1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:15,440 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. 2 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:23,060 To get connected or to give online, go to connect.hcv.church or give.hcv.church. 3 00:00:23,060 --> 00:00:27,360 If at any point during this message you feel called to make a change in your life, text 4 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,840 change me to 970-00. 5 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:32,120 Thank you and enjoy the message. 6 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:35,120 Hey, good morning everyone. 7 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:36,120 So good to see you. 8 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:39,480 I would tell you to high five your neighbor, but you don't have room to do that because 9 00:00:39,480 --> 00:00:43,600 almost every seat is full. 10 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:47,400 If you're joining us from home, thank you for welcoming us into your space. 11 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,760 And listen, Corrine in no way is telling you what to do. 12 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:51,760 Okay. 13 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,080 We had a couple of people during the first gathering, a little frustrated because they 14 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:57,840 felt like we were telling you what to do. 15 00:00:57,840 --> 00:00:59,820 We just need to make some room. 16 00:00:59,820 --> 00:01:03,280 So if you could consider going to the first or the third gathering, we would appreciate 17 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:04,280 it. 18 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:05,280 We're not telling you what to do. 19 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,800 We just would appreciate you making more space for more people to come. 20 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:10,880 And if this is your first time here, you're checking us out. 21 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:12,820 Thank you for joining us. 22 00:01:12,820 --> 00:01:16,520 We know you're going to have a great time because God is here and he's moving in our 23 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:17,520 community of faith. 24 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:19,480 A couple of additional announcements. 25 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:20,480 Softball. 26 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:24,840 Today is a softball meeting directly after this gathering. 27 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:29,160 We would love to have you join one of our softball teams, both male and female. 28 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:34,120 The plan is to have three this year that play in the church softball league. 29 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:38,400 So it's a great way to meet people, get a little exercise, get out in the nice spring 30 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,240 time and summer weather. 31 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:42,240 It's spring, right? 32 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:43,240 Yeah. 33 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:44,240 It's 22 degrees this morning. 34 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:46,280 It's not even close to spring. 35 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:53,360 And also to my children, Lily and Nolan are out in the cafe selling homemade candles. 36 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,520 We may have made them in the last two weeks. 37 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:57,400 Yes, we actually did. 38 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,120 And all that money goes to our youth missions trip. 39 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:05,840 We're going to the DR this summer with 14 teenagers and five or six leaders. 40 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,600 So it's our first overseas missions trip. 41 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:14,040 So if you could support that trip and buy a candle, the most popular scent, Heavenly 42 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:15,800 Hippie is out there. 43 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:17,880 It will change your house, man. 44 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:20,480 It will change your house. 45 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,020 So you picked a great Sunday to be here. 46 00:02:22,020 --> 00:02:28,880 We're kicking off a new series for the month of March called Rooted, Practicing the Way 47 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:30,100 of Jesus. 48 00:02:30,100 --> 00:02:34,980 And for the next four weeks, we're going to be discussing what it looks like to follow 49 00:02:34,980 --> 00:02:37,680 Jesus and do what he did. 50 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:42,560 Our series is based off Colossians chapter two verses six through seven, which reads, 51 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:47,360 and now just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow 52 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:48,360 him. 53 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:55,840 If your roots grow down into him and let your lives be built on him, then your faith will 54 00:02:55,840 --> 00:03:02,700 grow strong in the truth you were taught and you will overflow with thankfulness, overflow 55 00:03:02,700 --> 00:03:03,700 with thankfulness. 56 00:03:03,700 --> 00:03:08,920 And that's what our world needs to overflow with thankfulness. 57 00:03:08,920 --> 00:03:16,440 Did you know the earliest disciples of Jesus were actually called followers of the way? 58 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:22,620 And this is very important because Christianity was never meant to be another religion. 59 00:03:22,620 --> 00:03:24,360 It is the way. 60 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:29,200 See, we have to understand that following Jesus is both a journey and the path that 61 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,280 we walk on. 62 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,720 It's not static, but it's constant motion. 63 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:38,480 It's not just that one time decision to follow Jesus. 64 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,040 It's a lifetime of choices. 65 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:48,120 See, we haven't reached our destination, our best life, our God given potential, but we 66 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:50,080 are always on the way. 67 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:51,080 We're always growing. 68 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:57,280 We're always changing and we are called to make a way for others to join us. 69 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:02,320 We are called to follow, not develop a bunch of religious formulas. 70 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:09,320 See following the way of the one who is the way, the truth and the life means that Jesus 71 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,000 is pointing us to real life. 72 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,120 Jesus was focused on the kingdom of God. 73 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,520 And see that's an eternal kind of life. 74 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,960 Jesus never talked about a dead man made religion or rules. 75 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:27,040 He actually challenged the religious leaders of his day because he was always pointing 76 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:31,540 people to a flourishing life through a relationship with God. 77 00:04:31,540 --> 00:04:38,480 In Matthew chapter 4 verse 19 Jesus says, come and follow me to his first disciples. 78 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:39,600 And what did the disciples do? 79 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:41,040 They dropped everything. 80 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,520 They left their nets immediately. 81 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:48,720 And he offers us the same invitation this morning. 82 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,120 See, it's to walk with him. 83 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,960 And we're all just on a journey here. 84 00:04:54,960 --> 00:05:01,440 And this journey is not always easy, but it's really, really simple if we just look at Jesus' 85 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:04,080 life and pattern our life after his. 86 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:10,960 Listen, we can't experience the promise of God without the practices of Jesus. 87 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:16,880 To live an abundant life, we have to follow him and do what he did. 88 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:23,600 Now my focus this morning is the word devoted, what it means to be devoted to the way. 89 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:30,980 And devoted is defined as loving or loyal, given over to the display, study or discussion 90 00:05:30,980 --> 00:05:34,240 of this morning Jesus. 91 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:36,840 That is going to be our application this morning. 92 00:05:36,840 --> 00:05:42,100 And in order for us to be devoted followers of Jesus, we have to just simply put into 93 00:05:42,100 --> 00:05:47,820 practice how Jesus modeled this for us, which leads us to our first thought this morning. 94 00:05:47,820 --> 00:05:51,880 You see, Jesus prioritized time with God. 95 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:54,360 Jesus prioritized time with God. 96 00:05:54,360 --> 00:06:00,720 Notice Mark chapter 1 verse 35, before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out 97 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:04,640 to an isolated place to pray. 98 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:06,980 So I want to begin this morning with a question. 99 00:06:06,980 --> 00:06:10,960 How do you start your mornings? 100 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,840 How do you start your mornings? 101 00:06:13,840 --> 00:06:20,360 Do you prioritize time with God every single morning? 102 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:26,520 Or does the world immediately distract you from the abundance that Jesus invites us into? 103 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,680 See Jesus was devoted. 104 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:33,640 Every day he dedicated his morning to connection with his father. 105 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:37,080 And he's setting the example for all of us to follow. 106 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:42,720 In fact Paul takes it a step further and challenges followers of Jesus to pray continuously. 107 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:45,520 Look at 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. 108 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:47,140 Always be joyful. 109 00:06:47,140 --> 00:06:49,680 Never stop praying. 110 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:55,400 Be thankful in all circumstances for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 111 00:06:55,400 --> 00:07:00,720 See it's only through connection that we are able to live in abundance. 112 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:04,440 Taking hold of God's promises. 113 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:09,000 Prayer and time with God is foundational for a life with God. 114 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:14,840 See if we want to hear God speak and we want to receive direction from him, we need to 115 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:16,360 pray. 116 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:21,280 If we want to feel God's love because we're struggling with insecurity and doubt, we need 117 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:22,600 to pray. 118 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:24,160 If we need a different job. 119 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:29,200 If we need God to break in and heal our relationships, we need to bring those requests to God in 120 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:30,200 prayer. 121 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:31,200 Right? 122 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:35,000 If we need a miracle or a mountain moved, we need to pray. 123 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:40,020 We can't have a relationship with God without communicating to God. 124 00:07:40,020 --> 00:07:46,120 See prayer and connection to God was essential to Jesus and it should be the same for us. 125 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:47,120 Now I get it. 126 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:51,960 Some of you are sitting there thinking, of course Jesus prioritized time with God. 127 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:52,960 He's Jesus. 128 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:53,960 Right? 129 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:55,360 He's the son of God. 130 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:56,840 His prayer life is great. 131 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:58,840 He's got plenty of time. 132 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:03,960 He doesn't have emails and texts and work and classes vying for his attention. 133 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:07,560 He doesn't have kids with their schedules, schooling and sports. 134 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:11,160 He wasn't busy like we are today, Chris. 135 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:12,280 He's Jesus. 136 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:15,560 To which I say, slow down. 137 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:23,240 Jesus may not have been busy like us, but our next thought, Jesus lived a full life. 138 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,560 And when I say full, I mean abundantly full. 139 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:31,200 Because what we have to do is we have to take that verse at Mark 1.35 where he retreats, 140 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:36,360 where he escapes, and we have to put it into context to understand what was happening in 141 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:38,920 Jesus' life at this point in time. 142 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:45,600 See the day before Jesus retreated or escaped to be with his father, he was in Capernaum 143 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:50,640 teaching in a synagogue and we read this in Mark 1.23-25. 144 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:56,360 A man in the synagogue who was possessed with an evil spirit cried out, why are you interfering 145 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:58,520 with us, Jesus of Nazareth? 146 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:00,240 Have you come to destroy us? 147 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,020 I know who you are, the Holy One of God. 148 00:09:03,020 --> 00:09:05,040 But Jesus reprimanded him. 149 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:06,040 Notice. 150 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:07,160 Be quiet. 151 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,360 Come out of the man he ordered. 152 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:13,720 And with those words, Jesus' ministry began to explode. 153 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:19,940 And word spread throughout the entire region of the miraculous signs and wonders that was 154 00:09:19,940 --> 00:09:22,320 happening through Jesus. 155 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,280 We continue in Mark 1.29-31. 156 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:29,800 After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew's 157 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:30,800 home. 158 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:32,320 So this is later in the day. 159 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,920 Now Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. 160 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:38,360 They told Jesus about her right away. 161 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:41,680 So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, helped her up. 162 00:09:41,680 --> 00:09:45,960 Then the fever left her and she prepared a meal for them. 163 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:52,680 See Jesus, he had already had a full day of work or ministry up to this point. 164 00:09:52,680 --> 00:09:55,480 People were gathering all around him, large crowds. 165 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:59,220 He's looking to relax and refuel from a long day. 166 00:09:59,220 --> 00:10:03,440 He and his disciples stop at Simon and Andrew's house for dinner. 167 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,200 Jesus heals Simon's mother-in-law. 168 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:13,180 She gets up, she makes them dinner, and suddenly word gets out that Jesus is in the house. 169 00:10:13,180 --> 00:10:14,900 And take notice of what's happening. 170 00:10:14,900 --> 00:10:17,680 Let's continue in Mark 1.32-34. 171 00:10:17,680 --> 00:10:23,840 That evening, this is the same day, after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people 172 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,580 were brought to Jesus. 173 00:10:25,580 --> 00:10:29,520 The whole town gathered at the door to watch. 174 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,980 So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases. 175 00:10:32,980 --> 00:10:38,560 He cast out many demons, but because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to 176 00:10:38,560 --> 00:10:39,560 speak. 177 00:10:39,560 --> 00:10:40,560 So here we have Jesus. 178 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:43,120 He's been serving people all day. 179 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:49,840 And now it's the evening after dinner, and more people are coming from the entire town. 180 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:53,000 The sick, the demon-possessed, those with diseases. 181 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,640 They're bringing their needs to Jesus, who is the great physician. 182 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:57,640 What's he doing? 183 00:10:57,640 --> 00:10:58,640 He's healing many. 184 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:02,600 Friends, this takes time, energy, and attention. 185 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,580 And we're talking about an entire town here. 186 00:11:05,580 --> 00:11:11,920 But notice next, Jesus meets their needs, but he doesn't stay up extra late. 187 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:15,080 He doesn't get up extra early to heal more people. 188 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:17,840 No, Jesus stops. 189 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:22,840 He retreats from people to be alone and to reconnect with the Father. 190 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:23,960 Mark 1.35. 191 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:30,080 Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up, went out to an isolated place to pray. 192 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:36,740 See, if you think your life is busy, let me reassure you, Jesus was very busy. 193 00:11:36,740 --> 00:11:38,760 That was just a day. 194 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:47,560 Jesus had a choice, though, to either choose what was urgent or to choose what was important. 195 00:11:47,560 --> 00:11:51,180 And friends, you and I have the same choice every single day. 196 00:11:51,180 --> 00:11:56,960 Every day there's a battle being fought for our attention and our devotion. 197 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:00,260 And just like Jesus, our lives are full of demands. 198 00:12:00,260 --> 00:12:05,620 We have jobs and classes and homework and children and yard work and church and car 199 00:12:05,620 --> 00:12:08,280 repairs and a honey-to-do list. 200 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,640 We have accidents and traffic and health problems and appointments. 201 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:14,680 And don't forget, we have to eat and sleep. 202 00:12:14,680 --> 00:12:17,880 See every day we have to make a choice. 203 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:21,240 Are we going to choose to be distracted by what feels urgent? 204 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:25,680 Or are we going to choose to do what's important? 205 00:12:25,680 --> 00:12:27,700 And I hear it all the time. 206 00:12:27,700 --> 00:12:30,960 Every Sunday, all throughout the week, Chris, I want to pray more. 207 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:31,960 I want to read more. 208 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:34,600 I want to connect in and serve more. 209 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:40,480 But I just don't have time right now because life is too busy. 210 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:41,480 I want to do it, Chris. 211 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:42,800 I want to follow the way. 212 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:44,960 But life is too busy. 213 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:53,500 And listen, if that's you, if you're the one saying I'm just too busy, here's the reality. 214 00:12:53,500 --> 00:12:57,960 You have time for what you choose to have time for. 215 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:02,540 You have time for what you choose to have time for. 216 00:13:02,540 --> 00:13:07,440 We are currently living in a digital age of distraction and our enemy wants to keep us 217 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:15,200 separated from the power of God that we receive when we connect to Him, which leads us to 218 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:16,520 our third thought. 219 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,680 See life is full of distractions. 220 00:13:19,680 --> 00:13:22,200 Now here, I want you to do something for me. 221 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:24,480 Please take out your phones. 222 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:25,480 Take them out. 223 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:26,480 I know you have them. 224 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:28,420 Don't say I'm holy and I don't have them with me. 225 00:13:28,420 --> 00:13:29,420 Take your phone out. 226 00:13:29,420 --> 00:13:30,960 It's in your pocket. 227 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:31,960 It's in your purse. 228 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:32,960 It's somewhere. 229 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:33,960 Okay. 230 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:34,960 Hold it up. 231 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,800 I got my phone. 232 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:43,720 Do you know, question, do you know how many times the average person will look at their 233 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:47,000 phone and unlock it every single day? 234 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,120 Shout them out. 235 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,360 How many? 236 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:52,360 Too many. 237 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:53,360 I like it. 238 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:54,520 That's a good answer. 239 00:13:54,520 --> 00:14:03,200 The actual answer is on average 80 times a day we look at our phone and unlock it. 240 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:09,700 That means that we check in with our phones every 11 minutes and 15 seconds throughout 241 00:14:09,700 --> 00:14:10,700 the day. 242 00:14:10,700 --> 00:14:12,640 Every 11 minutes we're checking our phone. 243 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:19,420 We're unlocking it, which works out to us checking our phones over 30,000 times every 244 00:14:19,420 --> 00:14:20,600 single year. 245 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:24,280 Friends, that's a lot of distraction. 246 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,160 So we have a new appendage, right? 247 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:31,160 It's connected to our hand and never before in the history of mankind have we ever seen 248 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:35,280 a generation more dependent on a digital device. 249 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:41,040 Our phones have become our teachers, our administrators, our note takers, the weatherman, our news 250 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:42,040 source. 251 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,440 It has become a part of us. 252 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:47,040 And how do I know that? 253 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:50,160 Just simply think about the last time you couldn't find your phone. 254 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:55,960 Oh, I mean stress, anxiety, did someone steal it? 255 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:58,200 Where is my phone? 256 00:14:58,200 --> 00:14:59,720 So I want us all, ready? 257 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:00,720 You ready? 258 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:01,720 We're going to perform a miracle this morning. 259 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:03,500 Everyone take their phone. 260 00:15:03,500 --> 00:15:08,180 If you have an iPhone, I don't know how Google phones or whatever work, but iPhone, squeeze 261 00:15:08,180 --> 00:15:11,660 both sides, right? 262 00:15:11,660 --> 00:15:14,480 And turn them off. 263 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:15,480 Turn off. 264 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:16,480 I give you permission. 265 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:17,480 Turn your phone off. 266 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:18,480 And you can leave it off all day. 267 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:19,480 I don't care. 268 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:21,520 Just turn it off. 269 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:23,920 Because just doing that, guess what that is? 270 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:26,080 That's a miracle. 271 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:27,400 That's a miracle. 272 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:31,160 The first miracle of Sunday morning. 273 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:37,080 Now they're off because I want to share with you what distracts our society the most. 274 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:42,520 The top three reasons that our society is distracted is social media, streaming services, 275 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:43,680 and games. 276 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:50,940 The average person on social media spends 706 hours a year on their phone scrolling. 277 00:15:50,940 --> 00:15:53,040 And let's put that number into perspective. 278 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:54,860 The average workday is eight hours. 279 00:15:54,860 --> 00:16:00,880 If we divide 706 hours by eight, a traditional workday, we get four and a half months of 280 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:04,480 working hours spent on social media. 281 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:06,220 That's a distraction. 282 00:16:06,220 --> 00:16:12,160 Streaming services like Netflix, Prime, Hulu, Sling, Paramount Plus, on average, our society 283 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:20,320 spends over 2,700 hours per year binge watching the latest episodes released every single 284 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:21,320 week. 285 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:22,320 Games. 286 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:27,040 And listen, I'm going to pick on the guys here a second who play games. 287 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:28,120 I get it. 288 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:32,720 I grew up, but I grew up in the classic area of video games, right? 289 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:35,600 Asteroids, Frogger, Donkey Kong, right? 290 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:39,080 I spent a lot of time in the arcade, okay? 291 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:43,360 And I know you don't know what that is, but it's a place that you go to and you put quarters 292 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:45,920 in a machine and play them, right? 293 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:51,100 I was especially fond of Galaga and have set personal bests at that game. 294 00:16:51,100 --> 00:16:59,840 But today, the average male in our society by the time he turns 21 would have spent over 295 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:03,320 10,000 hours playing video games. 296 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:05,840 Let me say that again. 297 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:08,920 10,000 hours. 298 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:10,960 And what can we do with 10,000 hours? 299 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:15,760 Well, the average reader could read 2,000 books. 300 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:20,680 You can earn an undergraduate and a graduate degree in 10,000 hours. 301 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:25,200 The New Testament could be memorized in 10,000 hours. 302 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:32,160 You could earn a pilot license or become a concert pianist in 10,000 hours. 303 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:35,420 I wonder what's wrong with our society. 304 00:17:35,420 --> 00:17:41,920 No point, we have time for what we choose to have time for. 305 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:48,360 And the more our lives revolve around these phones, the easier we are distracted and the 306 00:17:48,360 --> 00:17:51,680 harder it is to pay attention. 307 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:55,460 Many of you right now, your minds are racing. 308 00:17:55,460 --> 00:17:58,720 You're constantly looking around trying to see what people are wearing, what they're 309 00:17:58,720 --> 00:17:59,720 thinking. 310 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:01,200 Why is Chris wearing glasses this week? 311 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:02,200 Can he see? 312 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:03,200 What about his contact? 313 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:09,320 I mean, all these things are bulging your minds because we are currently living in a 314 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:12,280 time that is full of distractions. 315 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:21,160 Did you know there are now more cell phones in the world than toilets? 316 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:22,700 You know what that means? 317 00:18:22,700 --> 00:18:29,800 We have more crap being pumped into our minds than we have being pumped out of our houses. 318 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:31,240 That's scary. 319 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:33,600 And it's impacting us spiritually. 320 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,220 Wake up. 321 00:18:35,220 --> 00:18:41,800 Daily distractions are impacting our ability to connect with and listen to the Holy Spirit, 322 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:47,280 to focus on and read the Bible, to be still, to meditate, to pray. 323 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:49,500 Distraction is the enemy of devotion. 324 00:18:49,500 --> 00:18:54,440 We spend more time listening to the voices of the world than we do the voice of God. 325 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:58,480 And Jesus warns us in Luke 21, 34, watch out. 326 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:02,360 Don't let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness and by the worries of this 327 00:19:02,360 --> 00:19:03,360 life. 328 00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:07,960 Don't let that day catch you unaware. 329 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:12,160 How do we move from a world of distraction to the way of devotion? 330 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:13,600 Well, it's real simple. 331 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:16,300 Colossians 3, 2 spells it out for us. 332 00:19:16,300 --> 00:19:20,680 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of the earth. 333 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:27,080 See, if we want the promises of God, we have to practice the way of Jesus. 334 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:28,080 And what did Jesus do? 335 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:33,280 He got up early and he started every single day by connecting to the Father. 336 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:39,320 And we need to do the same, which leads us to following Jesus' example in prayer. 337 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:41,520 Jesus had a robust prayer life. 338 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:45,160 And in the Bible, we learn five things about his prayer life. 339 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:48,000 First, Jesus prayed regularly. 340 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:49,000 Regularly. 341 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:55,680 Luke 5, 16, but despite Jesus' instructions, the report of his power spread even faster. 342 00:19:55,680 --> 00:20:00,240 And the vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. 343 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:06,400 But Jesus, notice the word, but Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. 344 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:07,400 Often. 345 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:08,400 What does that mean? 346 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,800 That means he prayed consistently. 347 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:16,520 When Paul tells us to pray without ceasing, that has to become a part of our worldview. 348 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:20,640 And it needs to be integrated into every aspect of our life. 349 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:25,020 Right from driving to work, to coming home from work while at work. 350 00:20:25,020 --> 00:20:26,800 To serving others. 351 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:30,820 It has to be regular that we prioritize in prayer. 352 00:20:30,820 --> 00:20:32,640 Which moves us to our next. 353 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:34,400 Jesus prayed alone. 354 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:38,240 Mark 1, 35, our scripture for the morning before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got 355 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:42,040 up, went to an isolated place to pray. 356 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:48,920 See, Jesus understood he needed a dedicated place to start his morning in connection. 357 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:53,400 Where do you spend your time praying and connecting to God? 358 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:55,800 There has to be a spot that you go to. 359 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:56,800 Right? 360 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:57,800 Is it your bedroom? 361 00:20:57,800 --> 00:20:58,800 Is it your office? 362 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:00,320 For me it's the kitchen. 363 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:04,720 I get up early, I go down a walk around the kitchen, I listen to my devotional, I listen 364 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:08,620 to the Bible, I worship, and it's just me. 365 00:21:08,620 --> 00:21:14,760 And it's got to be that time between you and God that sets the tone for the day. 366 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:18,020 But you've got to find that place. 367 00:21:18,020 --> 00:21:19,720 So Jesus prayed regularly. 368 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:20,720 Right? 369 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:22,960 Jesus prayed alone. 370 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,240 Jesus prayed for others. 371 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:27,320 Matthew 19, 14, and 15. 372 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,120 But Jesus said, let the children come to me. 373 00:21:30,120 --> 00:21:31,880 I'll stop them. 374 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:35,600 For the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like these children. 375 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:39,160 And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. 376 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:42,840 We are called to pray for others and to serve others. 377 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:45,880 And he didn't just pray for others, he prayed with others. 378 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:47,600 Luke 9, 28. 379 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:53,160 About eight days later, Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. 380 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:58,820 See Jesus understood the value of being in relationship, in connection with a small group 381 00:21:58,820 --> 00:22:03,280 of people where they could pray together and they could pray for one another and encourage 382 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:04,400 one another. 383 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:07,160 That's vital to our relationship with Jesus. 384 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:12,660 And finally, Jesus prayed short prayers and long prayers. 385 00:22:12,660 --> 00:22:15,180 Notice this command in Matthew 8, 3. 386 00:22:15,180 --> 00:22:17,520 Jesus reached out and touched him. 387 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:18,520 Notice what he says. 388 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:21,200 I am willing, he said. 389 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:23,360 This is a man with leprosy. 390 00:22:23,360 --> 00:22:29,320 Last week, if you were here during our conclusion, right, of Under Armour, we closed last week 391 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:34,200 by standing and expecting God to change and impact us. 392 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:36,760 And I asked all of you a question. 393 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:39,880 Do you believe God can change your life? 394 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,460 And your response was, yes. 395 00:22:42,460 --> 00:22:48,880 And I had to ask the question up to 10 times because I wanted everybody to respond. 396 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:54,060 I wanted everybody to raise their level of expectancy like this man with leprosy. 397 00:22:54,060 --> 00:22:55,420 I am willing. 398 00:22:55,420 --> 00:22:56,880 And notice what Jesus said. 399 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:58,000 Be healed. 400 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:00,860 And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 401 00:23:00,860 --> 00:23:02,440 That's a short prayer. 402 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:07,680 Some scholars don't even believe that's a prayer, rather a command, right? 403 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:13,480 And Jesus challenges his church and his people to do the same today. 404 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:14,680 And we're going to do that right now. 405 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:19,960 So this morning, there was a word from our prayer team, okay, a word of knowledge for 406 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:26,240 people that were struggling with ADHD or Attention Deficit Disorder. 407 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:29,240 If you're here this morning and you have ADHD, will you take a step of faith and put your 408 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:30,240 hand up? 409 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:31,240 Okay, thank you. 410 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:34,080 Now I want you to take a bolder step and stand up. 411 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,020 If you have ADHD. 412 00:23:36,020 --> 00:23:37,020 Thank you. 413 00:23:37,020 --> 00:23:39,760 Thank you for your faith, your willingness. 414 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:40,760 Amen. 415 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,800 Yeah, anybody else? 416 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:44,800 Thank you. 417 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:45,800 Cool man. 418 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:46,800 All right. 419 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:48,220 Here's what we're going to do. 420 00:23:48,220 --> 00:23:50,560 Men with men, women with women. 421 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:51,720 Get on them. 422 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:52,720 Get on them everybody. 423 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:53,720 Let's go. 424 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:55,680 I want every person with a person on them. 425 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:57,400 Church, let's go. 426 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:58,400 Do this. 427 00:23:58,400 --> 00:23:59,400 Yeah, we're going to pray for you. 428 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:00,400 It's okay. 429 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:02,880 Yeah, everybody covered. 430 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:03,880 Everybody covered. 431 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:05,480 I got to, yup, stay up, stay up. 432 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:08,840 I got a guy over here that needs prayer. 433 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:10,720 Yup, come on. 434 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:13,040 Bunch of men on this side. 435 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:19,080 Is everybody, I got a guy here in the middle. 436 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:20,080 Right here. 437 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:21,760 Can someone, oh you got him back. 438 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:22,760 Thank you. 439 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:23,760 Wendell. 440 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:24,760 Is everybody covered? 441 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:26,640 Oh, two here. 442 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:27,640 I need two. 443 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:28,640 Two ladies. 444 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:30,120 I got a couple ladies over there. 445 00:24:30,120 --> 00:24:31,120 Come on. 446 00:24:31,120 --> 00:24:32,920 Come on church. 447 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:33,920 Thank you. 448 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:34,920 Right here. 449 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:38,880 I need a lady right here on my left. 450 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:40,600 I need, alright, you got it. 451 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:41,600 Thank you. 452 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:42,600 We're coming. 453 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:43,600 Is everyone covered? 454 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:44,600 Two sisters. 455 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:45,600 Two sisters. 456 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:46,600 Alright, here we go. 457 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:47,600 You got it? 458 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:48,600 You got it? 459 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:49,600 Got it? 460 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:50,600 Okay, we're good. 461 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:51,600 Here we go. 462 00:24:51,600 --> 00:25:00,600 I want one of you to put your hand on their forehead. 463 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:01,600 Just one. 464 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:02,600 Choose it. 465 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:03,600 Choose it. 466 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:04,600 There you go. 467 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:05,600 Alright, here we go. 468 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:06,600 You ready? 469 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:12,000 In Jesus' name, mind be still. 470 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:20,360 Peace come into this mind in Jesus' name. 471 00:25:20,360 --> 00:25:25,240 Holy Spirit, have your way. 472 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:27,200 Amen. 473 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:33,040 Thank you. 474 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:40,280 That, listen, that is a prayer of command. 475 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:41,280 Right? 476 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:43,800 Now, some people say it's not a prayer. 477 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:45,920 I believe it is. 478 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:49,660 But I believe that God can move and heal you just like that. 479 00:25:49,660 --> 00:25:52,520 And the point is, that's what Jesus did. 480 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:56,160 And you can do it tomorrow at work or at school or wherever you may be. 481 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:57,160 Someone has a headache. 482 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:59,800 Hey, can I pray for that headache? 483 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:02,720 Yeah, I would love for you to. 484 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:05,280 Raise your hand on their forehead and what would you pray? 485 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:10,880 In Jesus' name, be healed, no pain, amen. 486 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:12,520 We all can do it. 487 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:14,200 Short prayers. 488 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:16,560 But Jesus also prayed long prayers. 489 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:20,600 Luke 6-12, one day soon afterward, Jesus went up on a mountain to pray and he prayed to 490 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:22,960 God all night long. 491 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:25,680 Dude, that's a long prayer, right? 492 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:27,080 I know I couldn't do it. 493 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:30,360 I would fall asleep, but we would be in good company because guess what? 494 00:26:30,360 --> 00:26:32,800 The disciples fell asleep in the garden. 495 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:33,800 Right? 496 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:34,960 It's a challenge. 497 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:41,560 But we also need to pray long prayers throughout the day that drives us closer to Jesus because 498 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:46,080 then we are practicing discipline unlike our culture. 499 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:47,080 Right? 500 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:51,320 Our culture says be busy, move around, multitask. 501 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:57,560 When God says no, dial it down and focus on one thing to get you through today. 502 00:26:57,560 --> 00:26:59,140 Let me challenge you. 503 00:26:59,140 --> 00:27:04,240 Start small and build on it every single week. 504 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:05,680 Start small. 505 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:08,020 Set up that time for devotion in the morning. 506 00:27:08,020 --> 00:27:11,760 It may start with 10 minutes and 15 minutes and it may grow to 30 minutes and then it 507 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:15,520 may grow to several hours throughout the day. 508 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:21,680 Start small, which leads us to moving from a world of distraction to the way of devotion. 509 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:26,680 See, Jesus' disciples, they were not quite sure what a life of prayer, what a life of 510 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:27,680 devotion looked like. 511 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:28,680 So guess what they did? 512 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:29,680 They asked. 513 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:31,400 Look at Luke 11.1. 514 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,320 Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. 515 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:40,240 As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, Lord, teach us to pray just 516 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:42,700 as John taught his disciples. 517 00:27:42,700 --> 00:27:47,360 So this means the disciples that were watching Jesus pray and the way he was connecting to 518 00:27:47,360 --> 00:27:49,960 his father and it caught their attention. 519 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:51,360 They're like, hey, I want that. 520 00:27:51,360 --> 00:27:53,960 I want to pray just like that. 521 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:55,520 And Jesus taught them. 522 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:56,520 Right? 523 00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:59,840 He taught them this prayer, which we're all going to read together. 524 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:02,200 It may sound familiar. 525 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:03,920 Please flip it up. 526 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:06,000 Let's read these words together. 527 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:08,120 Pray like this. 528 00:28:08,120 --> 00:28:12,760 Our father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 529 00:28:12,760 --> 00:28:15,200 May your kingdom come soon. 530 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:18,960 May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 531 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:26,160 Give us today the food we need and forgive us our sins as we have forgiven those who 532 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:28,280 sin against us. 533 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:34,160 Don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. 534 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:36,600 Now that may sound familiar, right? 535 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:38,320 That is the Lord's Prayer. 536 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:39,720 Many people know it. 537 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:41,480 Many people have memorized it. 538 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:45,860 But quite a few of you don't know it with that version. 539 00:28:45,860 --> 00:28:53,840 Many of you have memorized maybe the NIV or the New King James or even the King James. 540 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:59,480 But whichever one you look at, the Lord's Prayer is the perfect prayer to begin your 541 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:02,060 morning time of connection with God. 542 00:29:02,060 --> 00:29:04,400 Because that's what Jesus taught us to do. 543 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:09,100 And notice, if we break down the Lord's Prayer, what's Jesus first taught us to do? 544 00:29:09,100 --> 00:29:10,560 Approach God as Father. 545 00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:11,560 Right? 546 00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:13,240 Notice he says pray like this. 547 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:17,180 Our father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 548 00:29:17,180 --> 00:29:22,360 And when Jesus says our father in heaven, he's referring to God as Abba Father, which 549 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:24,600 means he's our dad who loves us. 550 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:25,600 Right? 551 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:27,120 He's not the religious police. 552 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:30,600 He's not waiting to punish us when we mess up. 553 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:36,440 Actually that word Abba refers to our father as warm, intimate, loving. 554 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:38,280 He wants the best for us. 555 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:42,680 In fact, he looks forward to connecting with us every single day because that's what we 556 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:43,900 were created for. 557 00:29:43,900 --> 00:29:47,120 We were created to be in communion with God. 558 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:52,200 And notice, Jesus refers to God as our Father in heaven. 559 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:58,520 He's making a distinction from our earthly fathers because listen, not all earthly fathers 560 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:00,120 are good or loving. 561 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:06,540 So he wants us to see our heavenly Father as one that we can constantly go to and approach. 562 00:30:06,540 --> 00:30:09,040 So that's how we start our time with God. 563 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:11,000 We approach God as our Father. 564 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:12,880 Next, we surrender. 565 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:15,440 May your kingdom come soon. 566 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:20,720 Notice, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 567 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:23,760 This, Jesus didn't tell us to say our will. 568 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:24,760 Right? 569 00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:25,760 It's not Chris's will be done. 570 00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:29,680 No, it's God's will be done in my life. 571 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:35,160 Understanding, this is the exact opposite of our self-obsessed culture that we live 572 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:36,920 in every day. 573 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:40,000 Prayer is not first telling God what we want. 574 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:44,660 No, it's surrendering our desires to his. 575 00:30:44,660 --> 00:30:48,860 It's all about laying them down and saying, God, whatever you want me to do, mold me into 576 00:30:48,860 --> 00:30:50,840 your image. 577 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:52,820 It's about what he wants for us. 578 00:30:52,820 --> 00:30:57,040 And that's the prayer of surrender and self-sacrifice. 579 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:01,360 After we surrender, we then make our personal request. 580 00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:03,560 Give us today the food we need. 581 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:04,560 Right? 582 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:09,240 Now, this is a request for both physical and spiritual nourishment. 583 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:14,840 Remember, through the series last month, we talked about how we need to nourish our spirit 584 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:19,720 first because our spirit connected to God then goes to our mind, which our mind controls 585 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:21,040 our body. 586 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:22,040 Right? 587 00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:23,960 God is my daily bread. 588 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:25,920 God, you're my source. 589 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:27,520 I'm bringing my needs to you. 590 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:30,080 I'm making my requests before you. 591 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:33,520 God, I'm asking you to intervene in my life. 592 00:31:33,520 --> 00:31:34,520 Right? 593 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:37,800 It's first, the desire that we get close to God. 594 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:38,800 Right? 595 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:39,800 God, you're my father. 596 00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:42,280 I surrender myself to you. 597 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:45,080 God, then you bring your requests. 598 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:50,100 You get closer to him because that's what Jesus did for us. 599 00:31:50,100 --> 00:31:54,080 So with that in mind, I want to challenge all of you. 600 00:31:54,080 --> 00:32:00,800 Rudy, he looked up and found a month-long devotional in the book of Matthew that I want 601 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:03,880 to challenge our entire community of faith to go through. 602 00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:08,020 So at the end of this gathering, when you turn your phone back on, right, because some 603 00:32:08,020 --> 00:32:13,240 of you are just currently lost and shaking without it, you can scan the QR code on the 604 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:19,440 back of the chairs or out in the lobby and it will take you to our link tree and on there 605 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:22,120 is listed our devotional for the month. 606 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:26,600 It's connected to the YouVersion Bible app and what it is, it's starting tomorrow and 607 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:31,040 you'll go through the entire book of Matthew in one month. 608 00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:34,920 And that's a challenge for all of us to grow closer to Jesus. 609 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:40,240 So I want to encourage you, scan the code or look on our social media pages, start the 610 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:43,880 devotional and get closer to God. 611 00:32:43,880 --> 00:32:52,160 And then we move from asking for God to meet our requests to number four, confession. 612 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:56,520 Forgive us our sins, God, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 613 00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:58,600 In church, this is so important. 614 00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:02,680 We have to daily admit our mistakes, our missteps. 615 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:05,960 We have to ask God for forgiveness. 616 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:07,760 Repentance is not a bad word. 617 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:13,560 It's starting your morning fresh as God highlights areas where we made mistakes, where we messed 618 00:33:13,560 --> 00:33:14,560 up. 619 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:19,360 It's starting fresh in our relationship with Him because He forgives us. 620 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:25,360 God is inviting us to bring our failures and our anger and our addictions to Him so that 621 00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:27,720 He can forgive us, right? 622 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:30,960 Repentance and punishment, it's freedom. 623 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:38,240 It's freedom that we can walk in who God has called us to be and it's freedom for others. 624 00:33:38,240 --> 00:33:44,600 That's why it's so important that we stop holding onto grudges and unforgiveness. 625 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:47,940 And I want to pause here a minute and challenge you. 626 00:33:47,940 --> 00:33:53,160 If God highlights anybody into your mind, into your heart, that you're holding onto 627 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:58,720 bitterness, unforgiveness or anger, lay it down today. 628 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:00,640 It's just not worth it. 629 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:04,960 Because when we lay it down today and we go to that person and extend forgiveness to them, 630 00:34:04,960 --> 00:34:08,960 it's freedom for you and them. 631 00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:13,600 And then they can walk in the person that God called them to be. 632 00:34:13,600 --> 00:34:21,260 And this includes friends, family, co-workers, classmates, whatever it may be. 633 00:34:21,260 --> 00:34:25,640 This is an important part of getting closer to Jesus. 634 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:31,120 And then Jesus sums it all up with one final step by saying, then you invite God's Spirit. 635 00:34:31,120 --> 00:34:37,720 And don't let us yield to temptation or distraction, but rescue us from the evil one. 636 00:34:37,720 --> 00:34:43,360 See, the next time you're tempted to binge watch a show, to give into that addiction, 637 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:48,560 to speak those words in anger, to worry about how the bills are going to be paid, I want 638 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:55,180 to challenge you to pause and reflect and say, come Holy Spirit. 639 00:34:55,180 --> 00:35:00,360 God empower me to overcome and make the right choice. 640 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:05,840 And see, notice when we use this prayer as an outline for our morning devotion and our 641 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:11,480 morning connection with God, it allows us to move towards Him, not away from Him. 642 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:16,600 But it's a choice to wake up early, to have a place established where you connect with 643 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:21,320 Him because that is being devoted to the way. 644 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:22,320 Amen? 645 00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:27,280 So now, we're going to have a time of communion. 646 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:28,380 No one's stand up yet. 647 00:35:28,380 --> 00:35:30,260 It's easier when you're sitting. 648 00:35:30,260 --> 00:35:34,360 If you need a communion element, could you put one hand up so our people can come around 649 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:35,740 and get it to you? 650 00:35:35,740 --> 00:35:38,680 Just keep it up until you get an element. 651 00:35:38,680 --> 00:35:43,720 If you need gluten-free, you can put two hands up and wave them in the air because we have 652 00:35:43,720 --> 00:35:44,720 gluten-free. 653 00:35:44,720 --> 00:35:47,320 Kelsey's got your gluten-free. 654 00:35:47,320 --> 00:35:49,220 Everybody else is coming around to meet you. 655 00:35:49,220 --> 00:35:51,300 Keep your hand up so we can get you your elements. 656 00:35:51,300 --> 00:35:52,300 Thank you, one here. 657 00:35:52,300 --> 00:35:56,800 Is there one here in the middle, Rudy? 658 00:35:56,800 --> 00:36:01,720 Don't try to be Justin Fields though, because...just kidding. 659 00:36:01,720 --> 00:36:12,240 All right, so as you're getting those, about a year ago, about a year ago, I did a Sunday 660 00:36:12,240 --> 00:36:19,040 morning talk on communion, and I challenged our community of faith that this communion 661 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:23,040 element in many churches has become a ritual. 662 00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:25,920 It's just become something you do. 663 00:36:25,920 --> 00:36:27,680 In some places, you do it every Sunday. 664 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:29,840 Here we do it once a month. 665 00:36:29,840 --> 00:36:33,800 But in reality, this isn't a ritual. 666 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:36,520 This is an opportunity for an encounter. 667 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:37,680 That's what this is. 668 00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:46,080 Jesus challenged His church and His followers of the way to remember what He did for them. 669 00:36:46,080 --> 00:36:52,360 The bread, right, represents His body that was broken for us. 670 00:36:52,360 --> 00:36:59,440 The juice represents His blood that covers our sins and our mistakes and our missteps. 671 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:05,520 So as we partake in this, this is an opportunity, notice, communion, to commune with God, to 672 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:08,220 draw closer to God. 673 00:37:08,220 --> 00:37:14,760 And listen, if you're in a relationship with Jesus, get right before you take it. 674 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:16,540 Lay down your mistakes. 675 00:37:16,540 --> 00:37:18,560 Lay down your unforgiveness. 676 00:37:18,560 --> 00:37:21,520 Get right because Jesus wants to draw close to you. 677 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:26,520 If you're here this morning and you're not in a relationship with God, listen, just set 678 00:37:26,520 --> 00:37:28,720 this down to the side, right? 679 00:37:28,720 --> 00:37:34,360 Or, like we do every single Sunday, we're going to pray a simple prayer here in a minute. 680 00:37:34,360 --> 00:37:38,920 And when we pray that prayer, it brings you into relationship with God, which then allows 681 00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:41,080 you to remember what He did for you. 682 00:37:41,080 --> 00:37:42,080 Amen? 683 00:37:42,080 --> 00:37:46,240 So before we stand and take communion, let's pray a simple prayer together. 684 00:37:46,240 --> 00:37:48,680 Jesus, I'm broken. 685 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:53,760 I'm full of doubt, shame, regret, sin. 686 00:37:53,760 --> 00:37:54,760 Change me. 687 00:37:54,760 --> 00:37:57,560 I believe You're God's Son. 688 00:37:57,560 --> 00:38:00,800 I believe You died for me. 689 00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:02,520 Make me new. 690 00:38:02,520 --> 00:38:04,480 Set me free. 691 00:38:04,480 --> 00:38:07,240 Fill me, God, with Your Spirit. 692 00:38:07,240 --> 00:38:10,440 In Jesus' name, amen. 693 00:38:10,440 --> 00:38:16,040 So if you prayed that prayer, man, now we're all going to stand and we're going to celebrate 694 00:38:16,040 --> 00:38:18,920 what Jesus did for us in communion together. 695 00:38:18,920 --> 00:38:25,200 So if you want to take out the wafer, on the night He was betrayed, Jesus took bread. 696 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:30,160 He broke it and He handed it to His disciples and He said, take, eat. 697 00:38:30,160 --> 00:38:33,100 This is my body, which is broken for you. 698 00:38:33,100 --> 00:38:36,280 And do it often in remembrance of me. 699 00:38:36,280 --> 00:38:42,840 Let's remember what Jesus did for us. 700 00:38:42,840 --> 00:38:48,440 Likewise, after supper, He took a cup of wine. 701 00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:55,080 He said, this is my blood, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. 702 00:38:55,080 --> 00:39:00,640 Drink it often and when you do, do it in remembrance of me. 703 00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:06,240 Let's drink. 704 00:39:06,240 --> 00:39:09,280 Let's overwhelm us with Your love and connection. 705 00:39:09,280 --> 00:39:17,600 Allow us to draw close to You every single morning and prioritize a time with God through 706 00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:25,360 prayer, through reading, and may we truly follow the way. 707 00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:26,760 In Jesus' name, amen. 708 00:39:26,760 --> 00:39:32,020 All right, before we go, there were several words of knowledge I need to share with all 709 00:39:32,020 --> 00:39:34,020 of you. 710 00:39:34,020 --> 00:39:36,880 You have pain on the outside of your left hip. 711 00:39:36,880 --> 00:39:40,320 You have pain in your left elbow. 712 00:39:40,320 --> 00:39:45,560 You have pain in your left ear that extends into the neck causing tension. 713 00:39:45,560 --> 00:39:51,840 The outer edge of your right eye, there is discomfort and it's hard for you to see. 714 00:39:51,840 --> 00:39:55,740 You have left knee pain specifically in the kneecap. 715 00:39:55,740 --> 00:40:00,460 You have pain in the top of your left foot near your toes. 716 00:40:00,460 --> 00:40:04,160 You may be struggling with symptoms of dementia. 717 00:40:04,160 --> 00:40:07,140 If any of those are you, our prayer team is here on my right. 718 00:40:07,140 --> 00:40:11,840 We want to pray for you and we are expecting God to heal you this morning and set you free. 719 00:40:11,840 --> 00:40:12,840 Amen. 720 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:19,000 But before we go, God impressed on my heart that we as a community of faith pray the Lord's 721 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:21,360 prayer together. 722 00:40:21,360 --> 00:40:27,900 That as we close in praying together, we are coming together and declaring this is how 723 00:40:27,900 --> 00:40:30,960 we as a community of faith will start our day. 724 00:40:30,960 --> 00:40:31,960 Amen. 725 00:40:31,960 --> 00:40:34,960 Can we do that? 726 00:40:34,960 --> 00:40:38,120 All right. 727 00:40:38,120 --> 00:40:41,320 Come Holy Spirit. 728 00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:46,920 Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. 729 00:40:46,920 --> 00:40:52,920 Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 730 00:40:52,920 --> 00:40:59,760 Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our 731 00:40:59,760 --> 00:41:01,080 debtors. 732 00:41:01,080 --> 00:41:06,080 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us for the evil one. 733 00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:10,480 For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. 734 00:41:10,480 --> 00:41:11,480 Amen. 735 00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:18,360 Now listen, this is going to be a great series where we simply break down and build roots 736 00:41:18,360 --> 00:41:24,640 and get closer to Jesus so that our relationship with him will thrive and that those in the 737 00:41:24,640 --> 00:41:29,480 tri-state area that aren't in a relationship with him yet will be drawn to that peace and 738 00:41:29,480 --> 00:41:30,480 that love. 739 00:41:30,480 --> 00:41:31,480 Amen. 740 00:41:31,480 --> 00:41:32,480 All right. 741 00:41:32,480 --> 00:41:36,680 Before you go, all right, Rudy's on that side. 742 00:41:36,680 --> 00:41:37,680 I'm here. 743 00:41:37,680 --> 00:41:40,200 Those doors will wait for me to get there so I can say goodbye to you. 744 00:41:40,200 --> 00:41:43,520 If you're home or watching online, God bless you guys. 745 00:41:43,520 --> 00:41:46,120 Look forward to connecting with you soon. 746 00:41:46,120 --> 00:41:49,640 Looking forward to next week where we talk about community and connecting in. 747 00:41:49,640 --> 00:42:16,880 God bless you guys.