Connecting With God (Sermon)_transcript.txt

[0.00 --> 3.90]  Well, good morning again.
[4.78 --> 5.86]  It's good to be with you.
[6.94 --> 9.06]  Over the summer at New Life,
[9.16 --> 11.46]  we spent some time in the letter of James.
[11.72 --> 13.12]  And so this morning,
[13.32 --> 14.90]  I want to share with you
[14.90 --> 18.08]  some of the exploration we did
[18.08 --> 19.60]  in the letter of James
[19.60 --> 20.70]  in the back of the New Testament.
[23.88 --> 25.12]  In that letter,
[25.12 --> 30.08]  James emphasizes a fully engaged faith.
[30.18 --> 30.94]  A lot of times,
[32.00 --> 34.02]  scholars debate
[34.02 --> 36.00]  whether James is talking about faith
[36.00 --> 37.94]  or whether he's talking about works.
[38.16 --> 41.24]  But really, James is putting the two together.
[41.78 --> 47.14]  And he wants us to live out our faith
[47.14 --> 49.36]  in every aspect of our lives.
[49.42 --> 51.40]  And so we called the series All In.
[51.40 --> 57.02]  That when we say we profess Jesus as our Savior,
[57.32 --> 59.92]  it has to be an all-in faith.
[61.46 --> 64.32]  But an all-in faith requires
[64.32 --> 66.90]  a deep connection with God.
[68.32 --> 71.70]  Otherwise, faith just gradually fades.
[71.80 --> 73.34]  And I think that's one of the dangers
[73.34 --> 75.54]  in this pandemic situation
[75.54 --> 77.06]  that we find ourselves in,
[77.14 --> 79.40]  that when we lose connection,
[79.40 --> 82.02]  faith fades.
[85.24 --> 88.22]  Perhaps you've heard of the theory
[88.22 --> 89.98]  that you can be connected
[89.98 --> 92.22]  to anybody on this planet
[92.22 --> 95.46]  by six social associations.
[95.70 --> 96.54]  You ever heard of that theory?
[97.82 --> 99.28]  By six steps,
[99.46 --> 102.56]  you could connect with anybody,
[102.68 --> 103.72]  even across the world,
[103.86 --> 105.02]  somebody you don't even know.
[105.02 --> 107.78]  So some time ago,
[107.96 --> 111.16]  a German newspaper wanted to test that theory.
[112.74 --> 116.16]  So they took a fellow by the name of Salah Bengali.
[116.68 --> 119.32]  He was an Iraqi immigrant living in Germany
[119.32 --> 120.78]  selling falafels.
[122.38 --> 124.94]  But Salah Bengali wanted to be connected
[124.94 --> 126.42]  to Marlon Brando.
[126.54 --> 127.66]  So the newspaper said,
[127.76 --> 129.16]  all right, we'll connect you.
[129.16 --> 131.14]  And they did.
[131.88 --> 135.10]  And they did it in six social steps.
[135.28 --> 135.98]  Here's how it went.
[137.38 --> 140.70]  Salah Bengali had a friend in California
[140.70 --> 144.20]  who works in the same company as Ken Carson.
[144.86 --> 148.16]  Ken Carson was the boyfriend of Michelle Bevan.
[149.06 --> 151.52]  Michelle Bevan was the sorority sister
[151.52 --> 152.82]  to Christina Kutzer.
[153.34 --> 156.70]  Christina Kutzer was the daughter of Patrick Palmer,
[156.70 --> 159.30]  the producer of Don Juan DeMarco,
[159.42 --> 162.62]  the movie in which Marlon Brando starred.
[164.02 --> 165.46]  In six steps,
[166.24 --> 168.02]  Salah Bengali, Iraqi immigrant,
[168.32 --> 170.42]  was connected to Marlon Brando.
[171.70 --> 174.72]  Unfortunately, Marlon Brando never returned
[174.72 --> 176.80]  any of Salah Bengali's calls.
[178.10 --> 179.70]  Now, you might understand that
[179.70 --> 182.34]  because all of these social associations
[182.34 --> 185.20]  seem rather flimsy, in fact.
[185.20 --> 187.66]  And so you go, well, that's not surprising.
[187.92 --> 188.26]  Why?
[188.82 --> 191.38]  Why would Marlon Brando pay attention?
[192.66 --> 194.86]  And yet, a lot of times,
[195.22 --> 199.86]  that's how we depend on our connection to God.
[200.16 --> 203.24]  Simply by easy social associations.
[204.12 --> 206.12]  I mean, going to church can even be
[206.12 --> 208.98]  that kind of easy social association.
[209.22 --> 210.22]  Am I connected to God?
[210.36 --> 211.72]  Yeah, I went to church on Sunday.
[211.72 --> 215.72]  Or, I'm connected to God.
[216.12 --> 218.30]  I watched the service on TV.
[221.50 --> 223.14]  In chapter 5,
[223.52 --> 224.78]  James offers,
[225.10 --> 226.68]  at the conclusion of his letter,
[227.40 --> 229.76]  James, after instructing the people
[229.76 --> 232.48]  on integrating their faith
[232.48 --> 235.20]  with the entirety of their lives,
[235.20 --> 237.62]  then at the end of his letter,
[238.00 --> 241.20]  James concludes with two ways
[241.20 --> 244.44]  in which we need to stay connected to God.
[244.58 --> 248.58]  And those two ways serve as roots
[248.58 --> 252.24]  that build a bridge to God.
[252.24 --> 256.90]  The first that James talks about
[256.90 --> 260.68]  is learning to live in the light of eternity.
[263.02 --> 265.70]  And so James writes,
[266.74 --> 268.18]  at the end of his letter,
[268.84 --> 270.82]  James chapter 5, verse 7 and 8,
[270.82 --> 297.62]  It's amazing encouragement, really.
[297.62 --> 302.08]  Amazing encouragement even for us in this time.
[302.76 --> 304.58]  The Christians to whom James was writing
[304.58 --> 308.08]  were confronting and facing
[308.08 --> 310.18]  a lot of trial and hardship.
[312.98 --> 316.64]  And so we find ourselves in new circumstances as well
[316.64 --> 317.18]  that we say,
[317.34 --> 319.72]  Wow, life hasn't been this difficult for us
[319.72 --> 321.62]  in a long time, or if ever.
[321.62 --> 324.64]  And in a sense,
[325.06 --> 326.92]  what James is doing here
[326.92 --> 328.44]  at the end of his letter
[328.44 --> 330.64]  is returning to the beginning of his letter
[330.64 --> 332.84]  where he makes this outrageous statement.
[332.98 --> 334.42]  This is how he begins his letter.
[334.54 --> 334.94]  He says,
[335.58 --> 337.38]  Consider it pure joy,
[337.46 --> 338.54]  my brothers and sisters,
[340.18 --> 342.60]  whenever you face trials of many kinds.
[343.26 --> 344.38]  Whatever we're facing,
[345.16 --> 346.92]  consider it pure joy
[346.92 --> 350.30]  because it strengthens our faith
[350.30 --> 352.20]  through that perseverance
[352.20 --> 353.28]  that is required,
[353.50 --> 357.24]  that kind of prevailing with God
[357.24 --> 358.98]  to pursue faith.
[362.18 --> 364.56]  Our connection with God
[364.56 --> 366.98]  is sustained then
[366.98 --> 369.40]  not by our circumstances,
[370.04 --> 372.02]  which is why James can say,
[372.22 --> 373.66]  consider it pure joy
[373.66 --> 375.10]  in the midst of any hardship
[375.10 --> 376.36]  that you face.
[377.78 --> 380.02]  But our connection to God
[380.02 --> 381.54]  is sustained by the hope
[381.54 --> 382.30]  that we have
[382.30 --> 383.98]  in Christ's return.
[384.16 --> 384.92]  Be patient.
[385.42 --> 386.84]  The Lord is coming back.
[389.02 --> 391.30]  And that's when He will make all things new
[391.30 --> 393.34]  and make all things right.
[394.86 --> 396.54]  And that's the view of eternity
[396.54 --> 397.60]  that we profess.
[399.26 --> 400.98]  And it's contrasted in James
[400.98 --> 403.02]  with two other scenarios
[403.02 --> 404.80]  that James presents
[404.80 --> 406.32]  to help us understand
[406.32 --> 407.10]  the importance
[407.10 --> 408.90]  of learning to live
[408.90 --> 410.64]  in the light of eternity.
[411.24 --> 412.18]  The first scenario
[412.18 --> 414.26]  is back in chapter 4,
[414.32 --> 416.10]  at the end of chapter 4, in fact,
[417.08 --> 418.66]  where he characterizes
[418.66 --> 420.24]  people who make plans
[420.24 --> 421.34]  assuming they're in control.
[421.60 --> 422.96]  And James, I'm warning you,
[423.06 --> 424.00]  James hits hard.
[424.38 --> 425.42]  So this is what he says.
[426.44 --> 427.92]  Now listen, you who say
[427.92 --> 429.00]  today or tomorrow
[429.00 --> 430.48]  we'll go to this or that city
[430.48 --> 431.60]  and spend a year here,
[431.60 --> 433.12]  carry on business
[433.12 --> 434.26]  and make money there.
[434.38 --> 435.72]  Why, you don't even know
[435.72 --> 437.60]  what will happen tomorrow.
[437.80 --> 438.60]  What is your life?
[438.76 --> 440.20]  You are a mist
[440.20 --> 442.12]  that appears for a little while
[442.12 --> 442.96]  and then vanishes.
[443.26 --> 444.92]  Instead, you ought to say,
[445.38 --> 446.46]  if it is the Lord's will,
[446.60 --> 448.38]  we'll live and do this or that.
[453.38 --> 454.88]  James is addressing people
[454.88 --> 456.86]  who thought that they had life
[456.86 --> 458.00]  all under control,
[458.00 --> 459.74]  that they were living life
[459.74 --> 461.14]  on their own.
[461.60 --> 463.16]  And James' point is,
[463.56 --> 466.14]  you cannot stay connected to God
[466.14 --> 468.98]  if you think you own your life.
[471.76 --> 473.00]  It's like this.
[475.10 --> 478.74]  Imagine that we could enjoy
[478.74 --> 480.26]  international travel again.
[480.26 --> 483.46]  And I get so excited about this
[483.46 --> 485.88]  that I spend just a ton of money
[485.88 --> 488.58]  on planning a great vacation
[488.58 --> 489.56]  for my wife and I.
[490.14 --> 493.50]  And I plan this thing out beautifully,
[493.72 --> 494.26]  which is funny
[494.26 --> 495.34]  because I don't plan anything.
[495.60 --> 499.10]  But I plan this amazing vacation.
[499.30 --> 500.86]  It's going to be a great getaway.
[501.06 --> 502.44]  And on the morning of our departure,
[502.62 --> 504.18]  I get up, I jump out,
[504.44 --> 505.56]  and I say to my wife,
[505.62 --> 506.18]  are you ready?
[506.28 --> 506.84]  This is going to be
[506.84 --> 508.22]  the best vacation ever.
[508.22 --> 508.62]  Ever.
[509.02 --> 511.26]  And she looks at me stunned
[511.26 --> 513.04]  because she doesn't know
[513.04 --> 513.64]  anything about it
[513.64 --> 514.72]  because I never told her.
[515.26 --> 516.96]  And she is offended
[516.96 --> 518.76]  that I never consulted with her.
[520.46 --> 521.98]  And then I'm offended
[521.98 --> 524.00]  because she doesn't want
[524.00 --> 525.40]  to bless my plans.
[527.50 --> 528.44]  Now, honest,
[528.62 --> 529.72]  that's just a purely
[529.72 --> 530.98]  hypothetical situation.
[532.32 --> 534.88]  But that's sometimes
[534.88 --> 537.98]  how we interact with God,
[538.04 --> 538.48]  isn't it?
[540.08 --> 541.92]  That we make all of our plans.
[542.04 --> 543.28]  We think we're in control
[543.28 --> 544.30]  of our lives.
[544.52 --> 546.90]  And then we fire up a prayer to God
[546.90 --> 548.26]  and we wonder why
[548.26 --> 549.62]  He doesn't bless our plans.
[551.06 --> 552.20]  Because we've not been
[552.20 --> 553.28]  connected to Him.
[553.28 --> 559.60]  So that's the first scenario
[559.60 --> 562.08]  that James warns against.
[562.98 --> 564.72]  You are not in control
[564.72 --> 565.38]  of your life.
[565.54 --> 566.54]  Learn to live
[566.54 --> 568.46]  in the light of eternity.
[568.74 --> 569.84]  The second scenario
[569.84 --> 570.64]  he presents
[570.64 --> 571.92]  immediately follows that
[571.92 --> 573.44]  at the beginning of chapter 5
[573.44 --> 574.80]  where he writes this.
[574.92 --> 575.62]  Now listen.
[575.86 --> 577.18]  So same phrase again
[577.18 --> 578.78]  as the first scenario.
[578.94 --> 579.54]  Now listen,
[579.68 --> 580.20]  you who say.
[580.74 --> 581.76]  Chapter 5, verse 1.
[581.76 --> 583.48]  Now listen, you rich people.
[583.80 --> 584.64]  Weep and wail
[584.64 --> 585.60]  because of the misery
[585.60 --> 586.74]  that is coming on you.
[587.56 --> 587.96]  Be careful.
[588.18 --> 588.84]  He hits hard.
[589.34 --> 590.52]  Your wealth has rotted.
[590.70 --> 591.60]  Your moths have eaten
[591.60 --> 592.32]  your clothes.
[593.08 --> 594.08]  Your gold and silver
[594.08 --> 594.82]  are corroded.
[596.16 --> 597.20]  Their corrosion
[597.20 --> 598.64]  will testify against you.
[598.76 --> 600.04]  Eat your flesh like fire.
[600.20 --> 601.28]  You've hoarded wealth
[601.28 --> 602.20]  in the last days.
[602.36 --> 603.12]  Look, the wages
[603.12 --> 604.28]  that you failed to pay
[604.28 --> 604.86]  the workers
[604.86 --> 606.34]  who moved your fields
[606.34 --> 607.76]  are crying out against you.
[608.02 --> 609.70]  The cries of the harvesters
[609.70 --> 610.56]  have reached the ears
[610.56 --> 611.38]  of the Lord Almighty.
[611.38 --> 612.80]  You've lived on earth
[612.80 --> 614.54]  in luxury and self-indulgence.
[614.68 --> 615.72]  You've fattened yourselves
[615.72 --> 616.70]  in the day of slaughter.
[617.06 --> 617.74]  You've condemned
[617.74 --> 618.52]  and murdered
[618.52 --> 619.70]  the innocent one
[619.70 --> 621.22]  who was not opposing you.
[623.14 --> 624.68]  And here James characterizes
[624.68 --> 626.46]  people who oppress others
[626.46 --> 628.06]  for their own gain.
[629.22 --> 630.38]  And I suspect that
[630.38 --> 631.78]  James isn't necessarily
[631.78 --> 632.94]  targeting the people
[632.94 --> 634.54]  to whom he's actually writing
[634.54 --> 636.06]  because they likely
[636.06 --> 637.14]  weren't the rich
[637.14 --> 638.38]  and wealthy people.
[638.38 --> 640.80]  But the condemnation
[640.80 --> 641.66]  of such people,
[641.76 --> 642.88]  the judgment upon
[642.88 --> 643.74]  such people,
[644.74 --> 645.92]  isn't so much
[645.92 --> 647.38]  to point them out
[647.38 --> 648.88]  as it is to create
[648.88 --> 649.54]  a background
[649.54 --> 650.88]  for the real point.
[650.96 --> 651.72]  And the real point
[651.72 --> 653.00]  that James is trying to make
[653.00 --> 654.20]  is that with a view
[654.20 --> 655.02]  to eternity,
[655.44 --> 656.72]  you not only can endure
[656.72 --> 657.32]  hardship,
[657.78 --> 659.16]  but you can also endure
[659.16 --> 659.86]  the hardship
[659.86 --> 661.48]  of that kind of oppression
[661.48 --> 663.14]  that people place
[663.14 --> 663.96]  upon you
[663.96 --> 665.38]  or that circumstances
[665.38 --> 666.80]  place upon you
[666.80 --> 668.90]  and the assurance
[668.90 --> 670.02]  that God
[670.02 --> 671.48]  will make it right,
[672.04 --> 672.66]  not you.
[674.50 --> 675.24]  In other words,
[675.44 --> 676.42]  waiting patiently
[676.42 --> 677.58]  for the Lord's coming
[677.58 --> 678.56]  reminds us
[678.56 --> 679.46]  of those two
[679.46 --> 680.56]  critical things
[680.56 --> 681.84]  that one,
[681.94 --> 683.18]  we are not in control,
[683.36 --> 684.14]  we do not own
[684.14 --> 684.92]  our own lives,
[685.58 --> 686.22]  and two,
[686.58 --> 687.72]  when we are mistreated
[687.72 --> 689.00]  or when we think
[689.00 --> 690.96]  we're suffering hardship,
[691.58 --> 693.78]  God will set things right.
[694.78 --> 696.24]  So living in the light
[696.24 --> 697.00]  of eternity
[697.00 --> 698.58]  solidly roots
[698.58 --> 700.48]  our connection to God
[700.48 --> 701.68]  no matter what
[701.68 --> 702.46]  the circumstances
[702.46 --> 704.78]  of our life are.
[705.66 --> 706.58]  Maybe you're familiar
[706.58 --> 708.08]  with Francis Chan,
[708.20 --> 709.46]  his teaching on eternity.
[711.08 --> 712.48]  Francis Chan brings
[712.48 --> 714.68]  this impossible length
[714.68 --> 716.42]  of thick white rope
[716.42 --> 717.48]  on stage,
[717.68 --> 718.88]  and it just coils
[718.88 --> 719.90]  around and round
[719.90 --> 721.20]  with no apparent beginning
[721.20 --> 722.56]  and no apparent end,
[722.56 --> 725.90]  and then he points out
[725.90 --> 726.88]  that in the middle
[726.88 --> 727.88]  of this impossible
[727.88 --> 729.32]  length of rope,
[729.72 --> 731.22]  there is a one inch
[731.22 --> 732.42]  little piece
[732.42 --> 733.28]  of the rope
[733.28 --> 734.38]  that is red.
[735.48 --> 736.42]  Francis Chan says,
[737.26 --> 738.02]  that one inch
[738.02 --> 739.54]  piece of red rope
[739.54 --> 741.06]  is your life
[741.06 --> 741.78]  in the midst
[741.78 --> 742.50]  of eternity.
[743.28 --> 744.28]  It's a great picture
[744.28 --> 745.22]  I think as well
[745.22 --> 746.38]  to illustrate
[746.38 --> 747.88]  James' point here,
[747.88 --> 750.48]  that we can spend
[750.48 --> 752.02]  so much time
[752.02 --> 753.10]  concentrating on
[753.10 --> 754.32]  our one inch span
[754.32 --> 755.10]  of life
[755.10 --> 757.16]  when there's a whole
[757.16 --> 758.48]  eternity in which
[758.48 --> 759.92]  we can live.
[760.24 --> 761.16]  An eternity
[761.16 --> 762.60]  that assures us
[762.60 --> 763.92]  that God
[763.92 --> 765.84]  will give us life
[765.84 --> 767.44]  and that God
[767.44 --> 768.08]  will supply
[768.08 --> 769.60]  all that we need
[769.60 --> 770.66]  and that God
[770.66 --> 771.54]  will provide
[771.54 --> 773.28]  for every circumstance
[773.28 --> 774.72]  of our life.
[775.42 --> 776.76]  That is our
[776.76 --> 777.64]  solid hope.
[779.86 --> 780.34]  And so that's
[780.34 --> 781.40]  on the one bank
[781.40 --> 782.98]  of what roots us
[782.98 --> 783.90]  in our connection
[783.90 --> 784.70]  to God.
[785.16 --> 786.46]  On one side
[786.46 --> 788.84]  is that rootedness
[788.84 --> 789.48]  of learning
[789.48 --> 790.26]  to live
[790.26 --> 790.86]  in the light
[790.86 --> 791.56]  of eternity.
[791.82 --> 792.98]  On the other side,
[793.24 --> 793.90]  we're rooted
[793.90 --> 794.86]  in our connection
[794.86 --> 795.66]  to God
[795.66 --> 796.28]  by prayer.
[797.78 --> 799.14]  Learning to live
[799.14 --> 799.94]  in the context
[799.94 --> 800.72]  of prayer.
[800.72 --> 801.16]  And so,
[801.46 --> 802.34]  at the very end
[802.34 --> 803.44]  of James' letter,
[803.56 --> 804.34]  he says this,
[805.16 --> 806.12]  Is anyone among you
[806.12 --> 806.82]  in trouble?
[807.80 --> 808.52]  Verse 13,
[809.12 --> 810.00]  Is anyone among you
[810.00 --> 810.48]  in trouble?
[810.78 --> 811.56]  Let them pray.
[812.10 --> 813.00]  Is anyone happy?
[813.46 --> 814.04]  Let them sing
[814.04 --> 815.38]  songs of praise,
[815.68 --> 816.50]  a form of prayer.
[817.36 --> 818.44]  Is anyone among you
[818.44 --> 818.86]  sick?
[818.94 --> 820.04]  Let them call the elders
[820.04 --> 820.80]  of the church
[820.80 --> 822.12]  to pray over them
[822.12 --> 823.56]  and anoint them
[823.56 --> 824.00]  with oil
[824.00 --> 824.92]  in the name of the Lord.
[825.58 --> 826.22]  And the prayer
[826.22 --> 827.20]  offered in faith
[827.20 --> 828.36]  will make them well.
[829.04 --> 830.08]  The Lord will raise
[830.08 --> 830.60]  them up.
[831.00 --> 831.90]  If they have sinned,
[831.98 --> 832.80]  they will be forgiven.
[832.98 --> 833.22]  Therefore,
[833.42 --> 834.50]  confess your sins
[834.50 --> 835.16]  to each other
[835.16 --> 837.22]  and pray for each other
[837.22 --> 838.56]  so that you may be healed.
[839.18 --> 841.08]  The prayer of a righteous person
[841.08 --> 842.34]  is powerful
[842.34 --> 843.58]  and effective.
[846.28 --> 847.42]  It's in fact
[847.42 --> 849.42]  the way that Jesus taught us
[849.42 --> 850.14]  to pray.
[850.90 --> 851.42]  Ask
[851.42 --> 853.42]  and you will receive.
[855.72 --> 857.12]  The thing is,
[857.12 --> 860.68]  we've been taught to pray
[860.68 --> 862.42]  by the likes of
[862.42 --> 863.74]  Sir Isaac Newton
[863.74 --> 865.84]  and company of scientists
[865.84 --> 867.92]  who have firmly established us
[867.92 --> 869.68]  in the scientific method.
[869.68 --> 871.02]  The scientific method
[871.02 --> 872.14]  can be summarized
[872.14 --> 872.92]  in this way,
[873.00 --> 873.48]  I suppose.
[875.38 --> 876.64]  The scientific method
[876.64 --> 878.26]  is a faith commitment
[878.26 --> 879.26]  that assumes
[879.26 --> 883.02]  that only real things
[883.02 --> 884.46]  can be proven.
[884.46 --> 887.00]  And that which is proven
[887.00 --> 888.78]  is only that
[888.78 --> 889.80]  which is seen.
[890.02 --> 891.06]  And only that
[891.06 --> 892.14]  which is seen
[892.14 --> 894.18]  is what is real.
[894.18 --> 898.66]  And that ends up
[898.66 --> 900.00]  being a closed universe.
[900.54 --> 902.70]  A pretty tightly packed
[902.70 --> 903.60]  in universe
[903.60 --> 904.76]  that says
[904.76 --> 906.68]  this is all
[906.68 --> 907.78]  that there is.
[909.72 --> 910.96]  And then it's
[910.96 --> 912.44]  a struggle for us
[912.44 --> 913.10]  to pray
[913.10 --> 914.86]  in that kind
[914.86 --> 916.02]  of closed universe.
[917.72 --> 918.08]  And so,
[918.30 --> 918.76]  I admit,
[918.96 --> 920.10]  and perhaps you struggle
[920.10 --> 921.14]  with the same thing,
[921.14 --> 923.42]  to think that
[923.42 --> 924.66]  prayer actually
[924.66 --> 925.52]  is effective
[925.52 --> 927.36]  because what can words
[927.36 --> 928.18]  do against
[928.18 --> 929.58]  the laws of nature
[929.58 --> 930.90]  which are otherwise
[930.90 --> 932.50]  perfectly explainable?
[934.50 --> 936.04]  We struggle with thinking
[936.04 --> 937.44]  that prayer is no use
[937.44 --> 938.72]  or that wondering
[938.72 --> 940.88]  if prayer really works.
[942.10 --> 943.92]  But James reminds us here
[943.92 --> 946.00]  that prayer is real
[946.00 --> 947.32]  in the asking.
[948.64 --> 950.32]  Here's what he says,
[950.32 --> 951.10]  at the beginning
[951.10 --> 951.76]  of his letter
[951.76 --> 953.10]  he starts out with
[953.10 --> 954.54]  in chapter 1
[954.54 --> 954.92]  he says,
[955.08 --> 955.94]  if you lack wisdom
[955.94 --> 957.18]  ask God.
[957.90 --> 958.60]  Ask God
[958.60 --> 959.60]  and He'll give it to you.
[960.54 --> 961.50]  In chapter 4
[961.50 --> 962.04]  he says,
[962.42 --> 962.64]  look,
[962.98 --> 963.46]  you guys,
[963.86 --> 964.68]  you ask
[964.68 --> 967.10]  and you don't receive
[967.10 --> 968.04]  because you don't
[968.04 --> 969.98]  or you don't have
[969.98 --> 971.68]  because you don't ask God.
[973.24 --> 974.88]  As if James is recalling
[974.88 --> 976.00]  Jesus' own words
[976.00 --> 977.38]  which is quite likely,
[978.12 --> 978.64]  ask
[978.64 --> 980.60]  and you will receive.
[982.46 --> 983.24]  In other words,
[983.86 --> 984.60]  what James is trying
[984.60 --> 985.18]  to get across
[985.18 --> 986.58]  is that the realness
[986.58 --> 987.44]  of prayer,
[988.30 --> 989.56]  effectiveness of prayer
[989.56 --> 990.58]  is not that you'll get
[990.58 --> 991.40]  what you want
[991.40 --> 992.36]  when you utter
[992.36 --> 993.42]  something up to God.
[993.42 --> 996.20]  But that when we pray,
[997.04 --> 999.16]  God really listens.
[1000.50 --> 1002.72]  That's the reality of prayer.
[1003.48 --> 1004.86]  That when we pray,
[1005.36 --> 1006.80]  God listens.
[1006.80 --> 1008.32]  He hears
[1008.32 --> 1010.68]  and He responds.
[1012.24 --> 1013.80]  So prayer is powerful
[1013.80 --> 1015.16]  and it's effective
[1015.16 --> 1016.80]  but not because
[1016.80 --> 1017.82]  by it
[1017.82 --> 1019.56]  you get to gain control
[1019.56 --> 1020.04]  somehow
[1020.04 --> 1021.38]  of your life again.
[1022.78 --> 1023.68]  Prayer is effective
[1023.68 --> 1025.64]  but not simply because
[1025.64 --> 1026.88]  we get the outcome
[1026.88 --> 1027.64]  we want.
[1029.26 --> 1029.68]  Prayer
[1029.68 --> 1031.14]  is about connecting
[1031.14 --> 1032.16]  to God.
[1032.16 --> 1032.20]  God.
[1033.90 --> 1034.66]  And so we pray
[1034.66 --> 1035.90]  not just so that
[1035.90 --> 1037.42]  God can help us out
[1037.42 --> 1038.88]  as if He is some kind
[1038.88 --> 1039.60]  of magician
[1039.60 --> 1040.58]  for us.
[1041.56 --> 1042.78]  James warns against that.
[1042.86 --> 1044.28]  He says in chapter 4,
[1044.38 --> 1044.64]  he says,
[1044.76 --> 1045.70]  when you ask,
[1045.80 --> 1046.34]  verse 3,
[1046.72 --> 1047.56]  when you ask,
[1047.70 --> 1048.60]  you don't receive
[1048.60 --> 1049.68]  because you ask
[1049.68 --> 1050.52]  with wrong motives
[1050.52 --> 1051.70]  that you may spend
[1051.70 --> 1052.34]  what you get
[1052.34 --> 1053.18]  on your pleasures.
[1054.34 --> 1055.38]  We're used to that,
[1055.44 --> 1055.72]  aren't we?
[1056.76 --> 1057.86]  We certainly live
[1057.86 --> 1058.90]  in that kind of a culture
[1058.90 --> 1060.50]  where we're used
[1060.50 --> 1061.74]  to just being able
[1061.74 --> 1062.64]  to go out
[1062.64 --> 1063.88]  and do our thing
[1063.88 --> 1065.46]  because we feel like it.
[1067.26 --> 1068.36]  And that's what makes
[1068.36 --> 1069.24]  living in this COVID
[1069.24 --> 1070.52]  pandemic so hard
[1070.52 --> 1073.30]  is we have to get used
[1073.30 --> 1074.14]  to living a different
[1074.14 --> 1075.02]  kind of life
[1075.02 --> 1076.92]  and then
[1076.92 --> 1079.06]  and then our connection
[1079.06 --> 1079.80]  to God
[1079.80 --> 1081.00]  rooted
[1081.00 --> 1082.82]  in learning
[1082.82 --> 1083.88]  to be connected
[1083.88 --> 1085.12]  in the context
[1085.12 --> 1085.90]  of prayer
[1085.90 --> 1087.72]  is crucial.
[1088.90 --> 1091.48]  prayer draws us
[1091.48 --> 1092.32]  into the presence
[1092.32 --> 1093.12]  of God
[1093.12 --> 1095.50]  and that's not
[1095.50 --> 1096.66]  to be taken for granted.
[1097.58 --> 1098.42]  Oh, sure, I pray.
[1099.16 --> 1100.34]  Oh, yeah, we said a prayer.
[1101.26 --> 1102.20]  It's not to be taken
[1102.20 --> 1102.84]  for granted.
[1103.60 --> 1104.88]  It's amazing
[1104.88 --> 1106.78]  that in prayer
[1106.78 --> 1107.90]  we are connected
[1107.90 --> 1109.20]  to the God
[1109.20 --> 1110.24]  of the universe,
[1110.48 --> 1111.98]  the God who made you,
[1112.10 --> 1113.00]  the God who made
[1113.00 --> 1114.74]  everything that there is
[1114.74 --> 1116.18]  and when you utter
[1116.18 --> 1117.26]  words to Him,
[1117.26 --> 1119.44]  that God
[1119.44 --> 1120.84]  listens.
[1123.68 --> 1125.52]  He listens so intimately
[1125.52 --> 1126.48]  that you can be
[1126.48 --> 1127.72]  absolutely honest
[1127.72 --> 1128.32]  with God
[1128.32 --> 1129.40]  and so James says
[1129.40 --> 1130.18]  when you pray
[1130.18 --> 1133.30]  then confess your sins
[1133.30 --> 1134.08]  and then I wish
[1134.08 --> 1134.74]  he had added
[1134.74 --> 1135.90]  and confess them
[1135.90 --> 1137.10]  quietly before God
[1137.10 --> 1137.72]  but he says
[1137.72 --> 1138.92]  confess them
[1138.92 --> 1140.04]  before one another.
[1140.04 --> 1143.42]  When we gather
[1143.42 --> 1143.94]  for worship
[1143.94 --> 1145.08]  we have a time
[1145.08 --> 1145.84]  of confession
[1145.84 --> 1147.66]  and we kind of
[1147.66 --> 1148.50]  sit through that
[1148.50 --> 1149.18]  and we kind of
[1149.18 --> 1150.36]  make it a general thing
[1150.36 --> 1151.18]  and hope that
[1151.18 --> 1152.48]  that covers us all
[1152.48 --> 1153.70]  but actually
[1153.70 --> 1155.12]  James would say
[1155.12 --> 1156.76]  that's not far enough.
[1158.18 --> 1158.78]  You've got to
[1158.78 --> 1159.98]  confess to each other.
[1160.54 --> 1160.80]  Why?
[1162.42 --> 1163.74]  Because when prayer
[1163.74 --> 1164.52]  connects you
[1164.52 --> 1165.36]  with God
[1165.36 --> 1166.46]  you don't have to
[1166.46 --> 1167.32]  worry about your
[1167.32 --> 1167.84]  weaknesses
[1167.84 --> 1169.18]  and your failures.
[1170.68 --> 1170.92]  Sure,
[1171.06 --> 1171.80]  other people might
[1171.80 --> 1172.26]  judge you
[1172.26 --> 1173.16]  but God
[1173.16 --> 1174.32]  isn't going to
[1174.32 --> 1175.48]  hold that against you.
[1175.66 --> 1176.12]  God
[1176.12 --> 1177.00]  is a God
[1177.00 --> 1177.66]  of forgiveness.
[1179.56 --> 1180.60]  We're connected
[1180.60 --> 1181.74]  to that God
[1181.74 --> 1182.60]  that God
[1182.60 --> 1183.20]  of grace
[1183.20 --> 1183.94]  and mercy
[1183.94 --> 1185.32]  when we learn
[1185.32 --> 1185.88]  to live
[1185.88 --> 1186.68]  in the context
[1186.68 --> 1187.92]  of prayer.
[1189.28 --> 1190.14]  So those are
[1190.14 --> 1190.98]  the two pillars
[1190.98 --> 1192.10]  that form
[1192.10 --> 1192.62]  a connection
[1192.62 --> 1193.30]  to God.
[1194.08 --> 1194.80]  On the one hand
[1194.80 --> 1195.76]  learning to live
[1195.76 --> 1196.22]  in the light
[1196.22 --> 1196.74]  of eternity
[1196.74 --> 1197.76]  and on the other
[1197.76 --> 1198.22]  hand
[1198.22 --> 1199.50]  learning to live
[1199.50 --> 1200.34]  in the context
[1200.34 --> 1201.26]  of prayer.
[1202.10 --> 1202.84]  Now when I had
[1202.84 --> 1203.56]  preached this
[1203.56 --> 1204.90]  at New Life
[1204.90 --> 1205.86]  and we do
[1205.86 --> 1207.18]  pre-recorded services
[1207.18 --> 1209.44]  which gives me
[1209.44 --> 1210.08]  the freedom to
[1210.08 --> 1210.62]  preach wherever
[1210.62 --> 1211.48]  I feel like it
[1211.48 --> 1211.84]  I thought
[1211.84 --> 1212.28]  you know what
[1212.28 --> 1212.90]  I should preach
[1212.90 --> 1213.76]  in front of a bridge.
[1214.22 --> 1214.66]  So we went
[1214.66 --> 1215.18]  in front of the
[1215.18 --> 1215.94]  mission bridge
[1215.94 --> 1216.60]  there on
[1216.60 --> 1217.36]  Highway 11
[1217.36 --> 1219.82]  with the
[1219.82 --> 1220.56]  Fraser River
[1220.56 --> 1221.70]  in the background.
[1222.00 --> 1222.64]  It was a beautiful
[1222.64 --> 1223.70]  scenic setting.
[1223.88 --> 1224.62]  It was a great
[1224.62 --> 1225.48]  place to preach.
[1225.48 --> 1227.72]  And when we
[1227.72 --> 1228.42]  saw it on the
[1228.42 --> 1229.14]  recording then
[1229.14 --> 1229.62]  of course
[1229.62 --> 1231.12]  because it was
[1231.12 --> 1231.78]  a sunny day
[1231.78 --> 1232.66]  the river
[1232.66 --> 1233.10]  just
[1233.10 --> 1235.24]  overexposed
[1235.24 --> 1235.76]  everything.
[1236.00 --> 1236.60]  So all you
[1236.60 --> 1236.94]  could see
[1236.94 --> 1237.44]  was me
[1237.44 --> 1237.72]  and you
[1237.72 --> 1238.08]  couldn't even
[1238.08 --> 1238.88]  see the bridge.
[1239.44 --> 1240.24]  So I had to
[1240.24 --> 1240.78]  think of something
[1240.78 --> 1241.82]  else to illustrate
[1241.82 --> 1243.00]  this point
[1243.00 --> 1243.74]  of saying
[1243.74 --> 1244.16]  look
[1244.16 --> 1244.88]  if you want
[1244.88 --> 1245.54]  to be deeply
[1245.54 --> 1246.58]  connected to God
[1246.58 --> 1247.68]  for an all-in
[1247.68 --> 1248.26]  faith
[1248.26 --> 1249.56]  you need to be
[1249.56 --> 1250.46]  rooted in both
[1250.46 --> 1251.88]  banks
[1251.88 --> 1252.08]  banks
[1252.08 --> 1253.32]  in order to
[1253.32 --> 1253.82]  form that
[1253.82 --> 1254.52]  bridge of
[1254.52 --> 1255.36]  connection to
[1255.36 --> 1255.82]  God.
[1257.22 --> 1257.54]  And so I
[1257.54 --> 1258.24]  came across
[1258.24 --> 1260.88]  a living
[1260.88 --> 1261.52]  bridge
[1261.52 --> 1262.74]  which in fact
[1262.74 --> 1264.12]  is a way
[1264.12 --> 1264.54]  better
[1264.54 --> 1265.98]  illustration
[1265.98 --> 1267.30]  of what
[1267.30 --> 1267.90]  James is
[1267.90 --> 1268.58]  trying to
[1268.58 --> 1269.42]  teach us
[1269.42 --> 1270.18]  here in
[1270.18 --> 1271.40]  James chapter 5.
[1272.84 --> 1273.54]  Living bridges
[1273.54 --> 1274.84]  occur in
[1274.84 --> 1275.54]  northwest
[1275.54 --> 1276.26]  India
[1276.26 --> 1276.78]  in a place
[1276.78 --> 1277.78]  called Meghalaya.
[1277.78 --> 1278.88]  It's a place
[1278.88 --> 1279.46]  that gets
[1279.46 --> 1279.94]  the most
[1279.94 --> 1280.60]  rain of
[1280.60 --> 1281.28]  any place
[1281.28 --> 1281.68]  on the
[1281.68 --> 1282.06]  planet.
[1282.26 --> 1282.90]  Something like
[1282.90 --> 1284.12]  they average
[1284.12 --> 1285.28]  4 meters
[1285.28 --> 1286.36]  of rain
[1286.36 --> 1287.86]  on average
[1287.86 --> 1288.90]  per year.
[1289.82 --> 1290.22]  I think we
[1290.22 --> 1290.60]  probably
[1290.60 --> 1291.30]  at least in
[1291.30 --> 1291.68]  Abbotsford
[1291.68 --> 1292.28]  we get about
[1292.28 --> 1293.28]  a meter
[1293.28 --> 1293.84]  maybe a
[1293.84 --> 1294.32]  meter and a
[1294.32 --> 1294.68]  half
[1294.68 --> 1296.26]  year
[1296.26 --> 1297.22]  average
[1297.22 --> 1297.86]  accumulation.
[1299.10 --> 1299.26]  So
[1299.26 --> 1300.56]  these people
[1300.56 --> 1301.16]  have to put up
[1301.16 --> 1301.84]  with enormous
[1301.84 --> 1303.14]  monsoon rains
[1303.14 --> 1304.28]  and tremendous
[1304.28 --> 1305.04]  flooding so you
[1305.04 --> 1305.88]  can well imagine
[1305.88 --> 1307.18]  years ago
[1307.18 --> 1308.06]  when they
[1308.06 --> 1308.58]  tried to
[1308.58 --> 1309.04]  build a
[1309.04 --> 1309.72]  bridge across
[1309.72 --> 1310.38]  a stream
[1310.38 --> 1312.14]  the banks
[1312.14 --> 1312.68]  would so
[1312.68 --> 1313.44]  easily just
[1313.44 --> 1314.28]  wash out
[1314.28 --> 1314.86]  and then the
[1314.86 --> 1315.40]  bridges would
[1315.40 --> 1315.96]  collapse.
[1317.24 --> 1317.68]  I got to
[1317.68 --> 1318.16]  thinking you
[1318.16 --> 1318.46]  know what
[1318.46 --> 1320.44]  that's a lot
[1320.44 --> 1320.96]  of times
[1320.96 --> 1322.12]  the way we
[1322.12 --> 1322.82]  try to build
[1322.82 --> 1323.46]  our connection
[1323.46 --> 1324.10]  to God
[1324.10 --> 1325.20]  and then
[1325.20 --> 1327.06]  the monsoons
[1327.06 --> 1327.80]  of hardship
[1327.80 --> 1328.56]  or trial
[1328.56 --> 1329.34]  in our lives
[1329.34 --> 1330.00]  come along
[1330.00 --> 1330.52]  and wash
[1330.52 --> 1331.26]  out the banks
[1331.26 --> 1331.92]  and our bridge
[1331.92 --> 1332.44]  collapses
[1332.44 --> 1333.24]  and we give
[1333.24 --> 1333.76]  up on our
[1333.76 --> 1334.10]  connection
[1334.10 --> 1334.70]  with God.
[1335.66 --> 1336.26]  So you know
[1336.26 --> 1336.68]  what the people
[1336.68 --> 1337.38]  of Meghalaya
[1337.38 --> 1337.96]  did in
[1337.96 --> 1338.30]  northwest
[1338.30 --> 1338.82]  India.
[1339.40 --> 1340.02]  They discovered
[1340.02 --> 1340.86]  that they
[1340.86 --> 1341.34]  could take
[1341.34 --> 1342.04]  a tree that
[1342.04 --> 1342.84]  grew naturally
[1342.84 --> 1343.82]  there and
[1343.82 --> 1344.78]  train the roots
[1344.78 --> 1345.54]  of the tree
[1345.54 --> 1346.62]  to come up
[1346.62 --> 1347.10]  out of the
[1347.10 --> 1347.96]  ground on one
[1347.96 --> 1348.50]  side of the
[1348.50 --> 1349.04]  bank of a
[1349.04 --> 1349.42]  stream.
[1349.84 --> 1350.14]  They could
[1350.14 --> 1350.78]  train the
[1350.78 --> 1351.38]  roots of
[1351.38 --> 1352.02]  that tree
[1352.02 --> 1353.16]  to go over
[1353.16 --> 1353.82]  the stream
[1353.82 --> 1354.80]  and then they
[1354.80 --> 1355.30]  would plant
[1355.30 --> 1356.14]  it back into
[1356.14 --> 1356.60]  the other
[1356.60 --> 1357.68]  bank and
[1357.68 --> 1357.96]  they would
[1357.96 --> 1358.52]  do that with
[1358.52 --> 1359.12]  a tree on
[1359.12 --> 1359.46]  the other
[1359.46 --> 1359.94]  side of the
[1359.94 --> 1360.58]  bank back
[1360.58 --> 1361.22]  to the
[1361.22 --> 1362.34]  first bank
[1362.34 --> 1363.42]  and eventually
[1363.42 --> 1364.68]  a web of
[1364.68 --> 1365.74]  roots would
[1365.74 --> 1366.84]  grow together
[1366.84 --> 1367.44]  so that they
[1367.44 --> 1368.10]  could fill it
[1368.10 --> 1368.84]  with rocks
[1368.84 --> 1369.54]  and mud
[1369.54 --> 1370.48]  and create
[1370.48 --> 1371.24]  a path.
[1371.98 --> 1372.70]  I brought a
[1372.70 --> 1373.36]  picture along
[1373.36 --> 1373.74]  I don't know
[1373.74 --> 1374.24]  if there it
[1374.24 --> 1375.14]  is so there
[1375.14 --> 1375.62]  it is.
[1376.68 --> 1377.52]  And so it
[1377.52 --> 1378.16]  doesn't matter
[1378.16 --> 1379.24]  really how much
[1379.24 --> 1380.10]  rain comes
[1380.10 --> 1381.20]  down but
[1381.20 --> 1381.90]  those roots
[1381.90 --> 1382.60]  are firmly
[1382.60 --> 1383.94]  established deep
[1383.94 --> 1384.88]  into the banks
[1384.88 --> 1385.44]  and to the
[1385.44 --> 1386.26]  sides of the
[1386.26 --> 1387.46]  stream so that
[1387.46 --> 1387.84]  they could
[1387.84 --> 1388.76]  create a
[1388.76 --> 1389.68]  connection from
[1389.68 --> 1391.02]  one side to
[1391.02 --> 1391.46]  the other.
[1391.46 --> 1392.86]  And that's
[1392.86 --> 1393.40]  something of
[1393.40 --> 1394.10]  what the
[1394.10 --> 1394.94]  connection of
[1394.94 --> 1395.62]  God as
[1395.62 --> 1396.62]  James describes
[1396.62 --> 1398.10]  it is like.
[1398.74 --> 1399.40]  It's not a
[1399.40 --> 1400.12]  matter of just
[1400.12 --> 1400.76]  saying oh
[1400.76 --> 1402.58]  okay so I
[1402.58 --> 1403.16]  prayed I
[1403.16 --> 1403.44]  should be
[1403.44 --> 1403.90]  connected to
[1403.90 --> 1404.14]  God.
[1404.58 --> 1405.48]  Oh yeah I
[1405.48 --> 1405.94]  thought about
[1405.94 --> 1406.62]  eternity I
[1406.62 --> 1406.90]  should be
[1406.90 --> 1407.38]  connected to
[1407.38 --> 1407.70]  God.
[1408.28 --> 1408.56]  No it
[1408.56 --> 1409.04]  takes a
[1409.04 --> 1410.62]  lifetime of
[1410.62 --> 1412.20]  learning to
[1412.20 --> 1413.02]  live in the
[1413.02 --> 1413.36]  light of
[1413.36 --> 1413.78]  eternity.
[1414.02 --> 1414.50]  It takes a
[1414.50 --> 1415.34]  lifetime of
[1415.34 --> 1416.02]  learning to
[1416.02 --> 1416.56]  live in the
[1416.56 --> 1417.34]  context of
[1417.34 --> 1417.70]  prayer.
[1418.32 --> 1418.76]  Perhaps you're
[1418.76 --> 1419.12]  not going to
[1419.12 --> 1419.60]  get it right
[1419.60 --> 1420.34]  the first time.
[1420.46 --> 1421.12]  Perhaps you're
[1421.12 --> 1421.72]  going to have
[1421.72 --> 1422.24]  stumbling.
[1422.44 --> 1423.00]  Perhaps you're
[1423.00 --> 1423.44]  going to have
[1423.44 --> 1424.70]  those times of
[1424.70 --> 1425.66]  wash out.
[1426.62 --> 1427.28]  But those
[1427.28 --> 1429.34]  roots of
[1429.34 --> 1429.94]  learning to
[1429.94 --> 1430.50]  live in the
[1430.50 --> 1430.84]  light of
[1430.84 --> 1431.70]  eternity and
[1431.70 --> 1432.24]  learning to
[1432.24 --> 1433.68]  live in the
[1433.68 --> 1434.46]  context of
[1434.46 --> 1435.62]  prayer are
[1435.62 --> 1436.30]  going to be
[1436.30 --> 1437.56]  firmly established
[1437.56 --> 1438.88]  and eventually
[1438.88 --> 1440.06]  they will grow
[1440.06 --> 1441.20]  into a web
[1441.20 --> 1442.66]  that creates a
[1442.66 --> 1444.18]  direct path to
[1444.18 --> 1444.58]  God.
[1445.58 --> 1446.58]  So that you
[1446.58 --> 1447.42]  can live in
[1447.42 --> 1448.00]  the assurance
[1448.00 --> 1449.86]  that God is
[1449.86 --> 1450.48]  always with
[1450.48 --> 1450.74]  you.
[1451.12 --> 1451.72]  And you
[1451.72 --> 1452.66]  are always
[1452.66 --> 1453.64]  walking with
[1453.64 --> 1453.94]  God.
[1454.38 --> 1454.86]  Let's pray
[1454.86 --> 1455.18]  together.
[1457.74 --> 1458.46]  Father in
[1458.46 --> 1458.68]  heaven,
[1459.78 --> 1460.56]  thank you
[1460.56 --> 1465.70]  that you
[1465.70 --> 1466.40]  are a
[1466.40 --> 1466.92]  God that
[1466.92 --> 1468.76]  hears us.
[1471.80 --> 1472.48]  You're a
[1472.48 --> 1472.88]  God that
[1472.88 --> 1473.66]  pays attention
[1473.66 --> 1474.24]  when we
[1474.24 --> 1474.84]  cry out
[1474.84 --> 1475.80]  loudly to
[1475.80 --> 1476.08]  you.
[1477.72 --> 1478.38]  You're a
[1478.38 --> 1479.88]  God that
[1479.88 --> 1481.20]  hears us
[1481.20 --> 1482.42]  and listens
[1482.42 --> 1483.68]  even when
[1483.68 --> 1484.58]  we mumble
[1484.58 --> 1485.70]  and grumble
[1485.70 --> 1487.00]  out to
[1487.00 --> 1487.32]  you.
[1489.48 --> 1490.46]  God, thank
[1490.46 --> 1491.02]  you that you
[1491.02 --> 1491.72]  are a God
[1491.72 --> 1493.24]  that has
[1493.24 --> 1493.76]  the whole
[1493.76 --> 1495.20]  universe in
[1495.20 --> 1496.22]  your hand
[1496.22 --> 1497.20]  from the
[1497.20 --> 1497.82]  very beginning
[1497.82 --> 1498.72]  of time
[1498.72 --> 1499.96]  to the very
[1499.96 --> 1500.82]  end of time.
[1500.82 --> 1501.82]  God, thank you
[1501.82 --> 1502.82]  for the
[1502.82 --> 1503.82]  God.
[1503.82 --> 1503.96]  So we
[1503.96 --> 1504.70]  pray, God,
[1504.78 --> 1506.94]  that you
[1506.94 --> 1507.46]  will teach
[1507.46 --> 1508.90]  us what it
[1508.90 --> 1509.36]  means to
[1509.36 --> 1509.94]  live in the
[1509.94 --> 1510.26]  light of
[1510.26 --> 1510.72]  eternity.
[1510.96 --> 1511.56]  Teach us
[1511.56 --> 1511.88]  what it
[1511.88 --> 1512.52]  means to
[1512.52 --> 1513.14]  be connected
[1513.14 --> 1514.08]  through prayer.
[1515.36 --> 1516.18]  And God,
[1516.78 --> 1517.74]  we confess
[1517.74 --> 1519.30]  that it's
[1519.30 --> 1519.88]  easy for us
[1519.88 --> 1520.58]  to give up.
[1521.80 --> 1522.60]  It's easy
[1522.60 --> 1523.66]  for us to
[1523.66 --> 1524.44]  just fall
[1524.44 --> 1525.32]  flat on
[1525.32 --> 1525.90]  our face.
[1525.90 --> 1526.02]  us.
[1527.22 --> 1528.00]  And so
[1528.00 --> 1528.72]  pick us up
[1528.72 --> 1529.72]  again and
[1529.72 --> 1530.08]  again.
[1530.94 --> 1531.58]  Restore us
[1531.58 --> 1532.36]  to yourself.
[1533.92 --> 1534.94]  Create in us,
[1535.06 --> 1535.50]  God, a
[1535.50 --> 1536.40]  clean heart.
[1538.06 --> 1539.24]  And draw us
[1539.24 --> 1540.10]  to yourself
[1540.10 --> 1542.58]  so that we
[1542.58 --> 1545.22]  can proclaim
[1545.22 --> 1546.30]  your goodness,
[1547.26 --> 1547.92]  so that we
[1547.92 --> 1548.50]  can let your
[1548.50 --> 1549.60]  light shine,
[1550.26 --> 1550.98]  and so that
[1550.98 --> 1552.10]  we can proclaim
[1552.10 --> 1553.28]  your kingdom
[1553.28 --> 1554.78]  and that you
[1554.78 --> 1555.60]  are the ruler
[1555.60 --> 1557.60]  still and
[1557.60 --> 1558.64]  that you
[1558.64 --> 1559.40]  will accomplish
[1559.40 --> 1560.20]  your purposes
[1560.20 --> 1561.28]  in our world
[1561.28 --> 1562.26]  and that
[1562.26 --> 1562.88]  nothing,
[1563.06 --> 1563.60]  absolutely
[1563.60 --> 1564.14]  nothing,
[1564.32 --> 1565.08]  no pandemic
[1565.08 --> 1566.02]  ever hinders
[1566.02 --> 1566.82]  your purposes.
[1568.32 --> 1568.78]  And so we
[1568.78 --> 1569.60]  trust in you,
[1569.72 --> 1569.90]  Father.
[1572.02 --> 1572.80]  And so may we
[1572.80 --> 1573.78]  live our lives
[1573.78 --> 1574.94]  in that kind
[1574.94 --> 1575.90]  of all-in
[1575.90 --> 1577.32]  faith that is
[1577.32 --> 1578.12]  deeply connected
[1578.12 --> 1578.64]  to you.
[1578.76 --> 1579.44]  We pray it in
[1579.44 --> 1580.06]  Jesus' name.
[1580.98 --> 1581.26]  Amen.
[1583.28 --> 1584.28]  Amen.