back to indexSunday Service 1/3/2021
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♪ As we gather may Your Spirit work within us ♪ 00:07:29.420 |
♪ Knowing well that as our hearts begin to worship ♪ 00:07:41.220 |
♪ As we gather may Your Spirit work within us ♪ 00:07:56.780 |
♪ Knowing well that as our hearts begin to worship ♪ 00:08:50.200 |
♪ As we gather may Your Spirit work within us ♪ 00:09:20.280 |
So let us take a moment to prepare our hearts 00:14:26.740 |
and also those of you who are joining us online. 00:14:28.740 |
We made it past 2020, now we're in 2021 for service. 00:14:39.740 |
First of all, our seeds department that, you know, 00:14:44.740 |
We're gonna have to hold off for a little bit. 00:14:48.740 |
And most of our volunteers there are hospital workers. 00:14:56.740 |
we will probably be shut down for the seeds department. 00:15:05.740 |
And so everything else is gonna be back online. 00:15:15.740 |
And then when the numbers seem a little bit better, 00:15:19.740 |
We'll give you a heads up before that happens. 00:15:48.740 |
I had something and I just completely blinked out. 00:15:57.740 |
I'll probably remember it before I come up here 00:16:02.740 |
So at this time, we're going to take some time 00:16:39.740 |
Lord, give us a heart of worship this morning 00:16:54.740 |
who are in need constantly of your help and grace. 00:16:58.740 |
Help us, Lord, to recognize that you are our hope, 00:17:04.740 |
that you are our object of our adoration and love. 00:17:10.740 |
Bless this worship, Lord God, that we may bless you. 00:17:12.740 |
May the offering be multiplied 30, 60, 100-fold, Lord God, 00:17:49.740 |
Let's all stand together as we continue the worship. 00:21:53.440 |
>> Behold the wondrous mystery in the dawning of the King. 00:23:20.440 |
Come behold, come behold the wondrous mystery, 00:25:37.940 |
worthy of all the praise we could ever bring. 00:25:44.940 |
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe, 00:26:09.440 |
worthy, worthy of every breath we could ever breathe. 00:27:19.940 |
worthy of every breath we could ever breathe. 00:31:08.440 |
All right, if you can turn your Bibles with me to 1 Peter 4, verse 7. 00:31:12.940 |
Because it is a new year, we want to introduce our theme verse 00:31:19.940 |
and the focus that we are trying to establish in 2021. 00:31:25.940 |
We have no idea what's going to happen in 2021, 00:31:29.940 |
but we want to be intentional in what we're pursuing. 00:31:33.440 |
So each year, we do an evaluation of where we are as a church, 00:31:40.940 |
what are some areas that we need to be strengthened in. 00:31:43.940 |
And so this is the verse that we want to focus on, 00:31:52.940 |
And so that's going to be something that you're going to see. 00:32:05.940 |
Therefore be of sound judgment and sober spirit 00:32:15.940 |
And we pray, Father God, that your Holy Spirit would open our eyes. 00:32:21.940 |
Convict us, Father God, that we may see your glory. 00:32:27.440 |
That we may have a greater and greater, a deepening appreciation 00:32:32.940 |
That our whole life would simply be a reasonable response 00:32:43.940 |
And we pray, Father God, that same grace would continue to guide 00:32:55.440 |
may it multiply, may it be something, Lord God, 00:33:12.940 |
So prayer is our primary focus that we want to push in 2021. 00:33:24.440 |
We take meetings, we take evaluation and say, you know, 00:33:28.940 |
And obviously there's a lot of things that we can give our attention to. 00:33:31.940 |
But this is something that we've actually pushed 00:33:36.940 |
And if you've been at our church for more than three, four years, 00:33:38.940 |
you know probably this has been our theme going forward each year. 00:33:43.940 |
And so, but as we evaluate, we come again that this is something 00:33:47.940 |
that we really need to give our attention to. 00:33:50.940 |
Not just to talk about it, not just to give sermons about, 00:33:59.940 |
You know, there's certain things that you're kind of aware of, 00:34:01.940 |
but you don't realize how bad it is until you get married. 00:34:07.940 |
And then your wife or your husband will make sure you know, right? 00:34:10.940 |
And so that's a benefit of being married in some sense. 00:34:15.940 |
when you're a community, you have blind spots 00:34:24.940 |
We have a blind spot in the Western church that we are aware of, 00:34:32.940 |
If I came up here on Sunday, this morning, and I say, 00:34:35.940 |
"You know what, I didn't have any time this week to prepare for my sermon. 00:34:42.940 |
I'm going to let the Holy Spirit speak this morning." 00:34:44.940 |
Every other week it was me, but now I'm going to let the Holy Spirit speak, right? 00:34:47.940 |
I think most of you, you know, who came to hear the Bible, 00:34:51.440 |
you're going to say, "What are you doing up there?" 00:34:53.940 |
If you didn't prepare for the sermon, don't get up there and waste our time. 00:35:02.940 |
We need to have high priority in making sure that the Word of God is taught, preached. 00:35:09.940 |
Yet in the Western church, including our church, 00:35:22.440 |
That's a discipline that we're weak in, and then we just move on." 00:35:25.440 |
Prayer in Scripture is just as important a proper exposition of God's Word. 00:35:31.440 |
In the Eastern church, you know, in the Asian churches, 00:35:38.440 |
Maybe weak in theology, but very strong in prayer. 00:35:41.440 |
Their response would be exactly the opposite. 00:35:43.440 |
The pastor came up and said, "You know, I didn't prepare, 00:35:46.440 |
and I didn't pray much, and I haven't been praying at all." 00:35:48.940 |
You know, and they said, "What? What are you doing up there? 00:35:51.440 |
How can you be a pastor and be preaching a sermon if you're not praying?" 00:35:55.440 |
And in the same way, this blind spot in the Western church is not a small problem. 00:36:06.440 |
The Bible says, "You did not have because you did not pray." 00:36:08.440 |
Our typical response to whenever there's a problem is, "Let's get organized. 00:36:14.440 |
Let's see what theological things that we've missed. 00:36:16.940 |
Let's have a class. Let's train these people. 00:36:30.440 |
But if you know the scriptures as well as I do, 00:36:34.440 |
which all of you know the scripture, and you've read it, 00:36:39.440 |
the Bible places prayer just as high as value as the Word of God. 00:36:45.940 |
So that is a big blind spot in the Western church. 00:36:50.440 |
And part of the reason why we talk about the weakness of the church is probably that. 00:36:55.440 |
Without prayer, we automatically become anxious. 00:37:00.440 |
When things happen and things don't go according to plan, 00:37:03.440 |
we become anxious because we're not sure where God fits into all this 00:37:09.440 |
In fact, sometimes it's even worse when you are successful and things are at peace 00:37:13.940 |
because we automatically think it must be because of something I'm doing. 00:37:21.440 |
or we're prone to pride, thinking that we know the answers. 00:37:25.440 |
Either way, when we don't pray, it is detrimental. 00:37:30.440 |
Knowledge and experience without prayer causes us to rely on knowledge and experience. 00:37:41.940 |
if you have more experience, maybe you're a bit more gifted. 00:37:47.440 |
Without prayer, it automatically leads to self-glory. 00:37:55.440 |
Prayer is essential, not important, essential in our walk with God. 00:38:00.440 |
Without it, we don't even know if we're right with God or not right with God. 00:38:10.940 |
Every time we talk, we say, "This is something we need to deal with." 00:38:17.440 |
This year, we're hoping that we would do more than just give you a verse or a sermon 00:38:24.440 |
We've tried to implement morning prayer, Friday night prayer. 00:38:27.440 |
We had praise and prayer implemented, but I think all of that is just a slight nudge. 00:38:35.440 |
We want to emphasize prayer to the extent that we emphasize the Word of God. 00:38:39.940 |
That may not happen overnight, but we want to make sure that we're headed there as a church 00:38:43.440 |
because I believe, and I think we all believe, that it is that important. 00:38:47.440 |
It is a weakness in our church beyond anything else. 00:38:51.440 |
1 Peter 4.7, the text that we want to focus on this morning. 00:38:58.440 |
Therefore be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer." 00:39:29.440 |
If the motivation is that the end is coming, well, 2,000 years have passed, 00:39:33.440 |
so how can we have any kind of urgency talking about something 2,000 years ago 00:39:42.940 |
So how are you going to preach a sense of urgency in prayer 00:39:46.940 |
when 2,000 years have passed and clearly things didn't end. 00:39:49.940 |
What does he mean by that and is this relevant to us today? 00:39:52.940 |
Well, some people have thought that maybe the end that he is referring to 00:39:57.940 |
is the physical death of the Christians, which was exactly what was going on. 00:40:02.940 |
1 Peter is written during the period when Nero's persecution was intense. 00:40:07.440 |
People were literally being torn apart by lions. 00:40:09.940 |
They were being crucified on the cross publicly to shame them. 00:40:13.940 |
This is the period when the apostles are starting to get caught and beheaded 00:40:17.940 |
and one by one the church is being destroyed. 00:40:20.940 |
So some people thought that maybe what Peter is saying, 00:40:23.940 |
the end, meaning physical end of Christians is near, so you better be ready. 00:40:29.940 |
Some people thought that maybe this is referring to the end of Israel, 00:40:36.440 |
and so Israel, there is no place for them anymore, and so we know what happens. 00:40:43.940 |
the Romans come in and completely abolish the nation of Israel. 00:40:47.940 |
They got sick and tired of their many rebellions and they came in, 00:40:50.940 |
destroys the temple so that they can't worship, 00:40:55.940 |
So they scatter all over, but as a nation they disappear. 00:40:58.940 |
So some think that Peter saw this coming and saying, 00:41:01.940 |
"The end of all things is near, so you better get ready." 00:41:05.440 |
The word that is used here for end in Greek is telos, 00:41:13.940 |
back in seminary this word was so significant 00:41:20.940 |
that I did a whole paper just on this particular word, teleos. 00:41:24.940 |
The word teleos is never used in the New Testament 00:41:27.940 |
to refer to the chronological end of something. 00:41:30.940 |
That there is a beginning, there is a middle, and there is the end. 00:41:34.440 |
So it can't be referring to the nation of Israel 00:41:35.940 |
where there was a beginning, there is a middle, 00:41:37.940 |
and now he is going to abolish the nation of Israel. 00:42:02.440 |
He says in 1 John 2.18, "Children, it is the last hour." 00:42:13.940 |
there is the last thing that God is preparing 00:42:20.940 |
And what he says, again, the end of all things is near. 00:42:31.440 |
"Seeing that his divine power has granted to us 00:42:39.940 |
who called us by his own glory and excellence." 00:42:48.940 |
for our sanctification, for our glorification 00:42:53.940 |
They are no longer waiting for something to happen. 00:43:00.940 |
The law was for the preparation of the coming of Christ 00:43:04.940 |
so that they would see sin as utterly sinful. 00:43:14.940 |
he would complete what is necessary for salvation. 00:43:19.940 |
So when he says, "The end of all things is near," 00:43:31.940 |
hoping the Messiah would come and deliver us. 00:43:40.940 |
so that we would become witnesses in Judea and Samaria 00:43:45.940 |
We're no longer waiting for the new covenant. 00:43:47.940 |
We're no longer waiting for the establishment 00:43:51.940 |
and we're no longer waiting for the word of God 00:43:54.440 |
to be given explaining the mystery of the gospel. 00:43:57.940 |
He says, "All has been given to you that is necessary." 00:44:06.940 |
So the challenge that he's giving to them is not, 00:44:09.940 |
"Life is hard, but you hold on to the hope of Christ, 00:44:28.440 |
And that's why Jesus says at the end of his ministry, 00:44:31.440 |
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations." 00:44:37.440 |
and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it." 00:44:40.440 |
The statement there is not a defensive statement. 00:44:43.440 |
He doesn't say, "I'm going to build my church 00:44:54.940 |
where the outside world is not going to be able to attack you." 00:45:00.940 |
and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it." 00:45:04.940 |
they're not going to be able to prevail against the church. 00:45:23.940 |
He says, "What God has consummated at the end time, 00:45:28.940 |
to take the gospel and be the light in the darkness." 00:45:37.940 |
And that's what he means when all things is near. 00:45:43.940 |
"Do this knowing the time that it is already the hour 00:45:51.940 |
if you've been just kind of wandering around in the darkness, 00:45:59.440 |
he's not simply saying to be alert and open your eyes. 00:46:04.440 |
Everything that you and I need for a life of godliness, 00:46:07.440 |
everything that you and I, to be the light to the world, 00:46:30.940 |
one of the most common questions that I've been getting, 00:46:32.940 |
outside of, "Is our church going to be open or closed?" 00:46:52.440 |
Now if I tell you when, you shouldn't listen to me anymore. 00:46:55.440 |
The Bible says I will not know the time or the hour. 00:46:58.440 |
But we should be able to tell the signs of the time. 00:47:02.440 |
And so whether he comes in our generation, next generation, 00:47:05.440 |
there is more awareness of something going on. 00:47:08.440 |
In fact, more and more non-Christians are asking the question. 00:47:22.940 |
And so he's basically saying, "Gear up. Open your eyes. 00:47:26.940 |
Be ready. Because the end of all things is near." 00:47:35.940 |
is also going to increase with the persecution. 00:47:38.940 |
And he's basically telling us our motivation to pray, 00:47:42.940 |
to gear up for this spiritual battle that he called us to. 00:47:52.940 |
of seeking the most comfortable place for us, 00:48:14.940 |
we kind of sprinkle Jesus on everything that we do. 00:48:16.940 |
We sprinkle in Jesus' name, kind of like the Catholics. 00:48:22.440 |
because they think that this has some sort of power. 00:48:25.440 |
But the thing is, the Protestants do the same, 00:48:29.440 |
You attach Jesus' name, kind of like doing this. 00:48:31.440 |
As long as I sprinkle Jesus on our fellowship, 00:48:40.440 |
So the kind of prayer that he's calling us to pray 00:48:52.940 |
and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 00:49:00.940 |
to break down its walls and destroy the church. 00:49:02.940 |
But he says, because I will establish my church, 00:49:17.440 |
making sure we have the best life that we can 00:49:22.440 |
then again, not only is our perspective wrong, 00:49:32.440 |
We're going to go to only places where we are safe. 00:49:48.440 |
because it forces us out of our comfort zone. 00:50:15.940 |
by being of sound judgment and of sober spirit. 00:50:21.940 |
which literally means to be wise in thinking. 00:50:26.940 |
when he says, "Do not be conformed to the world, 00:50:29.940 |
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." 00:50:34.940 |
And that's where we are committed to the word of God 00:50:37.940 |
to make sure that we have a biblical perspective. 00:50:51.940 |
we naturally are going to have a different perspective. 00:51:00.940 |
"Not to be conformed by the renewing of your mind," 00:51:04.940 |
I've been studying the Bible for a long time. 00:51:12.940 |
I know what the Bible says in the book of Hebrews. 00:51:18.440 |
judge the thoughts and intentions of my heart. 00:51:33.440 |
the thoughts and intentions of others' hearts. 00:51:38.440 |
It becomes a tool to weed out sin in our community. 00:51:41.940 |
It becomes a tool to weed out sin in other people's hearts. 00:51:51.440 |
when you study the Bible without much prayer. 00:51:55.440 |
it is dangerous to study the Bible without prayer. 00:51:59.440 |
It is dangerous to have right theology without prayer 00:52:04.440 |
gives you self-righteousness to judge other people. 00:52:42.940 |
in the hardships and the world that He's shaken up 00:52:45.940 |
is actually the best thing that could have happened for us. 00:53:02.940 |
that we're going to live in eternity in Christ 00:53:25.440 |
do I have enough money to take care of my family? 00:53:33.440 |
In and of itself, there's nothing wrong with any of that. 00:53:41.440 |
all of that stuff, according to Apostle Paul, 00:54:03.440 |
is being dictated by what we profess to believe 00:54:13.940 |
And that's the best thing that can happen to Christians. 00:54:21.940 |
because it shakes us up from our temporary safety. 00:54:39.940 |
is how much they loved the gathering of the church. 00:54:43.940 |
Not that it wasn't there, but it brought it out. 00:54:46.940 |
I didn't realize how important fellowship was 00:55:06.940 |
the word of God because they didn't have access. 00:55:21.940 |
That's what he means by being sober in our judgment. 00:55:31.940 |
You know, the Bible says that that was going to happen. 00:55:37.440 |
because it's been here in the scriptures all along. 00:55:41.440 |
Sometimes God will allow certain things to happen. 00:55:50.440 |
it causes a hungering and thirsting for righteousness 00:56:07.440 |
The former emphasizes internal thinking and internal feeling. 00:56:27.440 |
You know, remember Pastor Nate's sermon last week 00:56:30.440 |
when he was giving a sermon about the ten virgins? 00:56:34.440 |
And he said that the difference between the wise and unwise 00:56:50.440 |
And the distinction between the virgins who are saved 00:57:09.440 |
Is it consistent with the gospel that we profess? 00:57:18.440 |
When I say young families, I'm talking about all of us. 00:57:31.440 |
is that raising our kids and protecting them, 00:57:45.940 |
based upon, "Am I taking good care of my kids?" 00:57:53.940 |
Yes, there are times when the Bible says that 00:58:11.940 |
he who loves his father and mother more than me 00:58:30.940 |
We have to be careful that we do not get fooled. 00:59:46.440 |
let it judge the thoughts and intentions of our heart. 01:00:47.940 |
and I'm going to give you a warning ahead of time. 01:00:54.940 |
the word of God is going to blow it out of the water. 01:01:13.940 |
as with someone weaker since she is a woman." 01:01:31.940 |
as with someone weaker since she is a woman." 01:01:51.940 |
When you understand what's going on culturally, 01:02:33.940 |
I was still using my Korean name at that time. 01:02:48.940 |
Because I was the only Asian kid in that room, 01:03:04.940 |
and I said, "Yeah, she used to call me China boy." 01:03:07.940 |
And I don't think it was anything derogatory. 01:03:38.440 |
because the Bible was written 2,000 years ago 01:05:15.440 |
So it wasn't necessarily that they were being harsh. 01:05:21.440 |
It's just like somebody who you see suffering. 01:05:28.440 |
So what would have shocked a first century Jewish male 01:05:31.440 |
is not they are weaker because they are women. 01:05:57.440 |
is exactly the opposite of how the Jewish male 01:06:24.440 |
And so he was demolishing the prejudice of men 01:06:31.440 |
And so what he was doing was completely the opposite. 01:06:42.440 |
He completely revolutionized not only Christianity 01:07:29.440 |
That's how much he was elevating women at that time. 01:07:56.440 |
I mean I'm not talking about on the screen or television. 01:08:03.440 |
And if you look at the virus it looks like a crown. 01:08:10.440 |
You and I have never seen that with our eyes. 01:08:15.440 |
I mean we don't know until we see the effects of it. 01:08:20.440 |
that you and I can't even see with our own eyes 01:08:39.940 |
And so for us to think that if we get organized, 01:08:43.940 |
if we have the right teaching, right theology, 01:08:49.940 |
All of that has to happen so that we can pray. 01:08:53.940 |
there are articles of ignoble things and noble things. 01:09:06.440 |
Not filled with, you know, I got this experience, 01:09:08.440 |
I got this talent, I've done this, I have that. 01:09:22.440 |
And that's why the word of God first and foremost 01:09:24.440 |
judges the thoughts and intentions of my heart. 01:09:26.440 |
If the primary concern that we are overly concerned about 01:09:30.440 |
is other people, you're probably missing the whole point. 01:09:39.940 |
You're not wrestling with your own inclination 01:09:55.940 |
You cannot bear fruit unless you abide in Christ. 01:10:00.940 |
He says you cannot if you do not abide in Christ. 01:10:12.940 |
then ask whatever you wish it shall be done for you. 01:10:21.940 |
So if we get into theology and we get organized 01:10:57.940 |
And so when good things, godly things happen, 01:11:11.440 |
So even the good things that happen in our lives, 01:11:42.440 |
I don't bake so I don't know how small it takes. 01:11:53.940 |
It only takes a tiny little, tiny little pride, 01:12:03.440 |
don't establish young Christians in leadership 01:12:05.440 |
because he's going to fall into the same temptation 01:12:10.440 |
So one of the biggest struggles as leaders in the church, 01:12:13.440 |
especially, you know, since I'm the senior pastor, 01:12:16.440 |
the greatest struggle is not to get people sober, 01:12:25.440 |
The greatest struggle is I need to stay humble. 01:12:30.440 |
I need to recognize that I'm just a vessel for him to use. 01:12:40.440 |
is to bring us to God and be dependent upon him 01:12:46.440 |
Jesus says, "In that day you will not question me 01:12:52.440 |
If you ask the Father for anything in my name, 01:12:56.440 |
Until now you have asked for nothing in my name. 01:12:58.440 |
Ask and you will receive so that your joy may be made full." 01:13:01.440 |
He said up to this point you've been praying from a distance. 01:13:04.440 |
There wasn't an indwelling of the Holy Spirit 01:13:10.440 |
because Christ has given us everything that we need 01:13:12.440 |
for life and Godliness, now you can pray in my name. 01:13:28.440 |
That's the gift of salvation that God has given us. 01:13:46.440 |
"With all prayers, petitions, pray at all times 01:14:06.440 |
"Put on the full armor of God, helmet of salvation, 01:14:10.440 |
and then he says, "Pray, pray, pray, pray, pray." 01:14:43.440 |
whatever you are thinking about your husband or your wife, 01:15:38.440 |
Because what you and I do with our own strength 01:15:51.440 |
And so we recognize that this is our weakness. 01:16:01.440 |
This is something that we've recognized for years. 01:16:04.440 |
But I feel that we've gotten to a breaking point 01:16:11.440 |
and we have a lot of different thoughts and opinions 01:16:15.940 |
We need to focus on this, we need to focus on that. 01:16:17.940 |
And, you know, we have all kinds of opinions. 01:16:23.940 |
Some people who are angry that we're not meeting. 01:16:25.940 |
Some people who are angry that we are meeting. 01:16:30.940 |
we don't pay enough attention to social justice. 01:16:37.940 |
But of all the different opinions that we have, 01:17:01.440 |
everything that we're doing is just man's struggle. 01:17:16.440 |
The Holy Spirit is the one who judges people of their sins. 01:17:22.440 |
And let me tell you something that you and I absolutely cannot. 01:17:25.440 |
We do not have the power to love people that are hard to love. 01:17:30.440 |
We can like people, we can tolerate difficult people, 01:17:34.440 |
but the scripture says that the world will identify us by love. 01:17:38.440 |
But not any kind of love, but the love that Christ practiced. 01:17:43.440 |
"In that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." 01:17:52.440 |
The best that you and I can practice is love people who are likable. 01:18:01.440 |
And try not to slander people who have hurt us. 01:18:06.440 |
But to practice the love that Christ practiced with us, 01:18:15.440 |
So until we humble ourselves and recognize that we are feeble, 01:18:22.440 |
and we are desperate until Christ intervenes, 01:18:27.440 |
we may have a form of godliness, but not know the power. 01:18:33.440 |
Let me finish with this, 2 Corinthians 7, 12-16. 01:18:38.940 |
This is where the temple was built by Solomon in dedication. 01:18:45.440 |
"The Lord appeared to Solomon at night and said to him, 01:18:48.440 |
'I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. 01:18:54.440 |
If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, 01:18:58.440 |
or if I command the locusts to devour the land, 01:19:05.940 |
and my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray, 01:19:09.440 |
and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, 01:19:13.440 |
then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 01:19:19.440 |
Now my eyes will be opened and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.'" 01:19:25.440 |
So one of the first things that we want to implement in church is, 01:19:34.940 |
we want to utilize our Sunday worship better. 01:19:37.440 |
So what we're going to do is, starting from next week, 01:19:40.440 |
whether you're at first service or second service, 01:19:42.440 |
we're going to invite you to come into the sanctuary a bit earlier. 01:19:47.440 |
We're going to ask the praise team to finish earlier. 01:19:52.440 |
so that you can come in here and take some time to pray. 01:19:55.440 |
Instead of starting a separate prayer meeting, 01:19:58.440 |
we're going to try to utilize Sunday morning better. 01:20:00.940 |
And again, if you don't know how to pray or you don't know what to pray for, 01:20:05.440 |
we'll have prayer requests, corporate prayer, 01:20:07.440 |
that sometimes are turned in or certain things that we're aware of, 01:20:10.440 |
we'll put it up there, take some time to pray for that. 01:20:12.440 |
But we're praying mostly that you would know what to pray for. 01:20:20.440 |
and let the word of God and the Holy Spirit lead you and guide you 01:20:27.440 |
but Sunday morning before worship, 10-15 minutes, 01:20:33.940 |
we realize it's much easier to gather on the Zoom than physically. 01:20:37.940 |
One of the problems that we have is we have so many things going on at church, 01:20:40.940 |
it's hard to add another thing to the calendar. 01:20:43.940 |
But having Zoom, we can just say, "Monday night at 8 o'clock, 01:20:47.940 |
we're going to take 30 minutes and just come and we're going to pray together." 01:20:49.940 |
And so you'll see some more of that by different pastors, different departments. 01:20:56.940 |
that we're going to do some, hopefully, tangible things. 01:21:01.440 |
if there's any complaints that I will welcome, 01:21:04.440 |
you come and say, "Hey, you said we're going to pray, but we're not praying." 01:21:09.440 |
I want you to keep us accountable and say, "Hey, we're not doing enough. 01:21:17.440 |
because we definitely want to head down that direction. 01:21:23.440 |
and I'm going to invite you to take a few minutes to pray 01:21:30.440 |
If you've been overwhelmed by the pressures of life, 01:21:44.940 |
If you've been struggling to keep your head above waters, 01:21:48.940 |
and some days you just feel like just letting go, 01:22:03.940 |
but feel like you're failing more than succeeding, 01:22:07.940 |
come to the throne of grace to find mercy and help and pray. 01:22:14.940 |
and your marriage didn't quite turn out the way that you were hoping 01:22:26.440 |
If you're struggling with pain from past hurts, disappointments, 01:22:29.940 |
and can't seem to overcome the bitterness that resides in you, 01:22:42.940 |
If you're concerned about what the world is going to be like in 2021, 01:22:49.940 |
If you've lost someone that you love this year, 01:22:55.440 |
and you don't know how you're going to overcome your grief, 01:23:02.940 |
If you've been wondering if your past sins are too much to overcome, 01:23:07.940 |
and though you believe in your head that your sins are forgiven, 01:23:24.940 |
Let's take some time to pray as our worship team leads us. 01:25:12.360 |
>> I will trust my Savior Jesus when my target stops before. 01:25:22.340 |
Trust him when to simply trust him seems the hardest thing of all. 01:25:49.360 |
For I know the shield of Jesus is the safest place of all. 01:26:02.360 |
>> Jesus, only Jesus, help me trust you more and more. 01:26:12.360 |
Jesus, only Jesus, may my heart be ever yours. 01:26:23.360 |
I will trust my Savior Jesus. He has set his ways best. 01:26:33.360 |
For I know that life he's chosen leads to everlasting rest. 01:26:43.360 |
Jesus, only Jesus, help me trust you more and more. 01:26:53.360 |
Jesus, only Jesus, may my heart be ever yours. 01:27:03.360 |
Jesus, only Jesus, help me trust you more and more. 01:27:13.360 |
Jesus, only Jesus, may my heart be ever yours. 01:27:55.360 |
I can go now ever trusting in the one who died for me. 01:28:14.360 |
So I trust you, simply trust you, good with every heart of you. 01:28:34.360 |
I can go now ever trusting in the one who died for me. 01:28:54.360 |
So I trust you, simply trust you, good with every heart of you. 01:29:07.360 |
Jesus, only Jesus, help me trust you more and more. 01:29:17.360 |
Jesus, only Jesus, may my heart be ever yours. 01:29:27.360 |
Jesus, only Jesus, help me trust you more and more. 01:29:37.360 |
Jesus, only Jesus, may my heart be ever yours. 01:29:50.360 |
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling, 01:29:54.360 |
and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, 01:29:57.360 |
blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, 01:30:00.360 |
through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, 01:30:04.360 |
and authority before all time and now and forever. 01:31:19.360 |
And life is worth the living just because he lived. 01:31:32.360 |
All right, before you go, I just remembered the announcements. 01:31:36.360 |
Okay, so one is I wanted to give you an update. 01:31:39.360 |
We took an IMB missions offering during Christmas Day, 01:31:45.360 |
We were able to collect more than $17,000 that we're going to be sending to the IMB. 01:31:52.360 |
and that is going to be used to support our international missionaries, 01:31:55.360 |
obviously Pastor Alex and Harry and their family as well. 01:31:59.360 |
The second thing is we have a new members class that's starting -- I forgot the date. 01:32:06.360 |
On the day of our members meeting, we're starting at least that morning at 830. 01:32:14.360 |
Okay, so just to give you a heads up on that. 01:32:16.360 |
All right, so if you forget, it will be on the website somewhere. 01:32:18.360 |
So we can have that side of the group leave on that side, 01:32:21.360 |
and then you guys can just take a minute to kind of stroll out that way.