WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:06.959 Welcome to Preaching from Manson Bible Church, located in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, South Africa. 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:13.599 It is important that this teaching would bless you, deep in your love of God's word and encourage you as you follow Jesus. 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:19.519 And if you're not a Christian, we pray that this message would encourage you as you explore the Christian faith. 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:42.079 Yeah, so greetings from Pulse Church. 00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:46.479 So we church just started six years ago, planted out of BBC. 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:48.719 Still going, so praise God for that. 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:49.920 Yeah. 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:51.039 Thanks to you. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:57.759 But it's always good to come here because I get to preach three times in one day. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:03.920 Because at our church, we're still a small church, and so I only get one shot at it on Sunday morning, right? 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:05.040 So I've got to get it right. 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:13.680 Whereas over here, it's more like the first service is the starters, second service is the mains, and the service in the evening is the leftovers. 00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:15.680 No, I'm I'm joking. 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:19.439 I hope they get the best of me in the evening as well. 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:36.959 Um, yeah, so this series you guys got going, The Kingdom of God, I think it's it speaks to, or it should speak to where we are in the world today, because it seems like often there's confusion about who we are in this world as Christians and what our role is. 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:44.719 You know, if you go back to the very beginning and God created man in his image and asked him to rule on my behalf, right? 00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:49.920 To to make sure that this earth is a great place to live and inhabit in. 00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:57.519 And obviously we kind of messed it up, and so God himself, uh Jesus had to come and connect us back to God and show us the way. 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:00.000 And so it's a great series to be in. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:16.800 And the text I was given today to speak from is the Lord's Prayer, which we're all familiar with, but I hope that the angle we approach in today will just help us think a little bit deeper about what our role is in the world as as members of the kingdom of God, right? 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:21.280 As sons and daughters of the king, because often there's a confusion to that. 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:26.879 And so I'm praying that um what's being said today lands on good soil. 00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:30.560 I love what you just said, you know, the word of God reading us. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:38.080 Um I also I'm just reminded of what Tim Keller said once as well, um, where he said, God's word is his is his action. 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:43.840 So, in other words, he doesn't have to say and then do, he says, and it's his doing. 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:50.960 So if he says, Let there be light out of his words, light is created, right? 00:02:51.039 --> 00:02:57.759 So when when God's word is preached, it's God's action towards us in real time, right? 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:08.479 So I'm hoping that even as we go through this journey today, that um it'll reposition our uh our minds in terms of the world we live in today. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:12.479 Because let's be honest, it's it's kind of chaotic, it's sad, it's depressing. 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:21.360 Like I said to uh the guys in the in the first service, part of the reason why we're so depressed is we're because we're on social media so much, right? 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:23.599 And always sees bad news all around the world. 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:27.039 But the the point is the kingdom of God is advancing. 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:33.120 It always has been in the last 2,000 years in different parts of the world, in different ways. 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:35.439 And you and I are a part of that. 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:39.280 It's not something external of us, it's not something outside of us. 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:42.479 We are in the midst of it as the people of God in the church. 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:52.879 And so when when God's um people or the early disciples of Jesus, they ask him how they should pray. 00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:58.159 And Jesus took this opportunity to tell them how they should pray because they wanted to know how to pray. 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:05.599 Um, and let's be honest, research shows that the least attended meetings in churches are prayer meetings, right? 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:07.439 I mean, it's it's it's no secret, right? 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:15.439 I mean, remember being on staff here a long time ago, and when we used to organize those prayer get together, this is about 10% of the congregation used to come. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:19.519 And things don't change, even at our church, made it as convenient as possible. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:26.079 We do it online every Tuesday night, and yet it's like the same people who attend every week, you know? 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:35.279 And it's not an indictment on us because there's some things about corporate prayer that can be intimidating to a lot of us. 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:38.000 But the point is we all do pray. 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:40.240 All of us pray. 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:43.920 We pray when things matter to us, right? 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:46.639 We pray when something is at stake. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:51.360 We pray when something we want to happen must happen. 00:04:51.519 --> 00:05:01.839 That's when we pray, whether it's a relational issue or dissonance, whether it's financial, whether it's a job that you really wanted, you went to an interview for. 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:03.439 I mean, we all pray, right? 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:10.720 Let's be honest, we all say something to God about the current condition of our lives that we want somehow to change. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:16.000 I mean, I was thinking about my adolescent years, about 12, 13 years of age. 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:27.600 Maybe my prayers weren't that mature, but I just remember, you know, this one instance where, you know, I was supporting a particular cricket team and uh not gonna tell you which team because I might be stoned. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:33.199 Uh, but but you know, at half time, um, things weren't looking great, you know. 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:42.240 So I remember just going to my room, closing the door, and getting down on my knees and praying, like literally earnestly, honestly praying, Lord, please may they not lose. 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:46.319 Please may things change, you know, because if they lose, oh, that the world is gonna end, you know. 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:52.480 It's I mean, it is such a sincere prayer, but I look back on it and I think, what really was at stake? 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:55.040 You know, if they lost, my life would carry on. 00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:56.720 You know, it didn't really mean much to me. 00:05:56.800 --> 00:06:06.160 But but the point being is that we normally pray when things are really at stake, when something important we want must happen, when it matters. 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:10.000 So the question today is what really is on God's heart? 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:12.399 What matters to him? 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:17.279 What does he really want to see happen in the world? 00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:22.079 And so when when the disciples ask Jesus, how should we pray? 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:27.439 it's almost like Jesus saying, This is how you should pray, because this is what matters to God. 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:33.839 This is what matters to him, this is on his heart, and it hasn't changed, by the way, in thousands of years. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:41.360 And so when we look at the prayer that Jesus tells us to pray, I hope that it'll give you fresh eyes on it. 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:47.920 So we are in Matthew uh chapter six, um verse nine. 00:06:48.079 --> 00:06:58.480 I'm reading from the NLT, and um Jesus responds and he says it pray like this. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:11.279 Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy, may your kingdom come soon, and may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:15.040 So we won't really focus on verse 9 today because we've got a lot to get through. 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:27.279 But what catches my attention is the after telling us who we should pray to, immediately Jesus sets agenda by talking about the kingdom of God, and he says, You should pray like that. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:31.199 It should come soon, should come here on earth, because that's on my heart. 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:42.399 And and to be honest, I don't know how many of our prayers are oriented and bent that way, because our father's heart for the world is for his kingdom to advance, right? 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:44.000 That that's his heart for the world. 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:50.480 He wants to see his rule and reign come to the world through through us, through, through his people. 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:58.879 And so then he spends the rest of the prayer talking about what that should look like, right? 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:04.639 What we should be praying and how it should stimulate us to to look at our lives and our roles here on earth. 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:11.519 And so the first aspect of of the kingdom of God when it comes to how we should pray is the physical aspect, right? 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:19.279 Look at look at the next verse where immediately he says, verse 11 give us today the food that we need. 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:22.560 Give us today the food that we need. 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:25.199 So I was grocery shopping yesterday. 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:31.680 I generally don't do it on a Saturday, I generally do it on a Sunday afternoon because Sunday afternoons it's so quiet. 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:33.600 You know, there aren't many people around. 00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:36.240 Uh, but Saturday mornings are chaotic, you know. 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:39.360 Um we go to these shops and it's people all over the place. 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:43.840 And generally every week, um, you know, we sit down with the kids. 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:45.440 So what are we going to eat this week? 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:45.919 Right? 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:47.919 I mean, it's it's not carte blanche, right? 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:54.799 It's not like you can eat whatever you want, but you know, within the general kind of range of food that we normally eat, we we get to decide. 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:57.919 And so that's what I go by on a weekly basis. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:07.200 But as I was grocery shopping, I looked around at all the people and I realized we actually get to choose what we want to eat. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:09.200 Have you ever realized that? 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:16.879 Like we can choose what we want to eat, and then we want particular foods, and so we go and buy that food. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:19.440 You know, even if we're in a restaurant, right? 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:21.600 You've got the whole menu to choose from. 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:26.320 But most of the world don't get that option. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:41.200 Most of the world don't even have like one square meal a day, you know, and and we often take it for granted that we don't just have food on our plates, but we get to choose what we would like to eat. 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:52.159 And I think the reason why Jesus mentions the physical aspect of the kingdom of God is because he sees the human need for food. 00:09:52.559 --> 00:10:01.519 I mean, when Jesus was walking the earth and he was preaching and he saw these guys were hungry, thousands of people, right, had gathered. 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:06.399 Some say, you know, close to 15, 20,000 people, including women and children. 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:10.159 And and Jesus is like, man, we can't let these guys go hungry. 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:12.320 We've got to do something about it. 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:12.879 Right? 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:16.799 And so he gets the five loaves and two fish and he multiplies, and everyone gets to eat. 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:22.159 But but for me, if Jesus was president, right, everyone would have enough to eat. 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:23.600 Yeah? 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:25.039 Because food is important. 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:28.480 I think for those of us who always have enough, we actually take it for granted. 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:37.679 You see, back in Jesus' day, people would be grateful to get to eat what they ate because it was a part fishing community, right? 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:38.879 So if you caught fish, you ate. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:41.200 If you didn't catch fish, you didn't eat. 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:46.320 There were a lot of laborers, a lot of blue-collar workers, carpenters, that kind of thing. 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:49.759 And so it was a day-to-day survival issue. 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:52.399 It was a day-to-day dependence thing. 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:57.840 So food, the food that we get to eat matters to God, and everyone should get to eat. 00:10:57.919 --> 00:11:11.840 And so for those of us who do have enough to eat, maybe the imperative for us in our prayers, in our kingdom prayers, is not just praying for provision for us, but pray for extra so that we can help feed others. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:16.639 Pray for extra so that we can help feed others. 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:24.480 In fact, it's not extra for a lot of us, it's just adjust your budget a little bit and be ready to feed someone who needs food. 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.519 You'll be surprised. 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:28.399 I mean, you know how important food is to you, right? 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:31.600 Without it, you don't have the energy to carry on. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:37.279 I don't know if you've ever gone without food for more than like four or five or six hours. 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:44.000 Um, but but you know, if you've ever fasted, you know how depleted you feel, how how low you feel. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:51.440 And it's almost as if God has designed us and wired us in such a way that food is what we need to keep going. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:55.919 For so many families out there, we're not as privileged as we are. 00:11:56.080 --> 00:12:02.639 Food is what they need to just go through the next day to get their bodies going again. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:04.639 So this really is on God's heart. 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:14.559 And it's no surprise that as Jesus tells them how to pray, the first thing he says about the kingdom is you should pray, give us today our daily bread, give us the food that we need today. 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:21.600 And for those of us who are privileged, we should pray not just for the food that we need today, but how can I have extra so I can feed others who don't have? 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:27.600 Because it may just give them that extra burst of energy to carry on the next day. 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:29.840 So you've got to keep our eyes and ears open. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.320 Who around me needs food? 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:36.000 I mean, it's not always the obvious person, right? 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:38.799 Maybe who's begging on the street or in a poorer community. 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:41.120 It may be even your colleague at work. 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:42.080 Right? 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:45.120 Maybe they are struggling and you have no idea. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:50.240 Maybe if you bought a couple of grocery bags for them, it would change their world, literally. 00:12:51.120 --> 00:13:05.279 And so even when I'm thinking about this, I'm thinking, sure, there are seasons where I feel led, you know, to give something to someone, maybe on the side of the road, but it's not a it's not a norm, it's not regular. 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:14.879 And maybe that's one of the ways in which God's kingdom advances on the earth, is where people have enough to eat, and who more better to do it that than God's people? 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:20.000 I mean, there aren't enough soup kitchens around to feed everyone, right? 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:25.039 But there are enough Christians around to feed the hungry. 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:27.440 And Jesus carries on. 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:30.080 So the first aspect is psychological. 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:43.120 The second, let me just go to Isaiah, sorry, let me just go to Isaiah 58, 10, because God speaks to his Old Testament people, and he's kind of a bit fed up with uh with their religiosity. 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:50.399 You know, if you read the whole chapter, it's like, man, you guys are doing all these religious things, but the things that I really want you to do, you're not doing. 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:59.919 And one of them is this he says, feed the hungry, help those in trouble, then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be bright as noon. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:05.039 So, in other words, man, if you want to be lights in the world, feed the hungry. 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:08.639 I mean, it it couldn't be clearer than that. 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:13.200 So, so this is really on God's heart for the world. 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:19.919 As like I said earlier on, if Jesus was king right now, fully all around, then everyone would have enough to eat. 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:20.480 Right? 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:27.759 So let's be conscientious about our kingdom prayers when we pray, not just for ourselves, but those who don't have enough to eat. 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:33.360 And then then the second aspect of God's kingdom is is the psychological aspect of it. 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:40.799 Um, he says in verse 12, and forgive us our sins as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:46.720 Forgive us our sins as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 00:14:50.480 --> 00:15:01.679 Kind of seems like there's a almost a symbiotic relationship between the vertical forgiveness between us and God and the horizontal between us and others, right? 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:18.480 And man, like I wish we had a lot of time to unpack this, but I just maybe want to delve into the psychological aspect of this because so many of us, without even recognizing, we carry a lot of offense in our hearts. 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:28.639 And often it goes unnoticed until you you get to a point where life is stressful, where there's a lot of pressure. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:36.000 Um, and when you know, it's like when you squeeze a toothpaste and the toothpaste comes out, it's like that. 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:46.320 It's sort of like when when you are squeezed by life's challenges, it's like that person comes up and you're like, oh my goodness, I have bitterness against this person in my heart. 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:50.320 And I yeah, I wasn't aware of it. 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:54.799 You know, I mean, I had to check even my own heart this week while preparing for this message. 00:15:54.960 --> 00:16:05.200 And even after after the first service, you know, I I thought about this one, I wouldn't call him a close friend, but almost like an acquaintance, but it's a pastor friend I know. 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:14.799 Um, and and there was a season where you know we weren't seeing eye to eye on certain things, and um, but I I you know I worked through it. 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:22.240 And then when when I was scrolling on Facebook this week and I saw I saw he had put up a post, there's something in my heart just went, I don't want to see this post. 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:26.799 And I thought, is there something in there that I need to do? 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:29.279 Like, you know, do I need to talk to him? 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:32.879 And this happened just now in between services. 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:36.320 I wasn't on Facebook in between services, uh, by the way. 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:39.679 Um, just saying the Facebook thing was during the week. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:47.279 Um, but you know, I don't know if the spirit brought that to my mind, but I've got to go back and do some soul searching on that, right? 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:58.960 So here's the problem: if you if you're carrying a lot of um bitterness or offense against someone, is that it also affects your relationship with God. 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:00.480 It really does. 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:22.160 Because if we truly believe that everything that you've done against him has been wiped clean and that the air between you and God is clear, then if we're not working that out in our lives with others, then there's always some kind of a between you and God, nothing is is flowing freely, if that makes sense. 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:27.200 There's all there will always be this psychological burden that that you will carry. 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:34.640 But even on the other end, you might be the one who've done the harm, you might be the one who's done the hurt, and so you may be carrying guilt and shame. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:44.000 You may be carrying self-condemnation, the way you did uh something to your friend, what you said, how you betrayed them. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:48.079 And maybe forgiveness hasn't taken place. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:54.720 I don't know what it is, but I really know that the spirit wants to work in you so that you're that no longer burdens you. 00:17:54.799 --> 00:18:05.680 And I think there's a reason why this is right at the heart, at the center of that prayer, because Jesus knows that this is such a critical issue to all our relationships. 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:20.720 I mean, I was telling the first service about this one person I know who um in the middle of a meeting just kind of got highly annoyed and agitated and just kind of walked off and said they weren't coming back again. 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:32.000 And so we tried various ways of reaching out and first sent a message, and then I invited this person over for for dinner to our place. 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:56.960 And the response was this really, really, really, really, really long WhatsApp message, you know, those where you just keep scrolling about this person's grievances against me for years, and like I had no idea, you know, and I so I was thinking through some of those things, and I was thinking, but man, that wasn't even my intention, you know. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:59.039 So this these things happen on various levels. 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:22.640 Some people don't intend to hurt us, but we we take offense, or some people do intend to hurt us, like they're that's their agenda, like they they want to say things or do things to you that is hurtful and harmful, and so forgiveness is never a one-time thing, it's it's it's a journey that we all have to walk on, but it is the most liberating journey that you walk on because it truly sets you free. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:27.359 And I'm sure you know this, it's truly at the heart of this gospel that we preach. 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:32.559 And so when you pray, maybe you should be praying that. 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:36.559 Don't wait for an ugly incident to happen. 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:38.960 Maybe do a bit of a heart check every now and again. 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:42.160 You know, is ask God, is there someone I need to forgive? 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:45.680 Like, have I been holding grudges against someone? 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:49.359 It could be even someone a long, long, long time ago. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:56.960 It doesn't go away because our soul is eternal, it stays there and it'll come out at some point. 00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:01.359 Maybe you haven't forgiven your parents, some of us. 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:09.839 And not that they even necessarily harmed you in any way, but maybe by the way they raised you. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:13.359 Okay, maybe you thought they could have done better. 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:19.599 Maybe that you thought they made some wrong choices that uh adversely affected you. 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:25.279 It could be anyone, it could be a school teacher, it could be a friend, it could be a neighbor. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:35.680 The thing is, you'll never be able to walk free, you will never be able to usher in God's kingdom in the world in this fashion if you yourself are still struggling with it. 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:39.119 And Jesus uses that symbiotic thing, right? 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:43.119 Forgive our sins as we forgive those who sins against us. 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:49.440 And so I'm praying that you you don't walk away today just saying, I know it's okay. 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.559 We hear this often, right? 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:52.400 I've forgiven them in my heart. 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:59.680 But often it's not true unless you really sit down and have a conversation with them. 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:08.960 You know, and it may be the hardest conversation you would ever have, but it's also the most liberating conversation you ever have because you've done something about it, right? 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:11.839 And now the ball is on their court. 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:24.400 But God doesn't want us to walk walk with the psychological burden because it's very, very crippling, and it sure as well is not advancing the kingdom of God on this earth. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:29.599 And so sometimes when you pray these prayers, God doesn't answer it immediately. 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:45.279 You don't all of a sudden get a name, or you don't all of a sudden see a face, but give it some time, give it a few days, a few weeks, sometimes even a few months, and you realize oh my goodness, like I need to clear the air with this person. 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:50.559 I need to forgive, or I need to speak to them about how they have hurt me. 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.680 This is big, guys. 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:58.960 The psychological aspect of the kingdom of God, it really drives us. 00:21:59.440 --> 00:21:59.759 We know. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:02.000 That's our psychology drives us. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.759 It's great to have food to eat. 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:07.359 But what's in the inside of us drives and motivates us. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:18.799 And maybe that's why we even struggle to love people well, because we're still carrying within us so much guilt and shame or bitterness and offense. 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:21.519 And then Jesus carries on. 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:26.799 The last aspect of so pray for strength to forgive others, right? 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:29.519 That that would be my encouragement is you need that strength. 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:38.640 And the last aspect is a protective part of the kingdom where he says in verse 13, and don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. 00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:42.799 So we're going to focus more on the second aspect of that of that prayer. 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:44.880 Rescue us from the evil one. 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:51.200 I think you and I know that there are opposing kingdoms in the world. 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:56.559 I think we'd be living under a rock if if we wouldn't acknowledge that. 00:22:58.319 --> 00:23:06.160 Because even John says in 1 John 3.8, it's not up on your screen, but he says, the Son of God, the Son of Man came into the world to what? 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:08.960 To destroy the works of the devil. 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:09.759 Right? 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:26.720 So God comes into the world to initiate his kingdom because there is an opposing kingdom that it's always seeking to destroy mankind, to rob you of God's image in you, to rob you of the dignity and value and worth that you have as an image bearer of God. 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:34.799 The Son of God is always coming at you, whether it is through your relationships, whether it's through your finances. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:40.799 And so Jesus is saying, pray for protection, pray for rescue from the evil one. 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:43.440 It's not a prayer that we often pray. 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:55.839 I mean, it's certainly not a prayer that I often pray, but I've realized that when I look into the past, the number of times that God has protected me and my family. 00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:57.519 It's unreal. 00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:58.960 I mean, I'll just give you one example. 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:06.400 Um, we live in a complex that obviously separates the homes by separated by walls. 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:21.279 Um, and so in one of the birthday parties, my my father-in-law comes to me and he goes, 'Have you noticed that that the wall on that side of the house it's it's slanted at such an angle?' And I was like, I didn't really know that because you know, that's where the kids play. 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:28.319 Um, and um, and so I look had a look at it, and my goodness, it really was really slanted. 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:58.319 So um we we got that uh got that fixed, but this wall was so fragile, guys, that when the guys came to to bring it down and put up a new wall, they literally pulled the one of the cables that was running on the wall, you know, cable for the outside lights, they just pulled it and the entire wall came crashing down to the point where one of the guys even got hurt, fortunately, not really badly. 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:17.279 But I was thinking the number of times that my children would bump against that wall with their bicycles, whether they're playing tag or whatever, and the wall did not come crashing down on them because my kids are that age that if that wall comes crashing down on them, they wouldn't be here today. 00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:22.160 You think God wasn't there protecting them by some way in some way? 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:38.240 God is saying to us that we are in a war on this earth, and those of us who are advancing the kingdom of God, you will always receive opposition in some way. 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:44.400 So pray for protection to rescue from the evil one. 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:48.559 I also want to mention there's a difference between hurt and harm. 00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:59.759 And sometimes you might feel like you've been hurt by by the enemy, but he cannot permanently harm you because you belong to Jesus, right? 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:00.720 Right? 00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:04.640 And so that hurt can heal and those wounds can heal. 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:10.079 But harm sometimes tends to be permanent damage, you know, that's irreparable. 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:14.880 And so don't feel like a bad stuff happens that oh, God is not protecting you. 00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:18.559 He may have protected you from something even worse. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:22.000 Maybe that's not the worst that could have happened to you. 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:36.960 You know, I was just speaking to a friend after the first service and talking about how difficult life has been, and trying to run a business and learning new things, and you know, trying to make an income and to pay bills and stuff. 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:41.759 Uh, but we're just recounting on the journey that we've that he's walked on so far. 00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:45.759 The things actually could have been worse, but he is much better. 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:49.920 He's much stronger because he's able to carry the pressure and the load of those things. 00:26:50.400 --> 00:27:04.079 So when we pray for protection, we actually are praying that God will protect us from the works of the enemy to the point where it doesn't stop the kingdom from advancing, but also that it makes us stronger. 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:06.640 It makes us stronger, right? 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:13.200 So you can face more battles, more wars, and you can enjoy more victories and celebrate more of those victories. 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:16.240 So the protective aspect of the kingdom of God is so real. 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:22.240 So to the point where I'm now praying almost every day, Lord, please protect us as we go on the roads. 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:23.519 And sometimes some things happen. 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:34.960 Like I mentioned a while ago to someone that when I started my sabbatical, it was the end of 2024, the very first week, like Kirsty and the kids got into a car accident. 00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:38.319 And you know, I was tempted to say, why? 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:42.960 You know, this this sabbatical period is like for us to rest, you know. 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:48.400 Uh never been in an accident before, but God's protection was still there. 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:49.440 You know why? 00:27:49.680 --> 00:28:02.480 Because on the right side of the car, where my son was sitting, uh, where where the motorbike crashed into, the entire window was completely shattered, but that glass did not fall on my son. 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:09.440 You know, so so the point is you might not see the protection, but it's there. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:15.279 They were not protected from the accident, but we were protected from some more grievous harm. 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:24.720 So this is something we need to take seriously because if you're choosing to put up your hand and go, choosing to advance God's kingdom, pray for protection. 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:29.119 Because the enemy is roaring and he's seeking to devour you. 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:35.119 That's what the scriptures say in some form or the other, relationally, financially, work-wise. 00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:39.119 I mean, some of the opposition we face is almost unexplainable. 00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:47.279 And so, even as we draw to a close, um, I want to land with what Jesus says in Matthew 6, 33. 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:56.720 He says, Seek first, seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything that you need. 00:28:58.079 --> 00:29:06.799 So, in this long sermon that Jesus preaches, he says, What's on my heart, what's on my agenda for the world should also be yours. 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:19.519 And so, in your prayers, orient your prayers more towards my prayers for the world, towards my heart for the world, and you'll be surprised, right, at the adventure you go on. 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:25.599 It's it's it's an exciting adventure, it's a hard adventure, it's a challenging adventure. 00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:30.480 But man, when you're advancing the kingdom of God, there's nothing like it. 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:36.960 It's actually very thrilling, it's actually very stimulating that you actually get to partner with God. 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:45.039 That you actually get to partner with the one who is advancing his beautiful and just and righteous rule and reign on this earth. 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:48.720 The fact that we get to partner with God is an amazing thing. 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:51.599 The fact that he wouldn't trust that, put that in our hands. 00:29:51.759 --> 00:30:00.559 Yes, he gives us resources, gives us the spirit, he gives us the word, he gives us his people, but he's saying, like, I want to advance my kingdom through you. 00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:05.440 It's a beautiful thing, but it starts with how we pray. 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:11.839 Because when we pray, it's not just asking God for stuff, it's it's it's just aligning us to God's heart. 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:20.240 And nothing could be more clear than Jesus, God Himself, coming to earth and saying, Boom, if you want to know how to pray, this is how you pray. 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:22.160 This is on my heart for the world. 00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:33.039 Start praying like this, then those prayers are gonna start stimulating and encouraging you to actually be my hands and feet in the world. 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:37.599 This is an incredible privilege that the Church of Jesus Christ has. 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:51.039 And I think I've been church long enough, you know, ever since I've come out of the womb, to know that so many of us are just clinging on for dear life, you know, just waiting for Christ's return, you know. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:54.000 Just please let it all be over. 00:30:55.119 --> 00:31:01.279 But one generation to the next passes, and it's not yet over. 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:05.200 Because there's still work to be done. 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:17.200 God's beautiful and righteous and just rule has to come upon the earth, has to advance, and at certain point he's gonna decide when he's gonna finally come. 00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:22.799 But up until that point, man, there's so much incredible, beautiful work that can be done. 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:29.279 Because the world is sick and tired of the kind of rule we have on the earth. 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:33.279 You know, presidents, prime ministers, it's not talk about them. 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:58.000 And that's why in the early church, when when um the Christians were were declaring that Jesus is Lord over Caesar is Lord, they were saying that if Jesus is Lord, he's the one who now rules and reigns and governs my life, and therefore I will live according to his righteous and good decrees, because it's actually good for everyone. 00:31:58.559 --> 00:32:00.720 It's actually good for everyone. 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:12.079 I think we put too much hope and emphasis on the presidents and prime ministers of the world for them to do that job, and God is saying a lot of it actually has to be done by the church. 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:18.799 Yes, the government has their responsibility, but we also have our responsibility. 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:42.079 And so today we would be saying necessarily, yes, we would be saying Jesus is Lord, but we would be saying Jesus is the president of presidents, he's the president of presidents, and the prime ministers are prime ministers because when he rules, everything is just, everything is righteous, relationships are in order. 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:58.079 People are fed, people have enough food to eat in their stomachs, and the devil no longer has a foothold. 00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:06.240 So we've got to realize that this beautiful king that we follow, he's entrusted so much to us. 00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:17.200 And it's not just a weighty responsibility, it is a beautiful responsibility, man, to be to be people who usher in God's will and reign in the world. 00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:25.759 Man, as hard as it is, to see someone's life transformed, to see small communities transformed, man, there's nothing like it. 00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:28.160 That's God's kingdom has come on that place. 00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:38.000 It's come in that place because of our action, because we've decided to do something, because we've decided that we're no longer just gonna pray about it, but we decided to do something about it. 00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:39.759 That's the whole point of prayer, by the way. 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:44.720 It's not just connection between you and God, but it should drive you to do something. 00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:47.200 It should drive you to do something. 00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:49.440 Let me pray for us. 00:33:53.839 --> 00:33:59.440 Dad, I'm grateful for your son Jesus, who really is our king. 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:08.000 But he's a king who doesn't lord it over us, he's a king who suffers, you're the king who gives up your life for us. 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:12.239 You're the kingdom who you're a king who who serves us, Lord. 00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:18.320 I believe you see into the hearts and the minds of everyone here today. 00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:29.199 And I pray, Lord, that something has stuck with them today regarding their specific and unique role that they have to play in the kingdom of God. 00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:41.280 And whatever is on their hearts, Lord, I pray that you would speak to them and meet them where they're at. 00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:48.400 Maybe for some of us today we struggle with that forgiveness aspect. 00:34:50.960 --> 00:35:00.480 Maybe you're sitting here, you either carrying a lot of offense and bitterness, or you're carrying around a lot of guilt and shame. 00:35:00.559 --> 00:35:22.880 And either way, it's crippling you on both sides of the forgiveness issue, you're not free, and Jesus wants you to be free because when Jesus is truly reigning on our hearts, there is forgiveness. 00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:29.599 Maybe you you can't forgive yourself. 00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:44.559 Maybe you're one of those people who still have deep, deep regrets from the things you've done in the past, and therefore, when you look at yourself, you always think that you're not good enough, you always think that you're a failure, you always think that you're below par. 00:35:47.840 --> 00:35:55.199 But it wants you to see that he's already forgiven you, that you are accepted unconditionally. 00:35:58.239 --> 00:36:07.280 So if you're struggling with this notion of forgiveness, you need to identify that with him and ask him to help you to begin that journey. 00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:10.480 And today could be that day that that forgiveness starts. 00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:18.079 You know, whoever this person or these people are, he doesn't want you to keep carrying that. 00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:24.960 So once you identify with him today and just raise a hand and say, Yes, Lord, that's that's me. 00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:30.079 I've been struggling with bitterness and offense and guilt and shame. 00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:31.440 I want to pray for you. 00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:35.119 So once you just raise a hand so that God can see that, yep, that's me. 00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:40.079 And I don't want to carry this anymore. 00:36:41.840 --> 00:36:43.760 Thank you for those hands. 00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:49.519 You can put them down if you've put it up, because you're just raising it to the Lord, not to me. 00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:53.360 I pray for those who put up their hands. 00:36:56.559 --> 00:37:11.519 I pray, Lord, that you would not just intercede on their behalf, but you would speak right to the heart of their struggle, you'd speak right to the heart of their pain, and that you'd begin that healing work in them. 00:37:15.599 --> 00:37:29.119 I pray, Lord, that they begin to take steps towards forgiveness, where they it's talking to someone, whether it's getting some counseling, whatever it is, Lord. 00:37:30.559 --> 00:37:34.719 I pray that they no longer carry this burden. 00:37:37.599 --> 00:37:49.360 I pray that your kingdom would really come into their hearts, their souls, that they can walk out of this room knowing that they are truly and deeply loved by you. 00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:53.760 I pray that you give them strength to begin that journey. 00:37:53.920 --> 00:37:56.320 I thank you, Lord, that you've chosen all of us here. 00:37:56.559 --> 00:38:02.400 All of us are chosen for an incredibly beautiful work in your kingdom. 00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:06.239 And I pray we would have the courage to take that up. 00:38:08.880 --> 00:38:15.519 Pray, Lord, that we would start praying about some of the ways we can be advances your kingdom on this earth. 00:38:18.559 --> 00:38:26.800 Thank you for the way that you have loved us, and may we learn to love others the same way you have loved us. 00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:32.800 Pray these things in Jesus' mighty name. 00:38:33.119 --> 00:38:33.760 Amen. 00:38:34.480 --> 00:38:37.199 Thanks for listening to this sermon from BBC. 00:38:37.360 --> 00:38:43.440 If you have questions about what you've heard or would like to find out more about the Christian faith, we'd love to hear from you. 00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:47.679 You can visit our website or reach out using the contact details below. 00:38:47.840 --> 00:38:48.960 God bless you.