Hello, and welcome
to "A Sharper Focus."
00:00:20.38\00:00:22.64
We're coming to you
00:00:22.65\00:00:23.73
live from the Thompsonville
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:00:23.74\00:00:27.84
And this particular program is
00:00:27.85\00:00:30.36
a Wednesday night
Bible study program.
00:00:30.37\00:00:32.07
So I know that
your custom is to say,
00:00:32.08\00:00:34.62
"Welcome to everyone
from around the world."
00:00:34.63\00:00:36.87
So would you all join me?
00:00:36.88\00:00:38.70
We welcome you wherever
00:00:38.71\00:00:40.96
you're watching
from around the world.
00:00:40.97\00:00:43.15
And tonight before we begin,
00:00:43.16\00:00:45.80
our topic tonight is
praying outside the box.
00:00:45.81\00:00:51.38
And I have to tell you that
00:00:51.39\00:00:53.68
this is "Fresh Manna."
00:00:53.69\00:00:56.53
I thought I knew what I
was going to teach on tonight
00:00:56.54\00:00:59.81
and the Lord
changed the direction,
00:00:59.82\00:01:04.00
just a few hours ago.
00:01:04.01\00:01:06.05
So I really feel
that this is something
00:01:06.06\00:01:09.50
if you all don't need to hear it
00:01:09.51\00:01:10.91
I know that I need to hear it
00:01:10.92\00:01:12.47
because God was
speaking to my heart.
00:01:12.48\00:01:15.03
So before we begin let's
go to the Lord in prayer.
00:01:15.04\00:01:22.35
Our Father in heaven,
00:01:22.36\00:01:25.05
we come before
your throne of grace,
00:01:25.06\00:01:28.58
and Lord we come to
present to your presence.
00:01:28.59\00:01:32.38
We thank You Father that
00:01:32.39\00:01:35.19
we have become your
children through Christ Jesus.
00:01:35.20\00:01:38.94
We thank You
Father for the opportunity
00:01:38.95\00:01:42.30
to get to know You better
00:01:42.31\00:01:43.84
and Lord we want more of You.
00:01:43.85\00:01:48.53
Oh Lord, forgive us
for the many services that
00:01:48.54\00:01:52.26
we have that were not
really seeking your heart,
00:01:52.27\00:01:57.17
seeking your face.
00:01:57.18\00:01:59.87
Help us, Lord,
everyday to come before you
00:01:59.88\00:02:04.52
to get to know you better.
00:02:04.53\00:02:06.90
And Father we ask in
the name of Jesus that
00:02:06.91\00:02:10.07
you'll send
your Holy Spirit now.
00:02:10.08\00:02:12.66
And Father we pray in Jesus name
00:02:12.67\00:02:15.25
not only will Holy
Spirit be our teacher tonight,
00:02:15.26\00:02:19.50
but that you'll
give us ears to hear
00:02:19.51\00:02:22.61
what you want us to hear.
00:02:22.62\00:02:25.34
So thank you, Father God,
00:02:25.35\00:02:27.04
we're asking these
things in the name of Jesus
00:02:27.05\00:02:29.74
and we received them in
the name of Jesus. Amen.
00:02:29.75\00:02:33.91
You know, I've to tell
you there's a little bird,
00:02:33.92\00:02:36.52
it's called the titmouse.
00:02:36.53\00:02:38.65
And you know about
those little birds.
00:02:38.66\00:02:40.59
Well, there is
this bird that has been
00:02:40.60\00:02:43.56
for the last several weeks.
00:02:43.57\00:02:45.78
Everyday he comes to our window
00:02:45.79\00:02:49.38
and he just flings
himself against the window
00:02:49.39\00:02:53.26
all day long, everyday.
00:02:53.27\00:02:55.86
And so I shut the blinds,
00:02:55.87\00:02:58.81
and he goes to the next window.
00:02:58.82\00:03:00.17
You shut the blinds
then he finds windows that
00:03:00.18\00:03:02.18
don't have blinds on them.
00:03:02.19\00:03:03.94
And I thought
about that and I thought,
00:03:03.95\00:03:06.23
you know, this
poor crazy little bird,
00:03:06.24\00:03:08.45
this has been
going on four weeks.
00:03:08.46\00:03:10.44
As soon as it gets
light until it gets dark.
00:03:10.45\00:03:13.27
This poor crazy little bird
00:03:13.28\00:03:15.44
just keeps flinging
himself against this window.
00:03:15.45\00:03:17.99
I don't know if
he's trying to get in
00:03:18.00\00:03:19.85
or if he just sees a reflection,
00:03:19.86\00:03:21.44
maybe it's mating season.
00:03:21.45\00:03:23.32
I don't know.
00:03:23.33\00:03:24.74
But what is the
definition of insanity?
00:03:24.75\00:03:29.16
To keep doing the same thing
00:03:29.17\00:03:31.81
the way you've
always done it before
00:03:31.82\00:03:34.51
and to think that
00:03:34.52\00:03:36.31
you're going to
have different results.
00:03:36.32\00:03:38.60
Well, I thought about
that is as our topic tonight is
00:03:38.61\00:03:44.52
"praying outside the box".
00:03:44.53\00:03:46.78
And I guess the
best place to begin is
00:03:46.79\00:03:48.82
to say that a good
indicator of the value that
00:03:48.83\00:03:52.81
we place on
something is the amount of time
00:03:52.82\00:03:56.63
we devote to it.
00:03:56.64\00:03:58.83
So let me ask, how
do you value prayer?
00:03:58.84\00:04:05.39
Prayer is not something that
00:04:05.40\00:04:07.69
we should just
put on our to-do list.
00:04:07.70\00:04:10.46
Prayer should be
for the child of God
00:04:10.47\00:04:13.29
as instinctive `as breathing
00:04:13.30\00:04:15.93
because it is the
breath of the soul.
00:04:15.94\00:04:18.31
And in our world of
dizzying distractions,
00:04:18.32\00:04:22.10
every now and then
we just need to stop
00:04:22.11\00:04:25.54
and we need to take,
00:04:25.55\00:04:27.29
put a finger on
our spiritual pulse
00:04:27.30\00:04:30.34
and see what is going on.
00:04:30.35\00:04:33.62
And how do we put a
finger on our spiritual pulse?
00:04:33.63\00:04:37.18
The amount of
time we spend in prayer
00:04:37.19\00:04:39.49
and the amount of time
we spend in Bible study
00:04:39.50\00:04:43.56
will tell us how
well we're doing, right.
00:04:43.57\00:04:46.84
And when we find that
00:04:46.85\00:04:49.36
we have negligence of prayer
00:04:49.37\00:04:51.90
or when we have
misplaced priorities
00:04:51.91\00:04:54.76
what does that
show us about our lives.
00:04:54.77\00:04:59.77
To me it says that
we're not surrendered to God.
00:04:59.78\00:05:03.97
So when you know that
00:05:03.98\00:05:05.34
when you're not
spending enough time in prayer
00:05:05.35\00:05:07.43
or you know that you--
00:05:07.44\00:05:09.47
your priorities are
completely misplaced,
00:05:09.48\00:05:12.61
then realize you're not walking
00:05:12.62\00:05:15.07
in the power of God's surrender.
00:05:15.08\00:05:17.38
We don't pray enough
00:05:17.39\00:05:19.81
because we don't
recognize the joy of prayer,
00:05:19.82\00:05:24.89
the joy of communicating,
00:05:24.90\00:05:27.77
communing witha loving Father
00:05:27.78\00:05:31.27
who's wanting to
guide us, who's wanting
00:05:31.28\00:05:34.04
and willing to
give us all things.
00:05:34.05\00:05:37.16
And so, we also
don't pray enough
00:05:37.17\00:05:39.69
because we don't
recognize the power of God that
00:05:39.70\00:05:44.28
is unleashed in prayer.
00:05:44.29\00:05:46.60
I want us to
read three scriptures
00:05:46.61\00:05:48.62
if you'll turn to
Matthew 21 and verse 22
00:05:48.63\00:05:53.71
and I hope you at home
will get out your Bibles
00:05:53.72\00:05:56.69
because, you
know, this is called
00:05:56.70\00:05:59.19
"Wednesday
night prayer meeting."
00:05:59.20\00:06:01.98
Prayer is more than
just us talking to God.
00:06:01.99\00:06:05.56
It's listening to God.
00:06:05.57\00:06:07.37
And the way we hear
from God is through His word.
00:06:07.38\00:06:10.51
So what we're going to do is
00:06:10.52\00:06:11.78
read three scriptures
just back to back here,
00:06:11.79\00:06:14.63
and we'll come back and
revisit them in a moment.
00:06:14.64\00:06:17.69
But listen to Matthew 21:22,
00:06:17.70\00:06:21.81
these are Jesus
words and He says,
00:06:21.82\00:06:25.21
"Whatever things
you ask in prayer,
00:06:25.22\00:06:28.58
believing, you will receive."
00:06:28.59\00:06:32.73
Whatever things
you ask in prayer,
00:06:32.74\00:06:36.26
believing, you will receive.
00:06:36.27\00:06:38.76
Now, turn to John
15:7, John 15 and verse 7.
00:06:38.77\00:06:45.56
Again these are Jesus words.
00:06:47.37\00:06:53.27
And in John 15, say
Amen if you're there. Okay.
00:06:53.28\00:06:59.58
In John 15 and
verse 7, Jesus says,
00:06:59.59\00:07:03.52
"If you abide in Me,
and My words abide in you,
00:07:03.53\00:07:08.96
you will ask what you desire,
00:07:08.97\00:07:12.03
and it shall be
done for you." All right.
00:07:12.04\00:07:16.70
Turn to first John 5,
00:07:16.71\00:07:21.44
First John chapter
5, verses 14 and 15.
00:07:21.45\00:07:27.23
We're gonna come
back in a little bit.
00:07:29.99\00:07:32.12
We'll come back and
unpack these scriptures,
00:07:32.13\00:07:34.10
but I want to
show you something.
00:07:34.11\00:07:36.56
First John 5, versus 14 and 15,
00:07:36.57\00:07:42.00
and the Apostle
John echoes Jesus words.
00:07:42.01\00:07:45.47
He says, "Now this
is the confidence that
00:07:45.48\00:07:48.66
we have in Him,
that if we ask anything
00:07:48.67\00:07:52.43
according to His
will, He hears us.
00:07:52.44\00:07:55.35
And if we know that He hears us,
00:07:55.36\00:07:58.25
whatever we ask, we know that
00:07:58.26\00:08:02.09
we have the petitions
that we have asked of Him."
00:08:02.10\00:08:06.56
Now just let me
repeat this, real quickly.
00:08:06.57\00:08:09.54
Matthew 21:22 says,
"Whatever we ask in prayer,
00:08:09.55\00:08:15.20
believing, we will receive."
00:08:15.21\00:08:17.64
John 15:7 says, Jesus said,
00:08:17.65\00:08:20.53
"If you abide in me
and my words abide in you,
00:08:20.54\00:08:22.96
ask anything you desire,
00:08:22.97\00:08:24.68
and you shall receive it."
00:08:24.69\00:08:26.09
And then, here
John is telling us
00:08:26.10\00:08:28.08
in 1 John 5:14 and 15 that
00:08:28.09\00:08:30.61
the confidence
that we can have is that
00:08:30.62\00:08:33.58
if we ask anything
according to God's will,
00:08:33.59\00:08:36.66
whatever it is that
we ask, we will receive.
00:08:36.67\00:08:40.57
Let me ask you, do
you believe that? You do.
00:08:40.58\00:08:47.67
You know what I believe?
00:08:47.68\00:08:49.45
I believe that we
believe it up here.
00:08:49.46\00:08:53.25
I think it is purely
mental assent that we think.
00:08:53.26\00:08:57.25
Yes, this is the word of God.
00:08:57.26\00:08:59.38
We know the word of God is true.
00:08:59.39\00:09:02.22
And so, we have it up here
00:09:02.23\00:09:03.92
and we read it and we
say yes, but it's not here.
00:09:03.93\00:09:07.54
You know why it's not here?
00:09:07.55\00:09:09.89
I can tell you
because I can prove it.
00:09:09.90\00:09:13.04
Why do we pray
such little prayers?
00:09:13.05\00:09:18.79
Why do we pray
such small prayers?
00:09:18.80\00:09:22.03
You know, these are
little boxed in prayers.
00:09:22.04\00:09:25.95
We box God in.
00:09:25.96\00:09:27.71
We limit God by our
little thoughts. Admit it.
00:09:27.72\00:09:34.84
None of us know how to pray.
00:09:36.10\00:09:38.66
Turn to Romans 8:26.
00:09:38.67\00:09:41.33
That's a strong
statement to say that
00:09:41.34\00:09:43.84
no one knows how to pray.
00:09:43.85\00:09:44.93
Sometimes we'll hear people
00:09:44.94\00:09:46.64
who sound so eloquent in prayer
00:09:46.65\00:09:50.59
and they just
sound so beautiful.
00:09:50.60\00:09:53.69
And a lot of
times there's not really
00:09:53.70\00:09:56.14
any praying going on.
00:09:56.15\00:09:58.78
It's just people talking
00:09:58.79\00:10:01.77
and they're not really
knowing and seeking God.
00:10:01.78\00:10:06.32
Romans 8:26, listen to this
00:10:06.33\00:10:08.99
and I'll support that
statement of scripture
00:10:09.00\00:10:11.33
'cause I got a few
funny looks when I said that.
00:10:11.34\00:10:14.52
But here's what Paul
tells us in Romans 8:26.
00:10:14.53\00:10:19.15
He says, "Likewise the Spirit
00:10:19.16\00:10:21.92
also helps us in our weaknesses.
00:10:21.93\00:10:24.64
For we do not know what
00:10:24.65\00:10:27.79
we should pray for as
we ought" Paul saying here,
00:10:27.80\00:10:32.01
"I don't know how to pray."
00:10:32.02\00:10:34.49
He says "we" he doesn't say
00:10:34.50\00:10:35.90
"You don't know how to pray."
00:10:35.91\00:10:37.89
He says, "We
know not what to pray
00:10:37.90\00:10:41.88
for as we ought,
but the Spirit himself
00:10:41.89\00:10:45.32
makes intercession
for us with groanings,
00:10:45.33\00:10:49.01
which cannot be uttered."
00:10:49.02\00:10:51.71
We don't know how to pray.
00:10:51.72\00:10:55.17
You know, we
don't know how to pray
00:10:55.18\00:10:57.33
as it is necessary to pray.
00:10:57.34\00:11:00.01
What God's been working
00:11:00.02\00:11:01.05
in my heart is to
help me understand,
00:11:01.06\00:11:03.47
we can't see the end from
the beginning like He does.
00:11:03.48\00:11:07.18
So we don't know when
00:11:07.19\00:11:08.21
we're asking for
a certain blessing
00:11:08.22\00:11:10.85
for ourselves or
for someone else,
00:11:10.86\00:11:13.10
we don't know if that's
really what's best for them.
00:11:13.11\00:11:17.73
And in our
littleness and in our pride,
00:11:17.74\00:11:21.81
we pray little
self-centered prayers
00:11:21.82\00:11:25.33
with self-centered
plans, self-centered desires.
00:11:25.34\00:11:29.69
We're always asking
God to bless our plans,
00:11:29.70\00:11:34.33
rather than asking God
00:11:34.34\00:11:36.49
to fulfill His plan
in our life for the day.
00:11:36.50\00:11:41.13
You know, when
you think about it,
00:11:41.14\00:11:42.83
why is there not more
power in the churches?
00:11:42.84\00:11:49.11
Why is there not more
power in our Christian lives?
00:11:49.12\00:11:53.67
I believe it's
because we haven't learned
00:11:53.68\00:11:56.86
God's perfect plan and that
00:11:56.87\00:11:58.46
is to be totally
dependent upon Him.
00:11:58.47\00:12:02.64
To be totally dependent upon
00:12:02.65\00:12:04.43
the Holy Spirit as Christ was.
00:12:04.44\00:12:07.32
We need to be
delivered of our pride
00:12:07.33\00:12:11.64
and our self will.
00:12:11.65\00:12:13.60
James 4:6 says that,
00:12:13.61\00:12:16.65
"God resists the proud,
00:12:16.66\00:12:19.90
but He gives
grace to the humble."
00:12:19.91\00:12:23.09
And you know,
maybe that explains
00:12:23.10\00:12:24.78
why there is not more
grace being poured out
00:12:24.79\00:12:27.06
because it's difficult
to find truly humble people.
00:12:27.07\00:12:31.55
But we need to
admit to ourselves that
00:12:31.56\00:12:33.39
we don't know how to pray
00:12:33.40\00:12:34.86
and recognize our utter
helplessness without God.
00:12:34.87\00:12:40.24
Humility in prayer is
what the Lord is looking for.
00:12:40.25\00:12:45.74
That's what He's
looking for is for us
00:12:45.75\00:12:47.45
to come before
Him humbly in prayer
00:12:47.46\00:12:50.58
and recognizing our dependence
00:12:50.59\00:12:52.70
upon the Holy Spirit.
00:12:52.71\00:12:54.45
You know, Jesus said in
Second Corinthians 12:9,
00:12:54.46\00:12:58.17
"My grace is sufficient for you.
00:12:58.18\00:13:01.06
For My power is made
perfect in your weakness."
00:13:01.07\00:13:03.94
And I've just
finished a series that
00:13:03.95\00:13:07.20
taping over the
last couple of weeks.
00:13:07.21\00:13:09.70
And it's on grace and, you know,
00:13:09.71\00:13:12.72
the three
greatest gifts of grace.
00:13:12.73\00:13:15.51
What's the three
greatest gifts that
00:13:15.52\00:13:17.17
God has ever given
to human, humankind?
00:13:17.18\00:13:20.92
First, Jesus
Christ our Lord and Savior
00:13:20.93\00:13:24.74
and then the Holy
Spirit and the word of God.
00:13:24.75\00:13:27.74
And if we
recognize the gifts of grace,
00:13:27.75\00:13:30.24
we'll recognize
the effects of grace.
00:13:30.25\00:13:33.07
Grace gives us power
00:13:33.08\00:13:35.19
when the life
of Christ is in us.
00:13:35.20\00:13:36.85
When the Holy
Spirit dwells in our hearts
00:13:36.86\00:13:39.73
and Christ lives in
our hearts by faith,
00:13:39.74\00:13:42.08
grace gives us power
and we should be like
00:13:42.09\00:13:44.99
Paul who, here he is
praying for deliverance
00:13:45.00\00:13:48.33
from something and Jesus says,
00:13:48.34\00:13:50.50
"No, my son, you don't know
00:13:50.51\00:13:52.94
how to pray as you ought.
00:13:52.95\00:13:54.48
I know that
00:13:54.49\00:13:55.79
you need this
thorn in your flesh.
00:13:55.80\00:13:58.22
It is going to
keep you secure in me"
00:13:58.23\00:14:02.21
And so, He says, "My
grace is sufficient for you."
00:14:02.22\00:14:06.80
And that thorn in the
flesh proved it to Paul that
00:14:06.81\00:14:09.64
the grace was
sufficient and that His power,
00:14:09.65\00:14:12.92
God's power would be
made perfect in his weakness.
00:14:12.93\00:14:16.30
And that's what
we need to recognize.
00:14:16.31\00:14:18.69
We need to be
like Paul who said,
00:14:18.70\00:14:20.36
"Oh! I glory in my weakness that
00:14:20.37\00:14:23.52
His power may rest upon me."
00:14:23.53\00:14:26.22
And we need to bring
this attitude to prayer.
00:14:26.23\00:14:29.89
You know there in
Romans 8:26 said that,
00:14:29.90\00:14:32.26
"The Spirit himself intercedes
00:14:32.27\00:14:35.38
with unspoken groanings."
00:14:35.39\00:14:38.35
Now a lot of
churches will teach that
00:14:38.36\00:14:41.56
this is praying in
tongues, but you know what?
00:14:41.57\00:14:44.74
The word is not
glossolalia there.
00:14:44.75\00:14:47.73
What the word
means in the Greek?
00:14:47.74\00:14:49.96
What it is saying is
that that this is a wordless,
00:14:49.97\00:14:55.22
heart-to-heart
communication with the Lord.
00:14:55.23\00:14:58.68
In words, there's sometimes
00:14:58.69\00:15:01.38
we agree that
in our own language
00:15:01.39\00:15:04.15
there are things
that we can't express
00:15:04.16\00:15:07.16
where the Holy
Spirit has this wordless
00:15:07.17\00:15:10.94
heart-to-heart communication.
00:15:10.95\00:15:12.70
He knows our hearts.
00:15:12.71\00:15:14.37
He knows God's heart and
he is so close to the Lord,
00:15:14.38\00:15:18.36
He is one with Him that
00:15:18.37\00:15:20.61
He prays this way for us,
00:15:20.62\00:15:23.52
the Holy Spirit is
our intercessor on earth
00:15:23.53\00:15:27.32
dwelling within us
00:15:27.33\00:15:29.22
just as Jesus Christ is
our intercessor in heaven.
00:15:29.23\00:15:33.06
You know the
greatest prayers that
00:15:33.07\00:15:34.97
I have ever prayed had been when
00:15:34.98\00:15:38.64
I freely admitted that
I didn't know how to pray.
00:15:38.65\00:15:43.19
And I would ask for
the spirits guidance.
00:15:43.20\00:15:45.85
And it's amazing when you ask
00:15:45.86\00:15:50.31
for the Holy
Spirit to help you pray
00:15:50.32\00:15:52.67
how it changes your prayer.
00:15:52.68\00:15:54.87
But I have to confess something.
00:15:54.88\00:15:57.25
They say
confessions good for the soul
00:15:57.26\00:15:59.63
and bad for the reputation.
00:15:59.64\00:16:02.16
I didn't recognize my own pride,
00:16:02.17\00:16:06.48
the pride of the
flesh in me until
00:16:06.49\00:16:09.40
God was showing
me how, you know,
00:16:09.41\00:16:11.93
I've considered
myself a prayer warrior,
00:16:11.94\00:16:14.05
other people will tell
you I'm a prayer warrior.
00:16:14.06\00:16:17.23
But I don't know how to
pray as I ought. None of us do.
00:16:17.24\00:16:22.02
And when we are praying without
00:16:22.03\00:16:25.25
first coming in that
humility to surrender to God
00:16:25.26\00:16:29.67
and ask the Holy
Spirit to guide the prayer,
00:16:29.68\00:16:32.89
we are not praying the
way God wants us to pray.
00:16:32.90\00:16:37.03
I remember once that
I was doing a meeting
00:16:37.04\00:16:40.86
and after this
meeting, a woman came up to me
00:16:40.87\00:16:43.68
and she said, I
need healing, sister.
00:16:43.69\00:16:46.20
I need healing.
00:16:46.21\00:16:47.56
You know, I've
got a lung condition.
00:16:47.57\00:16:50.32
It was, what is it
when you have? Emphysema.
00:16:50.33\00:16:55.15
I've got emphysema she
said, and I need healing.
00:16:55.16\00:16:58.30
And boy, if you know me,
you know I pray the promises.
00:16:58.31\00:17:01.87
So I began praying earnestly.
00:17:01.88\00:17:04.44
I mean, I've thought it
was effective fervent prayer.
00:17:04.45\00:17:07.36
I am praying the
promises over her.
00:17:07.37\00:17:10.87
I'm calling down
God's power for healing.
00:17:10.88\00:17:13.69
And you know what happens.
00:17:13.70\00:17:15.36
In the midst of this,
00:17:15.37\00:17:17.44
the still small
voice of the Lord impresses
00:17:17.45\00:17:19.76
this thought upon
my mind and He says,
00:17:19.77\00:17:22.38
"Who is this that
darkens my council
00:17:22.39\00:17:26.00
with words without wisdom?"
00:17:26.01\00:17:29.08
I'm pleading the promises.
00:17:29.09\00:17:30.93
And all of a
sudden then I stopped
00:17:30.94\00:17:32.93
and I backed up and I asked her.
00:17:32.94\00:17:35.44
I said, you
know, I need to ask you
00:17:35.45\00:17:37.69
a few questions before we pray
00:17:37.70\00:17:39.47
and we really need to
have the Holy Spirit to come in
00:17:39.48\00:17:42.47
and help us with this prayer.
00:17:42.48\00:17:44.40
And I asked her, I
said, are you still smoking?
00:17:44.41\00:17:49.74
And she said, yes.
00:17:49.75\00:17:53.37
And I told her, do you realize
00:17:53.38\00:17:55.51
we can't ask God to heal
00:17:55.52\00:17:58.04
you if you're doing
something to harm yourself?
00:17:58.05\00:18:02.50
We can't ask God to
bless what you're doing.
00:18:02.51\00:18:05.65
You've got, we've got to pray
00:18:05.66\00:18:07.39
for your
deliverance from smoking.
00:18:07.40\00:18:10.68
Does that make sense? Amen.
00:18:10.69\00:18:13.46
So what we need,
God wants us to get
00:18:13.47\00:18:17.14
to that place of
humility of recognizing that
00:18:17.15\00:18:21.30
we're absolutely
dependent upon Him
00:18:21.31\00:18:23.82
and then our prayers
won't be mere formalism.
00:18:23.83\00:18:28.58
They won't be
just vain babbling.
00:18:28.59\00:18:31.53
And what God was
showing me right there
00:18:31.54\00:18:33.49
with that woman
is that even pleading
00:18:33.50\00:18:36.08
the promises of God
can be vain babbling
00:18:36.09\00:18:39.05
if I'm not praying
according to God's will.
00:18:39.06\00:18:42.01
Is this making sense? Wow!
00:18:42.02\00:18:45.28
So earnest
heart-felt prayer will lead
00:18:45.29\00:18:48.84
to a dynamic
relationship with the Lord,
00:18:48.85\00:18:52.27
an intimate personal
relationship with God,
00:18:52.28\00:18:56.03
and God is wooing us.
00:18:56.04\00:18:58.34
He is wooing you by
the power of His love.
00:18:58.35\00:19:02.93
He is drawing you by
His everlasting love.
00:19:02.94\00:19:07.24
And as we draw closer to God,
00:19:07.25\00:19:10.02
God will draw nearer to us.
00:19:10.03\00:19:12.30
Turn to Jeremiah 29,
00:19:12.31\00:19:15.25
and you probably
know where I'm going.
00:19:15.26\00:19:18.32
While you're turning there,
00:19:18.33\00:19:19.44
I just want to take a
moment to recognize Jay McGrath,
00:19:19.45\00:19:23.67
oh, Jay Rosario, oh excuse me.
00:19:23.68\00:19:26.83
And Dan McGrath,
who are with us tonight
00:19:26.84\00:19:29.61
and who are taping,
00:19:29.62\00:19:31.23
here taping a new
series for engage.
00:19:31.24\00:19:33.84
We also wanna welcome
you, Mike Johnson. All right.
00:19:33.85\00:19:38.75
Jeremiah 29,
verses 11 through 14
00:19:38.76\00:19:43.04
and I hope you're
following long with us
00:19:43.05\00:19:44.97
at home in your Bibles.
00:19:44.98\00:19:48.13
So let's look at this
very familiar passage,
00:19:48.14\00:19:50.97
but I want to do something
a little bit different.
00:19:50.98\00:19:55.05
In Jeremiah
29:11-14. This is God speaking.
00:19:55.06\00:20:01.09
He says, "For I
know the thoughts that
00:20:01.10\00:20:02.97
I think toward
you, says the Lord,
00:20:02.98\00:20:05.23
thoughts of
peace and not of evil
00:20:05.24\00:20:07.03
to give you a future and a hope.
00:20:07.04\00:20:09.40
Then you will call upon
me and go and pray to me."
00:20:09.41\00:20:12.85
Let's stop. When? Wait a minute.
00:20:12.86\00:20:17.58
It just seems like this--
00:20:17.59\00:20:18.73
this whole verse should
be-- should be reversed.
00:20:18.74\00:20:23.09
He says, "I know
the thoughts that
00:20:23.10\00:20:24.56
I think toward
you, says the Lord,
00:20:24.57\00:20:25.97
thoughts of
peace and not of evil
00:20:25.98\00:20:27.57
to give you a future and a hope.
00:20:27.58\00:20:29.04
Then you will call upon me
and go and pray to me." When?
00:20:29.05\00:20:36.70
When we recognize that
00:20:36.71\00:20:38.38
God has a plan for our lives,
00:20:38.39\00:20:43.00
then we will go and pray to Him.
00:20:43.01\00:20:46.89
And when we recognize
and understand God's plan,
00:20:46.90\00:20:50.61
He goes on to say
I will listen to you,
00:20:50.62\00:20:53.25
you will seek Me and find Me,
00:20:53.26\00:20:54.78
when you search for
Me with all your heart,
00:20:54.79\00:20:57.11
I will be found by
you, says the Lord.
00:20:57.12\00:21:00.87
See when we
understand God's plan,
00:21:00.88\00:21:04.00
it will give us a
passion for His presence.
00:21:04.01\00:21:08.47
And when we have a
passion for His presence,
00:21:08.48\00:21:11.65
prayer becomes
something that is as natural
00:21:11.66\00:21:15.53
and instinctive as breathing.
00:21:15.54\00:21:17.58
And we will not come
in what we think is our--
00:21:17.59\00:21:23.67
we won't come in pride.
00:21:23.68\00:21:25.49
We will come in pure
humility before the Lord
00:21:25.50\00:21:28.21
and we will give Him,
acknowledge His presence
00:21:28.22\00:21:31.64
and give Him
His place in prayer.
00:21:31.65\00:21:35.25
Turn to Hebrews
5:7. Hebrews 5:7.
00:21:35.26\00:21:42.01
Prayer is a form of worship,
00:21:42.02\00:21:46.27
so we should approach
in reverent submission.
00:21:46.28\00:21:51.64
Jesus set the example for us
00:21:51.65\00:21:54.20
in Hebrews,
chapter 5 and verse 7.
00:21:54.21\00:21:58.60
And it says, who,
speaking of Christ,
00:21:58.61\00:22:02.65
in the days of His
flesh, His life here on earth,
00:22:02.66\00:22:07.09
when He had offered a
prayers and supplications
00:22:07.10\00:22:09.95
with vehement
cries and tears to Him
00:22:09.96\00:22:12.95
who was able to save
Him from death was heard
00:22:12.96\00:22:17.22
because of His godly
fear, his reverent submission.
00:22:17.23\00:22:22.94
This is God praying
to God, the same God,
00:22:22.95\00:22:28.10
Christ the Son
praying to the Father
00:22:28.11\00:22:30.77
in reverent submission when
00:22:30.78\00:22:33.75
He in His great agony as
He considered the trial that
00:22:33.76\00:22:39.06
He was about to face in Calvary.
00:22:39.07\00:22:41.41
The shame of
hanging naked on a cross.
00:22:41.42\00:22:45.54
The pain and humiliation.
00:22:45.55\00:22:48.20
The separation from His Father.
00:22:48.21\00:22:51.64
He was still
willing to do God's will.
00:22:51.65\00:22:56.35
And in times of trial what
00:22:56.36\00:22:58.69
we need to do is let the
obedience of Jesus Christ
00:22:58.70\00:23:03.48
encourage us
and the grace of God
00:23:03.49\00:23:06.35
sustain us just as it did Him.
00:23:06.36\00:23:09.23
We need to be like Jesus.
00:23:09.24\00:23:11.88
Here it says that He was hurt
00:23:11.89\00:23:14.39
because of His godly
fear, His reverent submission.
00:23:14.40\00:23:18.32
When we come before the Lord,
00:23:18.33\00:23:20.62
we need to pause to consider
who we're coming before.
00:23:20.63\00:23:25.27
And it is not only the
holy God of the universe,
00:23:25.28\00:23:30.22
the creator, but He
is our Abba, our Father.
00:23:30.23\00:23:35.36
Please turn
to--well, let's--we're gonna--
00:23:35.37\00:23:39.15
I'm running a little
low, so let me just low--
00:23:39.16\00:23:41.56
I'm running a little long,
00:23:41.57\00:23:42.70
so let me just
read this one to you.
00:23:42.71\00:23:45.68
Christ redeemed us.
00:23:45.69\00:23:48.04
God redeemed us by
sending Christ that
00:23:48.05\00:23:50.36
we might receive
adoptions as sons.
00:23:50.37\00:23:54.25
And Galatians 4:6
says, because you are sons.
00:23:54.26\00:23:59.87
God has sent forth
the spirit of His son
00:23:59.88\00:24:02.24
into our hearts,
crying out, Abba! Father!
00:24:02.25\00:24:06.13
Now "Abba" is an Aramaic term
00:24:06.14\00:24:08.76
that has a very intimate term.
00:24:08.77\00:24:11.38
It's a term for Father.
00:24:11.39\00:24:14.12
But it means
something like papa or daddy.
00:24:14.13\00:24:17.68
And, you know, what?
This is really interesting.
00:24:17.69\00:24:20.45
Roman law if you
were-- it didn't matter
00:24:20.46\00:24:24.45
if you were formally a slave,
00:24:24.46\00:24:27.11
if you were
adopted by a Roman man,
00:24:27.12\00:24:33.57
you had full rights,
guaranteed a full rights
00:24:33.58\00:24:37.89
to your portion
of the inheritance.
00:24:37.90\00:24:40.51
An equal portion
of the inheritance,
00:24:40.52\00:24:43.18
did it matter, you
were-- there were no second--
00:24:43.19\00:24:46.12
if you were adopted you
were not a second class son.
00:24:46.13\00:24:49.26
You had full, equal,
00:24:49.27\00:24:52.92
whether you are
biological or adopted,
00:24:52.93\00:24:54.76
you had equal rights.
00:24:54.77\00:24:56.55
So our full identity as
adopted children of God,
00:24:56.56\00:25:02.88
do you realize that
we share with Jesus,
00:25:02.89\00:25:07.01
all the rights
to God's resources,
00:25:07.02\00:25:10.26
isn't that exciting?
00:25:10.27\00:25:11.81
So as God's heirs, we
can claim the promises.
00:25:11.82\00:25:16.29
Second Corinthians 1:20 says,
00:25:16.30\00:25:17.64
all of those promises are ours.
00:25:17.65\00:25:19.59
But we have to remember this
00:25:19.60\00:25:21.25
and we're gonna
get to that is that
00:25:21.26\00:25:23.06
the promises are conditional.
00:25:23.07\00:25:26.31
God's love is unconditional,
but promises are conditional.
00:25:26.32\00:25:30.19
Now Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 4:16,
00:25:30.20\00:25:37.71
"Our approach to
God is through prayer."
00:25:37.72\00:25:41.67
And Hebrews 4:16 says,
00:25:41.68\00:25:44.17
"Let us therefore come boldly
to the throne of grace that
00:25:44.18\00:25:49.18
we may obtain
mercy and find grace
00:25:49.19\00:25:52.77
to help in our time of need."
00:25:52.78\00:25:54.98
Grace that we
might find Jesus Christ,
00:25:54.99\00:25:58.94
the Holy Spirit,
the word, the power,
00:25:58.95\00:26:02.45
God's supernatural
power for salvation.
00:26:02.46\00:26:05.32
His divine assistance.
00:26:05.33\00:26:07.03
So we should come with reverence
00:26:07.04\00:26:09.74
because He is the holy God.
00:26:09.75\00:26:13.15
But we don't need to come
00:26:13.16\00:26:14.55
with our heads hung down low
00:26:14.56\00:26:17.33
because He is our Abba, Father.
00:26:17.34\00:26:20.51
And we also
need to remember that
00:26:20.52\00:26:22.84
when we come before the
Lord, don't come flippantly.
00:26:22.85\00:26:27.13
When you approach
the throne of grace,
00:26:27.14\00:26:30.34
I don't care if you're
just saying thank you at a meal.
00:26:30.35\00:26:33.09
When you approach
God's throne of grace,
00:26:33.10\00:26:36.69
you are walking on holy ground.
00:26:36.70\00:26:39.63
So turn to
Psalms 105, Psalms 105.
00:26:39.64\00:26:45.57
We need to come
to seek His face,
00:26:45.58\00:26:48.79
not just His hand.
00:26:48.80\00:26:50.62
We don't wanna
rush into His presence
00:26:50.63\00:26:52.87
with a laundry list of requests.
00:26:52.88\00:26:56.06
We need to be still before God.
00:26:56.07\00:26:58.52
We need to want more of God.
00:26:58.53\00:27:01.04
That's what prayer is all about.
00:27:01.05\00:27:03.35
And we need to give
God His place in prayer.
00:27:03.36\00:27:07.24
We should come with a
humble worshiping heart
00:27:07.25\00:27:12.00
that is willing to wait for God.
00:27:12.01\00:27:13.77
Psalms 105, verse 4 says this,
00:27:13.78\00:27:18.20
"Seek the Lord and His strength,
00:27:18.21\00:27:20.62
seek His face forevermore."
00:27:20.63\00:27:24.38
You know, David wrote Psalms 27,
00:27:24.39\00:27:26.65
you might wanna
jot this one down.
00:27:26.66\00:27:28.00
Psalms 27:7 and 8, he said,
00:27:28.01\00:27:31.16
"Hear, O' Lord,
when I cry with my voice,
00:27:31.17\00:27:34.00
have mercy upon
me and answer me.
00:27:34.01\00:27:36.12
When you said, "seek my face,"
00:27:36.13\00:27:38.94
I said, Lord,
your face, I will seek.
00:27:38.95\00:27:43.65
To seek His face is in
the context of worship.
00:27:43.66\00:27:49.07
This is
complete devotion to God.
00:27:49.08\00:27:51.39
And if we start with an
earnest desire to know God
00:27:51.40\00:27:56.45
and His will that's what
00:27:56.46\00:27:58.83
eternal salvation
is all about, isn't it?
00:27:58.84\00:28:01.99
Jesus said in John 17:3,
00:28:02.00\00:28:04.30
"This is eternal
life that you may know Him
00:28:04.31\00:28:10.05
and the one whom He sent."
00:28:10.06\00:28:12.67
See, we come in our
prayers so often to say
00:28:12.68\00:28:17.44
God bless so and so.
00:28:17.45\00:28:19.14
Bless this one. Bless my child.
00:28:19.15\00:28:21.23
Bless me. Do this.
00:28:21.24\00:28:23.16
Help us to pay the mortgage.
00:28:23.17\00:28:25.47
And God is saying,
Come here my child,
00:28:25.48\00:28:29.16
I want you to draw near to me,
00:28:29.17\00:28:31.76
to sit at my feet,
let me talk with you,
00:28:31.77\00:28:34.31
get to know me,
and when you know me,
00:28:34.32\00:28:37.47
when you-- if
we could even begin
00:28:37.48\00:28:39.95
to fathom the depth
of God's love, the width,
00:28:39.96\00:28:43.96
the length, the height,
the depth of God's love,
00:28:43.97\00:28:46.27
we don't understand it.
00:28:46.28\00:28:48.03
Divine love has no equal.
00:28:48.04\00:28:50.51
And there is no way
for us to understand it,
00:28:50.52\00:28:52.82
but God is saying, I'm
trying to reveal myself to you.
00:28:52.83\00:28:56.67
I wanna show you
how much I love you.
00:28:56.68\00:28:59.12
Come get to know me
00:28:59.13\00:29:00.18
and then you'll
understand better how to pray.
00:29:00.19\00:29:03.96
We come with bold assurance
00:29:03.97\00:29:06.03
because He is our Abba, Father.
00:29:06.04\00:29:09.23
Now turn if you
will to Psalms 63.
00:29:09.24\00:29:16.08
To really have
effective fervent prayer,
00:29:18.20\00:29:21.95
to pray outside of the box,
00:29:21.96\00:29:24.18
it requires pressing in
to find joy in His presence.
00:29:24.19\00:29:28.48
And I want to
say to you at home.
00:29:28.49\00:29:30.78
If you feel that your
prayers are not being answered,
00:29:30.79\00:29:35.80
persist in prayer
to get to know God.
00:29:35.81\00:29:39.51
Hebrews 11:6 promises that
00:29:39.52\00:29:41.96
God is a rewarder of
those who earnestly seek Him,
00:29:41.97\00:29:45.97
and Jesus said
that in Luke 11:9 that
00:29:45.98\00:29:49.00
if we will ask
and seek and knock,
00:29:49.01\00:29:53.04
we will find the answer.
00:29:53.05\00:29:55.03
So we want to come with
an intense and sincere effort
00:29:55.04\00:30:00.26
not just a sentimental effort.
00:30:00.27\00:30:02.38
We wanna come
early, seek earnestly
00:30:02.39\00:30:05.65
and don't give God leftovers
just at the end of the day.
00:30:05.66\00:30:09.53
Let's read Psalms 63.
00:30:09.54\00:30:12.46
We're gonna read verses 1"4
00:30:12.47\00:30:14.71
if you're following us at home.
00:30:14.72\00:30:16.58
Oh, God, you are my God.
00:30:16.59\00:30:18.95
Early will I seek you,
my soul thirsts for you,
00:30:18.96\00:30:21.66
my flesh longs for you
in a dry and thirsty land
00:30:21.67\00:30:25.38
where there is no water.
00:30:25.39\00:30:27.50
Can we identify
with that? Mercy.
00:30:27.51\00:30:31.20
Spiritually we
live in a dry land.
00:30:31.21\00:30:34.36
This picture is
a prolonged drought
00:30:34.37\00:30:36.54
where your tongue cleaves
to the roof of your mouth
00:30:36.55\00:30:39.31
and nothing can
refresh, but the water of life.
00:30:39.32\00:30:44.23
Oh, I feel that why so
often when I come to prayer.
00:30:44.24\00:30:47.15
It's like
nothing can refresh me,
00:30:47.16\00:30:49.75
but the living water
that God has to give me.
00:30:49.76\00:30:52.64
And He says, so I looked for you
00:30:52.65\00:30:54.91
in the sanctuary to see
your power and your glory.
00:30:54.92\00:30:58.57
Because your loving
kindness is better than life,
00:30:58.58\00:31:03.46
your love is
better than life, Lord.
00:31:03.47\00:31:06.59
My lips shall praise you.
00:31:06.60\00:31:08.84
Thus I will
bless you while I live.
00:31:08.85\00:31:11.33
I will lift up my
hands in your name.
00:31:11.34\00:31:15.32
Oh! Let that be our heart cry.
00:31:15.33\00:31:18.66
When we get up in the morning,
00:31:18.67\00:31:20.03
we need to say, oh,
Lord, I long for you.
00:31:20.04\00:31:23.26
I need you. I am thirsty.
00:31:23.27\00:31:26.02
My tongue is clinging to
the roof of my--my mouth.
00:31:26.03\00:31:30.45
I need you,
Father. I want more of you.
00:31:30.46\00:31:33.91
And that's a prayer that
God is anxious to answer.
00:31:33.92\00:31:37.30
Now if you will quickly,
let's turn to 1 Kings 18
00:31:37.31\00:31:40.63
'cause I want to
show you something
00:31:40.64\00:31:42.46
about persistent intense
prayer, a sincere prayer.
00:31:42.47\00:31:49.52
In First Kings in Chapter 18,
00:31:49.53\00:31:54.26
let's look at
verses 41 through 45.
00:31:54.27\00:31:58.50
First Kings 18 and
we'll begin with verse 41.
00:31:58.51\00:32:03.39
Then Elijah said to
Ahab, "go up, eat and drink,
00:32:03.40\00:32:07.71
for there is the
sound of abundance of rain."
00:32:07.72\00:32:11.01
Let me stop right there.
00:32:11.02\00:32:13.06
That's a prophetic statement.
00:32:13.07\00:32:15.30
There's not a cloud in the sky.
00:32:15.31\00:32:17.97
So Elijah is talking to king,
00:32:17.98\00:32:19.66
the wicked king,
Ahab who is married to
00:32:19.67\00:32:21.58
the even more
wicked Queen, Jezebel.
00:32:21.59\00:32:24.25
And he says, hey, go on
up there and eat and drink,
00:32:24.26\00:32:27.16
but there is a sound
of abundance of rain.
00:32:27.17\00:32:29.65
So, verse 42, Ahab
went up to eat and drink.
00:32:29.66\00:32:33.67
And Elijah went up
to the top of Carmel,
00:32:33.68\00:32:37.91
then he bowed
down on the ground,
00:32:37.92\00:32:39.67
and put his face
between his knees
00:32:39.68\00:32:41.25
and he said to his
servant, go up now,
00:32:41.26\00:32:44.38
look toward the sea.
00:32:44.39\00:32:45.95
So he, the
servant, went up and looked
00:32:45.96\00:32:47.76
and he came back and
said there is nothing.
00:32:47.77\00:32:50.64
And seven times
he said, go again.
00:32:50.65\00:32:54.82
Then it shall came to
pass the seventh time that
00:32:54.83\00:32:58.94
the servant says to
him, there is a cloud,
00:32:58.95\00:33:02.08
as small as a man's
hand, rising out of the sea.
00:33:02.09\00:33:06.43
So Elijah said, go
up to Ahab, say to Ahab,
00:33:06.44\00:33:09.70
prepare your chariot and go down
00:33:09.71\00:33:12.57
before the rain stops you.
00:33:12.58\00:33:14.68
Now what happened
in the meantime that
00:33:14.69\00:33:17.11
the sky became
black with clouds and wind
00:33:17.12\00:33:20.00
and there was a heavy rain.
00:33:20.01\00:33:22.58
The coming of the rain was
the result of earnest prayer,
00:33:22.59\00:33:28.53
praying with his
face to the ground
00:33:28.54\00:33:31.66
between his
knees, earnest prayer.
00:33:31.67\00:33:34.67
I mean, he was
speaking and saying,
00:33:34.68\00:33:37.14
hey, there's the
sound of abundance of rain
00:33:37.15\00:33:40.12
and there was no rain.
00:33:40.13\00:33:41.31
God must've told him or he
just spoke it prophetically.
00:33:41.32\00:33:45.87
But he prayed in the rain.
00:33:45.88\00:33:48.55
The effectual, fervent prayer
00:33:48.56\00:33:51.93
of a righteous man avails much.
00:33:51.94\00:33:55.44
That's what James
says in 5 and verse 16.
00:33:55.45\00:33:58.66
And I wanna tell
you, all prophets,
00:33:58.67\00:34:01.29
preachers and praying mummers
00:34:01.30\00:34:04.10
who have moved
their generation for God,
00:34:04.11\00:34:06.98
have been
people of great prayer.
00:34:06.99\00:34:10.86
People who found
God's power through prayer
00:34:10.87\00:34:14.48
and that is the
way they've done it.
00:34:14.49\00:34:17.80
That is the most
powerful weapon that
00:34:17.81\00:34:20.31
we have and those
who have fully developed
00:34:20.32\00:34:23.12
Christ's character
and those who've done
00:34:23.13\00:34:26.72
the most for the Christian world
00:34:26.73\00:34:30.35
and the
advancement of Christianity.
00:34:30.36\00:34:32.62
They've all one notable
feature of all of their lives
00:34:32.63\00:34:35.42
has been that they
were people of prayer.
00:34:35.43\00:34:38.75
Now let's revisit
our three scriptures.
00:34:38.76\00:34:42.56
Let's look at Matthew 21:22
00:34:42.57\00:34:46.18
because when we started
this, we said, do we believe it?
00:34:46.19\00:34:52.32
I think that we're praying
00:34:52.33\00:34:54.43
we limit God
with our littleness.
00:34:54.44\00:34:58.92
You know, we think
so much of ourselves,
00:34:58.93\00:35:01.12
but do you realize that
even the human intellect
00:35:01.13\00:35:04.06
has been defiled by sin.
00:35:04.07\00:35:06.28
I mean if we're not walking
in absolute surrender to God
00:35:06.29\00:35:09.66
filled with the Holy Spirit,
00:35:09.67\00:35:11.03
if it's not the Holy
Spirit working for us,
00:35:11.04\00:35:13.09
there is really
nothing good in us, is there.
00:35:13.10\00:35:15.77
Matthew 21:22, Jesus said,
00:35:15.78\00:35:19.34
whatever things
you ask in prayer.
00:35:19.35\00:35:23.12
How broad is "whatever"?
00:35:23.13\00:35:25.31
That's pretty
comprehensive, isn't it?
00:35:25.32\00:35:27.81
Whatever things
you ask in prayer,
00:35:27.82\00:35:30.47
believing, you
will receive. All right.
00:35:30.48\00:35:34.83
That's comprehensive,
00:35:34.84\00:35:36.16
but it's
conditional on a promise.
00:35:36.17\00:35:38.53
So what is the
condition? Believing.
00:35:38.54\00:35:43.89
We must pray and
employ the faith factor.
00:35:43.90\00:35:49.14
We must absolutely believe,
00:35:49.15\00:35:53.40
but we have to have
a basis for believing.
00:35:53.41\00:35:57.01
You know, I knew
a woman in college,
00:35:57.02\00:36:01.44
a young woman who is
madly in love with a senator.
00:36:01.45\00:36:06.73
Now this woman was
very active Christian.
00:36:06.74\00:36:09.39
And she--I, we roomed
together for a little while.
00:36:09.40\00:36:12.58
And she had her
prayer an hour every morning.
00:36:12.59\00:36:15.42
You didn't dare speak to her.
00:36:15.43\00:36:16.92
She always do at the living room
00:36:16.93\00:36:17.96
and I have to sneak past her
00:36:17.97\00:36:19.98
because she didn't speak,
00:36:19.99\00:36:21.45
didn't even say hello or wave.
00:36:21.46\00:36:22.88
She was very
dedicated to that prayer.
00:36:22.89\00:36:26.19
But she got in her mind that
00:36:26.20\00:36:28.05
she was gonna marry the senator,
00:36:28.06\00:36:30.26
who was already
married by the way.
00:36:30.27\00:36:33.94
And she prayed and she prayed
00:36:33.95\00:36:35.43
and she prayed and I'm--
00:36:35.44\00:36:36.93
and it's like, are you nuts?
00:36:36.94\00:36:39.58
We, you know, we
had to have a basis,
00:36:39.59\00:36:42.71
I mean, she believed it.
00:36:42.72\00:36:44.36
So when Jesus
says whatever things
00:36:44.37\00:36:46.26
you asked in prayer believing,
00:36:46.27\00:36:48.59
He's not talking
about what you believe.
00:36:48.60\00:36:53.46
What is the basis
for our believing?
00:36:53.47\00:36:57.37
The word of
God. The word of God.
00:36:57.38\00:36:59.86
It has to be.
00:36:59.87\00:37:00.94
You cannot ask for anything that
00:37:00.95\00:37:03.64
violates the principle that
00:37:03.65\00:37:05.12
God lays down in His
word and expect to receive it.
00:37:05.13\00:37:08.77
Can we? No.
00:37:08.78\00:37:10.61
So we have to have
a basis for believing.
00:37:10.62\00:37:15.20
We've got to know the words that
00:37:15.21\00:37:17.12
we're praying in harmony.
00:37:17.13\00:37:19.51
You know what I say little
word, how does faith come.
00:37:19.52\00:37:23.39
Romans 10:17,
"faith comes by hearing
00:37:23.40\00:37:26.62
and hearing by the word of God."
00:37:26.63\00:37:29.40
Little word, little faith.
Little faith, little prayers.
00:37:29.41\00:37:35.60
We must know and believe that
00:37:35.61\00:37:39.42
Ephesians 3:21
where it says that
00:37:39.43\00:37:41.88
God is able to do exceedingly,
abundantly beyond anything
00:37:41.89\00:37:46.43
we could ask or think
00:37:46.44\00:37:47.71
according to the power
that is at work within us.
00:37:47.72\00:37:51.22
What is the power
that's at work within us?
00:37:51.23\00:37:53.95
The Holy Spirit.
00:37:53.96\00:37:56.57
But James says,
he adds to this that
00:37:56.58\00:38:00.38
he says in James
1:6:8, "let him ask in faith,
00:38:00.39\00:38:04.35
with no
doubting, for he who doubts
00:38:04.36\00:38:07.09
is like a wave of
the sea that is tossed
00:38:07.10\00:38:10.25
and driven by the wind.
00:38:10.26\00:38:11.53
Let not that man suppose
he will receive anything."
00:38:11.54\00:38:16.20
He is a double-minded
man, unstable in all he does.
00:38:16.21\00:38:20.28
When we pray we've to
have a basis for the prayer,
00:38:20.29\00:38:24.61
knowing the principles of God,
00:38:24.62\00:38:26.37
the word of God and we
have to pray using faith.
00:38:26.38\00:38:30.69
And when we do that
00:38:30.70\00:38:31.89
we remember
prayer is the vehicle,
00:38:31.90\00:38:34.76
but faith is the fuel.
00:38:34.77\00:38:38.15
And that's--it takes both to
reach our desired destination.
00:38:38.16\00:38:45.58
Without faith,
00:38:45.59\00:38:46.83
it is impossible
to please the Lord.
00:38:46.84\00:38:52.40
So let's look at John 15:7.
00:38:52.41\00:38:54.93
Our time is going by quickly.
00:38:54.94\00:39:00.59
And for those
of you at home that
00:39:00.60\00:39:01.79
was Hebrews 11:6, without faith,
00:39:01.80\00:39:03.83
it is impossible to please God
00:39:03.84\00:39:06.34
because he who comes
to God must believe that
00:39:06.35\00:39:09.60
He exists and that He
is a rewarder of those
00:39:09.61\00:39:12.93
who diligently
seek Him. All right.
00:39:12.94\00:39:15.97
Let's look at John 15:5, again
00:39:15.98\00:39:19.75
we've got a comprehensive
promise and a condition.
00:39:19.76\00:39:24.41
"If you abide in me
and my words abide in you,
00:39:24.42\00:39:28.72
you will ask what you desire
00:39:28.73\00:39:31.49
and it shall be done for you."
00:39:31.50\00:39:33.53
How comprehensive is that?
00:39:33.54\00:39:36.84
Well, Ask what we desire.
00:39:36.85\00:39:39.28
What's the
condition? What's the condition?
00:39:39.29\00:39:42.70
"If you abide in me
and my words abide in you,"
00:39:42.71\00:39:48.21
that means we've got
to be living in Christ.
00:39:48.22\00:39:52.00
Believing in Christ is
to be living in Christ.
00:39:52.01\00:39:56.88
And we've got to have
His word in our heart.
00:39:56.89\00:40:00.13
You know, a lot of
people really get nervous
00:40:00.14\00:40:03.25
when we start preaching on what
00:40:03.26\00:40:06.27
Jesus said about prayer.
00:40:06.28\00:40:10.10
Because they think
of Psalms 37 verse 4,
00:40:10.11\00:40:13.75
and--and unfortunately
in Psalms 37 verse 4,
00:40:13.76\00:40:17.63
it says that, "God will give you
00:40:17.64\00:40:19.62
the desires of your heart."
00:40:19.63\00:40:21.84
Oh, boy, and have--
had some denominations
00:40:21.85\00:40:26.13
had a feel that
they would with that.
00:40:26.14\00:40:28.46
But, you know, they don't
quote the whole scriptures.
00:40:28.47\00:40:31.19
It says in Psalms 37, verse 4,
00:40:31.20\00:40:35.03
"Delight yourself
also in the Lord."
00:40:35.04\00:40:38.63
There's the condition.
00:40:38.64\00:40:40.70
Then He will give you
the desires of your heart.
00:40:40.71\00:40:43.35
See when we delight,
00:40:43.36\00:40:44.90
when we find our delight in God,
00:40:44.91\00:40:47.68
you know what happens?
00:40:47.69\00:40:49.28
He lines our
desires up with His desires.
00:40:49.29\00:40:53.59
And we--if we find
our delight in Him,
00:40:53.60\00:40:56.92
we want His will to be done.
00:40:56.93\00:40:59.07
So our desires
are lined up with His
00:40:59.08\00:41:01.87
and we pray for His will.
00:41:01.88\00:41:04.58
And we--His desires become ours
00:41:04.59\00:41:07.77
and then
naturally He would give us
00:41:07.78\00:41:10.49
anything desires of our heart.
00:41:10.50\00:41:13.44
So that condition
is, first we've got to--
00:41:13.45\00:41:17.33
we look, we have to
employ the faith factor.
00:41:17.34\00:41:20.01
Secondly, we
must abide in Christ
00:41:20.02\00:41:22.71
with His word abiding in us.
00:41:22.72\00:41:24.08
Let's look at First
John 5:14 and 15 again.
00:41:24.09\00:41:28.94
First John, chapter 5
and this is verse 14 and 15.
00:41:28.95\00:41:36.00
We have to pray
according to the will of God.
00:41:40.48\00:41:47.02
John writes, "Now
this is the confidence that
00:41:47.03\00:41:49.88
we have in Him,
that if we ask anything
00:41:49.89\00:41:53.04
according to His
will, He hears us."
00:41:53.05\00:41:56.13
How
comprehensive is this. Listen.
00:41:56.14\00:41:59.03
"And if we know that He
hears us whatever we ask,
00:41:59.04\00:42:03.11
we know that we
have the petitions that
00:42:03.12\00:42:05.75
we have asked of Him." Wow.
00:42:05.76\00:42:10.77
If we ask anything, what
is-- what is the condition here?
00:42:10.78\00:42:15.80
According to His will
00:42:15.81\00:42:18.02
when our prayers
align with God's will,
00:42:18.03\00:42:22.54
He hears and grants our request.
00:42:22.55\00:42:25.36
We can have
communication confidence
00:42:25.37\00:42:27.65
as we come before Him,
00:42:27.66\00:42:29.15
but we must remember that
00:42:29.16\00:42:31.40
it has to be in
submission to His will.
00:42:31.41\00:42:35.22
You know, Luke
22:42, Jesus said,
00:42:35.23\00:42:38.53
"Oh, Father, if it's possible
let this cup pass from me,
00:42:38.54\00:42:43.09
yet not My will,
but Yours be done."
00:42:43.10\00:42:46.34
He was facing the
agony of the cross,
00:42:46.35\00:42:50.61
the shame of
hanging naked on the cross,
00:42:50.62\00:42:53.87
and Jesus shows us here that
00:42:53.88\00:42:57.00
He had a very
real personal struggle
00:42:57.01\00:43:00.35
in the garden of Gethsemane.
00:43:00.36\00:43:02.75
I think this verse,
Luke 22:42 demonstrates,
00:43:02.76\00:43:06.57
it's okay if we
express our true feelings
00:43:06.58\00:43:09.26
to God in prayer, He
knows our hearts anyway.
00:43:09.27\00:43:13.29
He knows our thoughts anyway.
00:43:13.30\00:43:15.61
But the Christ who
came His total focus
00:43:15.62\00:43:20.28
while He was on earth was to
do the pleasure of God's will
00:43:20.29\00:43:25.33
and our struggle
will only be resolved
00:43:25.34\00:43:28.60
when we become like Christ
00:43:28.61\00:43:30.05
and are willing
to do God's will.
00:43:30.06\00:43:34.21
Christ life was one of
absolute trust in the Father.
00:43:34.22\00:43:38.97
His life was one of absolute
obedience to the Father,
00:43:38.98\00:43:44.31
of absolute
dependence upon the Father.
00:43:44.32\00:43:48.68
And He lived a life
of absolute humility.
00:43:48.69\00:43:52.36
Should we do anything less?
00:43:52.37\00:43:55.11
Jesus said, "I only say what
00:43:55.12\00:43:57.36
the Father tells me to say.
00:43:57.37\00:43:58.75
I only do what He
shows Me to do." Right.
00:43:58.76\00:44:01.28
Or what I know He is doing.
00:44:01.29\00:44:03.68
So if He can be that
humble from His humble birth,
00:44:03.69\00:44:08.61
He lived for nothing,
00:44:08.62\00:44:10.91
but to do God's will
even to the point of becoming
00:44:10.92\00:44:15.90
obedient and experiencing
00:44:15.91\00:44:19.40
humiliation of
death on the cross.
00:44:19.41\00:44:22.13
Now, I want to add.
00:44:22.14\00:44:23.66
We've got enough
time, I was hoping we would.
00:44:23.67\00:44:26.10
I wanna add to
our three scriptures.
00:44:26.11\00:44:28.92
Let's turn to I John chapter 3.
00:44:28.93\00:44:32.95
I John chapter
3, verses 21 and 22,
00:44:32.96\00:44:38.89
because this is another
condition for answered prayer
00:44:38.90\00:44:42.46
and we've got to start
praying outside the box.
00:44:42.47\00:44:46.88
We need to pray bigger prayers.
00:44:46.89\00:44:48.84
We need to rely
on the Holy Spirit,
00:44:48.85\00:44:51.54
but first we've
got to understand
00:44:51.55\00:44:54.61
how our prayers
will be answered.
00:44:54.62\00:44:57.02
I John 3:21 and 22,
00:44:57.03\00:45:00.72
"Beloved, if our
heart does not condemn us,
00:45:00.73\00:45:04.09
we have confidence toward God."
00:45:04.10\00:45:07.42
What he's saying is when
our consciences are clear,
00:45:07.43\00:45:10.68
we can come to the
heavenly Father without fear.
00:45:10.69\00:45:14.65
And we can be confident
that He hears our request.
00:45:14.66\00:45:18.18
And look at verse 22,
00:45:18.19\00:45:20.08
"Whatever we ask
we receive from Him."
00:45:20.09\00:45:25.14
How comprehensive is that?
00:45:25.15\00:45:27.59
I don't think
he's left anything out.
00:45:27.60\00:45:30.53
"Because we
keep His commandments
00:45:30.54\00:45:33.62
and do those things that
are pleasing in His sight."
00:45:33.63\00:45:37.01
"Whatever we ask
we receive from Him,
00:45:37.02\00:45:40.10
because we keep His commandments
00:45:40.11\00:45:42.54
and do that which is
pleasing in His sight."
00:45:42.55\00:45:46.33
So, we see the
comprehensive part, whatever.
00:45:46.34\00:45:50.17
What's--what's the condition?
Keeping His commandments.
00:45:50.18\00:45:55.34
God responds to
His obedient children.
00:45:55.35\00:45:59.66
Have you ever felt that
God didn't hear your prayers?
00:45:59.67\00:46:02.86
Are you praying in
reverent submission
00:46:02.87\00:46:05.94
willing to do God's will?
00:46:05.95\00:46:08.37
We've got to get to
that point where we are.
00:46:08.38\00:46:12.39
Jesus said in John 15:10 and 11,
00:46:12.40\00:46:15.55
"If you keep My commandments,
you will abide in My love,
00:46:15.56\00:46:19.65
just as I have kept
My Father's commandments
00:46:19.66\00:46:22.41
and abide in His love."
00:46:22.42\00:46:24.84
He said, 'These things
I have spoken to you that
00:46:24.85\00:46:26.75
your joy may remain
and it may be full."
00:46:26.76\00:46:32.65
Obedience is a
source of true joy.
00:46:32.66\00:46:36.43
It's not doom and gloom.
00:46:36.44\00:46:37.90
Obedience is the
pathway to God's blessings.
00:46:37.91\00:46:41.45
In Hebrews 10:36, I
do want you to turn there
00:46:41.46\00:46:44.48
because so many people
00:46:44.49\00:46:45.82
don't-- don't know
about the scripture.
00:46:45.83\00:46:48.96
When I mention it I want you
00:46:48.97\00:46:50.50
to put a little star by
there, if you underline--
00:46:50.51\00:46:52.94
underline this
because Hebrews 10:36
00:46:52.95\00:46:56.72
is crucial for us
to understand that
00:46:56.73\00:46:59.56
we must walk in obedience
to receive the promises of God.
00:46:59.57\00:47:04.03
And the author writes,
00:47:04.04\00:47:05.12
"For you've need of endurance,
00:47:05.13\00:47:07.86
so that after you
have done the will of God
00:47:07.87\00:47:12.73
you may receive the promise."
00:47:12.74\00:47:15.24
What comes first,
the promise or obedience?
00:47:15.25\00:47:19.16
Obedience. Your obedience.
00:47:19.17\00:47:22.01
You have need of endurance,
00:47:22.02\00:47:23.30
so that after you
had done the will of God
00:47:23.31\00:47:26.69
you may receive the promise.
00:47:26.70\00:47:30.71
And of course, we can
count not only are we praying
00:47:30.72\00:47:37.17
with the Holy Spirit as
our intercessor on earth,
00:47:37.18\00:47:41.83
but turn to
Hebrews 7 and verse 25.
00:47:41.84\00:47:47.01
Hebrews 7 and verse 25.
00:47:47.02\00:47:50.23
In Hebrews 7, it says,
talking-referring to Jesus,
00:47:57.19\00:48:02.90
"Therefore He is able
also to save to the uttermost
00:48:02.91\00:48:07.55
those who come
to God through Him,
00:48:07.56\00:48:10.22
since He always lives to
make intercession for them."
00:48:10.23\00:48:15.64
You've got an
intercessor on earth
00:48:15.65\00:48:17.44
who dwells within you if
the Holy Spirit is in you.
00:48:17.45\00:48:20.43
And you have an
intercessor in heaven who cries.
00:48:20.44\00:48:24.61
Do you realize that
the ministry of our risen
00:48:24.62\00:48:27.40
and exalted Savior
is intercessory prayer?
00:48:27.41\00:48:31.83
I had a lady once who called me
00:48:31.84\00:48:33.52
and she'd been a missionary
and she was 91 years old, 91.
00:48:33.53\00:48:38.52
And she said, Oh honey,
I pray for you everyday.
00:48:38.53\00:48:42.88
I love your
program exalting His word
00:48:42.89\00:48:45.48
and I pray for you everyday,
00:48:45.49\00:48:46.81
in fact I pray for
everybody at 3ABN everyday.
00:48:46.82\00:48:50.07
And then she was
talking about her prayer life
00:48:50.08\00:48:52.60
and then pretty
soon, she just chokes up
00:48:52.61\00:48:55.25
and she says to me,
"I'm in this nursing home
00:48:55.26\00:48:58.63
and I--I've
lived my life for God,
00:48:58.64\00:49:01.63
but now there is
nothing I can do.
00:49:01.64\00:49:04.60
I can't do ministry anymore.
00:49:04.61\00:49:07.49
And I said, now you told me that
00:49:07.50\00:49:10.77
you pray all
day long for people?
00:49:10.78\00:49:13.93
And she said, yes. And
I said, congratulations.
00:49:13.94\00:49:16.57
You have received the promotion
00:49:16.58\00:49:18.82
to the highest form
of ministry there is.
00:49:18.83\00:49:22.58
She said what do you mean?
00:49:22.59\00:49:24.12
And I said intercessory prayer.
00:49:24.13\00:49:26.22
That is the ministry of
our risen and exalted Savior.
00:49:26.23\00:49:31.29
See we think that going out
and do an evangelistic series,
00:49:31.30\00:49:34.64
and by the way, Jay
you're an evangelist,
00:49:34.65\00:49:37.05
if you go out and do
00:49:37.06\00:49:38.11
evangelistic
series be prayed up.
00:49:38.12\00:49:41.11
There is a man who was a Muslim,
00:49:41.12\00:49:45.04
who, when he was praying,
he is in the South Africa.
00:49:45.05\00:49:49.57
When he was praying
for healing, get this,
00:49:49.58\00:49:53.76
God, he was an earnest Muslim.
00:49:53.77\00:49:56.71
And as he was praying
for healing, God told him,
00:49:56.72\00:50:00.04
"I will heal you if you
become a Christian." What?
00:50:00.05\00:50:04.18
So he went out
and he bought a Bible.
00:50:04.19\00:50:05.74
I mean--I think he
struggled with the Lord
00:50:05.75\00:50:07.72
for a little while in prayer.
00:50:07.73\00:50:08.83
Went out and bought
a Bible. He read it.
00:50:08.84\00:50:13.19
He accepted Christ as his Savior
00:50:13.20\00:50:15.35
and then he went out to
find the church that he felt
00:50:15.36\00:50:19.01
most closely
identified with Bible teaching.
00:50:19.02\00:50:23.02
And he became a
Seventh-day Adventist.
00:50:23.03\00:50:25.76
This man was a
teacher and he became a farmer
00:50:25.77\00:50:32.39
to support his
evangelistic series.
00:50:32.40\00:50:34.83
I mean he went out full-time
to do evangelistic work.
00:50:34.84\00:50:40.37
His farming was
kind of part-time.
00:50:40.38\00:50:43.69
And guess what happened?
00:50:43.70\00:50:46.50
I don't, well I don't
have statistics in front of me.
00:50:46.51\00:50:49.07
It was
remarkable how many people
00:50:49.08\00:50:52.70
this man has
brought to the Lord.
00:50:52.71\00:50:55.53
Thousands, upon thousands
he has brought to the Lord.
00:50:55.54\00:50:58.83
He has planted hundreds
of churches. But get this.
00:50:58.84\00:51:04.65
You know, what he does
00:51:04.66\00:51:05.68
before he does an
evangelistic series.
00:51:05.69\00:51:08.23
He spends six
hours a day in prayer
00:51:08.24\00:51:12.54
for two months before
each evangelistic series.
00:51:12.55\00:51:16.69
That's his preparation.
00:51:16.70\00:51:19.71
When we go out to do
something in our own flesh,
00:51:19.72\00:51:24.56
we're not gonna
get merely the results.
00:51:24.57\00:51:26.46
Yeah, I mean, we're
speaking the word of God.
00:51:26.47\00:51:28.57
So there is going
to be some results
00:51:28.58\00:51:31.23
'cause the word is anointed.
00:51:31.24\00:51:32.92
But boy, if we're to get that
00:51:32.93\00:51:34.80
point of being so
totally surrendered,
00:51:34.81\00:51:37.89
people could look
at us and see God in us
00:51:37.90\00:51:41.63
and God could
get us out of the way
00:51:41.64\00:51:43.46
and our little bitty intellect
00:51:43.47\00:51:46.10
and we could pray
these souls into the kingdom.
00:51:46.11\00:51:50.24
Oh, how we need to
pray outside the box.
00:51:50.25\00:51:54.54
We're so boxed in
our little prayers.
00:51:54.55\00:51:57.90
And then finally, we
need to pray with persistence.
00:51:57.91\00:52:03.83
We need to be like Elijah.
00:52:03.84\00:52:06.40
We need to pray
until we keep on until
00:52:06.41\00:52:09.67
we receive the answer.
00:52:09.68\00:52:11.10
And the answer
won't always be what
00:52:11.11\00:52:14.82
we expect it to be.
00:52:14.83\00:52:16.47
But it will
always be God's best.
00:52:16.48\00:52:20.83
Luke 18, if you've
turned there, please.
00:52:20.84\00:52:24.06
Luke 18 verses 7 through 8.
00:52:24.07\00:52:28.28
Luke 18, verses 7:8.
00:52:28.29\00:52:34.60
Jesus is speaking
and He's just told
00:52:34.61\00:52:37.24
the parable of
the persistent widow.
00:52:37.25\00:52:40.22
And it starts off in
the chapter saying that
00:52:40.23\00:52:43.56
He told this parable to
show to His disciples that
00:52:43.57\00:52:47.31
they should pray
always and not give up.
00:52:47.32\00:52:50.18
Don't give up.
00:52:50.19\00:52:51.81
No matter how big the
mountain seems to you.
00:52:51.82\00:52:56.24
God can make your
mountain a molehill.
00:52:56.25\00:52:58.62
And He--with God
all things are possible.
00:52:58.63\00:53:02.08
So then He says in
Luke 18, verses 7 and 8,
00:53:02.09\00:53:06.40
"Shall God not
avenge His own elect
00:53:06.41\00:53:09.13
who cry out to
him day and night,
00:53:09.14\00:53:11.64
though He bears along with them?
00:53:11.65\00:53:13.68
I tell you that He
will avenge them speedily.
00:53:13.69\00:53:18.62
Nevertheless, when
the son of man comes,
00:53:18.63\00:53:22.58
will he really find
faith on the earth?"
00:53:22.59\00:53:26.91
Persevering prayer is a
greatest evidence of faith
00:53:26.92\00:53:31.34
that there is,
Little word, little faith,
00:53:31.35\00:53:35.68
little faith,
little persevering prayer.
00:53:35.69\00:53:39.26
But, we need to remember that
00:53:39.27\00:53:42.86
bold persistence pays off,
00:53:42.87\00:53:45.45
it's like when
Jacob was struggling with
00:53:45.46\00:53:48.02
the angel of the Lord
all nightlong and he said,
00:53:48.03\00:53:51.48
"I will not let you
go unless you bless me."
00:53:51.49\00:53:54.72
We need to come before the Lord
00:53:54.73\00:53:57.05
and we need to struggle
in prayer with Him like that
00:53:57.06\00:54:00.38
and say, "Lord,
forgive me for my pride.
00:54:00.39\00:54:04.61
Forgive me for my self-interest.
00:54:04.62\00:54:07.69
I don't know how to pray.
00:54:07.70\00:54:11.04
I need you, Lord."
00:54:11.05\00:54:13.11
We need to come, God created us
00:54:13.12\00:54:17.16
to be vessels for His spirit.
00:54:17.17\00:54:21.03
We're to be the living
temple of the living God.
00:54:21.04\00:54:24.80
We are
sanctified vessels set apart
00:54:24.81\00:54:27.79
and you know what if
I've got my table set,
00:54:27.80\00:54:33.16
do I--if I invite
you over for dinner,
00:54:33.17\00:54:37.08
I set the table and
put a bunch of trash
00:54:37.09\00:54:40.28
and stuff in the plates.
00:54:40.29\00:54:42.68
Well, what could I
put on top of that?
00:54:42.69\00:54:45.82
If the bowl is full,
if the vessel is full,
00:54:45.83\00:54:49.93
you can't add anything to it.
00:54:49.94\00:54:51.54
We need to come before
the Lord and be empty vessels.
00:54:51.55\00:54:55.63
We need to say,
Lord, empty me of me.
00:54:55.64\00:54:57.77
Help me put off the old
man and put on Christ Jesus.
00:54:57.78\00:55:01.44
Fill me with your
Holy Spirit, Lord.
00:55:01.45\00:55:04.62
And Jesus said, in
Luke 11:9, he said,
00:55:04.63\00:55:08.59
ask and you will
find, seek--and ask
00:55:08.60\00:55:13.96
and it will be given to
you, seek and you will find,
00:55:13.97\00:55:16.73
knock and the door will be open.
00:55:16.74\00:55:18.62
And you know what, in the Greek
00:55:18.63\00:55:20.16
these are linear verbs
that means they never stop.
00:55:20.17\00:55:24.20
It's like Jesus is
saying, ask and keep on asking,
00:55:24.21\00:55:27.08
seek and keep on seeking,
knock and keep on knocking.
00:55:27.09\00:55:31.19
And then in verse 13, He
tells us what we're asking for.
00:55:31.20\00:55:34.72
He says, if you,
being who you are,
00:55:34.73\00:55:39.50
know how to give good
gifts to your children,
00:55:39.51\00:55:41.42
how much more will
the Heavenly Father
00:55:41.43\00:55:44.82
give good gifts. No.
00:55:44.83\00:55:48.12
How much more will
the Heavenly Father
00:55:48.13\00:55:51.30
give the Holy Spirit to those
00:55:51.31\00:55:53.83
who ask and keep on asking.
00:55:53.84\00:55:58.01
And finally I wanna
make one more point,
00:55:58.02\00:56:01.60
when you finish
praying, linger a moment.
00:56:01.61\00:56:06.40
Don't just in Jesus name Amen
00:56:06.41\00:56:08.47
and start
talking to someone else.
00:56:08.48\00:56:12.75
Linger a moment and
receive the blessing.
00:56:12.76\00:56:16.14
When we were in
Jerusalem recently,
00:56:16.15\00:56:18.84
we were at the Wailing Wall.
00:56:18.85\00:56:20.97
And I didn't--I
wasn't aware of the custom,
00:56:20.98\00:56:25.24
I went up to the
Wailing Wall I was praying
00:56:25.25\00:56:28.41
and then I turned
around and walked away
00:56:28.42\00:56:31.05
and I noticed if
this was the Wailing Wall
00:56:31.06\00:56:34.16
I noticed that everybody else
00:56:34.17\00:56:35.48
who've been praying
was backing up like this.
00:56:35.49\00:56:40.46
And I asked someone,
why did they back away?
00:56:40.47\00:56:43.94
And I mean, they backed
away for many, many yards
00:56:43.95\00:56:47.71
and they said,
because we believe
00:56:47.72\00:56:49.20
the Wailing Wall
is the only place
00:56:49.21\00:56:51.22
where God's presence is
still here in Jerusalem.
00:56:51.23\00:56:55.45
And you never turn
your back on the king.
00:56:55.46\00:56:59.63
See, we rush
into God's presence,
00:56:59.64\00:57:03.71
then we rush out
of God's presence.
00:57:03.72\00:57:06.69
We don't acknowledge God.
00:57:06.70\00:57:09.33
We don't know
how we ought to pray,
00:57:09.34\00:57:11.93
but we can count
on the Holy Spirit.
00:57:11.94\00:57:15.44
Well, our time is
quickly coming to a close.
00:57:15.45\00:57:19.08
I want to--we're
going to stay here
00:57:19.09\00:57:21.88
and pray in just a moment,
00:57:21.89\00:57:23.09
but I don't--I'm
afraid we won't have time
00:57:23.10\00:57:24.97
to pray on the
air, but do know that
00:57:24.98\00:57:27.79
we always pray
for all of our viewers
00:57:27.80\00:57:30.32
and we thank you so much,
00:57:30.33\00:57:32.06
we're so glad that
you tuned in tonight
00:57:32.07\00:57:34.71
and I pray that the
Lord gave you a blessing,
00:57:34.72\00:57:38.38
I pray that the
Holy Spirit is stirring
00:57:38.39\00:57:41.17
something
within you to know that
00:57:41.18\00:57:44.70
you can pray outside the box
00:57:44.71\00:57:48.16
and ask whatever you will,
00:57:48.17\00:57:50.20
when you meet God's conditions,
00:57:50.21\00:57:52.23
ask whatever you will
and it will be done for you.
00:57:52.24\00:57:56.66
May God bless you more than
you could ever ask or think.
00:57:56.67\00:58:00.09