1 00:00:00,440 –> 00:00:02,900 Well, we’ve been learning together on these Sunday mornings 2 00:00:02,900 –> 00:00:06,700 that authentic worship is God-centred. 3 00:00:06,700 –> 00:00:09,500 It’s going to be Christ-focused 4 00:00:09,500 –> 00:00:11,940 and it has to be spirit-filled. 5 00:00:11,940 –> 00:00:15,840 And we’ve begun to look at the elements of public worship 6 00:00:15,840 –> 00:00:17,420 as we’re asking the question, 7 00:00:17,420 –> 00:00:18,540 well, now what do we do 8 00:00:18,540 –> 00:00:22,100 and why do we do it when we gather in this way 9 00:00:22,100 –> 00:00:24,219 in worship together? 10 00:00:24,219 –> 00:00:28,379 Now, last week we looked at the ministry of singing. 11 00:00:28,820 –> 00:00:31,320 And the first thing that I want you to notice today 12 00:00:31,320 –> 00:00:35,680 is that last week was not the end of the series. 13 00:00:37,000 –> 00:00:38,900 Now, I really want you to take that in. 14 00:00:39,759 –> 00:00:44,139 Last week was not the end of the series. 15 00:00:45,900 –> 00:00:49,160 And I say that and I want it to filter into our minds 16 00:00:49,160 –> 00:00:52,520 because it has become very common today 17 00:00:52,520 –> 00:00:56,040 for folks to equate worship with singing. 18 00:00:56,980 –> 00:00:59,540 In fact, when people talk about the worship, 19 00:00:59,540 –> 00:01:04,540 usually what they mean is simply the singing, the music. 20 00:01:05,540 –> 00:01:08,139 Somehow we’ve got hold in our culture, 21 00:01:08,139 –> 00:01:09,220 I don’t know how it happened, 22 00:01:09,220 –> 00:01:11,820 but somehow we’ve got hold in our culture 23 00:01:11,820 –> 00:01:15,980 of the idea that worship equals singing. 24 00:01:17,620 –> 00:01:19,620 And singing, as we saw last week, 25 00:01:19,620 –> 00:01:22,500 is an important part of worship. 26 00:01:22,500 –> 00:01:24,779 It’s one of the wonderful elements 27 00:01:24,800 –> 00:01:28,099 that God has given to us as the people of God, 28 00:01:28,099 –> 00:01:30,400 but I want us to grasp 29 00:01:30,400 –> 00:01:32,720 and to hold on for the rest of our lives 30 00:01:32,720 –> 00:01:37,720 to this fact that worship is more than singing. 31 00:01:38,400 –> 00:01:41,620 Worship is more than singing. 32 00:01:41,620 –> 00:01:43,480 Praying is worship. 33 00:01:44,680 –> 00:01:47,080 Giving is worship. 34 00:01:47,080 –> 00:01:49,360 Preaching is worship. 35 00:01:49,360 –> 00:01:51,519 The Lord’s Supper is worship. 36 00:01:51,519 –> 00:01:53,320 Baptism is worship. 37 00:01:53,339 –> 00:01:57,080 If we’ve understood worship in biblical terms, 38 00:01:57,080 –> 00:02:02,040 we will have grasped that worship is more than singing. 39 00:02:02,040 –> 00:02:04,459 Now, that will take a readjustment of mindset 40 00:02:04,459 –> 00:02:05,800 for many of us 41 00:02:05,800 –> 00:02:08,779 who’ve not thought about this in this way before. 42 00:02:08,779 –> 00:02:11,460 But the Christian church has understood this clearly 43 00:02:11,460 –> 00:02:13,639 throughout its entire history. 44 00:02:13,639 –> 00:02:15,779 But a large part of the church, 45 00:02:15,779 –> 00:02:18,759 at least in the West, has lost sight of it today. 46 00:02:18,759 –> 00:02:20,119 And the result is, of course, 47 00:02:20,119 –> 00:02:22,080 that it is not uncommon today 48 00:02:22,080 –> 00:02:24,720 for a worship service to be half an hour of singing 49 00:02:24,720 –> 00:02:27,059 followed by half an hour of preaching. 50 00:02:27,059 –> 00:02:28,440 And here’s the problem, 51 00:02:29,679 –> 00:02:33,960 if we reduce worship to singing and preaching, 52 00:02:33,960 –> 00:02:37,360 we miss a whole dimension 53 00:02:37,360 –> 00:02:42,339 of what God has specifically called us to do. 54 00:02:42,339 –> 00:02:43,979 Now, our series is entitled 55 00:02:43,979 –> 00:02:47,960 Worship, What We Do, and Why We Do It. 56 00:02:47,960 –> 00:02:50,360 And so, over these next weeks in the series, 57 00:02:50,360 –> 00:02:52,960 as we continue to explore the elements of worship, 58 00:02:52,960 –> 00:02:57,600 I want us to learn how to value each of them. 59 00:02:57,600 –> 00:03:01,520 I want us to learn how to use each of the elements 60 00:03:01,520 –> 00:03:03,500 of Christian worship as they’re given to us 61 00:03:03,500 –> 00:03:04,520 in the scripture. 62 00:03:04,520 –> 00:03:09,460 I want us to see how each of them plays a critical role 63 00:03:09,460 –> 00:03:14,119 in the spiritual formation of the body of Christ. 64 00:03:15,000 –> 00:03:17,960 And today we come to the subject of prayer. 65 00:03:17,960 –> 00:03:20,559 Now, the obvious place to begin on this subject 66 00:03:20,559 –> 00:03:22,979 is, of course, the Lord’s Prayer. 67 00:03:22,979 –> 00:03:24,360 Remember that in the Gospels, 68 00:03:24,360 –> 00:03:26,440 the disciples came to Jesus and they said, 69 00:03:26,440 –> 00:03:29,119 “‘Lord, teach us to pray.’” 70 00:03:29,119 –> 00:03:31,119 And I’ve found it very helpful to think about 71 00:03:31,119 –> 00:03:35,440 the Lord’s Prayer as being in three parts 72 00:03:35,440 –> 00:03:40,440 involving adoration, intercession, and confession. 73 00:03:41,899 –> 00:03:43,559 Let me explain these three things. 74 00:03:43,559 –> 00:03:45,179 First of all, adoration. 75 00:03:45,179 –> 00:03:46,839 Think how the Lord’s Prayer begins. 76 00:03:46,839 –> 00:03:51,839 Our father in heaven hallowed be your name. 77 00:03:52,699 –> 00:03:54,539 In other words, when Jesus teaches prayer, 78 00:03:54,539 –> 00:03:55,899 he says, here’s where it begins. 79 00:03:55,899 –> 00:03:58,460 Lift your mind up to God who he is 80 00:03:58,460 –> 00:04:00,220 in the uniqueness of his name, 81 00:04:00,220 –> 00:04:04,300 his glory in heaven, his love as your eternal father, 82 00:04:04,300 –> 00:04:06,820 his awesome holiness. 83 00:04:06,820 –> 00:04:11,419 Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name. 84 00:04:11,419 –> 00:04:12,639 That’s the first thing, 85 00:04:12,639 –> 00:04:16,640 the first dimension of our worship in prayer. 86 00:04:16,640 –> 00:04:20,660 But notice the two things that flow from this adoration. 87 00:04:20,660 –> 00:04:24,459 The first is intercession, your kingdom come. 88 00:04:24,459 –> 00:04:27,839 Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 89 00:04:27,839 –> 00:04:29,779 Give us today our daily bread. 90 00:04:29,779 –> 00:04:31,619 These are prayers of request. 91 00:04:31,619 –> 00:04:33,940 They are prayers first for others 92 00:04:33,940 –> 00:04:35,660 and then prayers for ourselves. 93 00:04:35,660 –> 00:04:38,579 My daily bread involves everything that I need 94 00:04:38,579 –> 00:04:40,179 and so here we bring requests 95 00:04:40,519 –> 00:04:42,839 as we sometimes call it intercession. 96 00:04:42,839 –> 00:04:46,940 That is prayer for others and for our own needs. 97 00:04:46,940 –> 00:04:49,040 And then thirdly in the Lord’s Prayer 98 00:04:49,040 –> 00:04:51,500 we have this whole element of confession. 99 00:04:52,519 –> 00:04:55,559 Forgive us our trespasses 100 00:04:55,559 –> 00:04:58,179 as we forgive those who trespass against us 101 00:04:58,179 –> 00:05:02,320 and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. 102 00:05:02,320 –> 00:05:04,579 And so Jesus teaches his disciples 103 00:05:04,579 –> 00:05:06,600 that not only do we need to lift our minds 104 00:05:06,600 –> 00:05:07,980 to God in adoration, 105 00:05:07,980 –> 00:05:10,100 but we need to intercede for the world 106 00:05:10,100 –> 00:05:12,739 and bring our own needs before him. 107 00:05:12,739 –> 00:05:14,980 Then we need to come to him in confession 108 00:05:14,980 –> 00:05:16,579 asking for forgiveness, 109 00:05:16,579 –> 00:05:19,200 being ready to offer forgiveness to others 110 00:05:19,200 –> 00:05:21,000 and to be kept from the snares 111 00:05:21,000 –> 00:05:23,779 and the clutches of the evil one. 112 00:05:23,779 –> 00:05:25,540 So do you see the very simple pattern 113 00:05:25,540 –> 00:05:26,420 of the Lord’s Prayer? 114 00:05:26,420 –> 00:05:28,899 This is very, very basic stuff about prayer. 115 00:05:28,899 –> 00:05:32,579 It involves adoration, it involves intercession, 116 00:05:32,579 –> 00:05:34,500 it involves confession, 117 00:05:34,500 –> 00:05:37,019 it involves lifting our minds to God, 118 00:05:37,059 –> 00:05:39,140 opening our hearts to the world. 119 00:05:39,140 –> 00:05:41,619 It involves humbling ourselves before him 120 00:05:41,619 –> 00:05:44,540 and acknowledging our need of forgiveness. 121 00:05:45,859 –> 00:05:48,660 If then we lift our minds to God in adoration, 122 00:05:48,660 –> 00:05:50,579 two things will come from this. 123 00:05:51,600 –> 00:05:55,220 We will confess our sins 124 00:05:55,220 –> 00:05:58,040 and we will care for the world. 125 00:05:58,040 –> 00:06:03,040 Adoration brings us to intercession and to confession 126 00:06:03,399 –> 00:06:05,000 and all of these things 127 00:06:05,000 –> 00:06:08,480 are critical elements of true worship. 128 00:06:09,459 –> 00:06:11,519 Now, these are going to be our focus this morning. 129 00:06:11,519 –> 00:06:14,299 We want us to look first at this area of confession, 130 00:06:14,299 –> 00:06:16,299 which Jesus teaches to us, 131 00:06:16,299 –> 00:06:18,600 as a dimension of our prayers, 132 00:06:18,600 –> 00:06:21,720 and then to look at the whole issue of intercession, 133 00:06:21,720 –> 00:06:23,920 having a heart for the world. 134 00:06:23,920 –> 00:06:24,920 So with that introduction, 135 00:06:24,920 –> 00:06:27,420 would you turn with me then to the first passage 136 00:06:27,420 –> 00:06:28,279 that we’re going to look at, 137 00:06:28,279 –> 00:06:30,839 which is 1 John 1, 138 00:06:30,880 –> 00:06:33,839 and then later we’ll turn to 1 Timothy. 139 00:06:33,839 –> 00:06:36,279 Confession and intercession, 140 00:06:36,279 –> 00:06:40,519 critical elements that shape our lives and our ministry 141 00:06:40,519 –> 00:06:42,940 in the place of worship. 142 00:06:44,679 –> 00:06:47,079 Now, if you are a Christian, 143 00:06:47,079 –> 00:06:50,200 there are two things that you need to know about yourself. 144 00:06:51,179 –> 00:06:54,239 The first is that you’re right with God. 145 00:06:54,239 –> 00:06:56,320 If you are in Jesus Christ, 146 00:06:56,320 –> 00:06:59,920 you are right with God. 147 00:07:00,799 –> 00:07:03,040 Second, if you’re a Christian, 148 00:07:03,040 –> 00:07:04,600 you need to know this about yourself, 149 00:07:04,600 –> 00:07:07,660 that you are still a sinner. 150 00:07:08,839 –> 00:07:10,880 Think about these two things. 151 00:07:10,880 –> 00:07:13,279 The good news of the gospel is that when a person 152 00:07:13,279 –> 00:07:16,040 comes by faith to Jesus Christ, 153 00:07:16,040 –> 00:07:19,839 your sins are forgiven, period. 154 00:07:19,839 –> 00:07:22,440 No ifs, no buts, no maybes. 155 00:07:23,399 –> 00:07:25,339 If you think of it in computer terms, 156 00:07:25,339 –> 00:07:27,459 when you come to faith in Jesus Christ, 157 00:07:27,459 –> 00:07:29,200 you turn to Him in repentance. 158 00:07:29,260 –> 00:07:32,440 God takes the corrupted file of all your sins 159 00:07:32,440 –> 00:07:34,500 and he deletes it. 160 00:07:34,500 –> 00:07:37,980 The record of your sins in heaven is simply gone. 161 00:07:37,980 –> 00:07:40,739 That is why Paul says in Romans Chapter 8 and Verse 1, 162 00:07:40,739 –> 00:07:44,059 there is now no condemnation 163 00:07:44,059 –> 00:07:46,899 for those who are in Christ Jesus. 164 00:07:46,899 –> 00:07:48,739 Isn’t that good news? 165 00:07:48,739 –> 00:07:50,320 It’s the greatest thing in all of the world. 166 00:07:50,320 –> 00:07:51,420 No ifs, no buts, 167 00:07:51,420 –> 00:07:54,119 not so long as you manage to keep it up reasonably well. 168 00:07:54,119 –> 00:07:56,380 There is no condemnation 169 00:07:56,420 –> 00:07:59,859 for those who are in Christ Jesus. 170 00:07:59,859 –> 00:08:01,720 If you’re in Jesus Christ, 171 00:08:01,720 –> 00:08:05,179 God holds no charges in heaven 172 00:08:05,179 –> 00:08:06,540 for you to answer. 173 00:08:06,540 –> 00:08:07,579 You die at this moment. 174 00:08:07,579 –> 00:08:09,059 You go into his presence. 175 00:08:09,059 –> 00:08:11,339 Saved through the blood of Jesus Christ 176 00:08:11,339 –> 00:08:14,320 because your file of sins, as it were, 177 00:08:14,320 –> 00:08:16,299 in heaven is gone. 178 00:08:17,220 –> 00:08:18,059 It is gone. 179 00:08:19,600 –> 00:08:21,760 If you are a Christian, you are right with God. 180 00:08:21,760 –> 00:08:25,220 You are justified to use the New Testaments word. 181 00:08:26,899 –> 00:08:29,540 But although there are no charges 182 00:08:29,540 –> 00:08:31,880 for me to answer in heaven, 183 00:08:33,299 –> 00:08:35,679 the problem for every one of us as Christians 184 00:08:35,679 –> 00:08:37,179 is that it is very obvious 185 00:08:37,179 –> 00:08:40,460 that there is still sin in our lives. 186 00:08:41,940 –> 00:08:44,760 That’s quite clear from 1 John 1 8, isn’t it? 187 00:08:44,760 –> 00:08:46,340 Look at it there, would you? 188 00:08:46,340 –> 00:08:49,140 And remember John is talking to believers, 189 00:08:49,960 –> 00:08:52,179 he’s talking quite clearly. 190 00:08:52,179 –> 00:08:54,580 In verse seven to people who are walking in the light 191 00:08:54,580 –> 00:08:55,679 and have fellowship with God 192 00:08:55,880 –> 00:08:58,520 and the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin 193 00:08:59,640 –> 00:09:03,940 and then he says to us if we claim to be without sin, 194 00:09:05,280 –> 00:09:09,299 we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 195 00:09:10,799 –> 00:09:13,380 In other words, if there’s anyone here who thinks 196 00:09:13,380 –> 00:09:16,679 well you know, I’ve got no sin in my life now, 197 00:09:16,679 –> 00:09:19,679 you’re deceived, that’s what John’s saying 198 00:09:19,679 –> 00:09:22,700 and the truth isn’t in you, if you think that. 199 00:09:23,440 –> 00:09:26,919 If, John is talking to believers and he’s talking 200 00:09:26,919 –> 00:09:30,200 in the present tense God has dropped all charges 201 00:09:30,200 –> 00:09:33,320 against me but I am still left with the fact 202 00:09:33,320 –> 00:09:37,239 that there is sin in my life, in other words, 203 00:09:37,239 –> 00:09:42,239 my Christian life, my spirit-filled life, 204 00:09:46,159 –> 00:09:50,440 my discipleship life still falls short 205 00:09:50,440 –> 00:09:52,200 of the glory of God. 206 00:09:53,619 –> 00:09:56,200 Let me personalize this, I’ve been a Christian 207 00:09:56,200 –> 00:10:01,020 for 40 years and I am still not the Christian 208 00:10:01,020 –> 00:10:01,859 I want to be. 209 00:10:03,739 –> 00:10:06,880 I am still not the Christian that God calls me to be. 210 00:10:11,260 –> 00:10:13,739 Any Christian who things seriously about it 211 00:10:13,739 –> 00:10:15,119 in the light of the scripture will come 212 00:10:15,119 –> 00:10:16,380 to the same conclusion. 213 00:10:17,299 –> 00:10:22,299 A Christian is at the same time righteous and a sinner. 214 00:10:24,940 –> 00:10:27,320 And that’s a fundamental thing that we need 215 00:10:27,320 –> 00:10:29,099 to grasp about ourselves, you are right 216 00:10:29,099 –> 00:10:32,239 with God, but you are still a sinner. 217 00:10:32,239 –> 00:10:35,820 And that tension of course, is why it’s so confusing 218 00:10:35,820 –> 00:10:37,940 to get hold of what it’s really like to be a Christian, 219 00:10:37,940 –> 00:10:39,619 because both of these things are true. 220 00:10:39,619 –> 00:10:42,460 Every Christian is a walking contradiction. 221 00:10:42,679 –> 00:10:46,700 For instance, if you’re a Christian 222 00:10:46,700 –> 00:10:50,739 you are a walking contradiction, 223 00:10:50,739 –> 00:10:53,320 because you’re right with God, 100% 224 00:10:53,320 –> 00:10:56,020 but you’re not what you ought to be. 225 00:10:56,020 –> 00:10:57,940 And everyone of us when we’re really honest 226 00:10:57,940 –> 00:11:00,719 in the light of the Scriptures, knows that that is true. 227 00:11:02,039 –> 00:11:04,840 And we live in the tension of these two realities. 228 00:11:04,840 –> 00:11:07,500 One of these will keep me humble, 229 00:11:08,619 –> 00:11:10,700 the other one will lift me up. 230 00:11:11,419 –> 00:11:13,320 And we need them both. 231 00:11:14,979 –> 00:11:16,419 Once you see that every Christian 232 00:11:16,419 –> 00:11:17,700 lives with this contradiction, 233 00:11:17,700 –> 00:11:20,799 you will understand the confusion of being a Christian. 234 00:11:20,799 –> 00:11:23,200 The bible tells me I am right with God, 235 00:11:23,200 –> 00:11:26,840 and yet I know that all is not right within. 236 00:11:28,059 –> 00:11:31,500 Now I live with this tension, every Christian does. 237 00:11:31,500 –> 00:11:34,599 I find myself stretched out between these two things 238 00:11:34,599 –> 00:11:38,179 so that it is difficult truly, to keep hold of them both. 239 00:11:39,140 –> 00:11:42,380 And living in a tension is never easy, 240 00:11:42,380 –> 00:11:46,000 so the natural tendency is, think about this, 241 00:11:46,000 –> 00:11:48,599 for Christians to resolve the tension 242 00:11:48,599 –> 00:11:50,919 by letting go of one or other 243 00:11:50,919 –> 00:11:53,400 of the two realities in their minds. 244 00:11:56,119 –> 00:11:59,179 In other words, either we become so focused 245 00:11:59,179 –> 00:12:02,780 on confessing our sins that we lose sight 246 00:12:02,780 –> 00:12:04,659 of the fact that we’re right with God, 247 00:12:05,659 –> 00:12:09,119 and some of you were brought up like that. 248 00:12:10,659 –> 00:12:13,820 So focused on confessing your sins 249 00:12:13,820 –> 00:12:18,820 that you had no sense of what it is to be right with God. 250 00:12:21,580 –> 00:12:24,619 Or the alternative is that we become so focused 251 00:12:24,619 –> 00:12:26,919 on celebrating being right with God 252 00:12:26,919 –> 00:12:30,859 that we lose sight of confessing our sins, 253 00:12:30,859 –> 00:12:32,760 and that, I want to suggest, 254 00:12:33,760 –> 00:12:38,039 is by far our greater danger here. 255 00:12:41,140 –> 00:12:43,520 We didn’t lose sight of either 256 00:12:43,520 –> 00:12:45,320 of these two biblical realities. 257 00:12:45,320 –> 00:12:49,299 Lose sight of your forgiveness and you’ll soon be depressed. 258 00:12:50,479 –> 00:12:53,020 Lose sight of your continuing sinfulness 259 00:12:53,020 –> 00:12:55,619 and you’ll soon be shallow. 260 00:12:57,539 –> 00:13:00,099 Now you see authentic worship will always 261 00:13:00,200 –> 00:13:05,099 strengthen our grip on both of these two realities. 262 00:13:05,260 –> 00:13:09,000 Worship is a celebration of our forgiveness, 263 00:13:09,000 –> 00:13:11,400 but it is more than that. 264 00:13:11,400 –> 00:13:14,840 It must also involve a confession of our sin. 265 00:13:14,840 –> 00:13:17,440 Without that, it is simply not big enough for life 266 00:13:17,440 –> 00:13:19,479 and it’s certainly not true to the Bible. 267 00:13:20,500 –> 00:13:22,640 And Christians from all traditions 268 00:13:22,640 –> 00:13:24,739 have understood this throughout history. 269 00:13:24,739 –> 00:13:26,760 The whole business of confessing our sins 270 00:13:26,760 –> 00:13:29,299 of course has been attempted in worship in different ways. 271 00:13:29,380 –> 00:13:32,419 Some of them helpful, some of them perhaps unhelpful, 272 00:13:32,419 –> 00:13:35,000 but we are, and think about this, 273 00:13:36,140 –> 00:13:39,020 we are probably living in the first generation 274 00:13:39,020 –> 00:13:41,119 in Christian history 275 00:13:42,700 –> 00:13:44,059 where it would be possible to go 276 00:13:44,059 –> 00:13:45,859 to a Christian service of worship 277 00:13:45,859 –> 00:13:47,599 and never confess your sins. 278 00:13:51,200 –> 00:13:53,700 Think about where that takes us in 20 years. 279 00:13:53,739 –> 00:13:55,640 Think about Lord, 280 00:13:57,039 –> 00:14:00,239 if we do not confess our sins, 281 00:14:00,239 –> 00:14:04,700 if we do not grasp and address the issue 282 00:14:04,700 –> 00:14:07,780 of the continuing sinfulness within the Christian believer, 283 00:14:07,780 –> 00:14:10,059 we will never change. 284 00:14:11,200 –> 00:14:12,460 And nothing could be more tragic 285 00:14:12,460 –> 00:14:15,039 than lots and lots and lots of people coming to worship 286 00:14:15,039 –> 00:14:16,760 with very little change. 287 00:14:18,500 –> 00:14:19,679 And that’s happened before, in fact, 288 00:14:19,679 –> 00:14:21,760 and that’s precisely what was happening 289 00:14:21,799 –> 00:14:25,039 in the vast crowds of people that were coming to the temple 290 00:14:25,039 –> 00:14:26,479 in the time of Isaiah. 291 00:14:26,479 –> 00:14:28,840 Read about it in Isaiah chapter one. 292 00:14:28,840 –> 00:14:31,900 He talks about footsteps trampling 293 00:14:31,900 –> 00:14:33,320 all over the courts of God, 294 00:14:33,320 –> 00:14:36,799 but people very little different as a result. 295 00:14:39,520 –> 00:14:40,940 Someone said to me this week, 296 00:14:42,900 –> 00:14:45,919 of course, the problem is that many folks in church 297 00:14:45,919 –> 00:14:48,080 don’t feel that they are sinners. 298 00:14:48,679 –> 00:14:51,739 You know, we’ve not done anything terrible 299 00:14:51,739 –> 00:14:53,479 last week that got into the newspapers, 300 00:14:53,479 –> 00:14:54,479 haven’t murdered anyone, 301 00:14:54,479 –> 00:14:56,080 haven’t been unfaithful to your wife, 302 00:14:56,080 –> 00:14:56,919 didn’t rob a bank, 303 00:14:56,919 –> 00:14:58,719 so what is there to confess? 304 00:15:00,840 –> 00:15:02,200 Well, if that’s where you’re coming from, 305 00:15:02,200 –> 00:15:04,559 let me tell you a story about a man called Ray. 306 00:15:05,679 –> 00:15:06,719 Ray’s with the Lord now, 307 00:15:06,719 –> 00:15:09,559 but he came to this church a number of years ago. 308 00:15:09,559 –> 00:15:10,700 He came because his children 309 00:15:10,700 –> 00:15:12,260 were involved in the youth program 310 00:15:12,260 –> 00:15:15,020 and he began to study the Bible in a small group. 311 00:15:15,880 –> 00:15:16,760 But there was one thing 312 00:15:16,960 –> 00:15:18,200 that he just couldn’t get hold of. 313 00:15:18,200 –> 00:15:19,260 As he studied the Bible, 314 00:15:19,260 –> 00:15:23,359 he just could not get that God said, 315 00:15:23,359 –> 00:15:25,239 Ray, you are a sinner. 316 00:15:26,559 –> 00:15:28,599 He couldn’t relate that to his own life. 317 00:15:30,119 –> 00:15:31,479 I lived a good life he would say, 318 00:15:31,479 –> 00:15:32,320 I’ve been a good husband, 319 00:15:32,320 –> 00:15:33,159 I’ve been a good father, 320 00:15:33,159 –> 00:15:34,020 I pay my taxes, 321 00:15:34,020 –> 00:15:35,080 we’ve got a code of ethics, 322 00:15:35,080 –> 00:15:37,520 I run my business on good lines. 323 00:15:37,520 –> 00:15:39,500 he just couldn’t see how God could say 324 00:15:39,500 –> 00:15:40,559 that he was a sinner. 325 00:15:41,900 –> 00:15:43,080 Now this is his testimony 326 00:15:43,080 –> 00:15:45,440 as it was told to me by one of his friends. 327 00:15:45,520 –> 00:15:47,479 One day Ray was in the train 328 00:15:47,479 –> 00:15:49,500 going to his work in the city of Chicago 329 00:15:49,500 –> 00:15:50,960 and he was reading his Bible 330 00:15:50,960 –> 00:15:52,919 and he read a particular verse 331 00:15:52,919 –> 00:15:55,000 that spoke about this issue of sin 332 00:15:55,000 –> 00:15:56,359 and he prayed to God 333 00:15:56,359 –> 00:15:57,599 and this is what he said. 334 00:15:58,440 –> 00:15:59,919 All right, Lord he said. 335 00:16:01,440 –> 00:16:03,940 If you say I’m a sinner, 336 00:16:05,159 –> 00:16:06,080 I’m a sinner 337 00:16:08,119 –> 00:16:09,539 and I need a savior 338 00:16:09,539 –> 00:16:12,460 and I asked that Jesus Christ will be that savior. 339 00:16:13,419 –> 00:16:15,380 It was a kind of statement of faith 340 00:16:17,659 –> 00:16:19,059 and here’s what he said. 341 00:16:20,659 –> 00:16:22,739 From that moment he said 342 00:16:23,859 –> 00:16:27,080 he knew within his head and within his heart 343 00:16:27,080 –> 00:16:28,940 that he was a sinner 344 00:16:28,940 –> 00:16:30,859 far more than he ever wanted to. 345 00:16:32,299 –> 00:16:34,299 Memories of things long ago came back to him, 346 00:16:34,299 –> 00:16:37,020 just came into his mind as he prayed that 347 00:16:37,020 –> 00:16:38,380 and then over a period of time 348 00:16:38,380 –> 00:16:43,119 he began to see jealousy, envy, pride 349 00:16:43,119 –> 00:16:46,280 for what they were, he’d not seen them before. 350 00:16:47,140 –> 00:16:48,460 Now you see what had happened? 351 00:16:48,460 –> 00:16:50,880 As he’d put his faith in Jesus Christ 352 00:16:50,880 –> 00:16:52,419 his eyes had been opened 353 00:16:52,419 –> 00:16:54,619 he had been born again. 354 00:16:54,619 –> 00:16:56,880 The life of the spirit of God was within him 355 00:16:56,880 –> 00:16:59,539 he was filled with the holy spirit 356 00:17:00,820 –> 00:17:02,859 and being filled with the holy spirit 357 00:17:02,859 –> 00:17:05,800 because he put his faith in Jesus Christ 358 00:17:06,780 –> 00:17:09,160 he was experiencing one of the first things 359 00:17:09,160 –> 00:17:10,459 that the Holy Spirit does. 360 00:17:10,459 –> 00:17:12,140 The Bible says, the Holy Spirit 361 00:17:12,140 –> 00:17:15,479 convinces us of sin 362 00:17:16,640 –> 00:17:19,219 and that happened right there in that way to Ray. 363 00:17:20,280 –> 00:17:21,260 That’s why John says 364 00:17:21,260 –> 00:17:24,000 if we think with no sins, we’re deceiving ourselves 365 00:17:24,000 –> 00:17:25,920 and the truth is not in us. 366 00:17:25,920 –> 00:17:28,520 You need to come to where Ray came 367 00:17:30,540 –> 00:17:32,439 to ask that God will open your eyes 368 00:17:32,479 –> 00:17:36,140 so that you’ll see yourself as he sees you. 369 00:17:37,599 –> 00:17:41,739 Then you’ll know that there’s a world to confess 370 00:17:41,739 –> 00:17:46,739 as he increasingly reveals yourself to you. 371 00:17:48,219 –> 00:17:49,880 See, this is one of the great ironies 372 00:17:49,880 –> 00:17:52,560 of the Christian life and it’s often confusing for us 373 00:17:52,560 –> 00:17:54,319 and Old Tim puts it this way. 374 00:17:54,319 –> 00:17:58,699 Those who want to serve him best 375 00:17:58,699 –> 00:18:02,359 are conscious most of wrong within. 376 00:18:03,920 –> 00:18:06,199 And one of the greatest signs of growth 377 00:18:06,199 –> 00:18:09,420 in the Christian life is that I see more clearly 378 00:18:10,800 –> 00:18:12,920 what is wrong within my own soul. 379 00:18:14,479 –> 00:18:16,339 You see, if our worship really brings us 380 00:18:16,339 –> 00:18:19,699 into the blazing light of God’s holiness, 381 00:18:19,699 –> 00:18:21,819 then in the blazing light of his holiness, 382 00:18:21,819 –> 00:18:23,579 we are going to see much more clearly 383 00:18:23,579 –> 00:18:25,359 than in the murky world outside 384 00:18:25,359 –> 00:18:27,680 the true condition of our own hearts. 385 00:18:29,020 –> 00:18:33,939 Adoration leads to confession, if it’s real adoration. 386 00:18:35,719 –> 00:18:37,719 So, you see, identifying and confessing 387 00:18:37,719 –> 00:18:40,900 the sins of our hearts and of our lives 388 00:18:40,900 –> 00:18:45,180 are a normal ongoing part of the Christian life. 389 00:18:45,180 –> 00:18:47,099 It’s why we need to examine ourselves 390 00:18:47,099 –> 00:18:48,780 in the light of the Scriptures, 391 00:18:48,780 –> 00:18:51,219 to say, Lord, search me, know me, 392 00:18:51,219 –> 00:18:53,939 show me the wrong thoughts, 393 00:18:55,020 –> 00:18:57,219 so that I can come to the cross of Jesus 394 00:18:57,219 –> 00:19:00,359 and see cleansing afresh and change, 395 00:19:00,359 –> 00:19:03,219 so that I don’t just remain someone 396 00:19:03,219 –> 00:19:04,780 who was reconciled to you, 397 00:19:04,780 –> 00:19:07,380 but never really very different. 398 00:19:09,300 –> 00:19:11,140 Remember our definition of worship. 399 00:19:12,479 –> 00:19:15,859 Worship is the submission of our whole nature to God. 400 00:19:15,859 –> 00:19:18,699 This is where we started in our first session 401 00:19:18,699 –> 00:19:20,300 a number of weeks ago. 402 00:19:20,300 –> 00:19:23,660 It is the quickening of conscience by his holiness. 403 00:19:23,660 –> 00:19:25,880 It is the nourishment of mind by his truth. 404 00:19:25,920 –> 00:19:29,359 It is the purifying of imagination by his beauty, 405 00:19:29,359 –> 00:19:31,040 the opening of heart to his love, 406 00:19:31,040 –> 00:19:33,719 the submission of will to his purpose. 407 00:19:35,199 –> 00:19:37,939 Did you see in worship we see the light of his glory, 408 00:19:37,939 –> 00:19:42,660 and in the light of his glory we will see ourselves. 409 00:19:44,359 –> 00:19:46,739 So when the Spirit of God is at work, 410 00:19:46,739 –> 00:19:50,219 then I will be able to see when what I said was hurtful, 411 00:19:51,339 –> 00:19:53,000 when the work I did was shoddy, 412 00:19:53,420 –> 00:19:56,500 when my response was really harsh, 413 00:19:57,819 –> 00:19:59,260 and then to repent, 414 00:20:00,380 –> 00:20:01,619 and then to move forward, 415 00:20:01,619 –> 00:20:02,760 and then to grow, 416 00:20:02,760 –> 00:20:03,880 and then to be different, 417 00:20:03,880 –> 00:20:05,000 and when that happens, 418 00:20:05,000 –> 00:20:08,339 the Spirit of God will show me something else. 419 00:20:10,160 –> 00:20:11,000 It’s how we grow. 420 00:20:12,339 –> 00:20:14,439 Finest definition I ever learned, 421 00:20:14,439 –> 00:20:16,439 and it is well worth writing down I think, 422 00:20:16,439 –> 00:20:17,680 and holding on to, 423 00:20:17,680 –> 00:20:19,900 finest definition of repentance was given 424 00:20:19,900 –> 00:20:21,560 by Dr. Jim Packer. 425 00:20:21,619 –> 00:20:23,099 He put it this way, 426 00:20:23,099 –> 00:20:27,540 that repentance is turning 427 00:20:27,540 –> 00:20:31,119 with all that you know of yourself 428 00:20:31,119 –> 00:20:34,079 from all that you know of sin 429 00:20:34,079 –> 00:20:36,839 to all that you know of God, 430 00:20:38,359 –> 00:20:39,199 and you see, 431 00:20:39,199 –> 00:20:40,380 that wonderful definition helps us 432 00:20:40,380 –> 00:20:42,140 because as I learn more about myself, 433 00:20:42,140 –> 00:20:43,000 more about God, 434 00:20:43,000 –> 00:20:44,119 and more about win, 435 00:20:44,119 –> 00:20:45,599 my repentance gets deeper, 436 00:20:45,599 –> 00:20:46,420 and deeper, 437 00:20:46,420 –> 00:20:47,260 and deeper, 438 00:20:47,260 –> 00:20:49,560 and that’s how a person is changed 439 00:20:49,660 –> 00:20:51,939 into the likeness of Jesus Christ. 440 00:20:53,640 –> 00:20:54,760 See, that’s why repentance 441 00:20:54,760 –> 00:20:56,880 isn’t some kind of initial spasm 442 00:20:56,880 –> 00:20:58,260 at the beginning of the Christian life 443 00:20:58,260 –> 00:20:59,599 when you go forward at a meeting, 444 00:20:59,599 –> 00:21:02,800 repentance is the lifestyle 445 00:21:02,800 –> 00:21:05,319 of a Christian believer. 446 00:21:08,520 –> 00:21:09,880 Imagine what it would be like 447 00:21:09,880 –> 00:21:13,160 if the Holy Spirit was leading public prayer 448 00:21:13,160 –> 00:21:14,280 on Sunday morning. 449 00:21:15,280 –> 00:21:19,800 The Holy Spirit knows everything about you. 450 00:21:19,800 –> 00:21:21,359 Imagine if the Holy Spirit 451 00:21:22,439 –> 00:21:24,339 were leading us in prayer 452 00:21:24,339 –> 00:21:26,380 to the Father on Sunday morning. 453 00:21:28,739 –> 00:21:33,719 Father, he says, 454 00:21:33,719 –> 00:21:35,819 you know, there are some issues 455 00:21:35,819 –> 00:21:37,959 to be dealt with in this congregation today. 456 00:21:40,040 –> 00:21:41,219 We are looking very nice, 457 00:21:41,859 –> 00:21:44,380 and we are looking very nice dressed for worship, 458 00:21:46,500 –> 00:21:48,859 but you know that Peter lied to his parents 459 00:21:48,859 –> 00:21:50,300 about what he was last night. 460 00:21:52,160 –> 00:21:54,140 And you know that John was really hurtful 461 00:21:54,140 –> 00:21:55,780 in what he said to his brother. 462 00:21:57,819 –> 00:21:59,780 And Naomi has been generally sour 463 00:21:59,780 –> 00:22:01,560 and ungrateful for three days now. 464 00:22:03,099 –> 00:22:04,479 And Jane wasn’t honoring you 465 00:22:04,479 –> 00:22:06,660 when she chose what to wear to the party. 466 00:22:08,099 –> 00:22:11,199 And Brian and Martha came to church this morning 467 00:22:11,219 –> 00:22:12,920 with a frosty silence in the van 468 00:22:12,920 –> 00:22:14,099 because they still haven’t made up 469 00:22:14,099 –> 00:22:15,719 after what they said last night. 470 00:22:18,160 –> 00:22:20,199 Now, you wouldn’t wanna come 471 00:22:21,599 –> 00:22:23,859 if the Holy Spirit were leading public prayer like that, 472 00:22:23,859 –> 00:22:24,699 would you? 473 00:22:28,319 –> 00:22:29,839 But you know, if you will come into 474 00:22:29,839 –> 00:22:32,619 the presence of God in worship 475 00:22:32,619 –> 00:22:33,880 with an open heart, 476 00:22:34,800 –> 00:22:38,199 he will prompt privately your heart 477 00:22:38,199 –> 00:22:39,339 just like that. 478 00:22:40,319 –> 00:22:42,119 That’s what confession is all about 479 00:22:42,119 –> 00:22:45,199 when we gather together and we’re led in prayer. 480 00:22:45,199 –> 00:22:46,839 We’re to make prayers our own 481 00:22:46,839 –> 00:22:48,599 and to be prompted through the Scriptures 482 00:22:48,599 –> 00:22:50,780 and through the words that are given to us 483 00:22:50,780 –> 00:22:54,199 so that by the Holy Spirit we see that was wrong. 484 00:22:54,199 –> 00:22:55,540 I need to deal with that, 485 00:22:56,520 –> 00:23:00,479 so that our hearts are touched and changed 486 00:23:01,719 –> 00:23:03,060 in the presence of God. 487 00:23:05,400 –> 00:23:07,780 Now, do you see how that’s gonna transform our worship? 488 00:23:07,800 –> 00:23:10,400 Do you see how that’s gonna transform our community? 489 00:23:14,000 –> 00:23:16,119 And, do you see, when you confess your sins 490 00:23:16,119 –> 00:23:18,339 in faith to Jesus Christ it doesn’t leave you 491 00:23:18,339 –> 00:23:19,540 going out these doors saying, 492 00:23:19,540 –> 00:23:22,839 oh what a wretched person I am because John says, 493 00:23:22,839 –> 00:23:25,560 if we confess our sins he’s faithful and just 494 00:23:25,560 –> 00:23:28,780 and he’ll forgive us our sins. 495 00:23:30,339 –> 00:23:34,979 Okay, Peter, the lie last night is forgiven 496 00:23:34,979 –> 00:23:37,760 by the blood of Jesus but now you did lie to someone. 497 00:23:37,760 –> 00:23:39,520 You do need to confess that you did that. 498 00:23:39,520 –> 00:23:42,420 Tell the person you lied to and put it right 499 00:23:42,420 –> 00:23:46,459 and then let us move on and you’re not a liar. 500 00:23:46,459 –> 00:23:48,619 You’re gonna be a different kind of a guy. 501 00:23:50,660 –> 00:23:52,339 Confessing our sins. 502 00:23:55,040 –> 00:23:57,699 Now, you see, adoration will lead us there 503 00:23:57,699 –> 00:23:59,180 and it will lead us to second place. 504 00:23:59,180 –> 00:24:00,520 Would you turn with me for a moment now 505 00:24:00,520 –> 00:24:04,160 back to First Timothy and chapter 2. 506 00:24:04,160 –> 00:24:07,819 Not just confession, but secondly, caring, 507 00:24:08,800 –> 00:24:13,099 confessing and caring and all how we need these two things. 508 00:24:14,319 –> 00:24:16,579 Confessing our sins and caring for the world. 509 00:24:16,579 –> 00:24:18,800 We’re building off the pattern of the Lord’s Prayer. 510 00:24:18,800 –> 00:24:22,119 Remember, adoration leads us to intercession 511 00:24:22,119 –> 00:24:24,199 that reaches out to the world, 512 00:24:24,199 –> 00:24:25,920 leads us to confess our sins 513 00:24:25,920 –> 00:24:29,479 and let’s take this up here in 1 Timothy and chapter 2. 514 00:24:30,640 –> 00:24:33,920 True adoration will lead us not just to confess our sins 515 00:24:34,020 –> 00:24:36,739 but it will really lead us to care for the world. 516 00:24:36,739 –> 00:24:39,239 This is one of the things that will happen in worship 517 00:24:39,239 –> 00:24:41,660 and it is itself part of worship. 518 00:24:42,780 –> 00:24:45,119 Now look at what Paul says here 519 00:24:45,119 –> 00:24:48,640 under the title instructions on worship 520 00:24:48,640 –> 00:24:52,880 and he says in verse 1, I urge you first of all, 521 00:24:54,219 –> 00:24:57,459 so this is a matter of priority for the church. 522 00:24:58,420 –> 00:25:00,160 I urge the church, he’s saying, 523 00:25:00,160 –> 00:25:02,319 and he’s writing to a pastor, Timothy, 524 00:25:02,680 –> 00:25:05,060 this is the way he’s to lead, 525 00:25:05,060 –> 00:25:09,439 that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving 526 00:25:09,439 –> 00:25:10,979 be made for everyone. 527 00:25:12,239 –> 00:25:16,180 So I want you to grasp that there is a biblical mandate 528 00:25:17,119 –> 00:25:22,119 for the place of prayer intercession in public worship. 529 00:25:22,839 –> 00:25:25,060 This is not an option for churches to fit in 530 00:25:25,060 –> 00:25:26,479 if we feel like it. 531 00:25:26,479 –> 00:25:28,680 This is a priority for God’s people 532 00:25:28,680 –> 00:25:30,800 when we gather together for worship. 533 00:25:30,800 –> 00:25:33,319 It is one of our primary callings. 534 00:25:34,239 –> 00:25:37,319 Now, notice the scope of our prayers. 535 00:25:37,319 –> 00:25:40,380 God cares about the world. 536 00:25:41,599 –> 00:25:45,819 So if we as his people begin to reflect his heart, 537 00:25:45,819 –> 00:25:50,459 then we will care about the world. 538 00:25:51,800 –> 00:25:54,119 Authentic worship, in other words, 539 00:25:54,119 –> 00:25:59,119 brings me out not only of my self-righteous world, 540 00:25:59,339 –> 00:26:03,859 as I confess, but it brings me out of my little me world. 541 00:26:05,800 –> 00:26:07,579 As I lift my mind to God, 542 00:26:07,579 –> 00:26:11,040 my heart is opened up to the world. 543 00:26:11,040 –> 00:26:12,520 That is the work of the Holy Spirit, 544 00:26:12,520 –> 00:26:15,500 to reflect the character of God in us. 545 00:26:17,439 –> 00:26:19,920 Now, let me read you from John Stott, 546 00:26:19,920 –> 00:26:21,239 who writes on this subject. 547 00:26:21,239 –> 00:26:23,880 He has an anecdote that I thought 548 00:26:23,880 –> 00:26:26,000 captured the point well here. 549 00:26:26,000 –> 00:26:26,839 He says, 550 00:26:26,920 –> 00:26:31,719 this immediately rebukes the narrow parochialism 551 00:26:31,719 –> 00:26:34,560 of many churches’ prayers. 552 00:26:34,560 –> 00:26:35,400 And then he says this. 553 00:26:35,400 –> 00:26:36,920 Some years ago, 554 00:26:36,920 –> 00:26:40,140 I attended public worship in a certain church. 555 00:26:40,140 –> 00:26:42,239 The pastor was abset on holiday 556 00:26:42,239 –> 00:26:45,800 and a lay elder led the pastoral prayer. 557 00:26:45,800 –> 00:26:50,079 He prayed that the pastor might enjoy a good vacation, 558 00:26:50,079 –> 00:26:51,839 which was fine. 559 00:26:51,839 –> 00:26:54,479 And that two lady members of the congregation 560 00:26:54,479 –> 00:26:56,199 might be healed, 561 00:26:56,199 –> 00:26:57,819 which was also fine. 562 00:26:57,819 –> 00:26:59,239 We should pray for the sick. 563 00:27:00,420 –> 00:27:02,680 But that was all. 564 00:27:02,680 –> 00:27:06,020 The intercession can hardly have lasted 30 seconds. 565 00:27:06,020 –> 00:27:09,560 And I came away, writes John Stott, saddened, 566 00:27:09,560 –> 00:27:12,040 sensing that this church worshipped 567 00:27:12,040 –> 00:27:15,760 a little village god of their own devising. 568 00:27:16,760 –> 00:27:20,199 There was no recognition of the needs of the world 569 00:27:21,040 –> 00:27:25,699 and no attempt to embrace the world in prayer. 570 00:27:26,959 –> 00:27:29,000 Now I have to say that the sad truth 571 00:27:29,000 –> 00:27:33,060 is that increasingly, even that 30 seconds’ worth 572 00:27:33,060 –> 00:27:38,040 of intercession is vanishing from church worship. 573 00:27:39,400 –> 00:27:41,880 And if God’s people don’t pray 574 00:27:41,880 –> 00:27:46,599 for the world on Sunday morning, when do we do that? 575 00:27:48,699 –> 00:27:51,599 And if God’s people don’t pray for the world, 576 00:27:52,560 –> 00:27:56,099 who can? 577 00:27:58,699 –> 00:28:00,619 And if we, when we gather together 578 00:28:00,619 –> 00:28:04,680 as a community, do not care for the world, 579 00:28:04,680 –> 00:28:08,560 we just don’t reflect the heart of God, 580 00:28:08,560 –> 00:28:13,739 because God isn’t about the me thing. 581 00:28:13,739 –> 00:28:16,000 The deeper your love for Christ, 582 00:28:16,000 –> 00:28:19,239 the broader your heart for the world. 583 00:28:20,199 –> 00:28:23,479 Notice that Paul says that Pastor Timothy 584 00:28:23,479 –> 00:28:25,699 is to lead the congregation in prayer 585 00:28:25,699 –> 00:28:29,900 for kings, verse two, and for all those in authority. 586 00:28:29,900 –> 00:28:31,880 I think this is of great importance. 587 00:28:31,880 –> 00:28:35,319 We live in a culture that is increasingly cynical 588 00:28:35,319 –> 00:28:40,040 about leaders, and we need to be salt and light 589 00:28:40,040 –> 00:28:43,959 in that culture by being those who pray for leaders. 590 00:28:43,959 –> 00:28:47,000 And that means praying for good ones 591 00:28:47,000 –> 00:28:49,640 and it means praying for bad ones. 592 00:28:51,439 –> 00:28:54,079 When Paul wrote this, the emperor of the day 593 00:28:54,079 –> 00:28:58,280 was Nero but the worst there ever was. 594 00:28:58,280 –> 00:28:59,839 But he says unconditionally to Timothy, 595 00:28:59,839 –> 00:29:01,819 you are to pray for kings and you are to pray for rulers. 596 00:29:01,819 –> 00:29:02,800 Pray for Nero. 597 00:29:04,160 –> 00:29:06,500 And notice what is to be prayed for. 598 00:29:07,819 –> 00:29:09,859 To pray that there should be peace 599 00:29:09,859 –> 00:29:11,800 and that there should be order in order 600 00:29:11,800 –> 00:29:13,880 that the Gospel may be proclaimed. 601 00:29:14,079 –> 00:29:18,060 Now just over 20 years ago, the Lausanne movement, 602 00:29:18,060 –> 00:29:20,520 which is a gathering of Christian leaders 603 00:29:20,520 –> 00:29:23,500 from churches of many, many denominations 604 00:29:23,500 –> 00:29:28,500 issued a call to churches known as the Grand Rapids Report. 605 00:29:28,500 –> 00:29:31,020 And I’m just going to quote a paragraph from it. 606 00:29:31,020 –> 00:29:34,400 And I want you to listen to this, this was 20 years ago. 607 00:29:34,400 –> 00:29:36,839 So we’ve moved on 20 years and I want you 608 00:29:36,839 –> 00:29:39,300 to ask the question, in the last 20 years 609 00:29:39,300 –> 00:29:41,859 do you think the church in our country 610 00:29:41,880 –> 00:29:43,699 do you think the church in our country 611 00:29:43,699 –> 00:29:47,300 has moved any nearer this or further away from it? 612 00:29:49,839 –> 00:29:52,780 This is the Lausanne Call To Churches 613 00:29:52,780 –> 00:29:56,939 issued from Grand Rapids, 1984. 614 00:29:58,819 –> 00:30:01,540 We resolve ourselves and call upon our churches 615 00:30:01,540 –> 00:30:04,579 to take much more seriously the period 616 00:30:04,579 –> 00:30:06,979 of intercession in public worship. 617 00:30:07,800 –> 00:30:12,000 To think in terms of 10 or 15 minutes rather than five. 618 00:30:13,040 –> 00:30:15,260 To invite lay people to lead in sharing 619 00:30:15,260 –> 00:30:18,660 since they often have deep insight into the world’s needs 620 00:30:18,660 –> 00:30:20,420 and to focus our prayers 621 00:30:20,420 –> 00:30:23,079 both on the evangelization of the world, 622 00:30:23,079 –> 00:30:25,979 closed lands, resistant peoples, 623 00:30:25,979 –> 00:30:28,260 missionaries, national churches 624 00:30:28,260 –> 00:30:32,219 and on the quest for peace and justice in the world, 625 00:30:32,219 –> 00:30:34,099 places of tension, conflict, 626 00:30:34,099 –> 00:30:36,140 deliverance from the nuclear horror, 627 00:30:36,140 –> 00:30:38,500 rulers and governments, the poor and the needy, 628 00:30:38,500 –> 00:30:41,540 we long to see every Christian congregation 629 00:30:41,540 –> 00:30:44,000 in the land bowing down is humble 630 00:30:44,000 –> 00:30:47,459 and expectant faith before our sovereign Lord. 631 00:30:50,660 –> 00:30:54,020 Now I have to tell you that precisely what they describe 632 00:30:54,020 –> 00:30:56,540 with the exception of the nuclear horror 633 00:30:56,540 –> 00:31:01,540 was normal in the worship of Christian churches 634 00:31:01,939 –> 00:31:03,420 100 years ago. 635 00:31:03,420 –> 00:31:04,939 It was normal. 636 00:31:06,660 –> 00:31:08,660 And read some of the prayers that were offered 637 00:31:08,660 –> 00:31:09,939 that were recorded at the time 638 00:31:09,939 –> 00:31:13,540 that were just a typical part of public worship 639 00:31:13,540 –> 00:31:16,160 as the people of God cried out to God 640 00:31:16,160 –> 00:31:18,140 for the world and for the nation. 641 00:31:21,579 –> 00:31:23,400 It’s very far from normal today. 642 00:31:26,199 –> 00:31:31,199 And if we ask why, and I don’t want to make judgments, 643 00:31:31,579 –> 00:31:36,579 but if we ask why, I fear that the reason may be 644 00:31:39,540 –> 00:31:42,920 that a large part of our thinking about worship 645 00:31:42,920 –> 00:31:46,540 has been overtaken by the desire to be entertained. 646 00:31:48,640 –> 00:31:52,760 And if that is true, the question the church 647 00:31:52,760 –> 00:31:56,119 has to face in this country is whether 648 00:31:56,119 –> 00:32:01,119 our worship will be shaped by the Bible or by the cultures. 649 00:32:02,079 –> 00:32:02,939 That’s the issue. 650 00:32:06,079 –> 00:32:08,599 And if our worship is shaped by the Bible, 651 00:32:10,599 –> 00:32:13,239 then I commend to you from 1 Timothy in chapter two 652 00:32:13,239 –> 00:32:16,319 that there will be a significant place for intercession 653 00:32:16,319 –> 00:32:19,839 in which God’s people engage their minds and their hearts 654 00:32:21,680 –> 00:32:24,040 to pray for the world in a way that reflects 655 00:32:24,040 –> 00:32:29,040 a growing reflection of the compassion of God. 656 00:32:32,000 –> 00:32:33,599 And as we look at the trends, 657 00:32:33,599 –> 00:32:34,880 I think we’ve gotta ask the question, 658 00:32:34,880 –> 00:32:35,959 what difference it will make 659 00:32:35,959 –> 00:32:38,119 if the churches don’t pray for this nation? 660 00:32:40,119 –> 00:32:41,239 What difference will it make 661 00:32:41,239 –> 00:32:43,859 if the churches don’t pray for the world? 662 00:32:47,719 –> 00:32:49,359 Now, I want that as a congregation, 663 00:32:49,359 –> 00:32:50,579 in our minds and in our hearts, 664 00:32:50,579 –> 00:32:54,239 today would be a day when we renew our sense of commitment 665 00:32:54,239 –> 00:32:56,859 to the value of this in our worship. 666 00:32:56,859 –> 00:32:58,880 It is something that we have emphasized, 667 00:32:58,880 –> 00:33:00,599 we have inherited that, 668 00:33:00,599 –> 00:33:01,979 we want to sustain that, 669 00:33:01,979 –> 00:33:03,579 we want to strengthen that, 670 00:33:04,880 –> 00:33:06,280 two things are required. 671 00:33:07,859 –> 00:33:12,859 One is that whoever is entrusted to lead must prepare, 672 00:33:15,300 –> 00:33:17,180 must take this seriously, 673 00:33:18,479 –> 00:33:21,800 must not see this as a kind of light off the cuff 674 00:33:21,800 –> 00:33:22,760 kind of a thing, 675 00:33:22,760 –> 00:33:25,880 but that this is a major part 676 00:33:25,880 –> 00:33:28,439 of what it means for the people of God to worship. 677 00:33:28,439 –> 00:33:30,500 That’s a responsibility for the leader, 678 00:33:30,500 –> 00:33:32,660 that has to be taken as part of the trust 679 00:33:32,660 –> 00:33:34,119 that is given to that person. 680 00:33:37,040 –> 00:33:38,619 The other thing that needs to happen 681 00:33:38,619 –> 00:33:41,459 is that the congregation will have an understanding 682 00:33:42,939 –> 00:33:46,439 that God calls us to pray. 683 00:33:48,020 –> 00:33:51,579 That that is part of what we are biblically called to do 684 00:33:51,579 –> 00:33:53,640 when we gather together for worship. 685 00:33:55,380 –> 00:33:58,239 That is part of what it means to be the church. 686 00:33:59,079 –> 00:34:04,079 And if we don’t do that, nobody will. 687 00:34:09,379 –> 00:34:13,800 And notice lastly that the whole reason 688 00:34:13,800 –> 00:34:17,000 that there is this prayer as he continues in the passage 689 00:34:19,120 –> 00:34:24,120 is that we should see an opening for the gospel 690 00:34:24,280 –> 00:34:26,139 in peaceful and ordered ways 691 00:34:26,139 –> 00:34:27,760 that the good news of Jesus Christ 692 00:34:27,800 –> 00:34:29,300 should come to every creature. 693 00:34:30,459 –> 00:34:33,100 Here’s the local church who’s got a global vision. 694 00:34:34,399 –> 00:34:36,080 The praise for people in verse one, 695 00:34:36,080 –> 00:34:39,159 it finds itself proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ 696 00:34:39,159 –> 00:34:41,000 to all people in verse seven, 697 00:34:41,000 –> 00:34:42,699 authentic worship will give you 698 00:34:42,699 –> 00:34:46,120 a wider window on the world. 699 00:34:46,120 –> 00:34:47,679 It’ll broaden your heart. 700 00:34:47,679 –> 00:34:50,659 It’ll make you a different person. 701 00:34:54,060 –> 00:34:56,840 One illustration and then we’re through. 702 00:34:56,860 –> 00:34:58,159 Remember in the Old Testament, 703 00:34:58,159 –> 00:35:00,919 the most awesome experience of worship 704 00:35:00,919 –> 00:35:02,860 perhaps ever given to a person, 705 00:35:02,860 –> 00:35:04,360 certainly in the Old Testament. 706 00:35:05,719 –> 00:35:09,479 Isaiah was given a vision of the presence of God. 707 00:35:09,479 –> 00:35:11,399 You remember he sees the angels 708 00:35:11,399 –> 00:35:12,219 and they’re crying out, 709 00:35:12,219 –> 00:35:14,719 holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty. 710 00:35:15,939 –> 00:35:17,639 You remember the two things that happened 711 00:35:17,639 –> 00:35:19,439 because he was in the presence of God? 712 00:35:19,439 –> 00:35:20,820 The first is he said, 713 00:35:20,820 –> 00:35:23,979 woe to me, I’m ruined and he confessed his sin. 714 00:35:24,620 –> 00:35:28,760 And then, calls were taken from the altar 715 00:35:28,760 –> 00:35:29,959 and touched his lips 716 00:35:29,959 –> 00:35:32,239 and God pronounced his forgiveness. 717 00:35:32,239 –> 00:35:33,399 And what happened then? 718 00:35:34,419 –> 00:35:36,020 God said, who will go? 719 00:35:37,340 –> 00:35:39,219 Who will speak for us? 720 00:35:40,520 –> 00:35:43,479 And Isaiah said, here am I, send me. 721 00:35:44,679 –> 00:35:46,419 You see, it’s the same pattern. 722 00:35:46,419 –> 00:35:48,919 It’s all the way through the Bible. 723 00:35:48,919 –> 00:35:50,899 To be in the presence of God 724 00:35:50,899 –> 00:35:53,479 produces two fundamental realities 725 00:35:53,479 –> 00:35:57,540 that are part of that experience. 726 00:35:58,719 –> 00:36:00,800 To be cleansed and to be called, 727 00:36:01,719 –> 00:36:04,020 to confess and to be commissioned. 728 00:36:05,540 –> 00:36:09,919 That’s authentic worship. 729 00:36:11,020 –> 00:36:12,060 Let’s pray together. 730 00:36:15,899 –> 00:36:19,840 Lord, we have some moments now around your table, 731 00:36:21,679 –> 00:36:24,780 and your Holy Spirit is with us 732 00:36:24,780 –> 00:36:26,699 and for every believer in us. 733 00:36:28,520 –> 00:36:31,780 And so as we see your endless self giving, 734 00:36:32,879 –> 00:36:35,000 we’ve got some soul searching to do 735 00:36:36,800 –> 00:36:40,719 about who we really are in our often self-righteousness 736 00:36:43,620 –> 00:36:46,820 and who we really are in our often self-centeredness. 737 00:36:46,820 –> 00:36:50,719 Leo, teach us in your presence by your spirit 738 00:36:51,840 –> 00:36:54,100 what it is to confess our sins 739 00:36:55,459 –> 00:36:56,800 and to care for the world 740 00:36:58,020 –> 00:37:00,179 and so to be the people you call us to be 741 00:37:01,439 –> 00:37:03,580 and may that be the pattern of a lifetime 742 00:37:04,639 –> 00:37:07,100 so that your work may be advanced in us 743 00:37:08,239 –> 00:37:12,500 through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.