back to indexBerean Community Church Praise & Prayer 8.14
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It's been a while since we've had our praise and prayer. 00:15:45.000 |
I'm gonna go ahead and pray and we'll get started. 00:15:48.000 |
Gracious God, we thank you for the time where we can gather together to spend worshiping and singing songs, 00:15:57.000 |
listening to your word and really spending time praying for various things going on in our own lives as well as the world around us. 00:16:07.000 |
We thank you, Lord God, that we can come together and still gather freely without the fear of physical harm. 00:16:20.000 |
But Lord, you've given us access to you, Lord, through the blood of Christ. 00:16:26.000 |
We have a restored relationship with you because of your great mercy and grace upon our lives. 00:16:33.000 |
And Lord, we wanna take this evening, Lord God, to honor you with every breath that we breathe. 00:16:40.000 |
I pray, Lord God, that as we sing these songs, as we reflect on the words that we sing, 00:16:46.000 |
as we hear the word of God through Pastor Peter Chung's encouragement and challenge, I pray that you give us softened hearts. 00:16:57.000 |
As well, Lord God, help us to really focus on having softened hearts to pray. 00:17:04.000 |
Lord, we know that is the work, we know, Lord God, that is the effective way of conducting ministry. 00:17:11.000 |
So I pray, Lord God, that as we honor you through this time of at least worship, may it be a sweet sound unto your ear and may you be blessed. 00:17:29.000 |
The lyrics are all in your app, so if you guys can open that. 00:21:26.000 |
Light of the world, you step down into darkness. 00:25:45.000 |
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring. 00:25:52.000 |
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe. 00:26:20.000 |
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe. 00:26:46.000 |
Show me who you are and fill me with your heart. 00:26:53.000 |
And lead me in your love to those who are idle. 00:27:23.000 |
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring. 00:27:29.000 |
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe. 00:27:57.000 |
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe. 00:28:24.000 |
Show me who you are and fill me with your heart. 00:30:01.000 |
Show me who you are and fill me with your heart. 00:30:31.000 |
Why don't we go ahead and start with a word of prayer. 00:31:09.000 |
We pray that as we gather and as we pray and as we reflect on 00:31:35.000 |
that you would receive the glory that you are due. 00:31:56.000 |
Lord, we are here longing to draw intimately close to our 00:32:03.000 |
So we thank you for an opportunity this evening just to 00:32:15.000 |
Well, welcome to the first praise and prayer we have had since 00:32:22.000 |
I led the prayer time that night and I gave the devotional. 00:32:26.000 |
And so I remember briefly talking about COVID-19 and it's been a 00:32:36.000 |
we were supposed to go through like one point each month of the 00:32:40.000 |
Lord's Prayer, but we only got to the first one. 00:32:48.000 |
And that night we prayed over being kingdom-centered individuals, 00:32:56.000 |
And if you recall, our theme was, for the year, 00:33:04.000 |
We prayed for our gospel night, which has since been postponed. 00:33:09.000 |
We prayed for our missionaries who have since been relocated or have 00:33:15.000 |
And we prayed for the children of our church, 00:33:18.000 |
most of whom we haven't seen in person in over five months. 00:33:22.000 |
So since then, everything around us kind of fell out of sorts. 00:33:26.000 |
And needless to say, 2020 hasn't necessarily gone the way we thought it 00:33:32.000 |
And here we are in the middle of August in the new normal. 00:33:39.000 |
there's so much more noise concerning the upcoming elections, 00:33:56.000 |
And church people are all over the place on all of these things. 00:34:00.000 |
And it's not just for us here in California, but all over the states. 00:34:04.000 |
And I actually have a bunch of Christian friends in the Philippines 00:34:08.000 |
currently arguing over John MacArthur and the Grace Community Church. 00:34:13.000 |
I find it hilarious because they're not even around and they're fighting 00:34:22.000 |
but I'm regularly finding myself disheartened when I scroll through 00:34:31.000 |
I felt very burdened and my heart was very heavy. 00:34:36.000 |
And there was a prayer that I prayed, "Lord, I know you are sovereign. 00:34:46.000 |
I'm growing weary, I'm sad, and I'm discouraged. 00:34:52.000 |
And he brought to my attention John chapter 14. 00:34:56.000 |
And I want to share a few reflections on John 14 tonight 00:35:03.000 |
And because we don't have the projection screens out here as we normally would, 00:35:09.000 |
you're going to have to keep your Bibles open to John 14 00:35:14.000 |
So I'm going to start with John 14, 1 through 6. 00:35:17.000 |
It reads, "Do not let your heart be troubled. 00:35:28.000 |
In my Father's house are many dwelling places, and if it were not so, 00:35:36.000 |
If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, 00:35:49.000 |
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. 00:35:54.000 |
And Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:36:03.000 |
So Jesus says, "Do not let your heart be troubled. 00:36:08.000 |
And then he says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:36:18.000 |
It's used to, like, show the exclusivity of Christ. 00:36:22.000 |
But more than being a soteriological, like, salvation-based, like, 00:36:26.000 |
a text statement, John 14 6 is primarily a word of comfort to his troubled 00:36:32.000 |
disciples, as you will see in the overall context of John 14. 00:36:36.000 |
So just, if you're just scanning with your eye, chapter 13 ends with Jesus 00:36:45.000 |
And the chapter also ends with the apostle Peter, the leader of the disciples, 00:36:49.000 |
being told that he would deny Jesus three times. 00:36:53.000 |
And all of this behind the backdrop of Judas the betrayer having been sent away. 00:36:59.000 |
So if you and I were there at that time, I believe that we would be troubled too. 00:37:05.000 |
We would be a bit perplexed, a bit sad, a bit confused. 00:37:11.000 |
And yet, our sovereign king foretells that strange things are going to happen 00:37:18.000 |
and that it's actually better for him, amidst all of these strange things, 00:37:27.000 |
And so you would agree that currently you and I are living in kind of 00:37:31.000 |
unsettling times, and we too aren't quite sure what our sovereign king is doing 00:37:38.000 |
We too have been told through his word that things are going to go from bad to 00:37:45.000 |
So in light of the disheartening things we may see in the world around us, 00:37:50.000 |
how is it that we press on, comfort ourselves, encourage ourselves, and pray? 00:38:01.000 |
What is the Christian thing to do in these strange times? 00:38:05.000 |
What is the Christian supposed to be passionate about and endorse in these 00:38:12.000 |
And thinking about everything that has been going on can be very overwhelming. 00:38:17.000 |
And we will see through Christ's very words in John 14 how to make sense of 00:38:25.000 |
So I'm going to lay out John 14, the exhortations up for you in the front. 00:38:41.000 |
So if you're tracking along mentally, remember where we're going, 00:38:45.000 |
remember why we're here, and remember who's with us. 00:38:49.000 |
And I'm going to walk you through John 14 to briefly look at how to pray with 00:38:56.000 |
joy in the midst of our current circumstances. 00:39:00.000 |
So verse 2, "In my Father's house are many dwellings. 00:39:04.000 |
If it were not so, I would have told you, for I go to prepare a place for you. 00:39:08.000 |
If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to 00:39:11.000 |
myself, that where I am, there you may be also." 00:39:18.000 |
Heaven is where Christ's disciples are all headed. 00:39:26.000 |
Our home is in heaven with the Lord, and our hearts' affections should be 00:39:33.000 |
And so our primary aim is not to make this world a better place. 00:39:43.000 |
Our citizenship is in heaven, and we do not belong here. 00:39:48.000 |
So that's why in a place like 1 John 2.15, it says, "Do not love the world or 00:39:55.000 |
Now, that doesn't mean we're apathetic to those around us. 00:40:00.000 |
But we are called to not have our affections placed here. 00:40:04.000 |
And you guys know James 1.27, "What is pure and undefiled religion?" 00:40:11.000 |
While we are sojourning through this world, we are to be compassionate to 00:40:16.000 |
those who are oppressed and struggling, the orphans and the widows, but we are 00:40:30.000 |
And the only way to heaven is through Christ. 00:40:33.000 |
The only hope is Christ, and we need to remember where we're going in order to 00:40:40.000 |
G.S. Lewis once said, "If you read history, you will find that the Christians 00:40:44.000 |
who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought much of the 00:40:49.000 |
It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that 00:41:01.000 |
He will come again, and will he receive us to himself? 00:41:04.000 |
In John 17.3, "This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, 00:41:10.000 |
Eternal life has already started, and right now we only know in part, we only 00:41:14.000 |
see in part, but we will one day see God face to face, and it's going to be 00:41:34.000 |
So the disciples were left behind for a time to do spirit-empowered work and to 00:41:43.000 |
The disciples were left behind for a season to do spirit-empowered work and to 00:41:57.000 |
It reads, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, 00:42:02.000 |
he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I go to the 00:42:09.000 |
And whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, so that the Father may be 00:42:18.000 |
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 00:42:23.000 |
If you love me, you will keep my commandments." 00:42:28.000 |
So basically, the disciples were left behind to build Christ's church. 00:42:32.000 |
They were left to carry out the Great Commission and to teach future disciples 00:42:37.000 |
to do everything that is written in the word of God. 00:42:40.000 |
So the church's priority, remember why we're here, the church's priority has 00:42:44.000 |
always been to preach the gospel and to ensure that Christ is honored through 00:42:50.000 |
So if you look at verse 15, verses 23-24, it makes clear that the keeping of God's 00:42:57.000 |
word is primarily how we express our love for Christ, especially in these times. 00:43:06.000 |
Don't just know about the word, know it and practice it, because that is our 00:43:14.000 |
And our primary aim in these strange times is to save souls. 00:43:19.000 |
And our first priority is not to change people's circumstances, because we know 00:43:24.000 |
that changed circumstances rarely change people, but changed people always change 00:43:32.000 |
And true change happens when God's word is correctly handled, accurately preached, 00:43:42.000 |
True change happens when God's word is correctly handled, accurately preached, 00:43:48.000 |
So our primary obsession while we're here has to be Christ crucified and risen 00:43:58.000 |
So brothers and sisters, remember why we're here. 00:44:01.000 |
Learn the word, love the word, live the word, lead others to the word, because the 00:44:06.000 |
word of God is sufficient, it always has been, and it always will be. 00:44:13.000 |
Learn the word, love the word, live the word, and lead others to the word, 00:44:21.000 |
So remember where we're headed, remember why we're still here, but while we are 00:44:32.000 |
John 14, 16 to 21 reads, "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another 00:44:44.000 |
That is the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not 00:44:49.000 |
see him or know him, but you know him, because he abides with you and will be in 00:44:56.000 |
I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you. 00:45:01.000 |
After a while, the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. 00:45:10.000 |
And in that day, you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in 00:45:17.000 |
He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. 00:45:21.000 |
And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and I will 00:45:31.000 |
Remember where we're headed, remember why we're here, and remember who is with 00:45:38.000 |
God is not only with us, he's indwelling in us in the person of the Holy Spirit. 00:45:44.000 |
Thrice holy, creator of the universe, sovereign God who is on his throne. 00:45:50.000 |
And not only is he on his throne, but he is also with us and in us forever. 00:45:59.000 |
So for me, I take so much courage in knowing that God is near. 00:46:04.000 |
So that I have nothing to be afraid of, I have nothing to be worried about, there 00:46:10.000 |
I can proceed in my life in faith because God is near. 00:46:17.000 |
What is the Holy Spirit who is with us forever according to verse 16, do for you 00:46:28.000 |
Verse 26 of John 14, the Holy Spirit teaches us all things and will bring to 00:46:39.000 |
Verse 27, he gives us all surpassing, "Erene," peace. 00:46:46.000 |
In other places in scripture, he is our seal, the guarantor of our 00:46:53.000 |
He will enable and empower the building up of his church. 00:46:57.000 |
We don't need to try to figure out how to build his church. 00:47:02.000 |
God will lead and God will guide us, especially during these times. 00:47:07.000 |
2 Timothy 2, 7, it says, "God will give us understanding in everything." 00:47:16.000 |
Right now, the church is growing more and more in like the I don't know's. 00:47:21.000 |
But the word of God says that God in his spirit will give us understanding in 00:47:31.000 |
So our theme is to know him and to make him known. 00:47:34.000 |
So the spirit helps us know God and helps us to make God known. 00:47:41.000 |
So as spirit-filled people, what are we to do? 00:47:54.000 |
God wants us to ask him for spiritual wisdom, insight, and understanding, and 00:48:06.000 |
John 14, 14, "If you ask me anything in my name, according to my will, I will 00:48:12.000 |
And all over the scripture, we see God be more than eager to grant you and me 00:48:19.000 |
James 1, 5, "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to 00:48:23.000 |
all," you guys have memorized this, "generously and without reproach." 00:48:32.000 |
And I will say in these times, a truly spirit-filled person spends more time 00:48:38.000 |
fighting his battles on his knees and in front of the word of God than fighting 00:48:50.000 |
A truly spirit-filled, godly wisdom, empowered man of God spends more time 00:48:57.000 |
battling on his knees and in front of the word than online. 00:49:15.000 |
The spiritual person understands that our struggle is not against flesh and 00:49:20.000 |
The spiritual person understands that our enemy is not another human being or 00:49:23.000 |
that person who contradicted or attacked my comment. 00:49:28.000 |
The spiritual person understands that our enemy is not a political party or a 00:49:36.000 |
The spiritual person understands that though we live in the flesh, we do not 00:49:44.000 |
So what are you and I to do as we pray tonight? 00:49:51.000 |
And one of the problems in Orange County is we are deceived into thinking that 00:49:55.000 |
this is our home, the American dream is it, and then we go to a better heaven 00:50:03.000 |
The second thing we need to remember is that while we're here, we have a task, 00:50:08.000 |
And it's not to make sure our kids get into the best schools. 00:50:15.000 |
And remember who's with us, that we're not spiritual orphans called to blindly 00:50:20.000 |
navigate this life to try to figure out what God wants from us. 00:50:32.000 |
So remember where you're going, remember why you're here, 00:50:38.000 |
So to sum up, basically, how do I encourage myself whenever I get frustrated? 00:50:51.000 |
2020 in our church and our mission, none of these things have been derailed by 00:50:59.000 |
Our sovereign king has not been hampered by 2020. 00:51:06.000 |
These things may have caught us off guard, but God has not been caught off 00:51:24.000 |
So John 14, 1, do not let your heart be troubled. 00:51:32.000 |
Believe also in Christ who is seated at the right hand of God. 00:51:40.000 |
But what's interesting is we can have joy and peace and abundance and at the 00:51:44.000 |
same time learn how to grieve the things that are going on around us. 00:51:50.000 |
It's okay to lament because our Lord is familiar with grief. 00:51:54.000 |
You know, John 14, what's a little sad and amazing about this whole chapter, 00:52:05.000 |
Jesus is giving his disciples comfort because they're so lost and confused. 00:52:15.000 |
It is Jesus who is heading for agony on the cross. 00:52:22.000 |
It is Jesus who is deeply troubled in heart, John 12, 27. 00:52:30.000 |
Yet on this night of nights when all -- of all times it would have been 00:52:34.000 |
appropriate for Jesus' followers to lend him emotional and spiritual support, 00:52:40.000 |
he is still the one who gives comforts and instructs. 00:52:45.000 |
For they too are troubled, not because they are rushing toward pain, 00:52:49.000 |
ignominy, shame, crucifixion, but because they are confused, 00:52:54.000 |
uncertain of what Jesus means, and threatened by references to his 00:53:01.000 |
If you are grieved in your heart by the things that are going on around us, 00:53:12.000 |
So when we pray to our God, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done," 00:53:18.000 |
he is super excited and eager to carry out his plan in his time. 00:53:26.000 |
So it's okay to be frustrated, but remember where we're going, 00:53:31.000 |
remember why we're here, and remember who's with us. 00:53:38.000 |
He is a God who is sovereign and never taken by surprise. 00:53:43.000 |
So when we pray tonight, let's fix our closed eyes on Jesus, 00:53:50.000 |
the author and perfecter of our faith, as we pray according to his word, 00:53:54.000 |
according to his will, "Lord, let your kingdom come, 00:53:58.000 |
let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," and let us seek his heart 00:54:03.000 |
by praying in the spirit on all occasions and for all things, 00:54:12.000 |
remembering that this is not our home, that while we're here we're on a mission, 00:54:18.000 |
and that God is on his throne, that he is with us. 00:54:28.000 |
What we're going to do is I'm going to just give you a little bit of time. 00:54:33.000 |
We have five topics to pray for, and we're going to pray for these things. 00:54:38.000 |
But before we do that, I would like to just invite you to take a minute 00:54:42.000 |
just to just adore the Lord and say, "Thank you, God, 00:54:52.000 |
So can we take a minute to pray, and then I will lead us 00:55:39.000 |
help us to pray in accordance with your purposes and your will. 00:55:44.000 |
And as we pray, would you draw near to us and overflow 00:55:50.000 |
and just fill our hearts with joy, with peace, with confidence and boldness. 00:56:08.000 |
So we're going to take five minutes first to pray for, one, local leaders, 00:56:17.000 |
This is so touchy, but I feel like we do need to pray. 00:56:23.000 |
Proverbs 21.1 says, "The king's heart is like channels of water 00:56:31.000 |
And Exodus 22.28 says, "Do not curse God or the rule over your people." 00:56:35.000 |
So we're never called to blast or just blast our leader, 00:56:44.000 |
And I always feel kind of weird praying for the salvation of someone 00:56:47.000 |
who I'm like, "Yeah, I don't think he's going to come to me." 00:56:51.000 |
So let's pray for our local leadership, our national leadership, and wisdom, 00:56:56.000 |
especially as things will get heated over the next few months prior to the election. 00:57:00.000 |
So whatever the current climate is that comes to mind and that troubles your 00:57:06.000 |
And let's pray that God will give our national leaders wisdom. 00:57:12.000 |
And first and foremost, that they will come to knowledge of Jesus Christ, 00:57:15.000 |
like a true knowledge of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:57:19.000 |
So take five minutes to pray for our leaders in the nation 01:00:48.000 |
Secondly, we're going to ask you to pray for our church leadership 01:01:04.000 |
and that God would give us wisdom to know how to lead his church, 01:01:07.000 |
not according to whatever is practical or easy for us, 01:01:12.000 |
but according to his desires and his purpose. 01:01:15.000 |
And just to encourage you guys, our leaders, we talk a lot and we pray a lot 01:01:24.000 |
and we discuss a lot, so there are no unilateral decisions ever made. 01:01:30.000 |
Like three days prior to us deciding to bring everything outdoors, 01:01:35.000 |
we talked every night for like two, three hours. 01:01:38.000 |
We actually did like mini reflective Bible studies on 1 Corinthians, 01:01:46.000 |
what does the word of God say in this situation, should we stay inside, 01:01:52.000 |
He butt dialed us and he didn't know he had butt dialed us, 01:01:55.000 |
but then there were five of us who picked up and he's like, 01:01:57.000 |
"Oh, since I have you," and then our conversation went for two and a half hours. 01:02:00.000 |
So we were really seeking to know his will through his word. 01:02:11.000 |
but we all submit to the authority of the word of God. 01:02:15.000 |
And can you pray that the leaders will maintain that stance before the Lord, 01:02:22.000 |
that God will give us wisdom to know how to love our flock, 01:02:28.000 |
lead our flock, and really to build his church the way he is pleased by. 01:02:35.000 |
So can you pray for that and pray for future leaders to come forth, 01:02:39.000 |
that God would really raise up godly men and women from our church as well. 01:02:43.000 |
So can you pray for that with me, next five minutes. 01:06:59.000 |
Third, we're going to be praying for our brothers and sisters 01:07:20.000 |
struggling in other parts of the world, in other parts of the states. 01:07:26.000 |
Some of you guys who've read Pastor Peter's update on the Indian pastors, 01:07:31.000 |
praise God for their strength and their boldness and their courage. 01:07:41.000 |
That not necessarily that the persecution will stop, 01:07:45.000 |
that that persecution will not be in vain, that there will be much fruit born. 01:07:54.000 |
A whole bunch of missionaries all across the board, 01:07:56.000 |
different organizations are all kind of being kicked out, 01:08:05.000 |
that a generation of passionate believers of Christ will be raised up. 01:08:12.000 |
We have, you guys know of churches that are being persecuted here, 01:08:18.000 |
So whatever comes to mind, and if you feel like, 01:08:21.000 |
"Oh, I don't have a heart for any of these places," 01:08:24.000 |
but you have a compassionate child, you could pray for Ecuador 01:08:30.000 |
Pray that in those little communities that God would raise up little spiritual warriors. 01:08:34.000 |
And so just let's take some time to pray for his global cause, 01:08:38.000 |
and that as persecution mounts and oppression mounts in our day and age, 01:08:43.000 |
that God would raise up a next generation of people who will carry that baton. 01:08:47.000 |
So let's pray for just believers that are going through different trials all over the world. 01:13:09.000 |
Our fourth topic of prayer, it really will be for, as you guys may know, 01:13:31.000 |
our church has a lot of people working in healthcare, 01:13:35.000 |
and we have at least half a dozen people in law enforcement, 01:13:40.000 |
and we have first responders who are still at varying degrees of risk because of COVID-19. 01:13:49.000 |
So if you know of our cops and our nurses and our doctors, 01:13:53.000 |
and we have some that are actually working with COVID patients, 01:13:59.000 |
because they can't necessarily see their families up close. 01:14:03.000 |
There are anxieties and fears and concerns and worries as well. 01:14:07.000 |
And this overall climate in our country is just -- 01:14:12.000 |
it's not friendly toward our law enforcement officers. 01:14:16.000 |
So for those who are Christians in the law enforcement, 01:14:20.000 |
let's pray that God would really use them to shine light. 01:14:23.000 |
So can you pray for the next few minutes for just the healthcare workers that you know, 01:14:28.000 |
first responders, law enforcement officers, and whoever -- whomever to this applies. 01:18:45.000 |
And this is going to be our last prayer topic for the evening. 01:18:49.000 |
Because of the obvious circumstances, we're not going to be able to break up and pray together. 01:18:55.000 |
So we will close with this prayer request, and then we're going to have the praise team come up and close for us. 01:19:03.000 |
Our theme is still to know him and to make him known. 01:19:06.000 |
And our gospel night, August 29th, not only are we asking you guys to actively, eagerly pray, 01:19:15.000 |
but also to invite your non-Christian friends and family to join in and participate. 01:19:22.000 |
So we'll pray for the gospel night on August 29th. 01:19:25.000 |
Our college ministry, please pray for our college students, as there's still a lot of different things that are up in the air. 01:19:33.000 |
And pray for just wisdom for Pastor Nate and for the staff to know how to best shepherd a lot of our college students who are always, 01:19:48.000 |
We're not sure when we'll be able to meet again. 01:19:50.000 |
So doing children's ministry online is tough. 01:19:53.000 |
You can't do Zoom meetings with four-year-olds and five-year-olds. 01:19:58.000 |
And especially for the families who haven't been able to come to church because they have many small kids, 01:20:05.000 |
pray that God would really draw near to them and send them people, really, to remind them of his love. 01:20:10.000 |
So just pray that our church, to know him and to make him known, that that really would apply to our various departments. 01:20:20.000 |
And so let's take a few minutes to pray for that. 01:20:22.000 |
And then just in about five minutes or so, we're going to ask the praise team to come back up and wrap up our time. 01:24:10.000 |
Alright, Church Family, let's all rise together as we sing this last song.