Thursday, December 23, 2010

25/12/10 - God sends the Shepherds

Luke 2:1-20

Intro…An Adventure with God…recent weeks school prize lists in Ensign. I only ever won one school prize – in st.4. It was the book, “The adventures of Marco Polo”. How I loved reading that book over and over again. When reading a great adventure story, we often wonder how we would have coped if we had been there or were the main character. Eg Scott of the Antarctic, Hillary on Everest, Buzz Aldran on the moon. Those who have read James Thurber’s “The secret life of Walter Mitty” will know what I mean for they are “fantastic daydreams of personal triumph”. This is not escapism, it is adventure!

I believe much of the detail given of this true record of Jesus birth is for us to get such a feel for this amazing event, that we can project ourselves into it and be swept up into the heart of God’s love for his creation and his ultimate last effort to redeem us lost people. So let’s join with the shepherds this morning, become one of them and for the next few minutes get caught up in their experience, their great adventure.

1. Good News has come to us - v10….don’t be frightened, but count it for what it is; the greatest privilege and act of loving grace ever experienced by mankind, and by lowly shepherds at that ! Why us? Why not shepherds in China or Africa, why us? Why not to princes or religious leaders? – Anyone but us! (Shepherds love chatting, talking late into the night, mulling over the facts, the event and any underlying meaning. On the other hand, Wikileaks reveals that princes and leaders distort and hide the truth!)

“That will be for all people” v10, because you and I are chosen by God to chat and send this Good News on throughout the world – to those shepherds in China and Africa and all places in between. Later on this baby Jesus was to grow and teach us that, “To those that much has been given, much will be required of them”.

2. So you want a sign? – v11-12. OK check this out you shepherds who for years have been to Sunday school and church, had 20 years of Peter Cheyne’s excellent teaching, so know your Bibles well. Two facts.

1. Town of David (Bethlehem) and 2. Messiah, Christ, the Anointed One coming to save God’s people. That checks out in OT – great. We know our Bibles, our theology. – thanks Pastor Peter!

BUT what’s this baby idea? Is that in the OT? Is 40 says, “the sovereign Lord comes with power and his arm rules for him”. That doesn’t sound like a baby. Try Is 7 “the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel” That’s more like it! That sure seems to fit what these angels are singing about.

Another point, us shepherds know about babies. Why, during lambing we often need to use our midwifery skills to help a ewe give birth, so that shouldn’t scare us. And strips of cloth and a manger, bales of hay etc., well all rather basic stuff just like we are used to and find ourselves sitting on!

3. A message from heaven – v14 ..Wow, as if one angel isn’t enough, this massive choir of angels, of heavenly host is amazing – perhaps even overkill. But listen, it seems there are 2 verses to their song, one exalting God in the heavens for what is happening and second, a message of hope, salvation and peace for us people who know him. Wow again, that makes me wonder if I really do know Him, this amazing God who keeps intervening in our lives, who keeps sending us messages almost every day trying to get our attention.

4. Let’s see for ourselves – v15 nothing like a first hand encounter with this Jesus, this Messiah, even if he is just a baby in a manger. And that’s exactly what God has been trying to get us to do, have a first hand encounter with those things, “which the Lord has told us about”. The Bible is full of the Lord “telling” us. And come to think of it He has been telling our parents, grandparents, right back down through history – ever since Adam and Eve mucked up and sinned in the garden, God has been sending this same message down through the centuries. And He will continue to do so until the day he returns again, so that we and all those people out there we are responsible for to tell this Good News have heard it. Heard it clearly as we have been privileged to do; until they say, “Yes”, He is the Christ. But first! – Have you ever said “Yes” to Jesus?
5. Spread the word – v17-18 tell others this Good News. Don’t let it stop with us shepherds. John 3:16, For God so loved the world, the rich, the poor, the Kiwi and the new immigrant. Thank God for His love, His grace, his revelation, his angels, his intervening in our lives today,, leading us here to Bethlehem, to this particular baby in this particular manger. This is the only place where the God’s glory can be seen, can be experienced, where true lasting peace can be found and where we must acknowledge our responsibility to keep on sending this Good News out into a needy decaying, dying world of sin and shame.

Conclusion… Two times the Bible record here tries to catch our attention this Christmas with the words, “just as they had been told” v 17,20.

I believe God has been telling us shepherds here this morning the same thing. A saviour has come, proof has been given, our hearts have been warmed, we have been amazed at the grand scale of events, events that have again challenged our finite minds and natural understanding of this world. But remember this world is just the beginning of a next world, entered by God’s grace alone. That grace is found here this morning in the baby we found in the manger in God’s chosen town of Bethlehem.

We have seen, heard, tasted that the Lord is good. - Heb.

As we return home from this place this morning, may we go as shepherds who have been dazzled, amazed, drawn towards and transformed by our encounter with Christ. We too will spread the word so that others can be amazed, we will go glorifying and praising God for all that we have been told, all that we have seen, all that we have experienced with Jesus.

And one final word, as good shepherds, don’t put the lid on your experience with Jesus on Boxing Day. Don’t wrap Him up and put Him away until next December. Make your new year resolution here today by taking up Mary’s testimony of all that happened by your visit to the manger – treasure your knowledge and experience with Jesus that day, ponder it in your heart and starting tomorrow with the traditional meaning of Boxing Day which is not the getting of more sales bargains, but rather the giving of our abundance, have the Holy Spirit grow all that knowledge and experience into a dynamic faith to pass on as a gift to those without Christ through 2011.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

12.12.10 - And The Whole World Changed


Ken Williams
Introduction
 Life is constantly in a state of change – nothing ever stays the same. Go to the supermarket this week and the one thing you know, is it will be more expensive next week.
• But there are times in our lives of significant change, when everything gets turned upside down – when your whole world changes.
• When you first get married, when your first child is born, a death of someone close – I recall when each of my parents died – for a period of time I was just in a void – the rest of the world carried on as normal – but I was oblivious, my whole personal world had changed.
• Nothing stays the same.

READ Luke 1:26-38
 • In these verses we have an amazing story – it’s mysterious and glorious! For here it is described how God sent an angel to the earth with the news of the coming of his Son, Jesus, the Saviour of the world.• Now this was an event that changed the world. Jesus birth and all that followed, changed the whole world – it ushered in a whole new era from which there is no going back.• But what did this do to Mary’s world? She was a young woman betrothed or engaged to be married – she would have had visions of what lay ahead, dreams, hopes, aspirations – then BANG – an angel appears and in a short space of time – her whole world changed.
• This is a story told on two levels:

1. It is the story of Mary and what is communicated to her through the angel Gabriel – so it is a simple delicate narrative.

2. But it is also an account which is packed with deep, deep theological meaning woven into the text.
 • What do we find out in this passage
o That Jesus is the Son of God and that he is God himself (v.32-35)
o That as Messiah he will bring in a new kingdom which will never end. (vv.32-33)
o Through vv.32&35 we see implications of the Trinity (v.32, 35)
o In those same verse we see evidence of the power of God most high (v.32; 35)
o In numerous verses the favour and grace of God is mentioned (vv.29-30, 34-35, 38) – These are issues of major significance in helping with our understanding of the Christian faith

• We see in this story that God has power over all things.
• He has power over human reproduction – which is quite staggering if you stop to think about it.
• God is in control – which is actually incredibly comforting – there are issues which come up in everyone of our lives which are totally beyond our control – beyond our comprehension and understanding – but -
• God is in control – it is God who changes things.

v.27
 • Since betrothal often took place soon after puberty, Mary may have just entered her teens.
• It was a state much more binding among the Jews of that day than is an engagement with us. It was a solemn undertaking to marry.
• Only divorce or death could sever betrothal.
• The relationship was legally binding, but intercourse was not permitted until marriage.
• So there’s the problem – Mary is going to be with child – but she is not married – imagine her trying to explain that one to Joseph – well, you see – its like this – there was this angel...

v.28
• We see in v.12 that, Zechariah had been gripped with fear at the appearance of the angel, but it was the angel’s words that ‘greatly troubled Mary’. Now the angel had said “Greetings you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” I think Mary’s fear, surprise, awe is pretty understandable.
• She is agitated by the words of the angel because she feels that such a greeting is not suited to her. Evidently in her modesty she did not understand why a heavenly visitor should greet her in such exalted terms.

V.30-31
 • But God’s grace, like his love, banishes fear of judgement.
• Gabriel reassures her, as he had done with Zechariah. He tells Mary not to be afraid, for she has found favour with God.
• As the reason why she need not fear, he declares that God regards and treats her as the special object of His favour.
• She need not, therefore, be afraid on account of her humble station in life and her own feelings of personal unworthiness. We shouldn’t measure things on our scale – If God chooses to change the world or change our world – he will be walking with us through the process – we can trust him.
• God has chosen Mary in his mercy to bring forth a Son who is to be called Jesus. Her simple task is to trust and obey.

V.32-33
 • Gabriel proceeds to say that Jesus will be great, a word he had applied to John, but now uses the word with a fuller meaning, for Jesus will be called the son of the most high. This sets him apart from all others and makes him a son of God in a special sense. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most high. His greatness will excel everything.
• He will be the recipient of the throne of his father David. A new kingdom will come into being. The world was about to change.
• It was God’s final kingdom that will have no end and it is this kingdom to which Jesus is now related. It is not a temporal kingdom, an earthly realm, but God’s kingly rule. In due time Jesus would make this clear.

v.34
 • The announcement of the angel is still too overwhelming and incomprehensible to Mary
• She does not ask for any sign of confirmation, but simply on how will God accomplish this wonder.

v.35
 • Gabriel makes it clear that his conception will be the result of a divine activity. Because of this the child to be born would be holy, the Son of God.

Vv.36-37
 • Mary will see that with God nothing is impossible.
• What the angel had communicated to Mary was something tremendous. She exercised the faith required on her part to accept the truth of it.
• Everything that has been announced is possible, for with God nothing is impossible – even the stupendous miracle of the incarnation of his son - and his word is self fulfilling.

v.38
 • In v.38 Mary says “I am the Lord’s servant.” Her servanthood is not a cringing slavery but a submission to God that in OT times characterized genuine believers and that should characterize believers today.
• We should be, it is are calling to say – I am the Lord‘s servant. I will do what is required – I will do whatever is required, whatever it takes.
• Mary expresses complete obedience. The servant girl could not but, do the will of her master. This is reinforced with; let it be according to your word.
• We are apt to take this as the most natural thing and accordingly we miss out on Mary’s quiet heroism. She was not yet married to Joseph. His reaction to her pregnancy might have been expected to be a strong one. But she recognized the will of God and accepted it.
• This was no trivial matter to her. On the one hand the highest honour ever given to a woman had been conferred on her by the Lord – to become the mother of the Son of God.
• But on the other hand Mary was placed in an extremely difficult position and especially her relation to Joseph, if she should become pregnant before marriage.
• Mary’s response is one of quiet submission. “I am the Lord’s servant.”

Conclusion
 • So what has really happened here?
• In the tidings brought from God by the angel to Mary we have an impressive testimony to the divine greatness of Jesus – greatness that is wholly different from that of any human being: in respect of his existence as Man He will be of unique origin.
• Unlike all other human beings, he will be wholly without sin.
• He will be the Holy One in an absolute sense.
• Therefore He will also be the divine king who will reign over his Spiritual kingdom through all eternity.
• His coming changed the world.


Monday, December 20, 2010

19.12.10 - Putting Christ Back Into Christian

It is not uncommon to hear Christians bemoaning the secularisation and the commercialisation of Christmas. We’ve probably ourselves agreed with people saying, “Put Christ back into Christmas” and reminded people that Jesus is the reason for the season.

At one level we have Christmases that are dominated by red-nosed reindeer, jolly Santas, snowy scenes and songs about mistletoe. We have often voiced our disapproval of the focus on presents and food and alcohol. We all know that those things have nothing to do with Christmas.

But there is another level. On that level we talk about goodwill, “the Christmas spirit”, peace on earth. Relationships are central. We make contact with people we don’t see the rest of the year. We wish strangers a merry Christmas. Going to church is traditional. We make an effort to express our love through gifts and cards. We are conscious of broken relationships and of those who have died. There is something about Christmas that makes us yearn for those relationships that have been disrupted. There is something about Christmas that brings out the best in people. Christmas seems to have associated with it a lot of values that we intuitively “feel” at Christmas time.

Some of the phrases that we link with Christmas come from the Bible. The angels who visited the shepherds proclaimed peace on earth and goodwill to all men. Relationships are certainly important in the Bible. There is much there about love and reconciliation and generosity. Those are all good, biblical concepts.

But I have a little disquiet. They are just concepts and we still haven’t mentioned Jesus.

At Christmas, we can preach love and talk about peace and encourage “the Christmas spirit” (whatever that is) and they are good things. But we can do that without mentioning Jesus.

I could encourage you to be more loving or to forgive others and be reconciled. I could say that Christmas is about love and reconciliation; go and be more loving. I could say that Christmas is about peace and goodwill. And I could do that without mentioning Jesus.

Would that matter? Because these concepts are Christian concepts, are they not? This is in line with Jesus’ teaching.

I think it would matter. I actually don’t think Christmas is about peace or goodwill. I think it is about Jesus. I think the peace and joy and reconciliation come as a result of experiencing Jesus. It is not simply about us trying harder. It is about us discovering Jesus in a deeper way and hence finding peace and joy and reconciliation.

In other words, I think we have to drill down through the layer that is all about presents and getting drunk, but we have to also drill down through the layer that is about peace and joy. We have to drill down far enough to find Jesus. Then we find the peace and joy as well and we discover the reason for giving gifts and celebrating with family together and worshipping with others.

A fortnight ago we read the prophecy from Isaiah 9 especially the section that began, “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.” Isaiah said, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” He talked about growth and joy and rejoicing, freedom from oppression and peace. He signalled a new beginning but he had a reason for proclaiming this new beginning. What was his reason?

“For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given.”

His message wasn’t an exhortation to peace as if we could create this peace by ourselves. It was an announcement of Jesus; the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, the One who would usher in this age of peace.

Isaiah spoke in terms of this child reigning forever on the throne of His father David; reigning with justice and righteousness. He talked in terms of a new King and a new kingdom. With the birth of this child, that Kingdom was begun. That would be when the light would pierce the darkness; when there would be rejoicing and so on. Without the new king, there would be no change; people would continue to walk in darkness. He foresaw the new dawn of joy and freedom because God gave this child.

Likewise, the angels who appeared to the shepherds when Jesus was born, talked about good news of great joy for all people. That sang of peace on earth. But, again, what was the basis for their confidence? Was it going to be a sudden improvement in human nature? Were people suddenly going to pull their socks up? What was the basis?

READ Luke 2:1-14

The basis: “Today, in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.”

As with Isaiah, the proclamation of joy and peace was possible only because of the baby. Their message was of a Messiah. The central message was Jesus. Peace and joy and reconciliation are secondary. They are the results of knowing Jesus.

The Christmas message is Jesus.

I actually find that a challenge. Let me put it in a very simplistic way. If I wish someone a merry Christmas, what good have I done? It is a nice thought. It expresses my good wishes for that person but it doesn’t actually help them have a merry Christmas.

If I say, “Have a good day” it is a nice thought but it might only make them more aware that they are not having a nice day. That is because a merry Christmas or a good day are the result we hope for but I have said nothing about the cause that might make Christmas merry or a day good. I am expecting the results without the means. I have dug down to the level of meaningful concepts (perhaps even biblical concepts) but not dug down as far as the One who can make it possible.

Some people would say that a lot of modern preaching exhorts people to do good things but focuses too little on proclaiming Jesus. We talk about the Christian lifestyle but not the Christ.

I imagine that many public statements will be made by Christian leaders this Christmas that will talk about issues of justice and peace but may not mention Jesus whose Kingdom will be established and upheld with justice and peace.

We are embarrassed about Jesus. We will talk about the Christian lifestyle but not about the need for the Saviour. It should be patently obvious that, despite the good intentions of many, many people the world has not achieved peace. Only Jesus can bring peace to the lives of nations and families of this world. It is useless for us to preach about moral reform and living better lives without preaching Jesus.

The apostle Paul said that he decided to preach nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. If we look at the context of that statement, in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2, notice how he talks about Jesus being the power. The power is not in ideas or challenges. The power is in the person Jesus.

READ 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, 30-2:5

Paul rejected philosophical wisdom (even though that was what the Greeks loved). He rejected eloquence and high-sounding words, for the sake of a message that seemed like foolishness – a message of a crucified Messiah. But, actually, that message had power. The power of the message of Jesus had saved the Corinthians themselves.

There wouldn’t seem to be much power in a message about an obscure Jew who was executed on a cross but that is the only message that can change the world.

There is a lot of emphasis in churches today on meeting needs in the community, which is absolutely a good thing. It is a way of being relevant and of showing something of the love of God. It is a way of meeting people and serving them and hopefully breaking down some perceptions about the church. It is a way of helping people to feel more warmly disposed towards the church and its message. It hopefully leads to opportunities to share that message.

But there is a temptation to serve without mentioning Jesus. There is a hope that the serving in and of itself is sufficient. I have heard church leaders asking, “We have got involved in all of these ministries in the community but we are now not sure we are doing anything more than social work. What makes it distinctively Christian?”

Around the country, churches have found Mainly Music to be very effective. Groups are bursting at the seams and have waiting lists, but it is common for churches to say, “But we haven’t seen any come to faith. We haven’t seen any come into the church.”

There has to be a step beyond providing the programme and I think our Mainly Music team is very good at being intentional about building relationships that might then provide opportunities for sharing Jesus.

A couple of weeks ago I heard a speaker talking about churches being “missional” – being involved in mission in our communities. He asked the question, “How do we get beyond social work?” He said that in some quarters serving people is seen as the goal but it is not. Our goal, as Christians, is glorifying God. That puts a completely different spin on it. How can we glorify God through serving.

A "Christian" social agency might have so-called Christian values but if they cannot introduce someone to Jesus or they don’t provide Christian counselling as such or they wouldn’t explicitly provide biblical advice and help, they might do a tremendous amount of good work but can an they be called “Christian”?

Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.” (Mark 9:41)

“In Jesus’ name” must at least mean that Jesus is acknowledged. It might mean that I do it as an ambassador of Jesus. Maybe it goes further and means that the cup of cold water is seen as coming from Christ and I am only the delivery boy. Whatever it means, it means that Jesus is explicitly part of it.

We talk about putting Christ back into Christmas but we need to ensure that we keep Christ in Christian. It is not “Christian” unless it includes Christ. It is not Christian if it just deals with concepts or principles. It must include the person.

What would make this a Christian Christmas for us?
1. Spending time with Jesus
2. Obeying Jesus
3. Telling others about Jesus

Let’s consider how we personally can put Christ back into Christmas.

Monday, December 6, 2010

05.12.10 - Christmas Means Freedom

Probably just about every year, churches read the prophecy from Isaiah that includes the words “For unto us a child is born; to us a son is given...”

We like it because it is clearly a prophecy of the Messiah and it was spoken about 800 years before Jesus was born. We like it because it tells us that God had a plan centuries earlier. We like it because the accuracy of the prophecy confirms for us the majesty of God who could foretell these things and centuries later they come to pass. We like it because it gives magnificent titles to Jesus. He will be called Wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. We like it because it says that God is in control and a new day is coming when Jesus will rule with justice and righteousness.

But, I think there is another reason why we should like it. To see that more clearly, we have to go back and read the section leading up to this passage. READ Isaiah 8:19-22

It is about consulting mediums and spiritists. Consulting mediums and spiritists is an insult to God. It is a turning away from God. As Isaiah says, “Should not a people enquire of their God?” Why go and listen to people who whisper and mutter? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Why consult the dead when you can consult the living God?

Isaiah says, “Consult God’s instruction” but people don’t want to. People would rather turn to some other oracle than listen to God. Often people don’t want to hear what God has to say but they will listen to all sorts of other nonsense.

We are free to do that. We are free to not listen to God but the result is confusion and darkness. Isaiah says that if a person doesn’t speak in accordance with God’s instruction, they have no light of dawn. People who speak but not in accordance with God’s word, spread only more and more confusion. People who listen to them live in deception. They don’t know the truth and so they stumble around in darkness and move further and further away from God. Listen to the description Isaiah gives: these people are distressed and hungry; they roam through the land, famished; they are enraged and they look up and curse both their king and their God. These are poor tormented souls. They look towards the earth and they see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom.

It is a terrible picture of lostness and darkness and anger and distress and it finishes with “they will be thrust into outer darkness” which is a reference to eternal punishment.

In our advanced western culture people still consult mediums and spiritists for personal guidance or to supposedly solve crimes. We make TV programmes about it and people are enthralled. People read their horoscopes and some go to séances or tarot readings or palm readers.

You can go any bookshop and buy books written by all sorts of gurus offering spiritual wisdom. These are the modern-day priests and prophets and oracles of spiritual truth – which is not truth.

Should not a people enquire of their God?

The result is as Isaiah described it: darkness and spiritual confusion. This so-called wisdom only increases the darkness. We are a nation that doesn’t consult God, and look at the results: the drunkenness, violence, crime, abuse, distress; spiritual darkness and confusion. People are going into a dark eternity every day because of refusing to consult God’s instruction.

It is no surprise. The apostle Paul talked about a coming time when people would listen to myths rather than listen to God.

2 Timothy 4:2-5
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

As Isaiah described, the result is “darkness and distress and fearful gloom”.

Nevertheless. Isaiah 9 starts with “Nevertheless there will be no more gloom for those who were in darkness.” God prophesies a complete change. There was terrible darkness but... Let’s see how the passage moves on. Listen to the transformation and the rejoicing. READ Isaiah 9:1-7.

Those in darkness have seen a great light. They rejoice like people rejoice at the harvest, like soldiers after a victory. The yoke that had burdened them was shattered. The rod of the oppressor, shattered. The things of warfare will be burned in the fire. Darkness becomes light. Oppression and captivity become freedom. Torment becomes peace. What started as a really, really gloomy passage becomes a passage of freedom and joy.

How? What makes the difference?

For unto us a child is born. Darkness becomes light. Oppression and captivity become freedom, for unto us a child is born. Not just any child. This child will rule the earth. He is the wise guide, God Himself, eternal Father, one who brings peace. He will reign on David’s throne, with justice and righteousness, forever.

There is no doubt this is Jesus. There is no doubt that the world is a different place because of Jesus.

Two of the most important words in this passage are the “Nevertheless” in 9:1 and the “For” in 9:6. Look at the structure of this passage. There is as section talking about the lostness of people who turn away from God. Then it says “Nevertheless” and it describes how God brings light and joy that dispel the darkness. So we have two very contrasting descriptions: one of lostness and darkness; one of light and joy. Then it gives the reason for the change: “for unto us a child is born.”

That is like a testimony, isn’t it? “My life was like this. Now it is like this, because of Jesus.” We have the bad news; the good news and the reason.

That is why we celebrate Christmas. A child has been born who has changed everything. The lost world has a Saviour.

Do you have a testimony, a personal story, like that? “I was lost but now I’m found because of Jesus. I was far from God but my life has been changed by Jesus.” Is that your story? If so, you will have no problem celebrating Christmas. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life.

And you will be eager to celebrate Communion, knowing that it was through His self-sacrifice that the world was changed and your personal destiny was turned around. Isaiah will in later chapters talk about the suffering of the Messiah: He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.

Or, would you like a story like that? Does there need to be light in your darkness? Have you been following the ways of other people but not consulting God? Are you walking in darkness? God has a different option: the people walking in darkness have seen a great light, because a child was born. Jesus is the Saviour who can turn our worlds around.

Let us all readily receive God’s gift: the Messiah who will rule the world with justice and righteousness. Let us all turn again, in humility, to Jesus. Even if we’ve done it before, let us say, “Jesus, I need You.”