1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:29,980 Let's pray. 2 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:59,980 Let's pray. 3 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:29,980 Let's pray. 4 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:16,200 This is the day that the Lord has made. 5 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:59,980 God bless you, and God bless you, and God bless you, and God bless you, and God bless you, and God bless you. 6 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:29,980 God bless you. 7 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:59,980 God bless you. 8 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:29,980 God bless you. 9 00:08:29,980 --> 00:08:46,980 If you haven't heard, we're having lunch after church downstairs, so if you would like to join us for lunch, we extend to you. It's also St. Patrick's Day, so happy St. Patrick's Day. 10 00:08:46,980 --> 00:08:59,960 As we begin our worship and we think about, for example, St. Patrick's Day, we often sort of associated with leprechauns and green everything and clovers. 11 00:08:59,960 --> 00:09:15,960 The reality was that Patrick was kidnapped, sold into slavery in Ireland, eventually makes his escape, goes back to England. God, while he's in captivity, transforms his life and his heart. 12 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:29,940 He ends up studying, spending his years studying, and then returns to Ireland to share the gospel with the very people who had taken him into captivity and had enslaved him. 13 00:09:29,940 --> 00:09:52,940 St. Patrick's Day is a story of the triumph of the gospel, the triumph over a young man who cared about everything except for Jesus and who was transformed through his suffering into a powerful minister of the gospel who transforms not just a few people but an entire country by proclaiming the good news about Jesus. 14 00:09:52,940 --> 00:10:15,940 And that's what we want to do as we worship together. We want to proclaim to ourselves and to each other and to those who surround us in this community, we want to proclaim the good news that in Jesus there is hope. In Jesus there is righteousness that covers our brokenness of sin. In Jesus there is life. 15 00:10:15,940 --> 00:10:35,940 So we are going to pray, and then we will read Scripture together this morning. Father in heaven, I thank you for Jesus, and I thank you for grace, and I thank you that we can gather to worship together and fellowship together, and I thank you so much for our church, and I thank you for the people who are here this morning. 16 00:10:35,940 --> 00:10:56,940 We just ask that as we sing, as we pray, as we read Scripture and study Scripture together, as we gather around the table, as we share a meal in a little bit, that you would just encourage us, that you would remind us that we are not alone, and that you would fix our eyes on your son, Jesus. 17 00:10:56,940 --> 00:11:00,940 We thank you for your grace. It's in his name we pray. Amen. 18 00:11:00,940 --> 00:11:11,940 We're going to begin reading this morning from the 118th Psalm. So let's go ahead and be standing as we read together. 19 00:11:11,940 --> 00:11:30,580 Open to me the gates of righteousness. Enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord. The righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. 20 00:11:30,940 --> 00:11:46,940 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. 21 00:11:46,940 --> 00:12:02,940 And in this verse, you have this picture of coming to worship God, to coming into his righteousness, but also there's a picture of Jesus, the stone that the builders rejected that became the cornerstone. 22 00:12:02,940 --> 00:12:11,620 And in that, we see God's good work, and we are able to rejoice on the salvation that's in him. We're going to start by singing, "This is the day." 23 00:12:16,940 --> 00:12:18,940 Amen. 24 00:12:46,940 --> 00:12:48,940 Amen. 25 00:13:16,940 --> 00:13:18,940 Amen. 26 00:13:46,940 --> 00:13:48,940 Let's pray. 27 00:14:16,940 --> 00:14:34,940 We will rejoice as we live today. This is a day that the Lord has made. Come and rejoice. We will rejoice in the Abbey. 28 00:14:43,940 --> 00:15:10,940 This is the day. Come and sing your praise. For the Lord now reigns on the throne of grace. Soon is the day. He will bring us home. And we have His hope. For we are His own. This is the day. Come and sing your praise. 29 00:15:10,940 --> 00:15:37,940 Come and sing your praise. For the Lord now reigns on the throne of grace. Soon is the day. He will bring us home. And we have His hope. For we are His own. This is the day. Come and sing your praise. 30 00:15:37,940 --> 00:16:06,940 For the Lord now reigns on the throne of grace. Soon is the day. He will bring us home. And we have His hope. For we are His own. This is the day. That the Lord has made. We will rejoice. 31 00:16:06,940 --> 00:16:35,940 As we lift His name. This is the day. That the Lord has made. Come and rejoice. We will rejoice and be glad in you. This is the day. That the Lord has made. We will rejoice. As we lift His name. This is the day. That the Lord has made. We will rejoice. As we lift His name. This is the day. 32 00:16:35,940 --> 00:17:04,940 This is the day. That the Lord has made. Come and rejoice. We will rejoice and be glad in you. Come and rejoice. We will rejoice and be glad in you. Whether the sun will shine. Whether the skies will rain. I know that you are good. 33 00:17:04,940 --> 00:17:09,940 This is the day you are good. This is the day you are good. 34 00:17:34,940 --> 00:17:54,940 I searched the world, but it couldn't fill me. Man's empty praise and treasures that fade are never enough. 35 00:17:54,940 --> 00:18:14,940 Then you came along, and put me back together. And every desire is now satisfied, here in your love. 36 00:18:14,940 --> 00:18:32,940 Oh, there's nothing better than you. There's nothing better than you. Lord, there's nothing. Nothing is better than you. 37 00:18:40,940 --> 00:19:08,940 I'm not afraid to show you my weakness, my failures and flaws. Lord, you've seen them all, and you still call me friend because the God of the mountain is the God of the valley. 38 00:19:08,940 --> 00:19:36,940 And there's not a place your mercy and grace won't find me again. Oh, there's nothing better than you. There's nothing better than you, Lord. There's nothing. 39 00:19:36,940 --> 00:20:04,940 Nothing is better than you. Oh, there's nothing better than you. There's nothing better than you, Lord. There's nothing. Nothing is better than you. 40 00:20:04,940 --> 00:20:32,940 You turn mourning to dancing. You give beauty for ashes. You turn shame into glory. You're the only one who can. You turn graves into gardens. You turn bones into armies. 41 00:20:32,940 --> 00:21:00,940 You turn seas into highways. You're the only one who can. Oh, there's nothing better than you. There's nothing better than you, Lord. There's nothing. Nothing is better than you, Lord. 42 00:21:00,940 --> 00:21:28,940 Nothing is better than you. Oh, there's nothing better than you. There's nothing better than you, Lord. There's nothing. Nothing is better than you. 43 00:21:28,940 --> 00:21:56,940 You turn graves into gardens. You turn bones into armies. You turn seas into highways. You're the only one who can. You're the only one who can. You're the only one who can. 44 00:21:56,940 --> 00:22:00,940 You're the only one who can. 45 00:22:26,940 --> 00:22:28,940 Let's pray. 46 00:22:56,940 --> 00:22:58,940 Let's pray. 47 00:23:26,940 --> 00:23:28,940 Amen. 48 00:23:56,940 --> 00:23:58,940 Amen. 49 00:24:26,940 --> 00:24:28,940 Amen. 50 00:38:56,940 --> 00:39:23,340 As we prepare to come to the table together, we are going to sing a song we started learning last week. 51 00:39:23,340 --> 00:39:44,740 I set my hope on Jesus, and in 1 Timothy 4, beginning in verse 9, it says, "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, for to this end we toil and strive because we have our hopes set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe." 52 00:39:44,740 --> 00:39:58,540 And so we're learning this song, so if you know it well enough to sing along, go ahead and do that. If you just need to spend a few minutes listening to these words, that's quite all right as well. 53 00:39:58,540 --> 00:40:01,540 So we're going to go ahead and sing "I Set My Hope on Jesus." 54 00:40:14,740 --> 00:40:34,540 When this life of trials tests my faith, I set my hope on Jesus. When the questions come and doubts remain, I set my hope on Jesus. 55 00:40:34,540 --> 00:40:54,340 For the deepest wounds that time won't heal. There's a joy that runs still deeper. There's a truth that's more than all I feel. I set my hope on Jesus. 56 00:40:54,340 --> 00:41:13,340 I set my hope on Jesus. My rock, my only trust. Who set his heart upon me first? I set my hope on Jesus. 57 00:41:21,340 --> 00:41:40,340 Though I falter in this war with sin, I set my hope on Jesus. When I feel the fight and sink within, I set my hope on Jesus. 58 00:41:40,340 --> 00:41:50,340 Though the shame would drown me in its sea, and I dread the wave of justice, 59 00:41:50,340 --> 00:42:19,340 I will cast my life on Calvary. I set my hope on Jesus. I set my hope on Jesus. My God, my only trust. You set His heart upon me first. I set my hope upon Jesus. 60 00:42:19,340 --> 00:42:48,340 I set my hope on Jesus. I set my hope on Jesus. Though the world call me to leave my Lord, I set my hope on Jesus. Though it offer all of me, I set my hope on Jesus. 61 00:42:48,340 --> 00:43:17,340 I offer all its vain rewards. I set my hope on Jesus. Though this heart of mine is prone to strain, give me grace enough to finish. Till I worship on that final day. I set my hope on Jesus. 62 00:43:17,340 --> 00:43:46,340 I set my hope on Jesus. My rock, my only trust. Who set his heart upon me first. I set my hope on Jesus. I set my hope on Jesus. My rock, my only trust. 63 00:43:46,340 --> 00:44:00,340 Who set his heart upon me first. I set my hope on Jesus. I set my hope on Jesus. 64 00:44:16,340 --> 00:44:44,340 I thought today's sermon was something different. We're going to get what we got. 65 00:44:44,340 --> 00:45:06,340 Thank you for the communion devotion today. So I ask the question, have you ever needed to get something done, but there seems to be something that's always keeping you from completing the tasks? Always. It may be small, it may be very large. 66 00:45:06,340 --> 00:45:28,340 And Neil, government seems to be in the way which should be helping. Most of us have heard tales, we'll keep it local, of people who are going to build a building in their own property. They get the permits, they get the inspectors, they review the plans, 67 00:45:28,340 --> 00:45:40,340 they make any changes necessary. And after all the review of the maps and everything is all okay, the project gets started, only to find out that the building isn't right for some reason or the other. 68 00:45:40,340 --> 00:45:50,340 It's in the wrong location, it's across the line, you need a special waiver and permission from two or three other people. Or in the extreme case, you have to tear down, 69 00:45:50,340 --> 00:46:04,340 start over again, somewhere else on your property. These types of things never happen when following God's word, doesn't it? The layout of 70 00:46:04,340 --> 00:46:18,340 requirements never changes. We live the best lives that we can, but we still fail and definitely fall short of God's expectations. 71 00:46:18,340 --> 00:46:32,340 Sounds quite ominous, and because of that, many feel defeated and may lose faith in many cases. Mankind as a whole has short 72 00:46:32,340 --> 00:46:46,340 memories. We forget that Jesus stands between judgment and our failures. He stands in between 73 00:46:46,340 --> 00:47:00,340 that and our Heavenly Father, no matter what happens. He's there for us. He's standing in between, interceding for each and every one of us. We lose faith 74 00:47:00,340 --> 00:47:12,340 because we do not want to lean on God at all. We want to try to do everything on our own, totally on our own. And if you've tried 75 00:47:12,340 --> 00:47:24,340 that, it usually fails somewhat, sometimes miserably. We forget that we live under grace. And when we fail in any way, we have actual 76 00:47:24,340 --> 00:47:38,340 instructions that don't change to find the path back that we need to be on. Our mansions in heaven is waiting for us. We will one 77 00:47:38,340 --> 00:47:51,340 day occupy those mansions, I hope. Jesus says that we have a forever home in the presence of our heavenly Father. There's nothing 78 00:47:51,340 --> 00:48:02,340 better to look forward to. Jesus died so that we might take possession of this new home. To keep us strong in the world that 79 00:48:02,340 --> 00:48:14,340 wants us to fail, we have this small task of communion. A small thing to do, to tap into the power of God to feed our souls. To help us 80 00:48:14,340 --> 00:48:30,340 with all inspectors swaying us from the truth of God's Word. In Revelation chapter 19, verse 9, "Then the angel said to me," me being John, "said to me, 81 00:48:30,340 --> 00:48:50,340 write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.'" And then he added, "These are the true words of God." Always true, never changing. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we 82 00:48:50,340 --> 00:48:58,340 come before you this morning again. We are here in your presence that, Father, we know the things that we're 83 00:48:58,340 --> 00:49:08,340 supposed to be able to do. We also know that we can do nothing without your help. And most of the time, we will try to do it on 84 00:49:08,340 --> 00:49:18,340 our own. But Father, we know that we will fail somewhere between a little and miserably if we do not include you in 85 00:49:18,340 --> 00:49:27,340 the tasks that we perform in this life. Father, these little emblems of bread and juice that represents Jesus' body and 86 00:49:27,340 --> 00:49:37,340 blood that was given to us, us, in the future from the time that it happened, for all times until you send 87 00:49:37,340 --> 00:49:48,340 your son back to claim us. Father, all of these things, this little bit of communion, as we call it, feeds the soul 88 00:49:48,340 --> 00:49:56,340 that you have endowed us with. Guide us in all of the things there today, Father. I would ask that you would be 89 00:49:56,340 --> 00:50:03,340 with this loaf and this cup that both would strengthen us for the coming things, the coming 90 00:50:03,340 --> 00:50:17,340 week. Guide us, direct us. It is in Jesus' name we ask and give thanks. Amen. We read in Luke 22:19, "He took bread, 91 00:50:17,340 --> 00:50:27,340 gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them saying, 'This is my body given for you. Do 92 00:50:27,340 --> 00:50:37,340 this in remembrance of me. Please partake with me.'" And then in the same way, the next verse, 93 00:50:37,340 --> 00:50:42,340 "In the same way, after supper he took the cup saying, 'This is the cup of the new covenant 94 00:50:42,340 --> 00:50:53,340 in my blood, which is poured out for you.'" Please partake with the cup. 95 00:50:53,340 --> 00:51:03,340 And as always, we have to give thanks to God, our Heavenly Father, and there's only one way 96 00:51:03,340 --> 00:51:11,340 to do that, which is through our Savior, His Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you. 97 00:51:12,340 --> 00:51:26,340 In just a minute, we'll be in Luke, the 11th chapter, just for a few minutes this morning. 98 00:51:26,340 --> 00:51:33,340 Before we do that, we can go ahead and stand and sing one of our children's songs, and we'll 99 00:51:33,340 --> 00:51:39,340 watch a short preview of this section in Luke chapter 11 to help us. Let's go ahead and be 100 00:51:39,340 --> 00:51:44,340 standing. Man, let's go ahead and sing the hippo song. 101 00:51:44,340 --> 00:52:08,340 In the beginning, God made the sea, and the forest filled with trees. He made the mountains up so high. On the very top, He placed 102 00:52:08,340 --> 00:52:25,340 the forest has passed. God's fingerprints are everywhere, just to show how much He cares. In between, He had loads of fun. He made a hippo who weighs a ton. 103 00:52:26,340 --> 00:52:39,000 Hip, hip, hip, hip, a pot of us. Hip, hip, hip, hip, a pot of us. Hip, hip, hip, hip, a pot of us. Hip, hip, hip, a reggae, we made us. 104 00:52:39,000 --> 00:52:53,340 So everybody sing. Hip, hip, hip, hip, a pot of us. Hip, hip, hip, a reggae, we made us. 105 00:52:56,340 --> 00:53:15,340 During Jesus' time on earth, he prayed a lot. He knew that prayer would keep him close to God, his Father. 106 00:53:15,340 --> 00:53:21,340 Sometimes Jesus, like when he asked Peter, James, and John to come with him to a mountain to pray. 107 00:53:21,340 --> 00:53:30,340 Other times, Jesus would leave his disciples and pray by himself, so he would have time alone with his Father. 108 00:53:30,340 --> 00:53:39,340 When Jesus prayed, he prayed for all sorts of things. He prayed for his disciples, for those in need of healing, and for little children. 109 00:53:39,340 --> 00:53:49,340 Jesus even prayed for us and asked his Father to watch over us. That's right. Jesus prayed for you and for me. 110 00:53:49,340 --> 00:53:59,340 Through Jesus' prayers, we can learn how to pray, too. Jesus used the Lord's Prayer to teach his disciples to pray. It wasn't long and fancy. 111 00:53:59,340 --> 00:54:07,340 He showed them that they could pray in a simple way about many different things. Our prayers can be the same way. 112 00:54:07,340 --> 00:54:17,340 Jesus also taught us that we should pray without giving up. God is always listening to what we say. The way he answers our prayers might be different 113 00:54:17,340 --> 00:54:39,340 from what we expect, but we can always trust his plan for us. So the next time you're happy or sad, or worried or angry, or just need help, talk to God about it. He listened to his son's prayers, and he'll listen to yours, too. 114 00:54:39,340 --> 00:54:45,340 From Luke chapter 11, I'm just going to read the first few verses. 115 00:54:45,340 --> 00:54:53,340 Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray," as John taught his disciples. 116 00:54:53,340 --> 00:55:05,340 And he said to them, "When you pray, say, 'Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us this day, each day, our daily bread, and forgive us our sins. 117 00:55:05,340 --> 00:55:14,340 For we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us, and lead us not into temptation.'" This is the word of the Lord. 118 00:55:14,340 --> 00:55:24,340 Father in heaven, be with us this morning as we look at this short, simple, familiar prayer. 119 00:55:24,340 --> 00:55:36,340 May you be moving in our hearts to fill us with certainty, to rearrange the priorities of our life, and to give us strength as we walk through those difficult valleys. 120 00:55:36,340 --> 00:55:43,340 Be with us this morning. Strengthen us and help us. Leave us encouraged. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 121 00:55:43,340 --> 00:55:59,340 And so this extremely familiar prayer found in Luke chapter 11, also recorded in a very similar fashion in Matthew chapter 6, we hear these words and they sound fairly familiar. 122 00:55:59,340 --> 00:56:10,340 And while these two prayers, one in Matthew 6 and one in Luke 11, are very, very similar in their composition, they take place in different scenarios. 123 00:56:10,340 --> 00:56:18,340 In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus is teaching about prayer, and he's contrasting two wrong ways to pray with the right way to pray. 124 00:56:18,340 --> 00:56:33,340 And so in Matthew chapter 6, he contrasts the pride of the religious leaders and their focus on themselves, and he talks about the prayers of the Gentiles where he says they heap up empty phrases over and over again. 125 00:56:33,340 --> 00:56:42,340 And then he says, "But you, you pray differently. You pray humbly. You pray simply, and you pray with this deep and abiding trust in God." 126 00:56:42,340 --> 00:56:51,340 And in Luke chapter 11, there's a similar moment where Jesus teaches prayer, and the prayer is also very similar to the one in Matthew chapter 6. 127 00:56:51,340 --> 00:57:02,340 But what Luke is doing is teaching disciples, as he's been praying, one of his disciples watches Jesus pray and says, "Jesus, can you teach us to pray like you do?" 128 00:57:02,340 --> 00:57:09,340 Like you do. And I just want to say this. Jesus is the best person that we can learn to pray from. 129 00:57:09,340 --> 00:57:19,340 Jesus prays very, very frequently. In fact, in the New Testament, in the Gospels, every major event in the life of Jesus was preceded by prayer. 130 00:57:19,340 --> 00:57:31,340 And as he is baptized, you find Jesus praying. As he goes into the wilderness, you find him praying and fasting for 40 days before he chooses his disciples. 131 00:57:31,340 --> 00:57:41,340 You know what he does? He spends an entire night praying. Before Peter's great confession, Jesus in the events right before this is praying. 132 00:57:41,340 --> 00:57:52,340 Before the transfiguration, Jesus is praying. At the Last Supper, Jesus is praying. In the garden, Jesus is praying. And on the cross, Jesus prays. 133 00:57:52,340 --> 00:58:07,340 Before every big monumental event in his ministry, Jesus prays. But additionally, you find him at times just simply going off to spend time in prayer. 134 00:58:07,340 --> 00:58:17,340 And what I love about Jesus is he doesn't just teach with words and he doesn't just teach with actions, but he teaches with both his words and his actions. 135 00:58:17,340 --> 00:58:23,340 You've probably heard it said those who can do and those who can't teach, right? 136 00:58:23,340 --> 00:58:27,340 So you have somebody who can do something really well, but maybe they can't explain it to you. 137 00:58:27,340 --> 00:58:34,340 And then on the other hand, you have somebody who can tell you what to do very well, but if they try to practically apply it, they can't do it. 138 00:58:34,340 --> 00:58:46,340 Jesus is not like that. He both is able to teach about prayer, but he also has much practical experience and a wonderful example of being able to pray. 139 00:58:46,340 --> 00:58:57,340 And in Jesus, we see the importance of prayer. Jesus doesn't lack the power. Jesus is not sinful. 140 00:58:57,340 --> 00:59:07,340 But even so, before every monumental event, he prays. And you find him frequently spending an entire night in prayer. 141 00:59:07,340 --> 00:59:15,340 And as I think about that, if Jesus, the Son of God, places such a high priority on praying, 142 00:59:15,340 --> 00:59:25,340 what does that say about me and my priority for prayer? If Jesus prays like that, how should I pray? 143 00:59:25,340 --> 00:59:30,340 And that's what this disciple is asking. He's seeing Jesus pray, and he goes, "How should I pray?" 144 00:59:30,340 --> 00:59:37,340 And Jesus responds with this short, very simple, fairly easy-to-understand prayer 145 00:59:37,340 --> 00:59:44,340 that I would say is not necessarily a formula, but principles to follow in how we pray. 146 00:59:44,340 --> 00:59:47,340 So I want to share with you three things this morning, just very quickly. 147 00:59:47,340 --> 00:59:51,340 Jesus, as he teaches about prayer, gives us certainty. 148 00:59:51,340 --> 00:59:56,340 Jesus, as he teaches us about prayer, is going to transform my priorities, 149 00:59:56,340 --> 01:00:01,340 and Jesus, as he teaches us about prayer, is going to give us strength. 150 01:00:01,340 --> 01:00:09,340 I think, as we think about certainty and prayer, maybe our biggest struggle with prayer is not, 151 01:00:09,340 --> 01:00:17,340 do I have the right technique? Do I have the right ability? Am I praying at the right times and in the right places? 152 01:00:17,340 --> 01:00:25,340 We worry about those things frequently, but our biggest problem with prayer is not in technique or timing or ability. 153 01:00:25,340 --> 01:00:37,340 Our biggest struggle, I believe, in prayer is this: that we have in us an uncertainty that God would actually hear what we say. 154 01:00:37,340 --> 01:00:47,340 And there's two things in Jesus' prayer that gives us certainty that Jesus, as he teaches us to pray, that God the Father will hear our prayers. 155 01:00:47,340 --> 01:00:56,340 In Luke 11:2, listen to how this prayer starts. Jesus said to them, "When you pray, say, Father." 156 01:00:56,340 --> 01:01:05,340 And for us, this is not necessarily unheard of, right? When we pray, we say, "Father in heaven." We refer to God the Father frequently. 157 01:01:05,340 --> 01:01:19,340 For us, this is kind of a normal way of speaking, but for the Jewish people in the first century, this was something that would have probably set their teeth on edge because it's not how they're used to praying. 158 01:01:19,340 --> 01:01:29,340 It's not used to how they're hearing God referred to. So, for example, since I was very, very little, I have called my parents Russell and Susan, right? 159 01:01:29,340 --> 01:01:37,340 And part of that was because of the first, like, four years of my life until my sister was born, and probably a year after that, whenever I was around somebody, what did I hear? 160 01:01:37,340 --> 01:01:48,340 I didn't hear Dad or Mom. I heard Russell or Susan. And then I went off to school. And then later on, especially when I worked with Dad, I didn't want to be like, "Hey, my dad said mop the floors." 161 01:01:48,340 --> 01:01:58,340 And I think, "Oh, Russell wants us to mop the floors," right? And so some people, Dave, when they hear me say, "Hey, Russell," or "Hey, Susan," right? 162 01:01:58,340 --> 01:02:06,340 That's for them, it's like, "Whoa, why do you call your parents by their first name?" And it's a bad habit I've picked up since I was very, very young. 163 01:02:06,340 --> 01:02:18,340 And the Jewish people, when they heard Jesus say, "When you pray, start with our Father." In fact, one time when Jesus says, "My Father in Heaven," they tried to kill Him. 164 01:02:18,340 --> 01:02:27,340 This is something that is earth-shattering. It's a bit of a shock. 165 01:02:27,340 --> 01:02:37,340 And here's the wonderful thing. When we pray to God, we are talking to the Almighty God of the universe. 166 01:02:37,340 --> 01:02:48,340 And we're saying, "Father." Right? We come to the Almighty Creator of the universe as our Father, and this is remarkable. 167 01:02:48,340 --> 01:02:56,340 It's a picture of closeness. It's a picture of belonging. It's a picture of familiarity. And it's absolutely remarkable and absolutely 168 01:02:56,340 --> 01:03:06,340 wonderful that when we pray, we get to say, "Father." And Luke, to help us with our misunderstanding of 169 01:03:06,340 --> 01:03:12,340 this, makes sure we understand what we're talking about. He says, "We're not talking about a Father who makes 170 01:03:12,340 --> 01:03:19,340 mistakes or a Father who gets it wrong." Sometimes we are talking about a perfect Father. And beginning in Luke 171 01:03:19,340 --> 01:03:26,340 11, verse 11, he says this, "What Father among you? If a son asks for a fish, instead of a fish, we'll give him a 172 01:03:26,340 --> 01:03:32,340 serpent. Or if he asks for an egg, we'll give him a scorpion. If then you who are evil know how to give good 173 01:03:32,340 --> 01:03:40,340 gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" 174 01:03:40,340 --> 01:03:45,340 And the key statement in this verse is, "How much more?" 175 01:03:45,340 --> 01:03:53,340 Think of the best Father in the world, and then add more to it. That's what Jesus is saying. To those who are 176 01:03:53,340 --> 01:03:59,340 uncertain, if God wants to hear their prayers, He says, "Not only do you have a Father, but you have a good 177 01:03:59,340 --> 01:04:08,340 Father who is so much more than any earthly father." We are children of God, loved by a good Father, and when we 178 01:04:08,340 --> 01:04:14,340 begin to see it, it removes our fear. And think about our fears. Like, "What if I say the wrong thing? 179 01:04:14,340 --> 01:04:20,340 What if I pray in the wrong way? What if I shouldn't pray about this? What if I should 180 01:04:20,340 --> 01:04:25,340 have prayed about this? What if it's not important enough for God to hear me?" A million ways that you 181 01:04:25,340 --> 01:04:31,340 and I can feel small and inferior, and Jesus says, "Look at your Father." And I want you to try to 182 01:04:31,340 --> 01:04:40,340 understand this picture of how God sees you as your Father. So, if you've watched children, when they get to 183 01:04:40,340 --> 01:04:46,340 a certain age, around one, or maybe a little before, or sometime after, what happens? They begin to learn 184 01:04:46,340 --> 01:04:52,340 to walk. And they do so by first, like pulling themselves up and holding on to stuff and kind of standing 185 01:04:52,340 --> 01:04:57,340 wobbly. And then eventually they'll sort of walk along something like the edge of the couch by holding 186 01:04:57,340 --> 01:05:05,340 on to it, still wobbly. And then you have that moment where they let go and they stand for a minute, and 187 01:05:05,340 --> 01:05:09,340 they grab on the couch and they let go, and they sit, and then they let go again, and they take a little 188 01:05:09,340 --> 01:05:15,340 step, right? And they fall on their face. And what happens? Everybody's so excited that this 189 01:05:15,340 --> 01:05:19,340 kid fell in his face. I didn't look at our kids when they took their first step and fell and went, 190 01:05:19,340 --> 01:05:24,340 guess we better start saving for college because none of them are getting a sports scholarship, right? 191 01:05:24,340 --> 01:05:30,340 What do we do? We rejoice as our kids take the first step, no matter how wobbly it is. Your heavenly 192 01:05:30,340 --> 01:05:38,340 Father, understand this. When you come to him in prayer, no matter how wobbly you are, he's not 193 01:05:38,340 --> 01:05:45,340 going, man, they could do so much better. He is rejoicing that you want to bring your troubles and 194 01:05:45,340 --> 01:05:52,340 your fears and your worries and your hurts to him, and he is cheering you on with joy because you have a 195 01:05:52,340 --> 01:06:00,340 good Father. Jesus is reminding us of our certainty as children of God. God hears our prayers even in 196 01:06:00,340 --> 01:06:05,340 the middle of our brokenness. And in the middle of this prayer, there's something that Jesus says that 197 01:06:05,340 --> 01:06:09,340 we're to pray for. He talks about praying for our spiritual needs and our physical needs. 198 01:06:09,340 --> 01:06:16,340 He simply says this, "Forgive us our sins." I want you to understand that when Jesus starts 199 01:06:16,340 --> 01:06:21,340 to teach him to pray, and he says, "When you pray," so it's the implication that we are going 200 01:06:21,340 --> 01:06:28,340 to pray and pray regularly, and in that prayer, he includes, "Forgive us of our sins." Right? 201 01:06:28,340 --> 01:06:34,340 Jesus is assuming that you and I are going to need forgiveness virtually every time. 202 01:06:34,340 --> 01:06:39,340 that we pray. He includes it in the prayer, not in an appendix in the back. 203 01:06:39,340 --> 01:06:46,340 If you have sinned, turn to page 74. I guess right there at the very, like right in the center 204 01:06:46,340 --> 01:06:52,340 of this prayer. There is an unfeeling, a feeling that we have of unworthiness 205 01:06:52,340 --> 01:07:03,340 and brokenness. And Jesus says, "God forgives your sins." And we come to prayer uncertain in our identity 206 01:07:03,340 --> 01:07:08,340 and uncertain in our goodness because all of our sins are coming back to us. 207 01:07:08,340 --> 01:07:15,340 And Jesus says, "Pray to a Father who loves you and to a Father who forgives you." 208 01:07:15,340 --> 01:07:21,340 Some of us avoid prayer because we say, "Maybe when I get cleaned up and get my life together 209 01:07:21,340 --> 01:07:29,340 and get it all put back where it is." Remember our good Father who both loves and forgives. 210 01:07:29,340 --> 01:07:38,340 What you see next is that prayer transforms our priorities. And priorities are just simply those things that we hold to be most important. 211 01:07:38,340 --> 01:07:45,340 And what Jesus does as he talks about our priorities is first he assures us, and now he's going to stretch us. 212 01:07:45,340 --> 01:07:51,340 Stretch how we think and stretch what we hold to be important. 213 01:07:51,340 --> 01:07:57,340 And he said to them, "When you pray, say, 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.'" 214 01:07:57,340 --> 01:08:02,340 And what this means is that as we pray, we lift up the name of God through our prayers. 215 01:08:02,340 --> 01:08:15,340 And this sounds strange to us. Because a lot of our prayers are focused on my needs and my wants and my desires and the things that I think should happen and the things that I think God should do. 216 01:08:15,340 --> 01:08:26,340 But notice Jesus as he teaches us to pray. And it's not bad to pray for our desires and our requests and the things we hope for, but Jesus starts this prayer not by lifting up needs, 217 01:08:26,340 --> 01:08:39,340 but by lifting up who God is. "Hallowed be your name." This is not just an introduction to this prayer that we skip over, 218 01:08:39,340 --> 01:08:47,340 but "Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come," is a picture of a heartfelt request. 219 01:08:47,340 --> 01:08:55,340 Now, we don't speak this way very often, and so we probably need to explain just a little bit when we talk about the word "hallowed," 220 01:08:55,340 --> 01:09:04,340 what we mean is treasured, valuable, set-apart love, delighted in. It's like our kids when they have their treasures, 221 01:09:04,340 --> 01:09:08,340 and they set them apart because they don't want them to get accidentally lost or thrown away, 222 01:09:08,340 --> 01:09:14,340 and it's something they treasure so they set it apart. Or when you walk on that battlefield, 223 01:09:14,340 --> 01:09:21,340 and somebody says this is hallowed ground because men who fought here died for freedom, 224 01:09:21,340 --> 01:09:27,340 and so we treat it with respect. We set it apart. We treat it differently. 225 01:09:27,340 --> 01:09:38,340 We begin our prayers hallowing the name of God. This is a prayer for us that we would treasure who God is. 226 01:09:38,340 --> 01:09:44,340 So many times we rush through prayer, "Thanks for my food. Hopefully you take care of them. I've got to run." 227 01:09:44,340 --> 01:09:49,340 And Jesus says, "When you pray, we pray to our Father in the midst of our brokenness, 228 01:09:49,340 --> 01:09:52,340 knowing he's a good Father who loves us in our weakness and our struggles, 229 01:09:52,340 --> 01:09:59,340 but we pray that above all things we would treasure him in our heart. 230 01:09:59,340 --> 01:10:04,340 Father, transform my heart because there are so many things that I put above you. 231 01:10:04,340 --> 01:10:11,340 Change that and let me hallow your name." And then he says, "Let your kingdom come." 232 01:10:11,340 --> 01:10:17,340 And Matthew says, "Let your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." 233 01:10:17,340 --> 01:10:24,340 And it's a call to mission. Right? So there's a call to reevaluate what our heart holds dear. 234 01:10:24,340 --> 01:10:28,340 Is Jesus, is God, is he my treasure? 235 01:10:28,340 --> 01:10:36,340 Also, what is it that I'm doing? Am I seeking the good of the kingdom or the good of myself? 236 01:10:36,340 --> 01:10:41,340 This text in Luke 11 encourages us with the certainty that God hears our prayers 237 01:10:41,340 --> 01:10:45,340 and it stretches us because it changes our priorities. 238 01:10:45,340 --> 01:10:51,340 That we would pray seeing who God is, hallowing his name, and seeking his mission. 239 01:10:51,340 --> 01:10:57,340 And third, Jesus' prayer teaches us about strength. 240 01:10:57,340 --> 01:11:03,340 The strength to keep going even when it feels like everything in our world is falling apart. 241 01:11:03,340 --> 01:11:08,340 And Jesus said to them, and this is his illustration about prayer, 242 01:11:08,340 --> 01:11:11,340 "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say, 243 01:11:11,340 --> 01:11:17,340 Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him. 244 01:11:17,340 --> 01:11:19,340 And he will answer from within, 245 01:11:19,340 --> 01:11:24,340 Do not bother me. The door is shut. My children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything. 246 01:11:24,340 --> 01:11:31,340 I tell you, though, he will get up and will give him anything, not because he is his friend, 247 01:11:31,340 --> 01:11:38,340 yet because his impudence, he will rise and give him whatever he needs." 248 01:11:38,340 --> 01:11:45,340 So you have this picture of a friend who comes in the middle of the night after the kids are all in bed, 249 01:11:45,340 --> 01:11:51,340 and the dad goes, "Sorry, we're all asleep. Come back another time." 250 01:11:51,340 --> 01:11:59,340 But this person requesting keeps going, impudently, and eventually gets what he deserves. 251 01:11:59,340 --> 01:12:04,340 Let me try to put this in modern-day context. So when we had Evelyn, when she was first born, 252 01:12:04,340 --> 01:12:10,340 I put a sign on the front door of our house that said, "Delivery people, FedEx, UPS. 253 01:12:10,340 --> 01:12:18,340 We have a brand-new baby. We have a very loud dog. Do not knock on our front door. 254 01:12:18,340 --> 01:12:25,340 If you have a package that requires a signature, go into the church. There's a guy there. 255 01:12:25,340 --> 01:12:31,340 He'll sign for your package. His name is Brandon." And so one day I'm expecting something, and I hear this delivery truck, 256 01:12:31,340 --> 01:12:36,340 and I don't want to give the name of the company, but it rhymes with FedEx. 257 01:12:36,340 --> 01:12:42,340 And they pull into the parking lot, and so I'm heading out the door to catch him, and he's way ahead of me, 258 01:12:42,340 --> 01:12:47,340 and he's over here by the house, and he gets the package out, walks down my sidewalk, walks up the steps, 259 01:12:47,340 --> 01:12:56,340 stands on my porch, takes a minute, puts his hand up, reads the sign, and then just goes on the front door. 260 01:12:56,340 --> 01:13:01,340 And about that time, our dog hits the front door, and I just lose. I'm like, "What are you doing?" 261 01:13:01,340 --> 01:13:08,340 Like, did they not teach you to read? You obviously looked at the sign like, "I'm a dad who has not slept in like a week, 262 01:13:08,340 --> 01:13:20,340 and I know my wife is now awake, and our kids now awake, and everybody's mad." And I just was like, "Why? Why are you doing this?" 263 01:13:20,340 --> 01:13:28,340 I was mad and frustrated, and now the dog's involved. So what's the point of this picture that Jesus makes? 264 01:13:28,340 --> 01:13:37,340 Of the unwanted knock on the door. The point is not that you are disturbing God. The point is not that God is grumpy. 265 01:13:37,340 --> 01:13:41,340 The point is something different. Listen to what he says. 266 01:13:41,340 --> 01:13:48,340 "I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you. 267 01:13:48,340 --> 01:13:53,340 To everyone who asks, receives. The one who seeks, find. And to the one who knocks, it will be opened." 268 01:13:53,340 --> 01:14:00,340 This illustration of prayer is not about the guy in the house. It's not about the grumpy guy whose kids are asleep. 269 01:14:00,340 --> 01:14:04,340 You know who it's about? The guy pounding on the door. 270 01:14:04,340 --> 01:14:11,340 And what Jesus is saying is have the same courage to knock on the door of heaven 271 01:14:11,340 --> 01:14:16,340 that the FedEx guy has to knock on the door of Brandon's house when his kids are asleep. 272 01:14:16,340 --> 01:14:26,340 To have the same courage to knock on the door of heaven when you're struggling and when you're hurting. 273 01:14:26,340 --> 01:14:33,340 In the midst of your discouragement, the point here is not about the grumpy guy in the house. 274 01:14:33,340 --> 01:14:40,340 The point is about us being afraid to knock on the door. 275 01:14:40,340 --> 01:14:44,340 And that happens so many times, I think. 276 01:14:44,340 --> 01:14:48,340 We maybe don't pray because we're discouraged. 277 01:14:48,340 --> 01:14:52,340 Maybe we don't pray because we feel like our prayers are too small. 278 01:14:52,340 --> 01:14:55,340 And it's so easy to talk ourselves out of prayer. 279 01:14:55,340 --> 01:14:59,340 It's not a big deal. It's not that important. 280 01:14:59,340 --> 01:15:02,340 God's really busy. He doesn't have time for that. 281 01:15:02,340 --> 01:15:04,340 The point here that Jesus is making is knock on the door. 282 01:15:04,340 --> 01:15:06,340 But there's another point he's making. 283 01:15:06,340 --> 01:15:09,340 You don't have a grumpy guy on the other side of the door. 284 01:15:09,340 --> 01:15:16,340 You have a Father who is excited to see you and who will throw that door open. 285 01:15:16,340 --> 01:15:19,340 And Jesus says, "Ask. Seek. Knock." 286 01:15:19,340 --> 01:15:22,340 Not once, but twice. 287 01:15:22,340 --> 01:15:25,340 Knock with impudence. 288 01:15:25,340 --> 01:15:30,340 Because you have a Father who loves you and can't wait for you to pray. 289 01:15:30,340 --> 01:15:35,340 James, chapter 4, verses 1 through 3. 290 01:15:35,340 --> 01:15:36,340 James writes this: 291 01:15:36,340 --> 01:15:39,340 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? 292 01:15:39,340 --> 01:15:40,340 Is it not this? 293 01:15:40,340 --> 01:15:43,340 So that your passions are at war within you. 294 01:15:43,340 --> 01:15:48,340 You desire and do not have, so you murder, you covet, you cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. 295 01:15:48,340 --> 01:15:51,340 You do not have because you do not ask. 296 01:15:51,340 --> 01:15:56,340 You ask and you do not receive because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions. 297 01:15:56,340 --> 01:15:58,340 There's this church that James is writing to. 298 01:15:58,340 --> 01:16:05,340 And there is conflict within the church that people are going back and forth because they want something. 299 01:16:05,340 --> 01:16:11,340 And James says the problem with all this conflict and this desire that you have is that you're looking in the wrong place. 300 01:16:11,340 --> 01:16:15,340 He says you're treating your brothers and sisters badly, trying to take what they have. 301 01:16:15,340 --> 01:16:20,340 Rather, he says, you do not have because what? 302 01:16:20,340 --> 01:16:23,340 You do not ask. 303 01:16:23,340 --> 01:16:26,340 Why haven't you asked? 304 01:16:26,340 --> 01:16:28,340 I mean, you prayed. 305 01:16:28,340 --> 01:16:30,340 And there's times where God will say no. 306 01:16:30,340 --> 01:16:34,340 For example, all the kids love to go outside and build forts after church. 307 01:16:34,340 --> 01:16:38,340 If one of them comes to me and goes, "Hey, can we use the chainsaw?" 308 01:16:38,340 --> 01:16:40,340 Right? I'm going to be like, "No!" 309 01:16:40,340 --> 01:16:42,340 Right? That's really bad for you, right? 310 01:16:42,340 --> 01:16:45,340 And don't come running to me when you chop your legs off. 311 01:16:45,340 --> 01:16:48,340 I've been waiting for a while to say that, right? 312 01:16:48,340 --> 01:16:53,340 Sometimes God looks at us and says, "That thing that you want, 313 01:16:53,340 --> 01:16:56,340 that's the most dangerous thing for your soul. 314 01:16:56,340 --> 01:17:01,340 You don't want it to glorify me, to hallow my name, 315 01:17:01,340 --> 01:17:04,340 for my mission and for your good." 316 01:17:04,340 --> 01:17:08,340 You want it because of your desires. 317 01:17:08,340 --> 01:17:12,340 And so James says two things when we pray and we come boldly before God. 318 01:17:12,340 --> 01:17:14,340 First of all, come boldly. 319 01:17:14,340 --> 01:17:19,340 Because sometimes the reason we don't have is because we have not asked. 320 01:17:19,340 --> 01:17:23,340 But also to examine our heart as we ask. 321 01:17:23,340 --> 01:17:26,340 Why are we asking? How are we asking? 322 01:17:26,340 --> 01:17:30,340 Jesus' point is ask, seek, knock. 323 01:17:30,340 --> 01:17:34,340 As a Christian, this morning I want to encourage you to pray. 324 01:17:34,340 --> 01:17:36,340 To our Father. 325 01:17:36,340 --> 01:17:38,340 For His glory and by His power. 326 01:17:38,340 --> 01:17:41,340 In our spiritual needs and in our physical needs. 327 01:17:41,340 --> 01:17:45,340 That God is joyful in the prayers of His people. 328 01:17:45,340 --> 01:17:47,340 But maybe you're not a Christian. 329 01:17:47,340 --> 01:17:51,340 You ever had that moment where somebody has wronged you or you've wronged somebody else 330 01:17:51,340 --> 01:17:53,340 and now you avoid them and don't talk to them. 331 01:17:53,340 --> 01:17:55,340 And when you see them coming, you go the other way. 332 01:17:55,340 --> 01:17:59,340 That you've been separated from someone 333 01:17:59,340 --> 01:18:05,340 because of the brokenness of either your wrongdoing or theirs. 334 01:18:05,340 --> 01:18:11,340 Where we stand without Jesus before God is in that place of brokenness. 335 01:18:11,340 --> 01:18:13,340 Separated from God. 336 01:18:13,340 --> 01:18:15,340 Apostle Paul says it this way. 337 01:18:15,340 --> 01:18:20,340 That before Christ we were far off. 338 01:18:20,340 --> 01:18:23,340 And then Jesus comes. 339 01:18:23,340 --> 01:18:27,340 And He takes those who are far off and He brings them near by the blood of Christ 340 01:18:27,340 --> 01:18:30,340 because Jesus is our peace. 341 01:18:30,340 --> 01:18:32,340 And He has made us one. 342 01:18:32,340 --> 01:18:37,340 And has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility. 343 01:18:37,340 --> 01:18:41,340 And Jesus comes to bring peace to you. 344 01:18:41,340 --> 01:18:42,340 To preach peace to you. 345 01:18:42,340 --> 01:18:47,340 To take your sin into your brokenness where you've chased everything but Him. 346 01:18:47,340 --> 01:18:49,340 And He comes in love and grace. 347 01:18:49,340 --> 01:18:51,340 And He dies taking your sin. 348 01:18:51,340 --> 01:18:52,340 He rises from the grave. 349 01:18:52,340 --> 01:18:54,340 In two weeks we celebrate that at Easter. 350 01:18:54,340 --> 01:18:57,340 And He can make you alive. 351 01:18:57,340 --> 01:19:00,340 And if you are far off from Jesus. 352 01:19:00,340 --> 01:19:02,340 Hear the invitation from Him. 353 01:19:02,340 --> 01:19:04,340 That says, "Come near." 354 01:19:04,340 --> 01:19:05,340 To a new father. 355 01:19:05,340 --> 01:19:06,340 To a new family. 356 01:19:06,340 --> 01:19:09,340 To a new and loving, living hope. 357 01:19:09,340 --> 01:19:11,340 Maybe you have questions. 358 01:19:11,340 --> 01:19:13,340 Maybe you have uncertainties. 359 01:19:13,340 --> 01:19:17,340 Maybe you need somebody to pray with you or for you. 360 01:19:17,340 --> 01:19:19,340 It doesn't have to be in this moment. 361 01:19:19,340 --> 01:19:21,340 Although it can be. 362 01:19:21,340 --> 01:19:22,340 It can be after service. 363 01:19:22,340 --> 01:19:25,340 It can be at any time you desire. 364 01:19:25,340 --> 01:19:26,340 In a minute we are going to pray. 365 01:19:26,340 --> 01:19:28,340 And then we are going to sing. 366 01:19:28,340 --> 01:19:32,340 And we are going to sing about how God's name is blessed. 367 01:19:32,340 --> 01:19:34,340 And it comes from the book of Job. 368 01:19:34,340 --> 01:19:35,340 And in this song we are going to sing. 369 01:19:35,340 --> 01:19:37,340 We see that God is blessed. 370 01:19:37,340 --> 01:19:39,340 Just like in the 23rd Psalm. 371 01:19:39,340 --> 01:19:41,340 We have the still waters. 372 01:19:41,340 --> 01:19:42,340 The green pastures. 373 01:19:42,340 --> 01:19:46,340 But also when we walk through those dark valleys. 374 01:19:46,340 --> 01:19:48,340 I want you to know as a Christian. 375 01:19:48,340 --> 01:19:50,340 This morning God is with us. 376 01:19:50,340 --> 01:19:53,340 And helping us in those moments. 377 01:19:53,340 --> 01:19:54,340 God is good. 378 01:19:54,340 --> 01:19:55,340 He hears you. 379 01:19:55,340 --> 01:19:56,340 When you pray. 380 01:19:56,340 --> 01:19:57,340 And is close to you. 381 01:19:57,340 --> 01:19:58,340 Even in those valleys. 382 01:19:58,340 --> 01:20:00,340 And if you are not a Christian this morning. 383 01:20:00,340 --> 01:20:02,340 I want you to hear the invitation of Jesus. 384 01:20:02,340 --> 01:20:03,340 That says come to me. 385 01:20:03,340 --> 01:20:05,340 You who are weary and heavy laden. 386 01:20:05,340 --> 01:20:07,340 And I will give you rest. 387 01:20:07,340 --> 01:20:08,340 Father in heaven. 388 01:20:08,340 --> 01:20:09,340 Thank you for Jesus. 389 01:20:09,340 --> 01:20:10,340 And for grace. 390 01:20:10,340 --> 01:20:11,340 And for hope. 391 01:20:11,340 --> 01:20:13,340 Thank you. 392 01:20:13,340 --> 01:20:14,340 For your goodness. 393 01:20:14,340 --> 01:20:17,340 Help us as we come to you in prayer. 394 01:20:19,340 --> 01:20:22,340 To see the certainty. 395 01:20:22,340 --> 01:20:24,340 To see our lives rearranged. 396 01:20:24,340 --> 01:20:25,340 Not around our priorities. 397 01:20:25,340 --> 01:20:26,340 But yours. 398 01:20:26,340 --> 01:20:27,340 And that you would give us strength. 399 01:20:27,340 --> 01:20:29,340 It's in Jesus name we pray. 400 01:20:29,340 --> 01:20:30,340 Amen. 401 01:20:30,340 --> 01:20:32,340 Let's stand and sing. 402 01:20:49,340 --> 01:20:54,340 Blessed be your name. 403 01:20:54,340 --> 01:20:58,340 In the land that is plentiful. 404 01:20:58,340 --> 01:21:02,340 Where the streams of abundance flow. 405 01:21:02,340 --> 01:21:07,340 Blessed be your name. 406 01:21:07,340 --> 01:21:10,340 Blessed be your name. 407 01:21:10,340 --> 01:21:14,340 When I'm found in the desert place. 408 01:21:14,340 --> 01:21:18,340 Though I walk through the wilderness. 409 01:21:18,340 --> 01:21:23,340 Blessed be your name. 410 01:21:23,340 --> 01:21:27,340 Every blessing you pour out of. 411 01:21:27,340 --> 01:21:31,340 Turn back to praise. 412 01:21:31,340 --> 01:21:35,340 When the darkness closes in door. 413 01:21:35,340 --> 01:21:38,340 Still I will say. 414 01:21:38,340 --> 01:21:42,340 Blessed be the name of the Lord. 415 01:21:42,340 --> 01:21:46,340 Blessed be your name. 416 01:21:46,340 --> 01:21:50,340 Blessed be the name of the Lord. 417 01:21:50,340 --> 01:21:56,340 Blessed be your glorious name. 418 01:22:16,340 --> 01:22:25,340 We're also back on Sunday mornings at 9:15. If you want to make it on Wednesday night, we'd like to join us then as well. 419 01:22:25,340 --> 01:22:31,340 Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. The Sunday following is Easter. So that is what is happening next. 420 01:22:31,340 --> 01:22:42,340 Also, next Saturday is our monthly men's breakfast. And so if you're a man and you like bacon, Bible, and Brotherhood, 421 01:22:42,340 --> 01:22:49,340 I've worked hard to get all the three B's in there. Come join us the next Saturday morning at 9:00, 422 01:22:49,340 --> 01:22:59,340 and let's enjoy breakfast together. So we'll pray. I'll read a verse of Scripture, and then we will sing the doxology and be dismissed. 423 01:22:59,340 --> 01:23:04,340 Father in heaven, I thank you for Jesus and grace. Thank you for our time of worship together this morning. 424 01:23:04,340 --> 01:23:10,340 Be with us as we fellowship together. Encourage our hearts. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 425 01:23:10,340 --> 01:23:17,340 Paul says in Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, 426 01:23:17,340 --> 01:23:23,340 so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." This is the word of the Lord. 427 01:23:32,340 --> 01:23:54,340 Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below. Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 428 01:24:02,340 --> 01:24:04,340 Thank you. 429 01:24:32,340 --> 01:25:02,320 Thank you. 430 01:25:02,340 --> 01:25:32,320 Thank you.