Prayer and Faith

In this section, Francis Chan talks about the importance of having faith in prayer and how it is easy to fall into the habit of half-believing our prayers. He emphasizes that God wants to improve our relationship with Him.

Belief in Prayer

• Doubting in prayer can lead to unanswered prayers.

• We need to believe that God will answer our prayers and that it is what He wants.

Trusting God's Plan

• The more mature we become, the more we realize that it is the zeal of the Lord that accomplishes things.

• As we grow older, we learn to trust God's plan and not panic or rush things.

Relationship with God

• Our faith is about a God who loved us when we were enemies and rebellious towards Him.

• Sometimes our earthly relationships can distort our picture of who God really is.

Addressing God Based on Scripture

In this section, Francis Chan talks about how he realized he was not thinking through who he was speaking to based upon scripture. He prays for a clear picture of who they are addressing.

Addressing God Based on Scripture

• We should think through who we are speaking to based upon scripture.

• Earthly relationships can distort our picture of who God really is.

Video Illustration

In this section, Francis Chan shares a video illustration about Queen Elizabeth II meeting two American hikers during one of her private picnics at Craig Owen house.

Queen Elizabeth II Video Illustration

• Queen Elizabeth II meets two American hikers during one of her private picnics at Craig Owen house.

• The video illustrates the importance of recognizing who we are speaking to and not assuming that others know who we are.

Meeting the Queen

The speaker tells a story about meeting someone who had met the queen and reflects on how we address people in positions of power.

Meeting the Queen

• A woman had been coming to a place for over 80 years and was asked if she had ever met the queen. She replied that she hadn't, but someone else there did.

• The speaker joked with the man who had met the queen, saying that she could be cantankerous at times but had a lovely sense of humor.

• The man then asked the speaker to take a picture of him with the queen, handing his camera to her without realizing whose presence he was in.

• The speaker took a picture of them with the queen and they waved goodbye. The man said he would love to be a fly on the wall when he showed his friends in America.

Addressing God as Creator

The speaker reflects on how we approach God as our creator.

Approaching God as Creator

• The speaker asks if people believe that God is their creator and whether they have meditated on this thought.

• Psalm 139 verse 13 is mentioned, which says "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb."

• It is easy to think about this from a physical perspective, but it is much deeper than that. When God knit us together in our mother's womb, what does He mean by that? Is it just physiological or something more profound?

• If someone else created us, how do we speak to Him?

Addressing God as Creator and Father

In this section, the speaker talks about addressing God as Creator and Father in prayer. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing God as the Creator who formed us and everything around us.

Addressing God as Creator

• The speaker asks how Adam would have addressed God when he was first created.

• He suggests calling God "Creator God" during prayer to recognize His role in creating all things.

• The speaker quotes Colossians 1 verse 16, which states that all things were created by Christ and for Him.

Praying to Our Creator

• The speaker encourages listeners to pray to their Creator, recognizing the gap between a created being and the almighty creator.

• He leads a prayer thanking God for creating us and acknowledging our dependence on Him.

Addressing God as Father

• The speaker discusses addressing God as Father in prayer, referencing Jesus' teaching on how to pray in Matthew 6.

• Psalm 68 is mentioned but not discussed further.

The Love of God as a Father

In this section, the speaker talks about the love of God as a father and how it is different from our earthly understanding of fathers.

The Love of God as a Father

• God calls himself a father to us, and we are his children.

• The love that God has given us is so great that we can be called children of God.

• The speaker shares an experience with his son Silas running into his arms when he returned home from being out of town.

• He compares this to when his daughters Rachel and Mercy used to run out to him when he got home from work.

Our Understanding of Fathers

• Some people may not have positive experiences with their earthly fathers, making it difficult for them to understand God's love as a father.

• The speaker shares that he had a negative experience with his own dad growing up, but now understands the love of a father through his relationship with his own children.

The Miracle of Fatherhood

In this section, the speaker talks about the miracle that takes place when one experiences fatherhood and how it can be difficult for those who have not had a positive experience with their earthly fathers.

The Miracle of Fatherhood

• The Bible says there's a miracle that takes place where inwardly, even though we've never felt it, we can experience security, rest, love and desire.

• The absence of an earthly father can make the craving for a heavenly father even stronger.

• One can picture themselves as a child and inwardly groan "Abba Father" to experience God as their father.

A Picture of Fatherhood

In this section, the speaker brings up his daughters to give the audience a glimpse into what fatherhood looks like. He also emphasizes the importance of family relationships in giving others a glimpse into our relationship with God.

A Picture of Fatherhood

• Speaker brings up his daughters to show what fatherhood looks like.

• Family relationships are important because they give others a glimpse into our relationship with God.

• As a father, he does his best to be strong as a leader and intimate with all his children.

Prayer for Understanding God as Father

In this section, the speaker prays for a deeper understanding of God as our Father and asks that we would be reconciled to Him through His Son.

Praying for Understanding

• The speaker prays that we would understand God's love as a Father.

• He asks that God would pursue us by His Spirit.

• The speaker prays that we would understand the depths of what it means to call God "Abba".

• He acknowledges that God is a good, good Father.

• The speaker prays for healing and clarity in our relationship with God as our Father.

Spending Time with God

In this section, the speaker encourages spending time with God and suggests dedicating specific nights to focus on different aspects of who He is.

Spending Time with God

• The speaker suggests spending time getting to know who God is.

• He recommends dedicating specific nights to focusing on different aspects of who God is, such as Creator, Father, and Husband.

Understanding Marriage in Scripture

In this section, the speaker discusses marriage in scripture and its significance in relation to our relationship with Christ.

Marriage in Scripture

• The speaker acknowledges feeling uncomfortable discussing marriage in scripture.

• He references Old Testament themes of Israel or the church being referred to as the bride of Christ.

• Revelation 19:7-9 describes the marriage between the Lamb and His bride.

• The speaker emphasizes the significance of this marriage as the culmination of all creation.

• He explains that those who were faithful and did not take part in the world's sin will be part of this marriage.

• The speaker discusses how Satan distorts and destroys marriage, but it is a picture of God being the groom and us being the waiting bride.

• The speaker references Malachi 4:6, which speaks about restoring relationships between fathers and sons before the Messiah comes.

Understanding Intimacy with God

In this section, the speaker talks about the intimacy that comes from being in a relationship with God and how it is similar to the intimacy between a husband and wife.

The Bread and Cup

• The bread and cup represent an intimate act of fellowship with Christ.

• Taking the bread and cup is a way to unite oneself with Christ.

• The word "Koinonia" means fellowship or intercourse, but it's not meant to be taken literally.

Bride of Christ

• The speaker wants to understand what it means to see God as her husband.

• Believers are referred to as the bride of Christ in Ephesians 5.

• Society frowns upon submission, but it's important for believers to joyfully come under the leadership of King Jesus.

Communion

• The speaker invites attendees to walk up the aisle like a bride coming to unite herself with her groom.

• Communion is only for those who know Jesus as their savior.

• It's important to examine oneself before taking communion because sickness or death can come upon someone who takes it in an unworthy manner.

Dependence on God

• Being dependent on God is like a wife depending on her husband or a child depending on their father.

• This picture of dependence is beautiful.

Time with Jesus

In this section, the speaker encourages the audience to spend time praying and then walk down the aisle like it's their wedding day when they are ready to have their time with Jesus.

Walking Down the Aisle

• The speaker suggests that after spending some time in prayer, one should walk down the aisle like it's their wedding day.

• This is a symbolic gesture of committing oneself to Jesus and having a personal encounter with Him.