Why don't we pray?
Series: PRAYER 2015
Speaker: Debbie Gould
Date: 10th January 2015
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Well, we all know that prayer is essential
00:00:03 --> 00:00:10 and we all equally know that prayer is tough.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:15 Now, I'm not talking this morning about prayers
00:00:15 --> 00:00:19 that are the prayers of God bless this person
00:00:19 --> 00:00:24 or the prayers of quick, I need, you know, sort of a car park
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 or the prayers of please let it be fine
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 because I have a very important picnic tomorrow.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 I'm not talking about those sorts of prayers
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 because I know that we've all prayed those prayers.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:42 I'm talking about the prayers that we persist in praying,
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 the prayers that are heartfelt prayers
00:00:46 --> 00:00:51 that keep us looking towards God and looking for an answer.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 Now, surely it should be easy for each of us
00:00:55 --> 00:01:00 to share our hearts with the God of love
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 who wants to hear from his children.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:09 After all, isn't he interested in all things about us?
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 He even knows the number of hairs on our heads.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:17 Surely, if we are able to chatter to our friends,
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 some of us, without taking breath,
00:01:21 --> 00:01:25 surely we would find it easy to talk to God.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:32 Surely, if God is the one who we are most devoted to,
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 wouldn't that mean we would turn to him first
00:01:36 --> 00:01:40 in times of need, in confusion,
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 in sadness, in disappointment, in joy?
00:01:45 --> 00:01:50 Surely, if we believe that our great God
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 is the God of the impossible,
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 the God who can make the barren fall pregnant,
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 the God who can split the Red Sea
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 for the Israelites to walk across,
00:02:01 --> 00:02:06 the God who made it possible for a virgin to give birth,
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 the God who saw our brokenness
00:02:10 --> 00:02:15 and made a way for us to be in relationship with him,
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 the God who gave his son to death
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 so that we might live.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 Surely, our heart's desire
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 would be to take that gift of prayer
00:02:28 --> 00:02:32 seriously, daily,
00:02:33 --> 00:02:34 with earnestness
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 and with confidence.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 And yet we don't.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 Is it because we are distracted
00:02:44 --> 00:02:50 to know what are the correct words to say in prayer?
00:02:50 --> 00:02:51 So we say nothing.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:53 Well, maybe.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:59 Many would argue over time
00:02:59 --> 00:03:03 that set prayers are the only acceptable prayers to pray.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 And Steve mentioned last week
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 that there are many repetitive prayers
00:03:09 --> 00:03:13 that some feel are necessary to pray.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 Or is it because we don't know
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 how we should be or act
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 when we are praying?
00:03:21 --> 00:03:22 So we say nothing.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 There have been many
00:03:24 --> 00:03:25 who have argued over the years
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 that we should stand
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 with our eyes upward to heaven
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 and pray to this great God.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 Others feel that we should
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 bend our heads in reverence.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 Some might feel
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 that they need to lie prostrate on the floor
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 to show a sense of humility
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 and respect.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:49 Well, it's simply foolishness
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 if we get caught up
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 with the issue of posture
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 or set words
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 to think that prayer then would be effective.
00:03:58 --> 00:03:59 The point is,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 correct and acceptable prayer
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 isn't about posture or set words.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 that would wrongly make it
00:04:07 --> 00:04:12 that for God to be pleased to hear our prayers
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 and to answer our prayers
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 has something to do with who we are
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 and what we have done
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 or what we have said
00:04:21 --> 00:04:26 instead of it being about this great God
00:04:26 --> 00:04:27 that we are praying to.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:31 So why don't we pray?
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 Well, basically,
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 there's a number of reasons.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 I'm sure you will think of some more.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 But I think that we can,
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 but we believe that we can fix things.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 We can fix most things by ourselves.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 And so if something is broken,
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 we try to fix it.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 And there's a sense of satisfaction
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 when we can fix things.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 And there may even well be
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 a greater sense of satisfaction
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 if we perceive that others
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 can't fix the things that we can fix.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:08 We generally are self-centred,
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 self-reliant, proud individuals.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 Of course, some of us might show
00:05:14 --> 00:05:15 a little more finesse
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 when sharing our pride,
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 so that isn't seen as the sin
00:05:20 --> 00:05:21 that it truly is.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 And while others,
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 while others' pride oozes out of them,
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 and it's very easily seen.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:31 But proud, we all are to some extent.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 And it causes us to trust
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 our own capabilities
00:05:36 --> 00:05:39 rather than trusting God first.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 We also need to ask ourselves,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:47 what do I spend the bulk of my time
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 thinking about when no one is looking?
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 When nothing is forcing us
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 to think about anything in particular?
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 At these moments,
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 do your thoughts,
00:06:00 --> 00:06:01 or do my thoughts,
00:06:02 --> 00:06:03 turn toward God?
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 Archbishop William Temple,
00:06:07 --> 00:06:08 back in 1942,
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 in a message said,
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 your religion is what you do
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 with your solitude.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 That is a really challenging quote.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 Steve last week mentioned
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 that prayer is shaped
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 by the being to whom we pray.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 What we pray is dependent
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 on what we believe we are praying,
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 on what we believe the being
00:06:33 --> 00:06:37 we pray to is capable of fulfilling.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 And if we do not have a correct picture
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 of who God is
00:06:43 --> 00:06:47 and what Jesus has achieved on our behalf,
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 then our prayers will either be
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 totally absent
00:06:52 --> 00:06:56 or they will be shallow at best.
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 I loved our commitment series
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 that we did at the end of last year.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 For me to look at our core values
00:07:06 --> 00:07:10 gave me a new and fresh revelation
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 of how our core values
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 fit like hand and glove together,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:19 especially being a Christ-centered,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 Bible-saturated church
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 that is devoted to prayer
00:07:23 --> 00:07:27 and who love treasuring Jesus together.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:33 How can one truly be devoted to prayer
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 if they do not know the one
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 that they pray to?
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 How do you know the one to pray to?
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 By being in the word of God
00:07:44 --> 00:07:44 is the answer.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 Becoming a Christ-centered,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 Bible-saturated follower of Jesus Christ
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 and meeting together
00:07:52 --> 00:07:55 for instruction and fellowship
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 in treasuring Jesus together.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 You cannot have one without the other
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 if you want to be an effective,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 have an effective relationship with God.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 Prayer is essential
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 and knowing Jesus the Saviour
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 is as essential.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:14 So why don't we pray?
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 We need to ask ourselves,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:20 do we truly know Jesus
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 and the His gospel deeply?
00:08:25 --> 00:08:29 Well, I'd encourage you to open up the passage
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 that we've just had read to us in Mark 14
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 and we'll see if that might teach us something.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:39 The passage where we're up to,
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 if we're in the Garden of Gethsemane,
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 it's an olive grove.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:47 It's still an olive grove to this day.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 And even some of the original trees,
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 even though they were chopped down
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 for the Roman siege in 70 AD,
00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 after carbon testing of the roots,
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 some of them still date back
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 2 years back.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:07 Now, I have been in this Garden of Gethsemane.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 It is not huge.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 It is tranquil
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 and it is conducive to prayer.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:18 Now, it's a short time before Jesus is arrested
00:09:18 --> 00:09:22 and He'll be taken to His death the following day.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:25 Jesus has celebrated the Passover with His disciples
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 and He has once again told them
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 of His impending death and His resurrection.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 And He goes with His disciples
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 and He leaves all bar three of His disciples
00:09:37 --> 00:09:41 at most probably is the entrance to the Garden.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 And then He moves on a little forward
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 with three disciples,
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 Peter, James and John,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 His closest disciples,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 closest friends,
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 a little further on.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 Look at verse 34 with me.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 to the point of death,
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 He said to them.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 Stay here and keep watch.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 He's saying this to the three.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 Remarkably,
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 Jesus shows that it is okay
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 to share your deepest burdens
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 with those that you trust.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 And apart from the Father,
00:10:19 --> 00:10:23 who we see He is going to pray earnestly to,
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 Peter, James and John
00:10:25 --> 00:10:28 were His closest disciples and friends.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 Jesus shares His heart with the three.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:35 Jesus knows what is lying ahead of Him.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 He could have been stoic,
00:10:38 --> 00:10:42 shown that even in His complete humanness,
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 He was in control.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:44 He was in control.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 Not let those close to Him
00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 know that He was burdened and struggling.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:55 Isn't that what most of us would like to do
00:10:55 --> 00:10:58 when we're faced with something tough?
00:10:59 --> 00:10:59 No.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 Jesus is truly human
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 and He is showing truly human,
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 honest struggles
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 and with good reason,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 for He knows better
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 and more fully
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 than the disciples
00:11:13 --> 00:11:17 of what the next day is going to bring.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:21 And what does this sorrow do for Jesus?
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 It drives Him to prayer.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 Then He moves a little way away from them
00:11:29 --> 00:11:32 and He shows His dependence
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 on His heavenly Father.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 Verse 35,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 Going a little farther,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 He fell to the ground
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 and prayed that if possible,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 the Lord might pass...
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 The Lord might pass...
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 Sorry.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 He fell to the ground
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 and prayed that if possible,
00:11:48 --> 00:11:51 the hour might pass from Him.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 Abba, Father, He said,
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 everything is possible for you.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 Take this cup from me,
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 yet not my will,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 but your will.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:04 Jesus understands
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 that this cup
00:12:06 --> 00:12:09 is no ordinary cup,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:12 but it is the wrathful judgment,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 the awful consequences
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 of God's judgment
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 on sinful humanity.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 There's a number of references
00:12:22 --> 00:12:26 to the cup of wrath in the Bible.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 Isaiah 51 says,
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 Awake, awake,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 rise up, O Jerusalem,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 you who have drunk
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 from the hand of the Lord
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 the cup of His wrath,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 you who have drained its dregs,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 the goblet that makes men stagger.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 Revelation 14,
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 a third angel followed them
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 and said in a loud voice,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 If anyone worships the beast
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 and his image
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 and receives his mark
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 on the forehead
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 or on the hand,
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 he too will drink
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 the wine of God's fury,
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 which has been poured
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 full strength
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 into the cup of His wrath.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 He will be tormented
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 with burning sulfur
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 in the presence
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 of the holy angels
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 and the Lamb.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 Revelation 16, 19,
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 God remembered Babylon the great
00:13:10 --> 00:13:13 and gave her the cup
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 filled with the wine
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 of the fury of His wrath.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:21 This cup is God's wrath
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 that would be poured out
00:13:23 --> 00:13:25 on you and me
00:13:25 --> 00:13:28 if we were not followers
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 of Jesus Christ.
00:13:31 --> 00:13:34 It is Jesus' perfect death,
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 a perfect life,
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 perfect death
00:13:37 --> 00:13:40 in taking the wrath we deserve
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 and His perfect resurrection
00:13:42 --> 00:13:45 that we can have confidence
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 in this gospel that saves us.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 Without this,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 we are all lost
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 for all eternity.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:55 We see the intimacy
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 with the Father
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 as well as His confidence
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 in His nearness
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 and loving care.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 We see it by
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 the simple address
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 of calling God the Father
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 Abba,
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 which is similar
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 to us saying
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 Daddy.
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 It shows Jesus
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 trusts God
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 completely
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 as His Father
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 and is completely
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 obedient.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 His prayer
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 isn't trying to run
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 counter
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 to God's purposes,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 but explores
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 is there another way here?
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 Can He escape
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 the horrifying cup?
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 It isn't insubordination,
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 but complete trust
00:14:38 --> 00:14:41 that God listens
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 and grants
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 prayer requests
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 that are aligned
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 with God's
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 overall providence.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 The answer we know
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 is no.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 There is no other way.
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 Jesus will in fact
00:14:58 --> 00:15:01 die the horrendous death,
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 taking the wrath of God
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 that you and I
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 deserve
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 so that we
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 can live,
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 so that we don't
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 have to take
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 the wrath of God,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 so that we can have
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 our prayers answered,
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 so that we
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 can be assured
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 of God's love,
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 His mercy,
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 His sovereignty
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 in all things.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:29 If you do not believe
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 in the wrath of God
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 that has been
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 poured out
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 on Jesus
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 on our behalf,
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 then you will
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 not appreciate
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 how valuable
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 you are
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 to God.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 You have no idea
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 of your value
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 if you don't know
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 the wrath of God
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 and believe in it.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 You see,
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 we can be confident
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 that God will hear
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 and answer our prayers
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 because in the garden,
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 God chose
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 to not
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 answer
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 Jesus' prayer
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 of taking
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 the cup
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 from Him.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 It was essential
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 that the wrath of God
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 is taken
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 by someone
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 so that we
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 would be free
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 to have a relationship
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 with God the Father.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 That someone
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 was Jesus
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 and it was for you
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 and it was for me.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 Turn to verse 37
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 with me
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 and a little
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 further on.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 We know
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 that Jesus
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 has said
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 to His disciples,
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 stay here a while
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 and keep watch.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 Then He returned
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 to His disciples
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 and found them sleeping.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 Simon,
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 He said to Peter,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 are you asleep?
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 Could you not
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 keep watch
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 for one hour?
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 Watch and pray
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 so that you will
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 not fall into temptation.
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 The spirit
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 is willing
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 but the body
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 is weak.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 Once more,
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 He went away
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 and He prayed
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 the same thing.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 When He came back,
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 He again found them
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 sleeping
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 because their eyes
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 were heavy.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 They did not know
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 what to say to Him.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 Returning the third time,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 He said to them,
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 are you still sleeping
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 and resting?
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 Enough!
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 The hour has come.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 Look,
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 the Son of Man
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 is betrayed
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 into the hands
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 of sinners.
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 Rise,
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 let us go.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 Here comes my betrayer.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 Three times,
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 Jesus discovers
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 them sleeping
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 after bidding them
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 to keep watch.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 Interestingly,
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 you will recall
00:17:35 --> 00:17:37 that there was a time
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 when they were
00:17:38 --> 00:17:40 in crisis,
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 the disciples,
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 and Jesus was
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 the one sleeping
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 in the back of the boat
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 when there was a storm.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 But here,
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 they are the ones sleeping
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 when Jesus
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 is the one
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 in real crisis.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55 And their drowsiness
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 reflects
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 their failure
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 to realise
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 how crucial
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 this moment
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 really is.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 But is Jesus
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 stern,
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 judgemental,
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 accusatory?
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 I'm not so sure.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 Some of the commentators
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 say yes.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 But there is
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 a sense of
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 understanding
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 from Jesus.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 His comment
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 that the spirit
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 is willing
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 but the body
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 is weak
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 sounds more
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 like a comment
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 that he
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 understands.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 But he's firm
00:18:29 --> 00:18:31 and he alone
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 knows what
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 lies ahead.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 Jesus has prepared
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 himself in prayer
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 for what is
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 ahead of him.
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 He has cried out
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 to God
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 to change the plan
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 if possible
00:18:42 --> 00:18:44 but once he knows
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 that he will be
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 delivered into
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 the hands
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 of the enemy,
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 he freely
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 has accepted
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 God's will
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 for himself
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 and through
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 prayer
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 has steeled
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 himself
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 for what lies
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 ahead
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 and he goes
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 in obedience.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 By contrast,
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 the disciples
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 have squandered
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 the opportunity
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 for prayer
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 by sleeping.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 Consequently,
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 they fold
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 under the pressure.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:17 we see this
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 in six
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 very sad
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 verses
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 in verse 50.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 Just after
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 Jesus is
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 arrested
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 and we read,
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 then everyone
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 deserted him
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 and fled.
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 So how
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 often
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 do we
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 squander
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 the opportunity
00:19:36 --> 00:19:38 to pray?
00:19:38 --> 00:19:41 Do we
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 come to
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 God
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44 and acknowledge
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 God
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 for his
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 majesty
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 and his
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 awe
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 and we
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 hallow him
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 as Steve
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 preached last
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 week?
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 Do we
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 ask God
00:19:56 --> 00:19:58 to examine
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 our hearts
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 as the
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 psalmist
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 prays in
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 Psalm 139?
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 He says,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 search me,
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 O God,
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 know my
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 heart,
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 test
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 me,
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 know my
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 anxious
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 thoughts,
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 see if
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 there is
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 any
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 offensive
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 way in
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 me and
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 lead me
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 in the
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 way
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 everlasting.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 How
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 often do
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 you pray
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 that
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 prayer?
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 How
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 often do
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 you pray
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 and repent
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 of your
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 sins?
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 How
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 often do
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 I do
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 that?
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 How
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 often do
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 we hand
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 all of our
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 concerns over
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 to the
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 Lord,
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 the things
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 that are
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 making us
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 anxious?
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 Tim
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 Keller
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 has a
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 sermon
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 online
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 and he
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 refers to
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 on prayer
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 and he
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 refers to
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 Eugene
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 Peterson
00:20:48 --> 00:20:50 and his
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 thoughts
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 on prayer.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 Eugene
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 Peterson
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 says that
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 prayer needs
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 to have a
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 rhythm,
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 a spiritual
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 discipline,
00:21:00 --> 00:21:02 if you want
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 a different
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 word.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 prayer.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 Peterson
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 says that
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 Psalm
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 4 is
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 an evening
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 prayer and
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 Psalm 5
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 is a
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 morning
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 prayer.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 It's
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 worth
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 either
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 listening to
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 Tim Keller's
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 sermon
00:21:15 --> 00:21:17 online or
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 maybe buying
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 his new
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 book on
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 prayer if
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 you want
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 to actually
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 understand
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 this more.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 But simply
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 put in
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 brief,
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 from
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 Psalm 4
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 the
00:21:26 --> 00:21:28 psalmist
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 speaks,
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 God
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 speaks,
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 the
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 psalmist
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 speaks.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 So the
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 psalmist
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 says,
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 answer me
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 when I
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 call to
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 you,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 O my
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 righteous
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 God,
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 give me
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 relief
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 from my
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 distress,
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 be merciful
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 to me
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 and hear
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 my prayer.
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 Then God
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 speaks,
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 in your
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 anger
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 do not
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 sin,
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 when you
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 are on
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 your beds
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 search your
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 hearts
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 and be
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 silent.
00:21:53 --> 00:21:55 Then the
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 psalmist
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 speaks again,
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 let the
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 light of
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 your face
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 shine upon
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 us,
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 O Lord,
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 you have
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 filled my
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 heart with
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 greater joy
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 than when
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 the grain
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 and the
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 new wine
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 abound.
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 I will
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 lie down
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 and sleep
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 in peace
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 for you
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 alone,
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 O Lord,
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 make me
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 dwell in
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 safety.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 Meaning,
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 hand every
00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 anxious thought
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 over to
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 God at
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 night and
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 sleep well.
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 It's about
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 praying to
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 put your
00:22:27 --> 00:22:29 soul at
00:22:29 --> 00:22:31 rest by
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 giving over
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 to God.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 Peterson
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 says that
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 if you're
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 still anxious,
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 you haven't
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 trusted God
00:22:38 --> 00:22:40 fully with
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 all your
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 concerns or
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 you haven't
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 truly handed
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 them all
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 over to
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 God and
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 you need
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 to continue
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 praying.
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 God
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 but the
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 idea is
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 that you
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 hand at
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 night those
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 things that
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 are making
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 you anxious
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 over to
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 the Lord
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 so that
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 you can
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 rest.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 Different
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 with Psalm
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 5,
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 in the
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 morning,
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 you are
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 awake and
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 you're ready
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 to tackle
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 all that
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 the Lord
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 gives you
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 in the
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 new day
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 and you
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 do it
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 in prayer.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 Give
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 ear to
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 my words,
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 O Lord,
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 consider my
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 sighing,
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 listen to
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 my cry
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 for help,
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 my King
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 and my
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 God,
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 for to
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 you I
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 pray.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 In the
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 morning,
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 O Lord,
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 you hear
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 my voice.
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 In the
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 morning,
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 I lay
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 my requests
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 before you
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 and I
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 wait in
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 expectation.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 This is
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 the time
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 to cry
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 out to
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 God,
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 acknowledging
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 who he
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 is and
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 trusting
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 him with
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 all those
00:23:38 --> 00:23:40 prayers for
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 his world
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 and his
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 creation.
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 Note there's
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 a sense
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 of expectation
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 that God
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 is going
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 to act.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 So you
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 look for
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 the answers
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 and you
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 give God
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 thanks when
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 you see
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 them.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 If you
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 don't see
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 them,
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 you continue
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 to cry
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 out to
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 God and
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 you keep
00:24:00 --> 00:24:02 looking because
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 it is a
00:24:02 --> 00:24:04 very active
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 thing that
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 we are
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 doing.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 This has
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 been
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 tremendously
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 helpful to
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 me,
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 to understand
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 that prayer
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 is a gift
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 gift, but
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 that so
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 is rest.
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 And God
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 has given
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 us both.
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 To hand
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 over my
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 concerns and
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 my worries
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 at night
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 time when
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 I am
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 tired, I'm
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 not at my
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 best, but
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 I am needing
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 rest, that
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 is a great
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 discipline.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 To then
00:24:35 --> 00:24:37 actively pray
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 in the morning
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 when I am
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 fresh and I'm
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 focused, it
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 works for me.
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 And I
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 encourage you
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 to try it
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 yourself because
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 it very well
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 may work for
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 you.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 Now we
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 started by
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 acknowledging that
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 prayer is
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 essential, but
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 it's also
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 tough.
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 We've seen in
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 the garden that
00:24:57 --> 00:24:59 Jesus prayed for
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 the cup to be
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 taken from
00:25:01 --> 00:25:03 him, but
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 that it
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 wasn't and
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 he still
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 surrendered to
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 God's will.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 and we
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 know that
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 because of
00:25:10 --> 00:25:12 that prayer
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 of Jesus
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 was not
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15 answered in
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 the way that
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 he may have
00:25:16 --> 00:25:18 wanted, because
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 of his death
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 and his
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 resurrection, we
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 now can be
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 confident that
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 God answers
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 our prayers.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 For Jesus
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 made it
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 possible for
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 us to be in
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 a relationship
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 with the
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 Father.
00:25:33 --> 00:25:35 How privileged
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 we are and
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 how often we
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 all forget
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 this.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 Let me
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 leave you
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 with three
00:25:43 --> 00:25:45 points that
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 come from a
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 sermon that
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 Jonathan Edwards
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 when he was
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 18 years of
00:25:50 --> 00:25:52 age gave that
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 might help us
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 with our
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 prayers.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 It certainly
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 helps with
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 living the
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 Christian life
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 as well, but
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 if we focus
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 it on the
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 prayers for
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 this morning.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 First thing,
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 our bad
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 things will
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 always turn
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 out for
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 good.
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 Romans 8
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 28.
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 Our good
00:26:13 --> 00:26:15 things can
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 never be
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 taken away
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 from us.
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 Psalm 4.
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 Things like
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 the light of
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 his countenance,
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 the insurance
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 of grace,
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 forgiveness,
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 heaven, love,
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 adoption, none
00:26:29 --> 00:26:31 of them can be
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 taken away from
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 us despite
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 whatever is
00:26:33 --> 00:26:35 going on in
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 our day-to-day
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 living.
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 And the
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 third thing,
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 the best is
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 yet to come.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 1 Corinthians
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 2.9,
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 no eye has
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 seen, no
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 ear has
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 heard, no
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 mind has
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 conceived what
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 God has
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 prepared for
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 those who
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 love him.
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 Our bad
00:26:55 --> 00:26:57 things will
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 turn out for
00:26:58 --> 00:27:00 good, our
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 good things will
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 never be taken
00:27:02 --> 00:27:04 away and the
00:27:04 --> 00:27:06 best is yet
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 to come.
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 Let's pray.
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 O great and
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 glorious God,
00:27:11 --> 00:27:13 we are in
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 awe of you
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 and your
00:27:14 --> 00:27:16 unfailing love
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 for sinners
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 such as
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 ourselves.
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 We thank you
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 from the bottom
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 of our hearts
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 that you hear
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 us and
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 delight in
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 us.
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 Thank you
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 that Jesus'
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 cry for the
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 cup of your
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 wrath to be
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 taken was
00:27:31 --> 00:27:33 answered with
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 no.
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36 Transform us
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 into your
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 servants who
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 long to be in
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 your presence
00:27:40 --> 00:27:42 for all
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 eternity.
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 In Jesus'
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 name we pray.
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 Amen.