Prayer
Series: One Hit Wonders
Speaker: Sam Low
Date: 23rd September 2012
Passage: Matthew 6:5-15
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 As Chris already said, we are launching into three preacher's choice passages, if you like,
00:00:05 --> 00:00:06 over the next couple of weeks.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:10 And I decided today that we would have a look at prayer.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:15 Prayer is something that I personally need to grow significantly in,
00:00:15 --> 00:00:20 but it is something worth wrestling with for all of us, I thought.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 So I'm not speaking today as somebody who is on top of it,
00:00:23 --> 00:00:27 but someone who hopefully, like you, desires to get better at it
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 and to utilise the gift that God's given us.
00:00:29 --> 00:00:33 So how about we pray and ask that God will help all of us as we work into it.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:39 Father God, we thank and praise you for your incredible love for us.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:43 We thank you for your grace that we were reminded of this morning by Josh,
00:00:43 --> 00:00:47 that you use weak and unworthy vessels like us to achieve your purposes.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 And Lord, I ask that you would use me in that way this morning.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:54 I pray for all of us that we would have soft, teachable hearts to hear you speak.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:58 Lord, and ultimately we ask that you would be glorified
00:00:58 --> 00:00:59 as our lives are transformed.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:00 Amen.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:09 We have a unique ability to transform something that is given to us as a gift
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 into something that we think we are entitled to.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:16 I've noticed this in a whole bunch of different spheres of life,
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 but in particular, in my previous ministry job,
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 I was working in a church in Castle Hill.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 And we took all of our kids away for a camp in summer.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:27 And it was quite a big camp.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 We had over 400 people go away for the week.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:36 And part of the week away was leadership training for our just graduated year 12s.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:37 And we called them Servant Squad.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 They referred to themselves as Slave Squad.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 But we went for the more biblical word of servant.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:47 And basically their job for the week was we wanted them to know that leadership is hard
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 and we wanted them to know that it involves doing the jobs that no one else wants to do.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:54 So for them, camp started a day early when they had to drive down to the campsite
00:01:54 --> 00:02:00 and turn an empty gymnasium into an auditorium to facilitate meetings for 400 people.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:05 They had to, you know, abseil up onto the rafters to hang speakers
00:02:05 --> 00:02:06 so that we could have a sound system.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:08 They had to put all the chairs out.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:12 But during the week, they did all of our mealtimes.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:13 They would be the ones in the kitchen.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:14 They would be the ones setting up.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:15 They would be the ones cleaning up.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 And whenever they had spare time, we would invent jobs for them to do.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:23 One year, they spent seven days putting bark on the garden.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 Even though it already had bark, it needed a bit of a freshen up.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:27 So they were shoveling bark into bins,
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 walking it to the different parts of the gardens throughout the campsite,
00:02:30 --> 00:02:31 and then spreading it out.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:36 All along the way, opening the Bible to be reminded of what leadership looks like.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:41 But one of the interesting side effects of this Servant Squad program that we had,
00:02:41 --> 00:02:42 which was a really great thing,
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 was that after a couple of years,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:49 we got to the point where kids on camp didn't want to do anything.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 It used to be normal that as a kid, you went on camp,
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 and somewhere in the week, you would have to help clean up after a meal.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 You would be on an orderly's roster.
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 And we thought, what a great way to bless them by taking that away
00:03:00 --> 00:03:01 and having some people serve them.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 And it was amazing how a few years down the track,
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 when we designed a special dinner for Servant Squad to say thank you,
00:03:07 --> 00:03:10 the one night out of seven where they didn't have to do orderly's,
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 and the complaints we got from kids,
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 because one time out of 21 meals,
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 they had to go into the kitchen for 15 minutes
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 to just wash their plates off, put them into the dishwasher.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 It is incredible how we can take something that is a gift
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 and suddenly think that it's something we deserve,
00:03:27 --> 00:03:28 something we're entitled to.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:34 I think that is the way that we have kind of taken the gift of prayer.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 We have this thing that God has given to us,
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 this access to himself,
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 and somewhere in our minds, we have shifted from thinking,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 what a privilege that I can speak to the creator of the universe.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 And we have thought, why isn't he listening?
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 Why isn't he answering with what I want,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 when I want at this particular time?
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 Why is he whinging about the way that I pray?
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 We have this sense that he should listen to me.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 I've got important things to say.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 There's major things happening in my life.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 I mean, what, has he got better things to do?
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 And we take this gift,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 and suddenly we pervert it,
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 and it becomes something that we think is a right.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 But thankfully, God challenges us in his word,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 and I want to have a look at the passage that Wendy read out for us,
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 and hopefully a passage that is fairly familiar for many of us,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:27 because in it, Jesus teaches us how we should pray.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 Say that again.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 He teaches us how we should pray,
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 not necessarily what we should pray.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 The Lord's Prayer is a good prayer to pray out loud,
00:04:41 --> 00:04:42 but it begins in verse 9.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 This is the prayer he used to teach his disciples how to pray,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 not what to pray.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:49 So, simple things.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:50 We're going to go...
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 There's two points.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:52 Because I'm time poor,
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 and I need to follow Josh's fantastic example of word efficiency,
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 I'm going to keep it very simple.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 First thing we need to remember about prayer
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 is that, one, it is all about God.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 Sounds simple, but have a look.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:06 Verse 9.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 This, then, is how you should pray.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 Our Father in heaven,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 hallowed be your name.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 There's two incredible tensions wrapped up in that verse there,
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 which we need to carry together
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 when we come before God in prayer.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:21 Firstly,
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 God is our Father.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 We have a free access to Him,
00:05:27 --> 00:05:28 an intimate access to Him,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 but that doesn't change the fact
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 that He is hallowed,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:33 that He is holy,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 that He is mighty,
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 that He is majestic,
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 that He is creator,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 that He is judge,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 that He is completely other than us,
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 that His perfection is so complete
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 that for us in our sinful state to come near Him
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 would be for us to burn up and be consumed.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 The whole Old Testament reminds us
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 that there is a necessary distance
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 between a holy God and sinful people.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 All of Israel's worship,
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 all of their gatherings,
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 were mediated.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 They had priests between them and God
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 because God was so holy
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 that He would destroy them.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 They had sacrifices
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 to try and appease their mistakes
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 and His holiness.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 Isaiah, in chapter 6 of Isaiah,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 feels that he is ruined
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 when he lays eyes on God
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 because he can see that God is perfect
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 and He is not.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 And he knows that it would be good and right
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 for God to destroy him
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 simply for having seen
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 the perfection of God.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 We need to remember
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 and we need to be reminded
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 that when we come to pray,
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 when we open our mouth
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 to speak to God,
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 we are not just speaking
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 to our Heavenly Father.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 We are,
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 but He is still
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 the Holy Creator God.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:46 I remember,
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 it's quite a few years ago now,
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 but I remember when President Obama
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 had just become president.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 Now, like him or hate him,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 he had just become
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 one of the most powerful men
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 in the Western world.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 He suddenly was the commander-in-chief
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 of one of the most significant
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 military forces in the world.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:04 He had the power
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 to do a whole bunch of harm
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 and a whole bunch of good.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 But I remember a picture,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 it was a news story or something,
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 and it wasn't him speaking to camera,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 it was just footage of him.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 And he was chatting
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 to some other politicians,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 but his daughters came up to him.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 And at that point,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 he stopped talking
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 to those politicians
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 and he played with his kids
00:07:24 --> 00:07:24 for just a second.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 And I remember looking at it thinking,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 wow, those girls are so lucky.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 They get free access
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 to the most powerful man
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 in the Western world.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 They can call him dad,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 and I'm pretty sure
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 no one else gets away with that.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 They get to just run up to him
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 and hug him
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 when he's in the middle of stuff
00:07:42 --> 00:07:42 because they have
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 a special relationship with him
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 and they are entitled
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 to his access
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 in a way that no one else is
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 because they are his children.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 But that doesn't change
00:07:52 --> 00:07:52 who he is.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 It doesn't change
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 the power that he has.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 It doesn't change
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 the significance
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 of him being president.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 It's just that they
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 are in a special relationship
00:08:02 --> 00:08:02 with him
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 that means they get
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 to interact with him
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 in a unique manner.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 But he is still
00:08:08 --> 00:08:08 the president
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 with his finger
00:08:09 --> 00:08:09 on the trigger
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 of nuclear weapons.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 And it is helpful
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 for us to realize
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 that when we come
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 to pray to our heavenly father,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 which is a special,
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 privileged relationship
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 where we can run
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 and we can call him dad
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 and we can hug him
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 and we can know
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 that he is willing to listen
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 and eager to listen,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 that doesn't change
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 who God is.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 He is still
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 the God who made us.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 He is still the God
00:08:37 --> 00:08:37 who is perfect
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 in every way.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 He is still the God
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 who will not let
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 the guilty go unpunished.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 He is still the God
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 of absolute holiness
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 and inapproachable light.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 He is still God.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 Secondly,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 in being all about God,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 verse 10,
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 your kingdom come,
00:08:56 --> 00:08:56 your will be done
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 on earth
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 as it is in heaven.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 Don't underestimate
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 what is said
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 in those two lines.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 That is a scary
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 prayer to pray.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 It's a great prayer
00:09:06 --> 00:09:06 to pray,
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 but when you say
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 your kingdom come,
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 you are saying
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 Jesus come back
00:09:10 --> 00:09:10 and everything
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 that goes with that.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 You are inviting
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 Jesus to come back
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 and subdue his enemies
00:09:15 --> 00:09:18 and inaugurate his kingdom
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 for those who belong to him.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 That is an exciting day,
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 but that is a terrifying day
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 for those who do not
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 know the King of Kings.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 That is a scary prayer
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 to pray,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 but it is a great prayer
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 to pray
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 because Jesus encourages us to.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 But understand
00:09:34 --> 00:09:34 the weight of it.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 So often we go
00:09:36 --> 00:09:36 through the motion
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 of saying the Lord's Prayer
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 in church
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 without maybe realizing
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 the significance
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 of what we say.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 When you pray
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 for God's will
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 to be done
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 on earth
00:09:45 --> 00:09:45 as in heaven,
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 are you actually prepared
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 for what that will
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 might cost you?
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 When you pray
00:09:52 --> 00:09:52 for God's will
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 to be done,
00:09:53 --> 00:09:53 are you praying,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:54 God,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 do whatever you want
00:09:55 --> 00:09:55 with me,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 even if that means
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 taking everything
00:09:57 --> 00:09:57 away from me
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 like you did Job
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 so that you can
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 be glorified?
00:10:01 --> 00:10:01 Is that a prayer
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 you want answered?
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 Because that's what
00:10:04 --> 00:10:04 you're saying
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 when you say
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 your will be done.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 You're saying,
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 God,
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 whatever you want
00:10:08 --> 00:10:08 for your purposes,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:09 your way,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 because you're God
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 and I'm not.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 We need to be
00:10:13 --> 00:10:13 very aware
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 of what we say
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 when we pray
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 because prayer
00:10:18 --> 00:10:18 is all about
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 God's agenda.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:20 It's all about
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 who He is.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 It's all about
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 what He wants to do
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 and we're reminded
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 in those just two lines,
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 your kingdom come,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:27 your will be done,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 that prayer
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 is powerful.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:30 I mean,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 it seems almost trivial
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 to pray for the little things.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 We pray for a parking spot.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 We pray for good weather
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 for our picnic.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 We pray for all these things
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 and look,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 they're not bad things.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:43 They're good things
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 but do you ever think
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 maybe God is sitting up
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 on His throne
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 and thinking,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 is that all?
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 That's easy.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 Haven't you got something
00:10:53 --> 00:10:53 significant
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 that you want me to do?
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 The world is mine.
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 I made it.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 Everything is accountable to me
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 and I'm encouraging you
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 to pray for my kingdom.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 I'm encouraging you
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 to pray for everything.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 There is a challenge
00:11:05 --> 00:11:05 in this prayer
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 to lift our eyes
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 beyond our immediate.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 There's nothing wrong
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 with praying
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 for your sick auntie
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 or uncle
00:11:11 --> 00:11:11 or husband
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 or wife
00:11:12 --> 00:11:12 or grandson.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 Those are good prayers
00:11:14 --> 00:11:16 but God has a bigger vision
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 for the part
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 that prayer might play
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 in our life.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 He wants us
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 to be desperate
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 for His desire.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:23 He wants us
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 to see nations
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 that don't know Him yet
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 and come before Him
00:11:27 --> 00:11:27 and beg Him
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 to do the miraculous.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 He wants us
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 to look for the completely
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 unlovable,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 unsavable,
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 for the Catherine Devonies
00:11:35 --> 00:11:35 of the world
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 and He wants us
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 to see His desire
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 that she might come
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 to know forgiveness
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 and salvation
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 and He wants
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 that to fill
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 our prayers.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 His kingdom,
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 His will,
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 prayer is always
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 about God.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 We're encouraged
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 in Ephesians 3
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 that God can do
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 immeasurably more
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 than we ask
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 or imagine
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 and we have
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 the smallest requests.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 We have a catchphrase
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 that we use
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 in our youth ministry team
00:12:02 --> 00:12:02 which is
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 ask big
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 and expect bigger.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 prayer.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 Let's lift our eyes
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 to what God sees
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 when He looks
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 at the world
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 and what His desire is
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 and know that He can
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 do immeasurably more
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 than even that.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 We firmly believe
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 in our youth ministry
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 that we have
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 the teenagers
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 that God can
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 and will use
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 to transform
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 the earth.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 Not to transform
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 our church,
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 not to transform
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 our suburb,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 to transform
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 the earth.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 That's what we're
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 asking God to do
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 and we know
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 He can do more.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 So we're asking
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 big and we're expecting
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 bigger because
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 prayer is about God
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 it's not about me.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 Prayer is about
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 what He wants
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 it's not about
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 what I want.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 Prayer is about
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 what He can do
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 not what I think
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 He can do.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 God is unlimited
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 in His power
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 and we need to
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 lift our eyes
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 and remember
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 that this gift
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 of prayer
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 is a connection
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 to the supreme
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 being
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 and utilize
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 that incredible gift.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 First one was
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 prayer is all
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 about God.
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 Second one,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 this then
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 is how
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 you should pray.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 The Lord's Prayer,
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 verse 9 again,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 this then
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 is how
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 you should pray.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 Our Father in heaven,
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 hallowed be Your name,
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 Your kingdom come,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 Your will be done
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 on earth
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 as it is in heaven.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 Give us today
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 our daily bread,
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 forgive us our debts
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 as we also have
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 forgiven our debtors
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 and lead us
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 not into temptation
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 but deliver us
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 from the evil one.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 How should you pray?
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 Regularly.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 Give us today
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 our daily bread.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 Just catch that.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 Today,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 what I need for today.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 It might include bread
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 but that phrase
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 is kind of
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 whatever you need
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 to be alive today
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 and to do what God
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 needs you today,
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 ask today
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 for what you need today
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 which means tomorrow
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 you're going to need
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 to ask tomorrow
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 for what you need tomorrow
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 and the next day
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 you're going to have
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 to ask again.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 God is saying
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 prayer is not a one-off
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 God can you just
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 cover me from here on in
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 and I probably won't need
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 to sit down
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 and pray anymore.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 Now that's a valid prayer
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 and God can quite
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 capably answer that
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 but that's not
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 how prayer works.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 Prayer is an opportunity
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 for us to come before God
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 and admit that we need Him.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 It's not even that
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 in praying
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 we begin to need Him.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 We need Him.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 He sustains all things.
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 Prayer is His gift
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 to remind us
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 that we need Him.
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 It's His gift
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 for us to be able
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 to talk to Him
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 and just sit down
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 and say
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 God I actually can't
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 do anything without you.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 I need you for sunshine
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 for the picnic.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 I need you for oxygen
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 so I can breathe
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 and be alive.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 I need you for energy
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 to do my job.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 I need you to sustain me
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 for anything
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 and everything
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 because all things
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 come from the hand
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 of our Creator.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 So if you need anything
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 He is the place
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 that you can get it.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 So you should go to Him
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 regularly
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 and ask Him.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 This prayer
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 is so all encompassing.
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 It includes material things.
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 It includes spiritual things.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 There in verse 11 to 13
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 you've got daily bread
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 but then you've also got
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 the forgiveness
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 of debts and debtors.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 You've got
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 leading away from temptation.
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 What should you be praying for?
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 Everything.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 Anything.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 Pray for that parking spot.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 Pray for Catherine Devaney.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 Pray for those
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 struggling with hunger
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 and oppression
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 and suffering.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 Pray for sickness.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 Pray for money.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 Pray for health.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 Pray for the unsaved.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 Pray for an end to poverty.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 Confess your sin.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 Pray for wisdom.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 Pray for strength
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 when you're struggling.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 Pray that you can
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 resist temptation.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 Pray in thankfulness.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 Pray to praise God.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 Pray for everything
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 because when we ask
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 we exalt God.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 We say God
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 you are the one
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 who gives me everything.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 You are the one
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 that I need
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 for my life.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 I remember when I was younger
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 as a teenager
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 being told
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 asking is great in prayer
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 but don't ask too much.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 You need to make sure
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 you balance out
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 the asking with the thanks
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 as if God needs to be
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 kind of placated
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 if we're going to ask
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 for things.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 There's lots of acronyms
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 for prayer.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 Things like acts,
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 adoration,
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 confession,
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 thanksgiving
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 and supplication
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 which no one ever understood
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 so we called it shopping list.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 And it had to come last.
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 You had to make sure
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 you'd done your adoration,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 your confession,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 your thanksgiving
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 before you gave God
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 your shopping list.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 And look,
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 I understand the sentiment
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 and it is good for us
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 to praise God
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 and do all those sort of things
00:16:08 --> 00:16:10 but asking
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 is what this prayer
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 that Jesus teaches
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 is full of.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 Have a look at it.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 Your kingdom come.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 He's saying
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 God,
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 God,
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 please bring your kingdom.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 That's a request.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 Your will be done.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 Give us our bread.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 Forgive us.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 Lead us.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 Deliver us.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 It's asking.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 It's requests.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 You do praise God.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 You do adore God
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 when you ask him for things
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 because what you're saying is
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 God,
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 you're the one who provides.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 You're the good God
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 who gives.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 You're the heavenly Father
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 who loves me enough
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 to want to give me good things.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 Asking is good
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 and right
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 and appropriate
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 and it shows
00:16:52 --> 00:16:54 that we are depending
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 on God.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 We need Jesus
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 for everything.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 For breath.
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 For life.
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 And of course
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 for doing God's will.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 I firmly believe
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 after reflecting on this prayer
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 and reflecting on scripture
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 that
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 fundamentally
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 the beginning of sin
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 is not praying.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 Say that again.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 Fundamentally
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 I believe
00:17:22 --> 00:17:24 that the beginning of sin
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 is not praying
00:17:25 --> 00:17:27 because the second
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 you choose not to pray
00:17:28 --> 00:17:31 you reject God
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 as the one
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 that you need.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 You reject him
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 as the one
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 who sustains you.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 You reject him
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 as the one
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 who holds
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 all of the earth
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 in his hands.
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 You reject him
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 as the one
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 to whom you are
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 accountable
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 for your whole life
00:17:43 --> 00:17:45 and you become
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 self-dependent
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 which is sin.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 Prayer could not
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 be more significant.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 It is a gift
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 from God
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 to us
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 for our sake.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 He is sovereign.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 He knows
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 what we're going to ask.
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 This passage even says it.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 Don't babble
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 like the pagans.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 They think
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 they'll be heard
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 because of their many words.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 Verse 8.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 Do not be like them
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 for your father
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 knows what you need
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 before you ask.
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 He doesn't give us
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 prayer so that we can
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 remind him of things
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 that are going on.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 He dwells in us
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 and he knows us
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 intimately
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 but he gives us
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 prayer
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 so that we might
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 be reminded
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 that we need him.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 So that we might
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 verbalize
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 that we need him.
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 So that we might
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 express
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 that we
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 need
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 him.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 How do you pray?
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 Pray regularly
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 because you need
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 Jesus
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 always.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 Secondly
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 pray with
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 integrity.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 It's really easy
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 to say things
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 without actually
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 having any meaning
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 or weight
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 behind those words.
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 I remember
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 as a teenager
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 occasionally
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 I would have
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 a romantic
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 relationship
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 that didn't work
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 out the way
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 that I anticipated
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 that it would
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 at the start.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 As a teenager
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 for me
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 a long romantic
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 relationship
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 was about
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 three weeks.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 That's not
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 what I set
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 out to do
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 but that's
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 just the way
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 it panned
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 out.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 And I remember
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 the conversation
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 that you would
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 have as a
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 relationship
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 would break
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 down.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 And it's
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 amazing
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 the words
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 that you
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 would say
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 in order
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 to try
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 and prevent
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 tears
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 on the other
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 side of
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 the conversation
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 when in
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 reality
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 it's not
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 exactly
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 what you
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 were thinking.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 Phrases
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 like
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 I'm just
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 not ready
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 for a
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 relationship
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 right now.
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 It's not
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 you
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 it's me.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 Now
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 when I say
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 I'm not
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 ready for
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 a relationship
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 what I mean
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 is
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 until I
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 find somebody
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 who I
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 actually
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 like
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 I'm not
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 ready for
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 a relationship
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 right now.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 And when I
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 say it's
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 not you
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 it's me
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 I mean
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 it's you
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 who makes
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 me annoyed.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 So you
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 can actually
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 say the
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 words
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 but there's
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 no integrity
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 behind them.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 You don't
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 mean it.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 It's like
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 the kid
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 who says
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 sorry
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 when they
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 get caught
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 waits for
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 you to
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 leave
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 and starts
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 doing
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 exactly
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 the same
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 thing.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 It matters
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 that we
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 pray
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 with
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 integrity.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 That what
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 we are
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 saying
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 with our
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 words
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 reflects
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 the
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 posture
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 of
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 our
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 heart.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 In
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 verse 12
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 we are
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 encouraged
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 to pray
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 forgive us
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 our debts
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 as we
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 also have
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 forgiven
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 our debtors.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 If we are
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 going to
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 approach
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 God
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 requesting
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 and embracing
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 and rejoicing
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 in his
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 grace and
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 forgiveness
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 to us
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 we are
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 challenged
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 here
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 that to
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 ask for
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 something
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 that we
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 are not
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 willing to
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 offer
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 is
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 inconsistent.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 Prayer is
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 not a
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 vending
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 machine
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 for us
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 simply
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 to gain
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 things.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 Prayer is
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 a means
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 of us
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 growing
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 closer
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 to
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 God
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 and
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 part
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 of
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 that
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 is
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 our
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 heart
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 being
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 shaped
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 to
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 reflect
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 him
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 as
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 well.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 It's
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 not
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 that
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 us
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 forgiving
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 others
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 earns
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 our
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 forgiveness
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 from
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 God
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 in
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 prayer.
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 It's
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 not
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 like
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 if
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 you
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 have
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 failed
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 to
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 forgive
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 someone
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 and
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 you
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 come
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 and
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 pray
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 and
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 ask
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 God
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 for
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 forgiveness
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 he
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 will
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 say
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 no.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 But
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 there
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 is
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 this
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 sense
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 that
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 as
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 we
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 are
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 forgiven
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 by
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 God
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 we
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 begin
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 to
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 lose
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 the
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 ability
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 to
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 not
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 show
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 forgiveness.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 Suddenly
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 we realise
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 we are
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 completely
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 unworthy
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 selfish
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 sinful
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 despicable
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 human
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 beings
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 who
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 God
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 loves
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 anyway
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 and
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 it
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 gets
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 really
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 hard
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 to
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 look
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 down
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 on
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 other
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 people.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 We
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 need
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 to
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 pray
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 with
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 integrity
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 as
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 we
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 come
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 to
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 God
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 and
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 request
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 his
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 goodness
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 we
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 need
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 to
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 reflect
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 on
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 our
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 own
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 lives
00:21:21 --> 00:21:23 parts
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 of our
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 lives
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 that
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 may
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 not
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 line
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 up
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 with
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 what
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 it
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 means
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 to
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 follow
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 Jesus.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 We
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 need
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 to
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 be
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 willing
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 to
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 confess
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 honestly
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 and
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 openly
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 where
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 we've
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 fallen
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 short
00:21:30 --> 00:21:32 and
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 we
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 need
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 to
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 cry
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 out
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 for
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 God's
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 guidance
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 willing
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 to
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 pay
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 the
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 cost
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 when
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 he
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 guides
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 us
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 maybe
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 where
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 we
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 didn't
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 want
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 to
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 go.
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 When
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 you
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 ask
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 for
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 God's
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 will
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 to
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 be
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 done
00:21:42 --> 00:21:45 do
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 you
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 say
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 those
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 words
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 with
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 integrity
00:21:46 --> 00:21:48 ready
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 to
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 follow
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 wherever
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 he
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 might
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 when
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 you
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 ask
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 him
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 to
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 use
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 your
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 life
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 as
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 he
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 pleases
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 do
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 you
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 mean
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 it
00:21:57 --> 00:21:59 and
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 if
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 not
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 confess
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 it
00:22:01 --> 00:22:03 acknowledge
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 that
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 you
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 are
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 failing
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 in
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 that
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 and
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 ask
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 that
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 God
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 would
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 shape
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 your
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 heart
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 so
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 you
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 can
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 pray
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 those
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 words
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 confidently
00:22:09 --> 00:22:13 lastly
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 on
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 integrity
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 we need
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 to pray
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 out of
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 our
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 hearts
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 let me
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 read
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 verse
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 5
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 to
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 8
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 again
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 when
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 you
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 pray
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 do
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 not
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 be
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 like
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 the
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 hypocrites
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 for
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 they
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 love
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 to
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 pray
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 standing
00:22:23 --> 00:22:47 prayer
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 is not
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 an
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 exercise
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 in
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 showing
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 off
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 prayer
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 is not
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 an
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 exercise
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 in
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 practicing
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 your
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 communication
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 skills
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 prayer
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 is an
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 exercise
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 in
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 trust
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 in
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 Jesus
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00 it
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 is
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 an
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 active
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 expression
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 of
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 faith
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 God
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 already
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 knows
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 your
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 words
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 before
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 you
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 open
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 your
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 mouth
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 so
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 don't
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 fluff
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 about
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 tell
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 him
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 what
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 you
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 want
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 I
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 was
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 challenged
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 recently
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 that
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 often
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 we
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 try
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 and
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 do
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 the
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 holy
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 version
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 of
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 prayer
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 dear
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 God
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 I
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 have
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 a
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 sick
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 grandmother
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 so
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 if
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 it's
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 your
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 will
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 make
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 it
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 better
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 if
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 not
00:23:19 --> 00:23:21 help
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 me
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 to be
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 okay
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 with
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 that
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 now
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 that's
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 not
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 a
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 wrong
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 prayer
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 but
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 what
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 do
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 I
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 really
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 want
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 I
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 want
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 my
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 grandmother
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 to be
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 better
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 I
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 want
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 that
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 sickness
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 to be
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 fixed
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 God
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 knows
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 that's
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 what
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 I
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 want
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 it's
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 not
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 like
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 that
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 extra
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 half
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 sentence
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 has
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 tricked
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 God
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 into
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 thinking
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 I'm
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 holier
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 than
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 I
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 really
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 am
00:23:39 --> 00:23:41 be
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 honest
00:23:41 --> 00:23:48 day
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 ooh
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 be
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 honest
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 to
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 trust
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 him
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 anyway
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 to
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 trust
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 in
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 his
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 goodness
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 and
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 rejoice
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 in
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 the
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 fact
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 that
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 I
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 already
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 prayed
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 that
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 he
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 is
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 God
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 and
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 I
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 am
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 not
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 and
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 I
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 need
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 to
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 trust
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 that
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 his
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 will
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 is
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 been
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 done
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 and
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 not
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 mine
00:24:06 --> 00:24:14 pray honestly from your heart let the way we pray in public whether it's leading at the front
00:24:14 --> 00:24:18 whether it's in small groups whether it's in our bible studies be an overflow of the way we cry out
00:24:18 --> 00:24:29 to god regularly and honestly in our own day-to-day devotions and finally how do you pray pray intimately
00:24:29 --> 00:24:36 prayer is no longer our phone line to a distant god off in heaven somewhere
00:24:36 --> 00:24:43 we're reminded in ephesians that those of us who were far have been brought near by the blood of
00:24:43 --> 00:24:51 jesus because jesus has died and jesus has risen and he sits on the throne now we are told in the
00:24:51 --> 00:24:58 new testament that we sit in the heavenlies that we are sitting in the throne room of god right now
00:24:58 --> 00:25:07 and we have free access to our heavenly father so you can cry out daddy you can cry out father
00:25:07 --> 00:25:13 you can pray direct jesus our brother
00:25:13 --> 00:25:24 jesus god the son pleads on our behalf and so we pray confident that our loving heavenly father answers
00:25:24 --> 00:25:32 we pray thankful even before he answers because we know from romans 8 that he's always working for our
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 good
00:25:32 --> 00:25:38 so we can have an honest regular and intimate relationship with the god of heaven
00:25:38 --> 00:25:43 we need jesus for everything especially for our prayer
00:25:43 --> 00:25:52 prayer is a gift in which god gives us free access to our holy god
00:25:52 --> 00:25:57 even with him it's not a right it's a gift
00:25:57 --> 00:26:01 it's a gracious invitation from our heavenly father
00:26:01 --> 00:26:09 prayer is an expression of faith prayer is praise prayer is dependence on god prayer is love for god and
00:26:09 --> 00:26:15 it's love for one another prayer is a gift in which god gives us free access to himself and so we
00:26:15 --> 00:26:17 must pray
00:26:17 --> 00:26:20 we need to
00:26:20 --> 00:26:25 let's do that now
00:26:25 --> 00:26:36 father god we want to acknowledge that so often we misuse good things that you give us
00:26:36 --> 00:26:39 so often we waste opportunities
00:26:39 --> 00:26:46 but lord we ask that you would change us that you would shape our hearts to recognize that we need you
00:26:46 --> 00:26:53 to make us people who rejoice in the fact that we need to fall on our knees and cry out to you for even the most
00:26:53 --> 00:26:55 minuscule task in our lives
00:26:55 --> 00:26:59 because everything that we have comes from you
00:26:59 --> 00:27:02 we want to thank and praise you for jesus
00:27:02 --> 00:27:08 who has died on the cross and risen so that we have clear and free access to you in heaven
00:27:08 --> 00:27:11 god i pray that we would be people
00:27:11 --> 00:27:13 who come before you regularly
00:27:13 --> 00:27:17 and with integrity and desperately and intimately
00:27:17 --> 00:27:20 and cry out to you to have your way in our lives
00:27:20 --> 00:27:24 who plead with you that you would bring your kingdom on the earth
00:27:24 --> 00:27:26 that your will would be done
00:27:26 --> 00:27:29 lord give us eyes to see what it is that you are doing
00:27:29 --> 00:27:32 that we might rejoice thankfully
00:27:32 --> 00:27:36 give us confidence to bring our anxieties and our burdens to you
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 knowing that you're here
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 and you promise to answer
00:27:39 --> 00:27:44 father when we open our mouths to speak to you
00:27:44 --> 00:27:47 may we grasp the gravity
00:27:47 --> 00:27:49 of what it is to speak
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 with the creator
00:27:50 --> 00:27:53 may we grasp
00:27:53 --> 00:27:55 the love that you have shown us
00:27:55 --> 00:27:57 that we call you
00:27:57 --> 00:27:59 father and friend
00:27:59 --> 00:28:03 father thank you for this gift
00:28:03 --> 00:28:08 thank you for all that you give us and all that you do
00:28:08 --> 00:28:11 please glorify yourself in us
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 amen