giftings inside of him. 745 00:47:25,620 --> 00:47:32,620 And he feels like the Lord is leading him to be church planter, lead pastor one day. 746 00:47:32,620 --> 00:47:35,620 And we want to help equip that and support that in every way we can. 747 00:47:35,620 --> 00:47:38,620 And so our church has a need in associate pastor. 748 00:47:38,620 --> 00:47:42,620 And so what the Lord is doing in Drew's life and what the Lord is doing here, 749 00:47:42,620 --> 00:47:47,620 we've asked Drew to step into that role to serve as our associate pastor. 750 00:47:47,620 --> 00:47:49,620 Which is exciting. 751 00:47:49,620 --> 00:47:56,620 That's it. 752 00:47:56,620 --> 00:47:58,620 That's the fun part. 753 00:47:58,620 --> 00:48:01,620 But the hard part is he can't do both. 754 00:48:01,620 --> 00:48:05,620 He's going to be stepping out as our worship pastor. 755 00:48:05,620 --> 00:48:10,620 Still going to be a part of our team, still fill in when needed. 756 00:48:10,620 --> 00:48:12,620 And this isn't going to, this is going to be transitioned. 757 00:48:12,620 --> 00:48:17,620 We're going to transition him over the next several weeks or months or however long it takes. 758 00:48:17,620 --> 00:48:20,620 But we are so grateful for Drew and Louvi. 759 00:48:20,620 --> 00:48:29,620 And so we wanted you to be aware that Drew is going to be transitioning offices and his role here. 760 00:48:29,620 --> 00:48:32,620 So he's going to have all kinds of things. 761 00:48:32,620 --> 00:48:33,620 So we're going to ask for your patience. 762 00:48:33,620 --> 00:48:38,620 As we do that, there might be some things that get dropped as we figure out and navigate this whole process. 763 00:48:38,620 --> 00:48:42,620 But I hope that you will just pray for Drew and Louvi as they train. 764 00:48:42,620 --> 00:48:44,620 This is hard. It's hard. 765 00:48:44,620 --> 00:48:48,620 It's what he's known for his whole, all of his ministry. 766 00:48:48,620 --> 00:48:53,620 And so just please, please, please be praying for them and be excited for them 767 00:48:53,620 --> 00:48:56,620 and be excited for our church and what the Lord is doing in this place. 768 00:48:56,620 --> 00:49:05,620 And another sweet thing is that Mr. Simmons over here is going to kind of step into the role of worship leader for a season. 769 00:49:05,620 --> 00:49:13,620 We're proud of you. 770 00:49:13,620 --> 00:49:17,620 He's not going to say it, but that second song we sang on Indian praise was written by this guy right here. 771 00:49:17,620 --> 00:49:27,620 So I'm very, I'm very, very, very excited about what the future looks like for our church. 772 00:49:27,620 --> 00:49:28,620 And I hope you are too. 773 00:49:28,620 --> 00:49:33,620 And so as we leave, I'm going to encourage you to stand as we say our communion saying together. 774 00:49:33,620 --> 00:49:42,620 I'm going to ask Pastor Drew to lead us in that. 775 00:49:42,620 --> 00:49:56,620 I'm totally accepted, fully pleasing, deeply loved, completely forgiven and empowered to live a new life in Christ because of the cross and resurrection of Jesus. 776 00:49:56,620 --> 00:49:57,620 Amen. 777 00:49:57,620 --> 00:49:58,620 Amen. 778 00:49:58,620 --> 00:50:27,620 And I'll have a good week. 779 00:50:28,620 --> 00:50:33,620 I am free. 780 00:50:33,620 --> 00:50:41,620 I am free. 781 00:50:41,620 --> 00:50:56,620 I am free. 782 00:50:56,620 --> 00:51:06,620 I am free. 783 00:51:06,620 --> 00:51:16,620 I am free. 784 00:51:16,620 --> 00:51:25,620 I am free. 785 00:51:25,620 --> 00:51:35,620 I am free. 786 00:51:35,620 --> 00:51:45,620 I am free. 787 00:51:45,620 --> 00:51:55,620 I am free. 788 00:51:55,620 --> 00:52:05,620 I am free. 789 00:52:05,620 --> 00:52:15,620 I am free. 790 00:52:15,620 --> 00:52:25,620 I am free. 791 00:52:25,620 --> 00:52:35,620 I am free. 792 00:52:35,620 --> 00:52:45,620 I am free. 793 00:52:45,620 --> 00:52:55,620 I am free.