Prayer in the Spirit, Part 2.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Before we get into the sermon this morning. I do want to talk to you a little bit about what we’re going to be doing next Sunday [0:05] With bringing in backpacks. I don’t know if you weren’t here last year [0:12] God really used these backpacks in a mighty mighty way [0:16] We about two years ago now began to partner with Fernando and Marcella [0:22] In English, it’s new Hope Baptist Church. I’m not going to say it in Spanish because I probably wouldn’t it would be another language [0:29] but that new Hope Baptist Church and

[0:33] We were able to partner with them. We part with them in a few things [0:36] We partner with them in these backpacks and they have been able to use those to bless [0:40] The Hispanic and other communities around their meeting place and God has used it to grow their church and to further the gospel [0:47] So that further do Fernando and Marcella would come up right now [0:52] what I want them to do what I’m gonna ask them to do is she’s gonna help us translate a little bit and [0:58] Just want

[1:00] Maybe just tell us a little bit about the church [1:04] Maybe how it came to be as some people probably weren’t here last year [1:07] And then please just tell the church a little bit about how God used these backpacks that they’re gonna fill in are going to use [1:14] To reach the community around you maybe some stories from last year [1:19] He’s Fernando man. Yeti. He comes from Argentina. We served for ten years in Mexico and the drug dealers [1:27] Threatened us though

[1:28] We had to leave Mexico and God brought us to Richmond to plant a church and [1:33] In these two years that the church has been planted. We’ve got over a hundred people

[1:40] Lots of kids

[1:47] And 90% of the people that come to our church are completely new to the gospel

[1:55] The Lord has blessed us tremendously

[2:00] That area is full of Hispanics

[2:05] And they all need God’s love

[2:12] Last year’s backpack backpacks were a huge blessing

[2:21] We prayed for those for each of those backpacks to reach a person that really needed them

[2:31] And that Sunday a new family came to the church with five children

[2:40] And the husband had left the lady [2:45] And they had no children [2:46] Nothing

[2:52] So there went five backpacks as a huge blessing [2:56] And then another family [2:59] That didn’t come to the church

[3:03] God put in his heart to go look for for this lady [3:08] And we went looking for her and we couldn’t find her

[3:12] And the Lord said go again

[3:18] And [3:19] When we finally reached her he asked well, do you need any backpacks she had three children [3:26] And she just started crying

[3:32] She said this year I did not have any money at all to buy backpacks or supplies

[3:42] I [3:42] Was mending the backpacks they the backpacks they’ve been using for two or three years

[3:49] And she said God answered my prayers

[3:54] And now these three kids and their mom are now in our church [3:59] So you guys have been a blessing [4:03] My god bless you. Thank you so much before you go off

[4:10] I [4:11] Would I would love the the blessing first of all to to tell you guys [4:16] When you are out and when you’re filling these backpacks and when you’re making sacrifices, and I know it’s a sacrifice for many of you [4:23] understand that this is not just [4:25] Some something you’re checking off your list of things to do that the backpacks that you gave last year changed lives [4:32] That people that did not have the means

[4:35] Were given the means through the church and then the gospel was presented and people are coming to faith in Jesus [4:42] I just want to challenge you guys as a church go to the table get the list go to Walmart Target wherever [4:48] Fill some backpacks. All right. And also secondly, I just want to pray for you guys. Let’s pray father. Oh [4:57] Thank you so much for Fernando and Marcel and their children [5:01] Lord you have brought the nations to Chesterfield County [5:06] Lord, thank you so much for providing willing hearts to reach them

[5:12] Lord, I pray that you would help us to continue to aid them Lord [5:16] and I pray that you would use what we do as a blessing for them as an encouragement for them and [5:23] What I pray that you would help us [5:25] To be committed to doing whatever it takes [5:28] To reach those who aren’t being reached God bless Fernando and Marcel a bless their marriage bless their children [5:34] Bless New Hope Baptist Church Lord and Lord may you use them in a mighty way

[5:41] To take your gospel to those who need it in the name of Jesus. I pray amen. Thank you so much [5:48] Thank you. All right, if you have your Bibles go ahead and open them up to Luke chapter 11 Luke chapter 11

[5:57] We’re gonna spend a few moments this morning talking about the subject of [6:03] This is part two last week we talked about the reality that [6:08] God [6:08] Desires for us to be in a relationship with him and he wants us in his presence so much [6:14] That he tells us to pray without ceasing [6:15] He tells us to come before him and spend time with him in relationship and that’s what Jesus has done

[6:21] He’s reconciled us to God in such a way that we now have a relationship with him [6:29] We now have the potential as people to have a relationship with the creator of the universe and that when we miss that [6:37] Aspect of prayer we’re missing all of prayer [6:41] Prayer is not simply us [6:45] Asking but rather it is us relating with God is us in communion with God through the power of the Holy Spirit [6:53] but a

[6:55] Part of relationship in any relationship is need [7:01] You understand what I’m saying? My my relationship with my

[7:06] son is [7:07] One in which my son has needs or my son needs me to provide for him [7:12] My son is dependent upon me to to feed him to clothe him to tell him when to go to bed [7:18] To tell him he does need a bath [7:20] Remember how much he wants to stay dirty [7:24] There’s dependence and

[7:27] Relationships with God is very similar in the nature that that he is our loving father [7:31] And we are his children who he tells to come before him like we belong in his presence [7:36] There’s nothing barring us from his presence. He delights us being in his presence. He wants us there

[7:45] But there does come so many times in life where we have need and I think sometimes we feel guilty about those needs [7:52] And we don’t think God should be bothered with certain things in our lives [7:57] But I’m not bothered by anything that my son brings before me [8:01] I don’t believe God’s bothered by anything that you bring before him [8:06] God knows where you are in life and even the trivial things that are silly [8:10] He expects you to bring how many wants you to bring them so that he can either give it to you or change you

[8:18] God wants us to bring our desires before him as an act of ruthless trust [8:26] God wants us to come before him because we know that we are powerless and he is mighty last week [8:33] We took a look in Matthew chapter 6 where it says your kingdom come in the Lord’s Prayer [8:38] It uses the language that God is reigning that God is ruling that he is powerful [8:45] And that in him alone is the power to do whatever he wants in this world

[8:52] And in that same light just a few verses later [8:58] Or one verse later [9:00] Tells us that our lives in prayer are being conformed to those who delight in his will [9:06] But right there in the next verse in Matthew chapter 6 verse 11 [9:12] Jesus says that we should pray give us this day [9:16] our daily bread

[9:18] Right now what Jesus is talking about here first and foremost is this reality that there’s this one building block that we all need [9:26] Or we will die and it’s food [9:27] So he uses that he says God [9:30] Provide us with food that God even enables us that we should have things to eat [9:36] But that is the building block of life what Jesus is talking about here is any need that we have in this life [9:44] We go before God for

[9:47] We bring them before him that everything that we want and need should naturally [9:53] Pass through the filter of prayer [9:57] Do you know that? [10:00] everything [10:01] If it’s a need in your life [10:04] God wants you to bring it before him

[10:07] But I think sometimes that we live in such a way that we believe God wants us to be self-sufficient [10:14] But God’s not concerned about that part of my life. That’s what I do for myself [10:21] Do you even understand how I guess I could say anti gospel that thought even is? [10:29] The gospel of Jesus Christ stands as the utmost proof that we are not self-sufficient in any way [10:35] How self-sufficient can a dead person be? [10:39] Because that’s what Ephesians 2 says we are without Jesus. We’re dead

[10:43] We’re not self-sufficient in anything [10:48] That God is the one that spoke this world into existence [10:51] He has that type of power and the scriptures say that he maintains creation [10:57] That he upholds it by his very hand [11:01] That the air that we breathe every breath provided by him and how beautiful that the word [11:10] That the New Testament uses for spirit new mass his breath

[11:18] And every breath we take ends provided by God every breath we have is provided through the power of the Holy Spirit when we’re following [11:26] And when we come to him in prayer when we come to him making requests

[11:33] He delights [11:34] once

[11:37] I [11:37] Want to talk to you about now is the reality of what kind of God is he just for a few moments [11:44] Because I think sometimes there are times in our lives when we’re afraid to pray for certain things [11:49] Have you ever had something that you know? [11:51] Scripture points out that you’re supposed to pray for and you don’t pray for it because you’re afraid God’s actually gonna want you to do it [11:58] I remember when I was a child

[12:00] I [12:01] Was raised in church and we would have missionaries come and and every missionary seemed to have the same theme number one [12:07] These weird slides that they had a clicker for [12:10] they wanted to show me pictures of countries that I was sure they didn’t take and

[12:18] And secondly they always without fail towards the end of the sermon made me feel really guilty

[12:27] And [12:27] It wasn’t their fault [12:29] It was just my [12:30] Misunderstanding of some things that that every time one of them would speak I would feel like that they wanted me to think I had [12:36] to go to Africa I [12:38] Didn’t want to go to Africa

[12:40] Everything that I had seen a National Geographic made it look like an unpleasant place to be [12:45] They didn’t have cable and they didn’t have recliners. I was out. That’s not even getting to air conditioning folks [12:53] It was just the recliner aspect. I was like, I don’t think they have those I’m not going [12:57] And there came this thought in me I’m not gonna pray

[13:02] For God to give me the potential or possibility of being a missionary [13:07] Because I’m afraid he’s gonna make me do it as I had this thought that God was gonna drag me kicking and screaming to another country

[13:14] as I got older and then I learned and I grew that fear passed away and another fear came [13:20] That was a fear that God would have me someday be a pastor [13:25] Because I certainly didn’t want that happening either. I didn’t like them very much [13:28] They shook my hand weird. They smelled funny and they always wore suits [13:34] So I said, nope, I’m out. I [13:37] Did everything but the suit wearing part?

[13:41] But all of these are these vapid and vast misunderstandings [13:46] Of what it is that God has to offer us and in Luke chapter 11, it’s it’s the most helpful [13:54] verses on prayer that I have in my life and I want to share them with you over the next few moments [13:59] Luke 11 verse 9 and I tell you [14:02] Ask and it will be given to you. That sounds pretty good [14:05] Sounds good

[14:06] Seek and you will find knock and it will be open for everyone who asks [14:11] Receives and the one who seeks finds and to the one who knocks it will be open [14:15] But look at this he talks about the character of God [14:20] We’re very good at the asking and you’ll get seek you’ll find knock on the door [14:24] It’s gonna be open, but then I think sometimes we pass over this amazing truth [14:29] that Jesus

[14:31] Gives us about our relationship with him right here [14:35] Where he says what father among you? [14:38] If the son asks for a fish one stead [14:41] Of a fish give him a serpent

[14:45] Or if he asks for an egg will give him a scorpion if [14:49] You then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more? [14:56] How much more?

[15:00] Will the heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him

[15:09] You [15:10] There’s this reality that that even those in this world who seem to be the most depraved [15:16] And I know there are really bad examples of this but but but statistically [15:21] Even those who don’t know Jesus who’ve never been redeemed by God you can drive down any street [15:27] You’ll see dads playing catch with their sons [15:30] Moms playing with dolls with their daughters provide going to work every day to provide

[15:36] Clothing food and shelter for their children and these are people who don’t know Jesus. These are people whom [15:42] Biblically we would say they are dead in their sins and Jesus uses that an example [15:47] And he says even those who are dead in their sins provide good gifts for their children and do not do things that would endanger [15:55] And actually the opposite they protect their children from danger and he says how much more than do you think the heavenly father who has provided [16:05] Salvation has provided life [16:07] Has taken you from death to a place where you’re actually living

[16:11] How much more will he give you that which is good in Matthew chapter 7? [16:17] Matthew writes it that he’ll give you good gifts and the book of Luke [16:21] I think there’s a reason that he changes it to the him who has given you the Holy Spirit [16:26] How much more will he give you because in John chapters 14 through 16 Jesus presents the Holy Spirit as the greatest gift of all [16:35] That God would actually live in us [16:40] Guide us through this life that he would give us gifts and would actually partner with us in bringing his kingdom into this world in

[16:48] Transforming us to where we could live lives of worship. How much more will he give you good gifts?

[16:57] You see where the trust comes in there

[17:00] That what Jesus is actually telling us there is that we have to conform our image of [17:06] Who God is to who God really is it has to change it has to transform that we have to trust that he is [17:14] good [17:15] And in this world that’s difficult [17:18] It’s difficult [17:21] Through tragedy through pain through horrendous circumstances

[17:26] Jesus presents to us that God is [17:30] good [17:32] Just trust him. How do we trust him?

[17:37] Because he who knew no sin became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God that Jesus didn’t just remove pain from our [17:44] Lives but rather plunged himself as Tim Keller said into the depths of suffering for [17:49] Us so that we wouldn’t have to endure the greatest suffering of all and that is the wrath of God for eternity [17:57] Jesus took it [17:59] And then Jesus says how much more if he’s going to do that [18:03] How much more can you trust him to give you good when you last

[18:07] Seen

[18:09] So secondly this morning I want you to understand and this this is this is where you might look at me funny [18:15] But I want you to subtract with me for a minute. Okay [18:18] Prayer causes things to happen that wouldn’t happen if we didn’t pray [18:23] Prayer causes things to happen that wouldn’t happen if we didn’t pray you might say well, I thought God was sovereign. He is [18:31] Okay, so help me understand this if this god before he ever even created [18:37] The world set the world into emotion in such a way that he had planned the gospel before anyone had even sinned

[18:43] That he had actually worked through the history in the old testament to bring about [18:47] Jesus in a certain point in time in a certain place in time for a certain specific purpose that he would die on the cross [18:52] At a certain time so the entire world would see it if we already see in the book of revelation how he’s working [18:59] History towards his kingdom how he’s going to fulfill everything in his plan for a specific purpose in a specific time in a specific way [19:06] And he knows when he’s coming back we don’t but he does it seems like he’s got everything planned out [19:11] How in the world am I supposed to think that something that I pray has any significance and can change anything?

[19:20] And I say that’s a very good question

[19:24] And there’s a great deal of trust involved in believing that it does but I want to offer you just a few examples [19:31] Of how prayer has [19:33] Changed things and I want to give you some biblical examples and then we’re going to start wrapping up

[19:39] In exodus chapter 32 [19:42] Moses is on the top of mount sinai [19:44] He’s receiving the ten commandments and and he was gone longer than his brother. Aaron [19:49] Thought he was going to be and he was gone longer than the nation of israel [19:53] Thought he was going to be and israel [19:55] Got really upset because he was that all he’s probably dead up there or he’s abandoned us

[19:59] God doesn’t want us he doesn’t love us and israel goes into the errand. We need a new god make us one [20:06] It’s problematic if you can make him he’s probably not god but [20:11] And so they do that and and they’re worshipping the golden calf if you’ve seen the charlton heston movie, you know, uh, but [20:18] You should read the real version by the way

[20:22] But god looks to moses and here’s what he says he says moses i’m gonna i’m gonna kill them all

[20:27] It’s one of those great bible stories, you know the one they feel real good where god says i’m just going to kill everybody [20:33] He looks to moses and he says moses i’m angry because they have sinned they have gone into idolatry I [20:40] I redeem these people from egypt. I’ve brought them out of captivity and now they’ve forsaken me moses [20:45] My judgment is i’m going to lay waste to the entire nation

[20:51] And the scripture says in exodus chapter 32 verse 11 that moses [20:57] Begged god the heber word there is literally he pled with god. He begged god. He prayed to god god [21:04] Don’t do this [21:06] remember your promises

[21:11] The scriptures literally say [21:15] God [21:17] relented [21:18] Because of moses’s prayer

[21:25] If you’re hebrew scholar in here the word literally means god changed

[21:37] God is [21:39] Absolutely sovereign over everything in the universe charles spurgeon once said that even the dust might that [21:47] Floats through the air when the morning sun’s coming in your window [21:51] God is holding its specific point in the air [21:56] Down to that’s how sovereign scripture presents god as

[22:01] But scripture also says that [22:05] So which is true both

[22:09] For john piper speak at a conference he’s a pastor in minnesota and he he said that prayer [22:14] Is the hammer that drives the will of god

[22:24] I want you to understand this morning that prayer is powerful because god has designed it to be that way

[22:33] God has designed a divine partnership between those whom he has redeemed and himself that our prayers [22:41] To him would be received in mighty ways that if we did not pray them [22:47] The things that happen through them would not happen. That means that when you pray for the sick [22:53] God can use those prayers to heal them [22:57] That means when you pray that god would deliver you from sin [23:01] God can use that prayer to deliver you he has commanded you to pray to him

[23:06] Therefore he will use your prayer and he’s given us examples in which he used that prayer you look in the book of jona [23:12] He responds to the repentance of ninova by not killing the entire city look in the book of ezekiel over and over it says god [23:20] Relented because of their prayers

[23:26] What are you praying that god would relent of

[23:31] Who are you praying will come to faith in jesus christ who are you praying god will heal [23:35] What are you praying for this morning? What are you believing that god will do for you? [23:42] And do you trust the word? [23:44] Do you believe that he will use those prayers in mighty ways? [23:49] But that’s where we step into problems [23:52] Because here’s where sometimes you’ll be watching

[23:54] You know the preacher on tv and the church was 75 million dollars in debt and he prayed god [24:00] Miraculously there was a check from from no one for 75 million dollars and you know [24:06] You hear all these stories and then maybe in your life. You’re like man. Those are some great stories [24:10] I’m pretty encouraged too bad. It doesn’t happen in my life

[24:16] I’ve prayed for people to be healed and they died [24:19] I prayed for money that never came [24:23] I prayed for relief from a chronic illness and I still have it [24:27] I prayed for my child to be healed and he’s still sick [24:31] I pray and I pray and I pray and I pray and it seems like god’s not even listening to me [24:38] So while i’m a little encouraged by the fact that scripture says it changes things. I don’t know

[24:44] It doesn’t seem to change anything in my life

[24:50] There’s a reality you have to understand this morning that we must trust god in all of his answers [24:56] We must trust god in all of his answers [24:59] I’m with you there have been times when i’ve prayed for people to live and they died [25:05] There have been times in in my marriage where it’s like man [25:08] I don’t know how we’re going to make it through the month financially and uh, and and we we didn’t really and [25:14] And the check didn’t come

[25:17] I used to watch this certain television show. I’m not gonna maybe you watch it [25:21] I don’t want to make you mad [25:22] So i’m not gonna say what it is [25:23] But they always have these things where people are praying and then all of a sudden some anonymous donor sends them a check [25:28] They don’t even know the person and it’s like how do what? [25:32] Okay, god anytime

[25:35] No [25:35] My bank account stays the same [25:38] except for this one time I got this email from this nigerian prince and he promised me that if I sent him this western [25:43] So, I don’t know i’m thinking about it, but I think maybe that’s not legit. I don’t know [25:49] Maybe I don’t know [25:51] What if one day that’s actually legit? I don’t know. It’s not don’t do it

[25:56] Don’t listen to the preacher I don’t

[26:02] But in john 14 jesus says anything you ask in my name i’ll do it [26:07] I’ll do it [26:09] And maybe you you found yourself at a place in life where you said I asked and I even said in jesus name and [26:14] It didn’t happen all the way from you failed the test [26:18] All the way up

[26:24] To

[26:30] To you lost a baby

[26:40] Just real quick

[26:48] Sorry about that, um [26:50] But a few months ago, uh, I experienced that I want to let you know

[27:00] I’m a wife and I lost a pregnancy. Um painful, right painful and I remember [27:07] Things didn’t seem to be going right [27:11] I prayed [27:13] I said god no [27:16] I’ll make it [27:19] Okay, i’m an old softie you probably didn’t think so I love kids mine especially

[27:29] And and we had a miscarriage

[27:34] That’s life, you know what I mean, that’s the real stuff right there

[27:38] And I was left with the question for days why why

[27:45] Why why me

[27:50] I said I said I asked you not to do that god [27:53] You start to bargain with god in that point. You’re like, let’s reverse it here

[27:59] But there comes a place [28:01] When we’re dealing with the lord [28:04] When we’re praying when we’re living when we’re striving for obedience [28:09] Where we have to trust in all of his answers joe lost his entire family in the old testament [28:16] And the biblical response that we see is this beautiful response from job where he says as soon as they tell him his children are dead [28:23] He says the lord gives and the lord takes away blessed be the name of the lord. That takes great faith friends

[28:30] That takes amazing faith

[28:34] Faith is so fundamental to prayer [28:38] And it’s so necessary when you find yourself in a moment in your life [28:44] When you’re living and god gives you an answer that you don’t want

[28:51] But he promises in romans 8 20 8 he promises in genesis 50 verse 20 that what man would use for evil he’s using for good

[29:05] And I don’t have the answers right now as to why certain things happen as to why people aren’t healed sometimes

[29:13] But I know because of jesus that god is good and whether now or later there will be a day

[29:26] When that child that I won’t raise will be used for good

[29:33] That is faith [29:35] Faith is not a power in and of itself faith is believing in an almighty god [29:41] That will work his will and his way for your good and his glory

[29:49] I can tell you this [29:52] That in the days since then

[29:57] I’ve had more powerful prayer than I had before then

[30:01] Because there’s a huge difference between seeing god as a companion and god is a genie

[30:08] Because if god’s your genie then when he says no

[30:13] Which a father has to do to a child to really be a loving father

[30:19] When he says not now or when he says the storms are coming

[30:27] A genie is not enough because then your genie can be trusted

[30:33] But a father who is your companion and who you’re in relationship with when you go through the storms he’s right there with you [30:43] He’s enduring you he’s persevering you and he’s loving you [30:51] So, I don’t know where you are today probably wishing I would talk clearer, but I don’t know where you are [30:59] But I want you to understand that in the depths of your despair [31:05] God has not promised to take the storm away or never bring another one [31:10] But he has promised that in that storm

[31:13] He will conform you to his image and he will bring you his glory [31:20] And he will lift you to a place of worship and relationship with him where you [31:26] Understand that delight is not to be found in his creation [31:31] Rather delight is to be found in him

[31:39] See there comes a place in our lives where we are tempted to worship our comfort [31:44] We are tempted to worship our leisure [31:47] We are tempted to worship our health and in the moments when we lose those things or when tragedy strikes [31:54] We come to understand what we’re really worshiping in our lives [32:00] That my trust in god is not to be based on my circumstances [32:05] But it is to be based on all that he’s done for me in jesus

[32:11] Luke says that how many greater gifts would he give he’s giving you the spirit [32:17] What he’s telling us is that the greatest gift of the gospel is the gift of god himself in our lives

[32:25] We are very busy though oftentimes and getting mad that god has not given us things that he never promised us in the first place

[32:33] God hasn’t promised me a pain-free life, but he promised me joy in his presence

[32:41] I’m to bring my desires before him and that does change things and that does make it right and that does move god [32:50] But I am to be in a place of submission in all of his answers that the spirit is driving my prayers

[33:03] Good and bad [33:05] Finally this morning our prayers reveal [33:10] our trust [33:12] and desire [33:14] A life of prayer is transference of allegiance and trust and all that creation has to offer towards all that the creator has to offer

[33:22] James chapter 4 gives us this is amazing reality from verses 2 through verse 3

[33:30] I’ll go over here, uh that [33:33] You desire and do not have so you murder you covet and cannot obtain so you fight and quarrel [33:38] You do not have because you do not ask you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions

[33:47] First we have to accept god’s answers and secondly we have to be honest about our motives

[33:58] Sometimes we should stand back and praise god simply for the prayers. He didn’t give us the answer we wanted to [34:05]

[34:07] Because if god gave us everything that he we want it the answer the yes to that would drive us from his presence

[34:17] If he gave me everything I wanted that means he doesn’t love me

[34:23] In his great book desiring god john piper writes that oftentimes in prayer we seek to make and [34:30] What’s what’s commonly known as a cuckold out of god or we try to make him a husband whose wife is being [34:36] unfaithful to him [34:38] Because we’re asking him for things that have our allegiance [34:43] over him

[34:46] What are your motives this morning [34:49] Sometimes you ask and you don’t receive because you ask [34:53] To spend it on your passions for your comfort for your glory

[35:01] We have to understand that when james says the prayer of a righteous man it works [35:07] What what james the half brother of jesus is saying there that one who has been redeemed by jesus and one who is [35:15] Following jesus into his mission it is he who grasps the reality of the purpose of prayer [35:22] And the purpose of prayer changing my life into the image of god and that the spirit is not going to drive me [35:28] Into a place where i’m a materialistic person worshipping my health that if I get a cold i’m questioning god’s goodness [35:35] But rather it’s driving me into a place where i’m saying in my circumstance god is good all because of jesus

[35:46] When I look at my circumstances I have to begin to ask myself a question [35:49] How does god want to use this to further the gospel of jesus christ?

[35:56] How does god want to use my sickness to further his mission how does god want to use my health? [36:01] To further his mission how does god want to use my finances for his mission oftentimes? [36:07] We just ask for money because we want more of it

[36:12] Maybe god wants to know how you’re going to use it

[36:22] So [36:22] Matthew chapter six [36:25] At the very end of the lord’s prayer I find it very interesting that jesus saves repentance for the end

[36:32] Because if you’ve ever prayed I I start with confession because I feel guilty before I even start [36:38] Like i’m sorry did it again

[36:42] But in the lord’s prayer jesus waits till the end

[36:47] And he says forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors lead us not into temptation but deliver us from it

[36:58] I’m just kind of conjecturing here, but I think that the reason for that is the transforming power of prayer in my life

[37:08] That it leads me the purpose of it rather is to lead me to a place where i’m changing [37:16] And i’m growing and i’m coming face to face with who I really am you ever listen to yourself pray [37:24] And then been totally offended by yourself [37:28] I have

[37:31] A [37:32] You see god wants to use prayer as such a mighty force in your life that you begin to see what he wants to do [37:37] In your life and prayer is so life changing in you that you begin to go through the process of repentance before you ever even leave your knees

[37:48] Because I think prayer the biggest thing that’s going to change is me [37:52] My desires and my wants my fears my hopes my dreams

[38:00] My god wants me to begin to in prayer lose my grip on this world [38:07] And let it go and firmly grip his hand [38:11] Because my dad wants to lead me [38:15] My dad wants me to walk with him [38:17] into [38:18] His glory he wants me to see the truth of my good

[38:23] My bad my pain [38:26] And my ease he wants me to see it all in light of his glorious passionate love [38:34] For me so how much of your life should you bring before god every bit of it? [38:39] But as you do understand that he’s going to change you through it [38:44] There’s nothing in your life that shouldn’t be brought from him nothing too trivial that he won’t care about [38:49] But also nothing so permanent that he won’t take it from you and change you completely

[38:53] Because he loves you in the same way that I love my son more so because i’m evil [38:59] He had to redeem me god doesn’t need to be redeemed. He’s perfectly loving perfectly perfect in every single way [39:05] My wisdom is limited his wisdom is limit less

[39:10] And he says if you trust me bring it before me [39:15] And then keep trusting [39:18] Trust ask trust [39:21] He loves you [39:23] He loves me [39:24] And he wants to take you into a life that you can’t even imagine and finally this morning

[39:32] I love the part where it says

[39:36] That a father who loves his children when they ask for a fish you won’t give them a serpent [39:41] Which is one thing that I started to understand as I grew up

[39:45] When I was afraid of going to Africa [39:49] Going to east asia in a couple of weeks by the way i’m not going to be kicking and screaming when I do it promise mike

[39:58] But sometimes when I ask for a fish [40:01] He’s not going to give me a fish [40:03] He’s not going to give me a serpent either [40:06] Because sometimes when I want a fish he wants to give me a glorious feast

[40:14] And it might taste a little different [40:16] But it’s always better [40:18] always [40:20] It might take some change for me to get used to it [40:24] But it’s better [40:26] It might look totally different, but it’s better

[40:31] If god’s gonna call you to do anything in your life

[40:36] It’s better than what you ever wanted before [40:42] He will not give you a serpent he will not have to drag you kicking and screaming because once he [40:50] Reveals his beautiful grace you will have no response, but yes lord [40:56] Yes [40:57] Because he [40:59] is

[41:00] good [41:02] To prove it gave you a son [41:06] Right now as we transition into a time of communion

[41:12] I [41:13] Want you to know that if you’re in a place in life where you’re questioning the goodness of god you’re questioning [41:18] If he’s hearing your prayers you’re questioning if he’s ever going to answer you [41:22] I want you to understand that the answer to all that is yes god will answer you [41:27] Yes, he does love you [41:30] But I will not use your life situation to prove it to you because he won’t use your life situation to prove it to you

[41:36] He will use the work of his son jesus christ

[41:41] That he loves you so much [41:44] He loves me so much [41:47] That jesus’s body was broken [41:51] To save me from that brokenness his blood was shed [41:55] To pay a penalty that I cannot pay and he saved me from the wrath of god for eternity [42:03] So that I could have an eternal beautiful relationship with god who one day I will be in his presence forever more

[42:11] And he did it for you [42:14] He did it for every one of you no matter how great your life is [42:17] No matter how miserable your life is he did it for you because he loves you

[42:24] And he wants your good [42:27] forever [42:29] If you know him today if you’ve trusted jesus [42:33] These tables are wide open. This is communion. This is a meal with the lord [42:38] This is how we proclaim the gospel to each other if you don’t trust him today

[42:45] We ask that you don’t come but not because i’m any better than you [42:49] But because it’s good to know who you’re eating with before you share that meal [42:54] And I would love to introduce you to jesus today because it’ll change you forever [43:00] If that’s you i’ll be up here there’ll be those in the back [43:04] You can know him today

[43:07] Whenever you’re ready