WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:01.199 Welcome to the Challenge. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:04.000 We hope you enjoyed this message. 00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:06.799 More information is the Church of the Game South. 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:10.000 Welcome and join us at HM every Sunday. 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:27.440 And um, you know, it feels like we're gonna bring it again, getting back together, and uh it feels like we're gonna start off again as fresh. 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:38.000 But actually, we started with prayer, it's coming into a week of prayer, and so I've been thinking about it, praying about it quite a bit, and even thinking about, well, why are we doing a week of prayer? 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:39.679 What's our purpose? 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:41.600 Why do we do this? 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:43.200 What should our focus be? 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:45.200 And what should we expect? 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:58.240 And so I kind of thinking about like those moments you get with God, who is here on Friday morning our early morning prayer meeting, and some of the following speakers say, this is why. 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:05.200 And so um, we're gonna do a train of all because we've got lots going on, and we can pray for a lot, couldn't we? 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:14.799 We can pray about all the stuff that's going on in church in the nation, and Johnny's just encouraged us to pray for connect, and we're probably like the end of this talk actually we're going to do that. 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:16.560 But lots of stuff prayer. 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:21.280 We are very busy as a church with lots of stuff. 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:26.959 But unless we've got prayer as a foundation, it is just business. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:31.359 It is just doing lots of stuff, lots of activity. 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:34.799 But prayer has to be our foundation. 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:44.000 Prayer has to be underneath order to support it, to enable it, to facilitate it, and that everything that we do actually bears fruit. 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:46.480 What is the point unless it bears fruit? 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:53.280 Why do it unless God's going to use it for good and for his glory and to show himself? 00:01:53.760 --> 00:02:00.239 And so, I've been thinking a bit about this, so I want to read from, if you put the first slide up, I'm going to write. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:05.200 And uh, Ephesians 2, 18 to 22. 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:10.159 For through him you both have access in one spirit to the Father. 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:18.960 So then you no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. 00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:31.919 Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure being joined together grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:41.120 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:51.520 And it just struck me that the purpose of being together to pray is to be a dwelling place. 00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:57.360 It's a place for God to dwell amongst us. 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:06.240 A place where when we gather together, there's a different dynamic when we're together than when we are praying on our own. 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:08.879 And you know what it's like praying on your own. 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:18.560 You get distracted by all kinds of things, you know, praying to God, you're distracted by, I need to bother the Lord, I need to do that, I need to fix that, all those kinds of things. 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:24.080 Or you're in the house and you're praying, and your mind's all placing a washing saw, dishwashing empty. 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:28.479 Uh, you know, but all these things to do, our minds are distracting. 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:35.919 But when we're together, corporately, seeking God together, things shift even in our minds. 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:39.280 We become more focused, it helps us to be more focused. 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:51.199 When we're together, there's a dynamic about being together, and while God lives in us, it's with us individually, he's also with us corporately in a different dynamic way. 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:57.759 And there's something about being together corporately that I think we need to catch more on love. 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:02.159 And I want more of God, I hope you want more of God. 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:17.040 And as Nick started with that verse from Psalm as Dave Pastor Works, on my soul longs, and sometimes I find moments in corporate times together, my soul perhaps longs more than it does when I'm sat at home on my own. 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:19.519 Is that not true for all of us? 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:30.319 We all have that sense, don't we, where our hearts are longing when we're together, because there's a dynamic that comes with corporate praise, worship, and prayer together. 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:33.439 That draws us closer to God. 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:38.160 That draws us more into Him and His plan and His purpose for us. 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:42.319 And what Ian prophesied about the clarity, moving scales and stuff. 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:46.319 Sometimes that doesn't happen until we're in that corporate setting. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:52.639 Sometimes that doesn't happen until we're together encountering God in that way together. 00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:58.240 And so I want to encourage us actually this week to give ourselves. 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:04.959 And if necessary, maybe alter our diaries that we're around for the parameter today. 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:18.720 I kind of said this thing years ago in the early days of church, when you're busy and there's lots and you're trying to establish church, and then there was a time when we were I was an elder here, but planted a church as well. 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:22.319 I was kind of in both two churches at once, which I am now anyway. 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:23.920 I mean three really, yeah. 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:32.480 Um I was kind of in two churches, and my time was so busy that actually my focus was on the business of doing chips. 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:35.120 My focus was on activity, doing things. 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:40.000 I could get out five nights a week, six nights a week, sometimes doing chip stuff. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:41.839 Where was my time with God? 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:43.600 And actually, where was my time with my life? 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:44.800 My family. 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:53.120 Actually, so I kind of set a rule that I was not going to give myself to any more than three nights a week out doing chip business. 00:05:53.439 --> 00:06:03.600 But actually, I wanted Sally and my family to have a line share of my time, but also I wanted time for me to spend with God and get close to God. 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:10.480 And so actually, it's really important sometimes, though, that we give time aside as well. 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:13.360 So this next week is going to be a busy week. 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:24.879 Lots of print, I'll be all three that we do around the sites, being on the online on Monday night, but actually is it just a time it's right to give ourselves to those things. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:33.759 I know actually a week after the term is not a massive ask, hopefully, to give ourselves prayer and to see God. 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:42.879 And interestingly, we're joining probably hundreds of churches and probably Christians across our nation praying together this week. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:48.879 And the prayer 24-7 movement day, we've got a week of prayer for this week. 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:57.839 And if you're on Instagram or Facebook, it's good, you see, loads of churches appetizing their week of prayer that they're doing this same week that we're doing. 00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:04.399 So we're joining, so it's not just about what we're doing here, it's actually what's happening across our nation. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:10.079 And what God's doing, we're joining with others seeking God very count to him. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:23.360 So the verse that really struck me actually out of this was in him, you are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:38.240 And actually, that's where I felt one wanted me to emphasize on this morning, but actually, even major, that's the emphasis that God during our week of prayer is to be a dwelling place for him by the spirit. 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:43.519 That as we come together, that our expectation is him. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:45.600 And him first and foremost. 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:49.040 Our week of prayer should be all about him first and foremost. 00:07:49.199 --> 00:08:03.279 Before we start asking for all the things that we want to see happen, before we start asking for all the uh activities that we've got going on in church life, that he will bless them, that he will use them for his glory, it's all first and foremost him. 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:13.839 And our focus to be him and to give ourselves to him and allow him to come to us and minister it for us. 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:27.199 That in him we are being built across the Pistol, across our three sides, we are being built together to be a dwelling place for him. 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:32.799 It's interesting that in uh go on to the next slide if you would. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:44.159 Paul uses this uh this phrase in him or in Christ, and he uses it in chapter one of Ephesians 12 times. 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:56.159 But that's one third of the whole talk in the book of Ephesians, and he uses it, or in him, in Christ, in whom he's used 180 times in 13 letters of the Bible. 00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:58.000 It's quite incredible, isn't it? 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:02.879 This number of times it's in him, and we are to be in him. 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:03.919 We are in him. 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:20.960 If we're born again, we're saved, we've been added, we're in him, we've been added in, we're in Christ, but actually, is that a greater sense of when we know we're in Christ, actually then we'll be filled with Christ and filled with the knowledge of Christ. 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:46.399 God wants us to understand that when we come together, as we as the people of God, because we'd be any kind of organization getting together, but actually, when because we're the people of God, as we get together, we're already in Christ because of Jesus, because of what He's just done, what we've celebrated in communion this morning, actually it changes everything. 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:52.559 It's not just a social group, not just coming to a meeting. 00:09:53.200 --> 00:10:04.720 It's actually we're coming into the presence, we're coming into an encounter, we're coming to the place where God has chosen to dwell by his Holy Spirit in our damage. 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:12.080 In the new covenant, he's chosen that his presence will be in each and every one of us. 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:15.120 Be lived out corporately together. 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:17.360 We're in Christ Jesus. 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:20.000 So when it says in him, it's in Christ. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:25.600 You, meaning all of us who are called chosen by God, are being built together. 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:28.879 This is God's building, this is the church. 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:30.960 God building it together. 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:37.919 And I struggle when I hear people say that I'm okay with God, but I struggle with the church, I don't like church, I'm not bothered back with church. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:46.399 Jesus loves the church, died for the church, and yes, it's imperfect, but it's his voice that he's building together. 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:51.039 And we need to recognise that. 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:55.200 And yeah, we have to deal with the stuff and the hurts. 00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:59.039 Yeah, we get hurt sometimes, yeah, it's faithful in the change for life. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:04.639 Sometimes there's falling down, there's arguments, disagreements, happens even in the eldership. 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:10.000 It's all there, it's all real, it's true, but it still means about it. 00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:15.200 Jesus shows to let his glory be known for all of us. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:16.559 He chose you. 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:20.559 And I'll come myself think why did he choose me? 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:24.720 Not great, I really. 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:27.919 And but he chose me. 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:32.240 And he decided that through me he wanted to show his glory. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:39.200 He wanted to reveal himself through my life, through me, and for each one of us and each one of us corporately together as well. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:41.679 Being joined together. 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:46.559 And we just need to find sometimes where we fit perfectly into that place. 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:49.120 Where do we fit? 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:58.559 Where's our slot in that building, in that wall that God wants to build together and join together to be a dwelling place for Him? 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:08.799 Ephesians 3.17 says, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you being rooted and grounded in love. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:21.279 You being joined together for a place where God dwells in our hearts through our faith in him, rooted and grounded in the love that we saw back tonight. 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:29.120 Rooted and grounded, solid, firm, secure in the love of God for each one of us and for his church. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:35.200 So my question is, first question is really is Christ dwelling in our hearts? 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:36.799 Do we know him? 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:38.320 Have we given our life to him? 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:39.840 Are we following Jesus? 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:42.960 Not following a man, not following something else. 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:44.879 Are we following Jesus? 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:50.320 He's the one we follow, he's the one he called his first help was come follow me. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:52.159 And each one of us should follow him. 00:12:52.320 --> 00:13:02.879 Please don't follow leadership, although there is a sense of which God uses us to lead the people, but first and foremost, if we're not following Jesus, don't follow us. 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:05.600 We all follow Jesus. 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:11.679 We're called to follow Jesus, we follow us of him, rooted and grounded in his love. 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:15.840 Well, we fall above the hip with one another. 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:19.759 Or are we holding things in our hearts against one another? 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:36.960 You see, you can't come to see God and to cry and to spend time in his presence and harbour something in our hearts that will hinder us and hinder our prayers, hinder his response to us. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:41.279 We need to be clear of anything that's hinder. 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:44.720 So if we have something against somebody, let's go and deal with it. 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:48.799 Let's forgive, just as we sang in the song this morning. 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:52.000 Forgive as we forgive as we're forgiven. 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:54.799 And we need to be those who are quick to forgive. 00:13:54.960 --> 00:14:06.879 One another, even when we say something hurtful or maybe just feel like we've been ignored, simple fenders, the enemy quickly uses to set an offence in our hearts. 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:07.840 He does. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:09.200 That's just reality. 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:16.799 He quickly uses simple, insignificant things to set offence in our hearts. 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:19.919 And we need to be aware of that, and to deal with them quickly. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:26.480 To love God is to love what he loves and to hate what he hates. 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:28.559 And he hates sin. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:37.759 So we need to be careful, we don't tolerate anything that is not righteous and holy and good. 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:48.080 We need to be careful what we watch, we need to be careful what we say, we need to be careful what we do, we need to be careful how we respond to things. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:55.679 My natural response very often that I'm reminded is that I can be defensive. 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:59.200 And my response is defensive. 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:01.919 I'm told about that often. 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:06.080 And it's one of the things that I'm trying, I'm working on. 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:08.559 I don't want to be defensive, I don't mean to be defensive. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:18.480 It may be something that's just been developed in me over years of a defensive way, and I don't want to be like, I don't want to get defensive, and I know sometimes I can be. 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:24.799 I'm under construction. 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:28.399 God's changing me. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:35.120 I'm removing bits that aren't right, right responses, hopefully, his grace and his love. 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:39.519 So if I am defensive when you approach me about something, please forgive me. 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:49.759 Because that is a bit of a natural response, if you like, a well-learned response that I need to unlearn. 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:52.320 But we all have things, don't we? 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:58.559 For honest, we all have things that we need to be dealing with that God wants to deal with a bit. 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:01.519 We are representative of who He is. 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:04.480 And his love for us. 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:06.720 And his love working through us. 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:10.960 Jesus, the church, love you and me. 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:15.279 2 Corinthians 6 16. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:18.720 What agreement are the temple of God idols? 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:21.360 For we are the temple of the living God. 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:26.000 As God said, I will make my dwelling amongst them and walk amongst them. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:29.120 I will be their God, and they will be my people. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:33.200 This is who we're called to be. 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:36.080 This is who we are. 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:48.240 So is there anything in our lives competing for the top spot where God should be and Lord has seen you? 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.759 Is there anything? 00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:52.799 Is either we can't just be praying? 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:55.440 I want to encourage you to do an examination. 00:16:56.960 --> 00:17:01.200 Is there anything that I am more pursuing than I am to God? 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:06.240 Is there something else that I long for more than I long for? 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:16.240 Is there anything at all that would come after it was on there? 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:17.599 It looks like I was on there. 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:26.240 We're called to be godly, believing godly, loving one another, and loving those that don't get no Jesus. 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:29.519 That's what we're called to be. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:30.720 That's what we're called to be. 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.359 Is that from that way? 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:37.920 All right, please. 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:42.720 God is building us together. 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:48.640 1 Timothy 3, 14 and 16 says, This is Paul writing to Timothy. 00:17:48.720 --> 00:18:02.319 I hope it's come to you soon, but I'm writing these things to you so that if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and the buttress of the truth. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:06.240 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:16.480 He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, find amongst the nations, believed in the world, taken up in the glory. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:20.799 Following him and knowing more. 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:24.160 Following Jesus. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:26.960 Going to slide three. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:47.200 One of the things that I I sense I'm aware of, I've been thinking about a number of things over this year, of what is our what are we like? 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:48.640 What is our DNA? 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:50.640 What is our culture as a church? 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:52.079 Who are we? 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:53.599 People ask, who are you? 00:18:54.079 --> 00:19:03.119 My son had this question with asked this at work when he was talking about churches, oh you know, you go to church and what kind of church is it? 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:08.480 And it's like, well, how does he explain to non-Christians what kind of church he goes to? 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:12.720 That's not a traditional Anglican or Methodist or Baptist kind of church. 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:13.920 How does he explain that? 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:16.079 And thinking, what is our DNA? 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:18.079 What is our culture? 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:20.319 Who are we as church of the people? 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:23.279 And I think I've always felt this right from the start. 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:32.000 One of the things I think that drew me and Sally here in the first place in the very early days of church was the presence of God on the side. 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:35.200 There's no encompassing bringing. 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:38.160 No vice spirit who was present. 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:41.519 And encountering and experiencing again and again and again. 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:43.039 That was the thing for me. 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:51.279 I wanted to be in that kind of church, place where he dwelt and where he was and where he was experienced. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:57.359 And that for me has always been well, and it's been in the DNA district right from the beginning. 00:19:57.440 --> 00:20:02.960 It is part of our culture and therefore needs to be replicated across the B district in all our sites. 00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:06.640 And actually we come to gather into the presence of the repeat. 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:12.240 That's who we're gathered to when we come together. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:15.839 So unity and uniform, but that doesn't mean we're clones. 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:18.559 We're creating clones across the B district. 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:22.319 So we don't want to create clones, but we have things that are in common. 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:32.240 Our vision, our values, our DNA, our culture is the same, but worked out and expressed differently in each community that we're in. 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:35.119 Because each community needs different things. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:40.960 But still carrying those same things together. 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:45.599 And so as we come together, as we oh, we are one across the peaks. 00:20:45.920 --> 00:21:00.960 We are one whether it's in Buxton or somewhere, whether it's here or in Wordsworth, we want people to experience the same DNA, the same culture of church and peak in those sites as we've been together. 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:04.720 And God will draw people into that. 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:26.640 So as we multiply again and again out of either of any of our sites, from here or any of the others, actually we're multiplying those values, we're multiplying that vision, we're multiplying that culture, we're multiplying that DNA into those and two, but worked out locally as that community needs. 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:40.400 We want people to experience that. 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:42.640 Being part of one family. 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:49.200 As we pray together this week, we're coming together as one family to seek life. 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:51.519 As one heart, one voice. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:59.599 I love it in Acts 2 where it tells us about when they lifted up their voice as one, and the Holy Spirit fell. 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.680 As one. 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:09.119 If we lift our voice together in worship, praise, adoration, in prayer, as one across the feet, he will come. 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:13.119 There's a unity in our corporateness together. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:16.960 There's unity that comes, that brings the presence of God. 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:20.720 Where brothers dwell together in unity, God commands them. 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:23.680 And that's what we're looking for. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:26.319 Where there's unity, God will come. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.519 And it will have it. 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:29.599 And they come and bless it upon us. 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.920 So what does that look like? 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:33.839 Even this week as we gather together. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:49.599 We maybe pray different things when we get into each of their prayer meetings, different things for needs for those area, that particular site that we're in where we meet in books and we pray specific things for Bookstone, where we pray specific things here, specific things for works. 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:56.559 The need that they have in those areas, but actually, you can still be one voice. 00:22:56.720 --> 00:23:00.480 Because it's not just their need, it's our need together. 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:05.279 It's what we're looking for, it's what we're looking for God to do together. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:11.920 We're looking for God to do a most of us this week as we pray. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:16.319 Last year, when we did this week of prayer, it felt so significant. 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:20.000 And we're looking for that again here. 00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:22.480 We've set up Y Manifold here. 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:27.039 So if you want to come and pray any time during the week, Y Manifold is open. 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:29.519 So you can go and pray in there. 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:31.200 There's a prayer wall. 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:34.799 We've moved the cross has gone from here, that's in there. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:42.480 And we've sent something just as a prayer kind of direction just to help you pray together first and foremost. 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:47.839 I went in there last year and I sat and I didn't pray worthy. 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:50.240 I just sat to God, I just want to count to you. 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:50.799 That's all. 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:57.839 And I I was in there I don't know how long, but some people came in and went, and I didn't ask that. 00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:59.200 They've been in the room. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:01.759 I was so caught up with God. 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:04.319 Just spending time in there. 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:06.559 God chose to make it a really place. 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:08.640 And I believe he will again this week. 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:11.359 So if you want to just sit and encounter God, we'll sit in there. 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.720 My man forward. 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:15.759 And just allow him to just come to you. 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:18.799 Invite him to come to you, and he will. 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.400 He really will. 00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:21.359 He'll come to you. 00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:24.000 Come here, but next slide if you would, please. 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:34.079 Put this one in, this verse in Ephesians 4. 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:41.200 Unto I therefore, prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the call into which you've been called. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:48.559 With all humility and gentleness, patience, bearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace. 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:54.640 There is one body, one spirit, just as you were called to one hope that belongs to your call. 00:24:54.960 --> 00:25:00.160 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God, one follow, all, who is up for all and through all the other. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:02.000 I don't just say anything else. 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:05.200 It's all in that one versus. 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:08.640 That's who we're called to be. 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:10.640 That's who we've been chosen to be. 00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:12.640 That's what we've been added into. 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:14.880 We're saved and added into this. 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:17.680 We are one in Christ. 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:20.160 And we are to be one in Christ. 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:22.640 Yeah, yeah, of course we're individuals. 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:26.720 Yes, we are different things, different ideas, different desires, different mindings. 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:29.519 But actually, we're all called to this one thing. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:31.680 This is the common ground. 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:33.599 This is the unifying ground. 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.559 It's head. 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:36.640 It's all head. 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:39.200 And it's all about heaven. 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:42.640 God is called to be a dwelling pleasure. 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:52.880 If you go on to the next slide if you want to wrap this up, see we need to prize the presence of God. 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:57.039 The presence of God is everything. 00:25:57.279 --> 00:26:06.240 I remember last year when I went to India, I was invited just to share my heart on God's presence. 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:11.359 We just spent time sharing them, prizing him, prize in the presence of God. 00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:14.079 God just moved amongst us. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:16.559 And I remember saying, This is what we need, this is what we need. 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:22.880 So what we need is to prize the presence of God. 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:25.039 Be hungry for the presence of God. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:28.160 Be desirous for him in every way. 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:37.839 A place, a community where God dwells by the Holy Spirit, where we get to experience his presence, where the gifts and the fruit of the spirit are evident amongst us. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:40.640 A place where people can join easily. 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:45.440 How easy is it to join when everybody has born together? 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:47.519 And people are drawn into that. 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:52.319 A place where it's easy to join, where people can experience God for themselves. 00:26:54.319 --> 00:27:00.319 A place where when the Spirit of God dwells there, there's conviction of sin and repentance. 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.920 The lost find hope. 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:04.400 The lonely are knitted into family. 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:07.839 Healing of hearts and emotions, physical healings. 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:13.039 Demons have to flee, captives are set free, a place of joy, peace, and life. 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:16.880 That's what the Holy Spirit brings. 00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:20.960 Place of joy, peace, and life. 00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:32.079 So in conclusion, I want to encourage us to make this week firstly performing all our care. 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:41.519 As we gather together, as we make it to Jesus, his kingdom, his glory. 00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:46.000 People call by him in his name. 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.759 That's who we are. 00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:49.599 That's who we're called to be. 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:55.920 Psalm 63, 1 says, Oh God, you are my God. 00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:57.839 Earnestly I seek you. 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:59.839 My soul thirsts for you. 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:04.880 My flesh faints for you as in a dry world where there is no water. 00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:08.640 Now I have to say that is not my experience. 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:16.960 I don't know that I am in that place yet where I earnestly seek and thirst because my flesh is faint. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:20.240 I'm not there yet. 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.799 I want to be there. 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:27.839 The psalmist, when he wrote that, I must have been in that place. 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:29.359 I can't say that I am. 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.480 But I want to be. 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:33.279 Because God's looking for people who desire him. 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:36.000 He's looking for a people who long for him. 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:46.079 He will come to a people who are desperate and longing for him, such that their flesh even fails, their soul thirst so much for him. 00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:56.640 And as Nate mentioned at the beginning, Psalm 42, verse 1, as a dear pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, oh God. 00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:59.839 What a statement to make. 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:02.880 What statements we can make. 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:14.079 And as we hear stories from around the nation, what God's doing, it stirs my heart, not like yours, but it stirs my heart that God, we want you. 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:16.400 And we want what you're doing. 00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:20.240 We want you to have your advanced and your kid right here in the district. 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:24.880 God's doing incredible things across the nation. 00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:37.279 I can't recall the time I've seen so many adverts for Christian festivals, so many Christian festivals across our nation as a admin this year. 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.640 Almost like Sunday. 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:48.640 I mean, when we used to run Stonley Barber Week and gathered about 26,000 people at Stonley Barber Week that finished back in 2010. 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:54.880 And you think, you look back now and see how it was just been an explosion of those kind of things across our nation. 00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:57.359 People gathering together. 00:29:58.079 --> 00:30:00.400 And almost life feels like a bit of privilege. 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:02.640 We're one of the forerunners of that. 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:05.279 But now we're doing something even greater. 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:08.000 And even more incredible as our nation. 00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:10.079 And we already part of that. 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:18.000 And us as church and peak, we as elders want us to be part of it together that we see God live. 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:22.720 So as we come to this week of prayer, let's give of ourselves. 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:24.400 Let's own ourselves. 00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:26.799 Let's take that prophetic word and out. 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:33.440 Things that we see dimly become clear even in this week of prayer as we get together and pray together. 00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:34.880 Can we do that? 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:38.240 I think God's going to do some incredible things out of this week. 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:47.359 We may not see him in the week, we may not see him initially on the back of the week, but I think because of this week of prayer, if we give ourselves, we will see God do incredible things. 00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:49.839 Do you think I said our week of prayer last year? 00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:51.359 We didn't have works with. 00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:56.400 When we prayed last year, last September, we now have worksworth. 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:58.640 What will God do about this week? 00:30:59.200 --> 00:30:59.599 Prayer. 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:01.279 Let's stand together. 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:13.359 Dear Father, we want to thank you that you are about a great word. 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:16.799 We want to thank you that you are on the move. 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:20.160 Lord, I just pray for each one of us this morning, Lord. 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:21.279 Would you help us, Lord? 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:24.960 Where we're we've grown cold, would you come to us afresh? 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:31.519 God, where we kind of feel we're disconnected in some way, would you reconnect us? 00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:33.519 Lord, I want to pray this week. 00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:36.559 Would you stir our hearts with a longing for you? 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:42.079 Lord, we sometimes can't muster that up ourselves, we can't make that happen, but Lord, you can put it within us. 00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:44.240 You can put longings within us. 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:46.319 You can stir longings within us, Lord. 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:54.240 I just want to pray for us as a church, across the beast, Lord, would you stir within us a longing and a desire for you, your kingdom? 00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:58.720 Would you stir within us a longing to encounter you? 00:31:58.960 --> 00:32:06.720 Would you stir within us a longing, Lord, for both of you that we are followers of Jesus and we're going by your leaders? 00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:10.240 So come on us, Holy Spirit, I pray. 00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:13.839 Come and spirit, help us to give of ourselves this week. 00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:24.079 Not to hold back in any way, but to give ourselves to prayer, Lord, to give ourselves to encounter, to give ourselves to hearing what you want to say, what you want to do. 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:29.039 In our individual lives and in us corporately together, the life of this church. 00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:34.720 God, we just give this week to you and say, Lord, would you come and own it? 00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:39.680 Would you come and stir us and lead us to take us on into greater things? 00:32:39.839 --> 00:32:42.480 Lord, we pray for connect here, even this happening. 00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:46.160 Lord, we pray for young families to connect in. 00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:53.759 Lord, we pray, Holy Spirit, Lord, that you will somehow miraculously, Lord, draw people into this. 00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:59.839 Lord, we want to see whole families, young families saved and added into your kingdom here, Lord. 00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:02.400 And we pray, would you come and would you stir it? 00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:04.480 Pray for those leaning in, running it. 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:06.559 Lord, I pray you give much grace. 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:08.079 Lord, I pray you bless it. 00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:11.599 Lord, I pray you'll mark it with your hand upon it. 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:13.200 For your glory. 00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:15.279 In Jesus' name. 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:16.000 Amen.