"And this is eternal
life that they may know you,
00:00:06.00\00:00:10.24
the only true
God and Jesus Christ
00:00:10.27\00:00:14.54
whom You have sent."
00:00:14.58\00:00:16.48
Welcome to 3ABN
Australia Homecoming.
00:00:20.45\00:00:24.22
Welcome to 3ABN
Australia Homecoming.
00:00:31.46\00:00:36.20
I like that. Do you?
00:00:36.23\00:00:38.27
Amen. It is a homecoming indeed.
00:00:38.30\00:00:40.87
And we're talking
about knowing God.
00:00:40.90\00:00:43.71
I'm Rosemary Malkiewycz and...
00:00:43.74\00:00:45.57
This is a Ryan Day.
00:00:45.61\00:00:47.98
We have different
accents if you didn't notice.
00:00:48.01\00:00:50.35
That is true.
00:00:50.38\00:00:51.71
I am from America,
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and this is my
first time in Australia.
00:00:53.38\00:00:55.92
In fact, this is my
first time overseas.
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I had been...
00:00:58.79\00:01:00.12
I travelled with Amazing
Facts for about five years
00:01:00.16\00:01:02.62
and done evangelistic series.
00:01:02.66\00:01:04.23
And I had the
wonderful privilege
00:01:04.26\00:01:05.59
of preaching messages
all over the continent
00:01:05.63\00:01:07.80
of North America,
but never actually
00:01:07.83\00:01:10.33
had the
privilege to fly overseas.
00:01:10.37\00:01:12.80
And this is my first
time being here in Australia.
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And it's been a blessing.
It's been such a blessing.
00:01:15.37\00:01:17.04
And when he went
overseas, he went overseas.
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That's true. Fifteen hours.
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Oh, man, that flight here was...
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It was tough. It was tough.
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It was very, very
interesting for him.
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I'm sure.
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But it's really
great to have you here.
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Yes, it's a blessing to be here.
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And we're glad
that you could come
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and you're going to preach.
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Yes. Two sermons.
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Yes, I'm gonna have two sermons.
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One will be
tomorrow at 3 o'clock,
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and then another one...
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Actually, it's a
last sermon on Sunday.
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So, yeah.
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And also you're going to
do some more music for us.
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I will be doing some more music.
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Tim and I will be
sharing our gifts,
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our talents with
you for God's glory.
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That's what it's all about.
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And we have a big 3ABN
concert on Saturday night,
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so make sure
you're here for that.
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We're planning
something really powerful.
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But we have a
special item right now.
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Yes.
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And that person is David
Aitken who is all the way
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from Western
Australia with us tonight.
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And he is going to
sing, but who is preaching?
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Okay.
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So this would be Pastor
or Brother Danny Milenkov,
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Milenkov.
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And the title of his
sermon is knowing God
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as the one who answers prayer.
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And you met him today?
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Yes, he is wonderful man.
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So I would like to
introduce you right now
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David Aitken who
is going to be singing
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"Would I Know You."
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So, welcome David
and Danny after that.
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Good evening, everyone.
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Have you been blessed?
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Me too.
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Would I know You now
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If You walked into the room
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If You stilled the crowd
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If Your light
dispelled the gloom?
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And if I saw Your wounds
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Touched Your thorn pierced brow
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I wonder if I'd I know You now?
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Would I know You now
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If You walked in to this place
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Would I cause You shame
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Would my games be Your disgrace?
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Or would I worship You
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Falling on my face?
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I wonder if I'd I know You now?
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Or have the images I painted
00:04:53.69\00:04:57.79
So distorted who You are
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That even if the
world was looking
00:05:01.70\00:05:05.93
They could not
see You, the real You?
00:05:05.97\00:05:10.81
Have I changed
the true reflection
00:05:10.84\00:05:14.68
To fulfill my own design
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Making You what I want
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Not showing You forth divine
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Oh divine?
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Would I miss You now
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If You left and close the door
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Would my flesh cry out?
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I don't need You anymore
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Or would I follow You
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Could I be restored?
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I wonder
00:06:07.50\00:06:11.47
I wonder will I ever learn?
00:06:11.50\00:06:17.44
I wonder if I'd know
00:06:17.47\00:06:21.98
You now?
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Amen.
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Thank you for that
beautiful message in song.
00:06:47.97\00:06:49.70
David.
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Just a beautiful song,
00:06:51.24\00:06:52.57
I was at the back
and reading the lyrics
00:06:52.61\00:06:56.18
to the powerful message in song.
00:06:56.21\00:06:58.95
And it really touched my heart.
00:06:58.98\00:07:02.42
Thank you for the opportunity
00:07:02.45\00:07:05.19
of having the opportunity
to share God's Word here.
00:07:05.22\00:07:08.52
It's good to be
back in this church
00:07:08.56\00:07:11.39
that was my home
church for three years.
00:07:11.43\00:07:15.06
And it's wonderful to see
each and every one of you here.
00:07:15.10\00:07:18.30
Some familiar faces,
others that I don't recognize.
00:07:18.33\00:07:22.00
I want to welcome
those who are watching,
00:07:22.04\00:07:24.31
wherever they may be
around the world, listening.
00:07:24.34\00:07:27.51
It's great to be here
00:07:27.54\00:07:29.11
for this first
homecoming service.
00:07:29.14\00:07:31.81
Amen?
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Fifteen years of
blessings, and I mean,
00:07:33.31\00:07:35.78
I'm just so blessed to
have a small part to play.
00:07:35.82\00:07:39.45
And it's been a
wonderful journey
00:07:39.49\00:07:41.32
to enjoy this time at 3ABN.
00:07:41.36\00:07:44.56
I'm a local boy
lived here in Cooranbong.
00:07:44.59\00:07:47.13
So I didn't have to travel
far to come to this church.
00:07:47.16\00:07:51.70
And so I'm looking
forward to spending this time
00:07:51.73\00:07:55.77
in God's Word together.
00:07:55.80\00:07:59.67
As has already been shared,
00:07:59.71\00:08:01.91
my topic is
knowing God as the one
00:08:01.94\00:08:05.95
who answers prayer.
00:08:05.98\00:08:07.32
And I really wanted to
talk about this subject.
00:08:07.35\00:08:10.09
So when I came up,
00:08:10.12\00:08:11.45
I was one of the
first ones to jump on board.
00:08:11.49\00:08:13.56
And I beat my good
friend, Pastor Abel
00:08:13.59\00:08:16.26
who'll also be sharing.
00:08:16.29\00:08:17.63
He also wanted to share on this,
00:08:17.66\00:08:19.43
and he'll be sharing a
powerful message as well.
00:08:19.46\00:08:23.47
Before we open up
God's Word together
00:08:23.50\00:08:25.77
and unpack this
all important message,
00:08:25.80\00:08:27.64
I just want to ask and pray
00:08:27.67\00:08:29.00
that God will
bless our time together.
00:08:29.04\00:08:31.21
Loving Father in heaven,
00:08:31.24\00:08:32.57
we just want to
thank you so much
00:08:32.61\00:08:33.94
for all that You have
done, all that You are doing,
00:08:33.98\00:08:37.75
and all that You
have promised to do.
00:08:37.78\00:08:40.18
So as we take a look at
what Your Word has to say
00:08:40.22\00:08:43.18
about this
incredible God of love
00:08:43.22\00:08:45.92
that loves to answer prayer.
00:08:45.95\00:08:47.69
I pray that as
we open Your Word,
00:08:47.72\00:08:49.46
You'll open our
hearts and our minds
00:08:49.49\00:08:51.26
that we may be
willing to receive
00:08:51.29\00:08:52.63
what the Spirit has
to say to the church,
00:08:52.66\00:08:54.66
is our prayer in His name.
00:08:54.70\00:08:56.43
Amen. Amen.
00:08:56.46\00:08:58.83
Well, I did some
research on prayer,
00:08:58.87\00:09:00.57
and I discovered
that in the scriptures,
00:09:00.60\00:09:03.81
there are some 650 prayers.
00:09:03.84\00:09:08.11
And of those 650 prayers,
we have the answer to 450.
00:09:08.14\00:09:13.88
So what happened
to those 200 prayers
00:09:13.92\00:09:16.58
that we don't have an
answer in the scriptures?
00:09:16.62\00:09:18.52
Were they answered by
this prayer answering God?
00:09:18.55\00:09:23.43
I believe they were.
00:09:23.46\00:09:25.33
That is, every prayer
that was uttered by faith,
00:09:25.36\00:09:28.26
I believe, it
was answered by God.
00:09:28.30\00:09:30.17
Now, how can I be so sure?
00:09:30.20\00:09:32.30
That's because
Jesus said these words
00:09:32.33\00:09:34.27
and in John 14:14, we
read the words of Christ.
00:09:34.30\00:09:38.84
"If you ask anything," in what?
00:09:38.87\00:09:41.38
"In My name, I will
do it. I will do it."
00:09:41.41\00:09:45.81
Now what does it mean to
pray in the name of Jesus?
00:09:45.85\00:09:50.75
The name in the Bible
00:09:50.79\00:09:52.99
is synonymous with
the character of God.
00:09:53.02\00:09:55.79
Often, when parents
in the Old Testament
00:09:55.82\00:09:57.96
or New Testament
wanted to name their children,
00:09:57.99\00:10:01.70
they wanted to
name their children
00:10:01.73\00:10:03.47
based on the
character or the characteristics
00:10:03.50\00:10:05.70
they wanted to
see in their children.
00:10:05.73\00:10:08.74
And so a name is
synonymous with character.
00:10:08.77\00:10:11.97
It's synonymous
with praying God's will,
00:10:12.01\00:10:15.11
praying that which is in harmony
00:10:15.14\00:10:16.61
with His divine will.
00:10:16.64\00:10:19.58
In 1 John 5:14 and
15, we read these words.
00:10:19.61\00:10:26.45
1 John 5:14 and 15,
John the disciple writes,
00:10:26.49\00:10:33.03
"Now this is the
confidence that we have in Him,
00:10:33.06\00:10:36.36
that, if we ask
anything according to," what?
00:10:36.40\00:10:40.07
"His will," he does what?
00:10:40.10\00:10:42.07
"He hears us."
00:10:42.10\00:10:43.44
Verse 15, "And if we
know that He hears us,
00:10:43.47\00:10:45.81
whatever we ask,
00:10:45.84\00:10:47.24
we know that we
have the petitions
00:10:47.28\00:10:49.34
that we have asked of Him."
00:10:49.38\00:10:51.91
Notice what John, here, writes.
00:10:51.95\00:10:54.58
Everything and
anything that is asked
00:10:54.62\00:10:56.95
in the will of God,
00:10:56.99\00:10:58.79
we can be
assured that He hears us.
00:10:58.82\00:11:02.29
And we can know for
certain that He hears us.
00:11:02.32\00:11:06.29
We can know, we can know,
00:11:06.33\00:11:08.00
because we have asked
00:11:08.03\00:11:09.36
and we have prayed
in the will of God.
00:11:09.40\00:11:13.03
That is exactly how
Jesus taught us to pray.
00:11:13.07\00:11:16.00
Jesus taught us to
pray, and I think most of us,
00:11:16.04\00:11:18.67
if not, all of us
here would be familiar
00:11:18.71\00:11:21.04
with at least the
opening of the Lord's Prayer.
00:11:21.08\00:11:24.08
How does it begin?
00:11:24.11\00:11:25.45
Let's say
together if we know it.
00:11:25.48\00:11:27.28
Our Father, which art in heaven,
00:11:27.32\00:11:30.52
hallowed be Thy name,
00:11:30.55\00:11:31.89
Thy kingdom come,
00:11:31.92\00:11:33.82
Thy will be done on
earth as it is in heaven.
00:11:33.86\00:11:37.43
So right at the very outset,
00:11:37.46\00:11:39.09
we are taught to pray
according to the will of God,
00:11:39.13\00:11:42.86
to pray in the
name of the Father
00:11:42.90\00:11:45.03
which is to pray in
harmony with His will.
00:11:45.07\00:11:48.90
Now, did Jesus
practice what He preached?
00:11:48.94\00:11:51.64
Did Jesus practice
this opening prayer?
00:11:51.67\00:11:56.61
He indeed did.
00:11:56.64\00:11:57.98
All through His
life, He practiced,
00:11:58.01\00:12:00.35
"Not My will but
Thy will be done."
00:12:00.38\00:12:02.88
We want to go to the
most excruciating time
00:12:02.92\00:12:06.86
in the ministry of Christ,
00:12:06.89\00:12:08.22
when the salvation of this world
00:12:08.26\00:12:10.66
was in the balance.
00:12:10.69\00:12:12.73
Your salvation and
mine was in the balance.
00:12:12.76\00:12:15.10
And Jesus was there
on that first day evening
00:12:15.13\00:12:18.27
in that oil press,
the Garden of Gethsemane.
00:12:18.30\00:12:21.84
And notice the
prayer that He prayed
00:12:21.87\00:12:24.21
to His heavenly Father.
00:12:24.24\00:12:25.57
We find these
words recorded by Luke,
00:12:25.61\00:12:29.04
Doctor Luke,
the evangelist Luke.
00:12:29.08\00:12:31.91
In Luke 22:41 to
43, notice what we read.
00:12:31.95\00:12:37.49
"And He was withdrawn
from them about a stone's cast,
00:12:37.52\00:12:41.02
and kneeled down,
and prayed, saying,
00:12:41.06\00:12:43.83
'Father, if Thou be willing,
remove this cup from Me:
00:12:43.86\00:12:48.00
nevertheless," not what?
00:12:48.03\00:12:50.20
"Not My will,
but Thine be done.'
00:12:50.23\00:12:52.80
And there appeared an
angel unto him from heaven,"
00:12:52.83\00:12:55.50
doing what?
00:12:55.54\00:12:56.87
"Strengthening him.'"
00:12:56.91\00:12:58.24
You see, this is
the truth, my friend.
00:12:58.27\00:12:59.67
This is what I have discovered.
00:12:59.71\00:13:01.11
And tonight, I
want to share with you
00:13:01.14\00:13:02.48
a little bit of my journey.
00:13:02.51\00:13:06.21
And what I have discovered
in praying this prayer,
00:13:06.25\00:13:09.18
"Father, not my will
but Your will be done."
00:13:09.22\00:13:11.65
Each and every time
we pray this prayer,
00:13:11.69\00:13:14.19
we can be assured,
00:13:14.22\00:13:15.66
just like Jesus was
strengthened in the garden,
00:13:15.69\00:13:18.49
you and I will be
strengthened, strengthened
00:13:18.53\00:13:21.86
for whatever will
come when we say amen.
00:13:21.90\00:13:26.80
Now, what does that look like?
00:13:26.84\00:13:28.70
What does that
strength that God alone imparts
00:13:28.74\00:13:32.51
look like when you pray,
00:13:32.54\00:13:34.34
"Not my will but
Thy will be done"?
00:13:34.38\00:13:37.11
I want to share with you
00:13:37.15\00:13:38.81
a precious
family that has become
00:13:38.85\00:13:40.78
very near and dear to me.
00:13:40.82\00:13:43.35
Those that you see
on the screen there,
00:13:43.39\00:13:46.05
that is Lyndon.
00:13:46.09\00:13:47.42
He is someone I grew up with.
00:13:47.46\00:13:48.79
We went to the
same church together,
00:13:48.82\00:13:50.93
there in Melbourne,
00:13:50.96\00:13:54.13
South of Cooranbong.
00:13:54.16\00:13:57.43
We spent number of
years in church together.
00:13:57.47\00:14:00.07
He's a few
years younger than me,
00:14:00.10\00:14:01.44
12, 13 years younger than me.
00:14:01.47\00:14:02.94
That's his dear wife Elizabeth,
00:14:02.97\00:14:04.64
she wasn't always
a follower of Jesus.
00:14:04.67\00:14:07.08
But in 2007,
through Mark Finley,
00:14:07.11\00:14:10.98
Pastor Mark Finley
campaign in Melbourne,
00:14:11.01\00:14:13.72
she was going out with Lyndon,
she gave her heart to the Lord.
00:14:13.75\00:14:15.92
That's their two
precious children,
00:14:15.95\00:14:17.75
Sienna and Lukas.
00:14:17.79\00:14:20.72
Now, their photo was
taken shortly after Lyndon
00:14:20.76\00:14:25.69
was diagnosed
with a brain tumor.
00:14:25.73\00:14:29.60
That brain tumor was cancer.
00:14:29.63\00:14:33.47
For two and a half
years, Lyndon and his wife,
00:14:33.50\00:14:36.77
his family, he is an only child,
00:14:36.81\00:14:39.77
battled this horrible
disease, two and a half years.
00:14:39.81\00:14:43.95
I had the
privilege and the honor
00:14:43.98\00:14:45.88
of journeying with them.
00:14:45.91\00:14:48.58
And we would pray.
00:14:48.62\00:14:50.15
I'm here, I'm
thousand kilometers away
00:14:50.19\00:14:52.79
but we would pray
together, and I'd encourage him.
00:14:52.82\00:14:55.49
At times, I was able to visit.
00:14:55.52\00:14:57.99
And we prayed,
00:14:58.03\00:14:59.36
"Father, take
this affliction away,
00:14:59.39\00:15:02.00
take this bitter cup away."
00:15:02.03\00:15:04.40
Only in his early
30s, a young family,
00:15:04.43\00:15:07.94
his whole life ahead
of him, and we prayed,
00:15:07.97\00:15:10.91
and we prayed and we
prayed, and we prayed.
00:15:10.94\00:15:15.84
Two weeks ago today,
00:15:15.88\00:15:18.75
his wife sent me a
text sharing with me that
00:15:18.78\00:15:23.59
Lyndon only had days to live.
00:15:23.62\00:15:27.09
And so I made a decision,
00:15:27.12\00:15:28.46
although I was really
caught up at that time,
00:15:28.49\00:15:30.63
I was running a program,
00:15:30.66\00:15:31.99
I had made a decision
00:15:32.03\00:15:33.36
the Lord had provided
a window of opportunity,
00:15:33.40\00:15:35.80
and I headed to Melbourne.
00:15:35.83\00:15:38.07
I went to Lyndon's
home, encouraged him,
00:15:38.10\00:15:41.70
strengthened
him, prayed with him.
00:15:41.74\00:15:43.07
The next day, there's a photo.
00:15:43.10\00:15:45.87
The next day, I was
there by the bedside of Lyndon,
00:15:45.91\00:15:49.64
opening up God's Word to Lyndon,
00:15:49.68\00:15:53.28
and sharing with him once
again those blessed promises
00:15:53.31\00:15:57.49
that he had put
his faith and trust in.
00:15:57.52\00:15:59.39
Those blessed promises
that had strengthened his faith,
00:15:59.42\00:16:02.99
that had strengthened
the faith of his wife,
00:16:03.02\00:16:05.83
those promises that had
brought him to the point,
00:16:05.86\00:16:08.20
where not once, not
once did he question God
00:16:08.23\00:16:12.93
in allowing the enemy
to afflict him in this way.
00:16:12.97\00:16:16.00
Just a few days ago, I
received a text message
00:16:20.14\00:16:24.95
from his dear wife Elizabeth
00:16:24.98\00:16:27.45
sharing with me that
Lyndon had passed away.
00:16:27.48\00:16:32.52
And she ended the text,
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
00:16:32.55\00:16:37.96
Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
00:16:37.99\00:16:41.63
You see, my friends,
when we go through the valley,
00:16:41.66\00:16:45.73
when we know God as
a prayer answering God,
00:16:45.77\00:16:49.74
we know that He knows
the end from the beginning.
00:16:49.77\00:16:53.21
And we can put our
faith and trust in Him
00:16:53.24\00:16:56.21
like Job of old who,
00:16:56.24\00:16:58.71
in his time of trial and tragedy
00:16:58.75\00:17:02.12
that you and I cannot even
begin to understand or imagine,
00:17:02.15\00:17:06.29
he prayed those words,
"Even though He," what?
00:17:06.32\00:17:09.99
"Slay me, yet I will," what?
00:17:10.03\00:17:12.43
"Trust in Him."
00:17:12.46\00:17:15.83
I serve a prayer answering God.
00:17:15.86\00:17:19.57
Although I do not understand,
00:17:19.60\00:17:22.40
I can trust Him.
00:17:22.44\00:17:24.47
Although I do not understand,
00:17:24.51\00:17:26.84
I can trust Him.
00:17:26.88\00:17:31.85
Prayer was at the very heart
of the DNA of Jesus Christ.
00:17:31.88\00:17:37.42
The Bible records 25
occasions when Jesus prayed.
00:17:37.45\00:17:43.63
Beginning with
His ministry there,
00:17:43.66\00:17:46.46
as we read these
words in Luke 3:21 and 22,
00:17:46.49\00:17:52.50
the Bible says,
00:17:52.53\00:17:54.24
"Now when all the people
were baptized, it came to pass,
00:17:54.27\00:17:57.01
that Jesus also being
baptized, and praying,
00:17:57.04\00:18:00.71
the heaven was opened
and the Holy Ghost descended
00:18:00.74\00:18:03.14
in a bodily shape
like a dove upon Him,
00:18:03.18\00:18:05.88
and a voice came
from heaven, which said,
00:18:05.91\00:18:07.98
Thou art my beloved Son,
in Thee I am well pleased."
00:18:08.02\00:18:14.16
Jesus prayed at the very
beginning of His ministry.
00:18:14.19\00:18:16.42
And all the way
through His ministry,
00:18:16.46\00:18:18.43
He continued to pray.
00:18:18.46\00:18:20.23
What I've discovered in
my journey through scripture
00:18:20.26\00:18:23.57
and in particular, in my journey
00:18:23.60\00:18:25.67
in the ministry of Christ
00:18:25.70\00:18:27.30
is that prayer
and the Holy Spirit
00:18:27.34\00:18:29.74
go hand in hand.
00:18:29.77\00:18:31.97
You notice from the scriptures
that we have just read
00:18:32.01\00:18:34.81
that the Holy Spirit descended
upon Christ as He prayed.
00:18:34.84\00:18:41.52
What were the final
words of Jesus to His disciples
00:18:41.55\00:18:44.79
before He ascended to heaven?
00:18:44.82\00:18:46.79
Pray for what?
00:18:46.82\00:18:48.96
The Holy Spirit.
00:18:48.99\00:18:51.29
And all the way
through the ministry of Christ,
00:18:51.33\00:18:54.90
the Holy Spirit
was at the very heart
00:18:54.93\00:18:58.93
and at the very
center of prayer.
00:18:58.97\00:19:00.87
Now, why ought
that to be the case?
00:19:00.90\00:19:04.47
That is because the
scriptures clearly teach us
00:19:04.51\00:19:06.64
that you and I do
not know how to pray
00:19:06.68\00:19:09.38
as we ought to pray.
00:19:09.41\00:19:11.51
Notice what the
Apostle Paul wrote
00:19:11.55\00:19:13.82
in Romans 8:26,
we read these words.
00:19:13.85\00:19:17.72
"Likewise the
Spirit," the Holy Spirit,
00:19:17.75\00:19:20.02
the third person of the Godhead,
00:19:20.06\00:19:22.42
"Also helps us
in our weaknesses.
00:19:22.46\00:19:25.03
For we do not know
00:19:25.06\00:19:26.39
what we should
pray for as we ought,
00:19:26.43\00:19:28.86
but the Spirit Himself
makes intersession for us
00:19:28.90\00:19:31.80
with groanings
which cannot be uttered."
00:19:31.83\00:19:34.47
We do not know
how to pray for that
00:19:34.50\00:19:39.44
which God wants us to pray for.
00:19:39.47\00:19:41.94
And so that is why
we need the Holy Spirit
00:19:41.98\00:19:44.21
to lead and to guide
us in our time of prayer.
00:19:44.25\00:19:48.75
That is why the Holy
Spirit is front and center
00:19:48.78\00:19:51.92
in the time of
prayer in the Book of Acts.
00:19:51.95\00:19:54.92
As you go
through those 28 chapters
00:19:54.96\00:19:57.43
in the Book of Acts,
00:19:57.46\00:19:58.79
you discover that the
believers are praying together,
00:19:58.83\00:20:03.26
praying together,
seeking the Holy Spirit,
00:20:03.30\00:20:06.37
and God is
working in a mighty way.
00:20:06.40\00:20:11.41
That dunamis, dynamite power
00:20:11.44\00:20:16.61
was because they had prayer
and the Holy Spirit together.
00:20:16.64\00:20:22.72
My friends, you and I
are living in a day and age
00:20:22.75\00:20:25.69
as Pastor John Lomacang
shared in that previous message,
00:20:25.72\00:20:29.62
we are living at the
very end of earth's history.
00:20:29.66\00:20:34.43
I don't believe that there
are too many more ages to come.
00:20:34.46\00:20:39.73
We've reached
the information age
00:20:39.77\00:20:41.24
and Jesus said,
"This gospel of the kingdom
00:20:41.27\00:20:43.57
will be
preached in all the world
00:20:43.61\00:20:45.44
as a witness to all
the nations," and what?
00:20:45.47\00:20:47.94
"The end will come."
00:20:47.98\00:20:50.31
Surely, the information age
00:20:50.35\00:20:52.25
is enabling God
through the Holy Spirit
00:20:52.28\00:20:55.58
to preach the gospel to
the outer ends of the earth.
00:20:55.62\00:21:00.39
You and I live in a time
00:21:00.42\00:21:01.92
where it's not
business as usual.
00:21:01.96\00:21:04.19
It's not a time to
namby-pamby around.
00:21:04.23\00:21:07.66
I believe, we live in a time
00:21:07.70\00:21:09.80
when we need to get on
our knees collectively,
00:21:09.83\00:21:12.37
individually, and
seek the Holy Spirit
00:21:12.40\00:21:15.17
like we've never
sought the Holy Spirit before.
00:21:15.20\00:21:19.27
If 2000 years ago,
00:21:19.31\00:21:22.88
there was no
plan B, surely today,
00:21:22.91\00:21:28.58
with all the
attractions and the distractions
00:21:28.62\00:21:30.62
that the enemy throws,
00:21:30.65\00:21:34.96
we need the Holy
Spirit, my friends.
00:21:34.99\00:21:37.73
So what happens?
00:21:37.76\00:21:39.36
What happens when
God's people come together
00:21:39.39\00:21:42.46
as they did in the Book of Acts
00:21:42.50\00:21:44.13
and they pray
for the Holy Spirit?
00:21:44.17\00:21:48.10
What happens?
00:21:48.14\00:21:49.90
Today in 2018,
00:21:49.94\00:21:52.74
well, let me
tell you, my friend,
00:21:52.77\00:21:54.11
God works
miracles. God works miracles.
00:21:54.14\00:21:58.11
Let me share with you
the story of a Miko or Amy.
00:21:58.15\00:22:01.92
There is a picture, I
think of her on the screen.
00:22:01.95\00:22:05.02
There is Amy,
and she was baptized
00:22:05.05\00:22:06.69
in this very church.
00:22:06.72\00:22:08.82
This is a Miko, and
Japanese young lady who,
00:22:08.86\00:22:14.10
to cut a long story
short, met an Australian.
00:22:14.13\00:22:20.64
Met an Australian,
former Seventh-day Adventist,
00:22:20.67\00:22:24.44
young man who grew up
in a loving Adventist home
00:22:24.47\00:22:27.71
but wandered away.
00:22:27.74\00:22:29.74
She met him in the cinema.
00:22:29.78\00:22:32.55
Or as my friend
Roy likes to say,
00:22:32.58\00:22:34.88
he's baptizing
her, she calls him dad.
00:22:34.92\00:22:38.59
And that's Pastor Dan Brunt.
00:22:38.62\00:22:41.66
He calls the
cinema, the picture theatre.
00:22:41.69\00:22:43.83
I guess that's what
they used to call it,
00:22:43.86\00:22:45.19
the picture theatre.
00:22:45.23\00:22:47.13
The movies.
00:22:47.16\00:22:48.53
They met in the
movie theater in Japan.
00:22:48.56\00:22:52.57
What's she doing
00:22:52.60\00:22:53.94
in the baptismal
font in Cooranbong,
00:22:53.97\00:22:55.70
that's what I want to know?
00:22:55.74\00:22:57.44
You want to know
that too, don't you?
00:22:57.47\00:23:00.98
We prayed.
00:23:01.01\00:23:02.51
We prayed as these two
entered into a relationship
00:23:02.54\00:23:05.91
as the son of Roy Graham
entered into a relationship
00:23:05.95\00:23:10.45
with Amy based on
that first encounter
00:23:10.49\00:23:12.89
in that cinema there in Japan.
00:23:12.92\00:23:15.56
They got to know each other.
00:23:15.59\00:23:17.19
And through the
course of events,
00:23:17.23\00:23:20.46
Graham sadly
contracted a terminal illness
00:23:20.50\00:23:24.63
and he passed away.
00:23:24.67\00:23:26.13
But before he passed away,
he gave his heart to the Lord.
00:23:26.17\00:23:30.97
And we prayed for
Amy, we prayed for her,
00:23:31.01\00:23:33.38
we prayed for her
that the Holy Spirit
00:23:33.41\00:23:35.51
would somehow touch her heart.
00:23:35.54\00:23:38.41
God has a thousand
ways to reach people
00:23:38.45\00:23:40.28
of which we know nothing of.
00:23:40.32\00:23:42.68
And I was running
an evangelistic program
00:23:42.72\00:23:45.62
in Blue Haven
Church where I was before,
00:23:45.65\00:23:48.62
what I'm doing currently.
00:23:48.66\00:23:50.43
And we were praying
that she would come,
00:23:50.46\00:23:53.29
and that she
would be part of it,
00:23:53.33\00:23:54.66
and that she
would hear the message,
00:23:54.70\00:23:56.36
and that God
would touch her heart,
00:23:56.40\00:23:57.73
and she would give her heart,
00:23:57.77\00:23:59.10
but she couldn't come
at the very beginning.
00:23:59.13\00:24:00.64
And then she eventually came,
00:24:00.67\00:24:02.17
sort of, halfway through
towards the end of the program,
00:24:02.20\00:24:05.17
and there she was.
00:24:05.21\00:24:06.54
She was sitting there,
and we had prayed for her.
00:24:06.57\00:24:09.48
We had prayed for
her in our small group,
00:24:09.51\00:24:12.38
in our small prayer group.
00:24:12.41\00:24:13.85
And I saw her taking
photos with her phone.
00:24:13.88\00:24:17.55
John, she was taking
photos with her phone.
00:24:17.59\00:24:20.09
And I'm like,
"Well, that's cute.
00:24:20.12\00:24:21.52
She's taking photos.
00:24:21.56\00:24:22.89
She's Japanese,
00:24:22.92\00:24:24.26
doesn't really
know any English at all.
00:24:24.29\00:24:26.19
What would she understand?"
00:24:26.23\00:24:28.10
And at the end of the
message, Roy says to me,
00:24:28.13\00:24:32.37
"Amy has something
to say to you, Danny."
00:24:32.40\00:24:34.40
And I'm like,
"Yeah, what is it?"
00:24:34.44\00:24:36.50
And Amy is like, "I
want to get baptized.
00:24:36.54\00:24:38.47
I want to follow Jesus."
00:24:38.51\00:24:39.84
I'm like, "How do you
know what I just spoke of
00:24:39.87\00:24:43.01
unless the gift of
tongues was poured out.
00:24:43.04\00:24:46.35
That wasn't the case."
00:24:46.38\00:24:48.28
What she had been doing is
00:24:48.32\00:24:49.72
she had been taking
photos of the scriptures
00:24:49.75\00:24:51.99
that I have been
putting up on the screen.
00:24:52.02\00:24:54.09
And through some app,
she had been translating them
00:24:54.12\00:24:56.39
into Japanese.
00:24:56.42\00:24:58.39
And this gospel will
go to all the kingdom.
00:25:01.73\00:25:06.07
God is a prayer answering God,
00:25:06.10\00:25:07.77
and there is Amy
from the movie theater
00:25:07.80\00:25:12.01
in Japan to the baptismal font
00:25:12.04\00:25:15.24
in the Cooranbong
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:25:15.28\00:25:17.41
at Avondale Memorial.
00:25:17.45\00:25:19.85
When you and I pray, God
does some amazing things.
00:25:19.88\00:25:25.62
God is a prayer answering God.
00:25:25.65\00:25:27.99
All the way through the Bible,
prayer is front and center.
00:25:28.02\00:25:31.36
The Apostle Paul,
some 40 occasions, praised.
00:25:31.39\00:25:34.70
This is how the Bible ends.
00:25:34.73\00:25:36.20
It ends with a prayer.
00:25:36.23\00:25:37.73
The scriptures
end with a prayer.
00:25:37.77\00:25:41.00
John writes,
00:25:41.04\00:25:42.37
"He which testifieth
to these things says,"
00:25:42.40\00:25:45.94
Revelation 22:20 and
21, He is, Jesus speaking,
00:25:45.97\00:25:50.35
"Surely," I am doing what?
00:25:50.38\00:25:52.48
"I am coming quickly."
00:25:52.51\00:25:54.08
And notice the prayer of John,
the final prayer in the Bible.
00:25:54.12\00:25:58.02
It comes from the Apostle John.
00:25:58.05\00:25:59.65
He cries out, he
says, "Amen, even so," what?
00:25:59.69\00:26:04.33
"Come, Lord Jesus.
00:26:04.36\00:26:05.69
The grace of our Lord
Jesus be with you all.
00:26:05.73\00:26:09.10
Amen."
00:26:09.13\00:26:10.97
We serve a prayer answering God.
00:26:11.00\00:26:14.04
My conclusion based on my
study of scripture is that
00:26:14.07\00:26:17.31
prayer and knowing
God go hand in hand.
00:26:17.34\00:26:21.24
What's God's
ultimate purpose for us
00:26:21.28\00:26:25.08
as His end time servants,
His end time ambassadors?
00:26:25.11\00:26:29.08
Let's go to John Chapter
17 to our theme scripture.
00:26:29.12\00:26:33.72
John Chapter 17,
our theme scripture.
00:26:33.76\00:26:38.96
And this is eternal
life that they may know you,
00:26:38.99\00:26:42.20
the only true
God and Jesus Christ
00:26:42.23\00:26:44.37
whom You have sent.
00:26:44.40\00:26:46.17
Notice the context that
these words are found in.
00:26:46.20\00:26:49.70
Let's pick it up
in verse 1, John 17:1.
00:26:49.74\00:26:53.34
"Jesus spoke these words,
00:26:53.38\00:26:54.71
lifted up His eyes
to heaven and said,
00:26:54.74\00:26:56.58
'Father, the hour has
come, glorify Your Son
00:26:56.61\00:27:00.28
that Your Son
also may glorify You.
00:27:00.32\00:27:03.79
As You have given Him
authority over all flesh
00:27:03.82\00:27:06.59
that He should give eternal life
00:27:06.62\00:27:08.49
to as many as
You have given Him."
00:27:08.52\00:27:10.89
And then our theme scripture,
"And this is eternal life
00:27:10.93\00:27:14.03
that they may know
You the only true God,
00:27:14.06\00:27:16.46
and Jesus Christ
whom You have sent.
00:27:16.50\00:27:19.07
I have glorified
You on the earth.
00:27:19.10\00:27:21.37
I have finished the work
which You have given Me to do."
00:27:21.40\00:27:24.94
Verse 5, "And now, O
Father, glorify Me together
00:27:24.97\00:27:29.64
with Yourself with the glory
00:27:29.68\00:27:32.05
which I had with You
before the world was."
00:27:32.08\00:27:35.42
As I meditated
on these scriptures,
00:27:35.45\00:27:37.89
this prayer of Jesus Christ
on the eve of His crucifixion,
00:27:37.92\00:27:43.46
I discovered
that there is a word
00:27:43.49\00:27:44.86
that pops up
over and over again.
00:27:44.89\00:27:49.16
Can anyone guess
what that word is?
00:27:49.20\00:27:50.67
That's the word glory.
00:27:54.40\00:27:56.81
Five times.
00:27:56.84\00:27:59.57
Five times that word glory,
00:27:59.61\00:28:01.91
in its different forms, appears.
00:28:01.94\00:28:04.08
Glory, glorify, glorified.
00:28:04.11\00:28:08.35
The prayer of
Jesus was, "Father,
00:28:08.38\00:28:11.39
the time has come for
Your Son to glorify You,
00:28:11.42\00:28:16.79
and for You to be
glorified in Your Son."
00:28:16.83\00:28:20.56
The glory of God
that is at the very heart
00:28:20.60\00:28:26.13
of the prayer of Jesus Christ
in this opening of His prayer.
00:28:26.17\00:28:30.54
Now, what's the glory of God?
00:28:30.57\00:28:32.91
There are several
aspects to the glory of God.
00:28:32.94\00:28:37.75
But I believe at the
very heart of the glory of God
00:28:37.78\00:28:40.65
is what Moses asked God
00:28:40.68\00:28:42.52
when Israel had
that moral meltdown,
00:28:42.55\00:28:45.99
that spiritual meltdown.
00:28:46.02\00:28:47.52
They're at Mount Carmel,
00:28:47.56\00:28:48.89
they had heard the voice of God.
00:28:48.92\00:28:50.86
They had received
the covenant of God
00:28:50.89\00:28:53.93
through the Ten Commandments.
00:28:53.96\00:28:55.36
And the very next thing we find
00:28:55.40\00:28:57.67
that they make that golden calf.
00:28:57.70\00:29:00.87
And Moses comes and he
pleads on behalf of his people.
00:29:00.90\00:29:05.67
Says, "God spare
their lives or take my name
00:29:05.71\00:29:08.28
out of the book of life."
00:29:08.31\00:29:10.11
And in the
process of that pleading,
00:29:10.15\00:29:13.42
the words are recorded
there in Exodus Chapter 33
00:29:13.45\00:29:16.28
where Moses prays
00:29:16.32\00:29:17.99
that all powerful prayer to God.
00:29:18.02\00:29:24.09
"Father, God,
show me your," what?
00:29:24.13\00:29:29.06
"Glory. Reveal
to me Your glory."
00:29:29.10\00:29:33.23
And then Moses
records what he sees.
00:29:33.27\00:29:36.37
He sees the goodness, the
love, the mercy, the grace,
00:29:36.40\00:29:40.51
the long-suffering.
00:29:40.54\00:29:44.05
Not slow to forgive
but at the same time,
00:29:44.08\00:29:48.58
not turning His
back on sin and evil.
00:29:48.62\00:29:51.69
The glory of God
is His character.
00:29:51.72\00:29:53.99
It's His character.
00:29:54.02\00:29:55.36
That's why Moses
witnessed, the character of God.
00:29:55.39\00:29:58.19
And now it was
time for Jesus Christ
00:29:58.23\00:30:02.06
to reveal the character of
God in a way that this world,
00:30:02.10\00:30:06.27
that this universe had never
before seen or experienced.
00:30:06.30\00:30:12.94
Did the Father
answer the prayer of Jesus?
00:30:12.97\00:30:16.64
What was that prayer?
00:30:16.68\00:30:18.01
"Father, the hour has
come, glorify Your Son
00:30:18.05\00:30:21.48
that Your Son
also may glorify You."
00:30:21.52\00:30:24.22
Was the Father,
was the Son glorified?
00:30:24.25\00:30:27.49
He indeed was.
00:30:27.52\00:30:30.43
From the Garden of Gethsemane
till Golgotha's cross,
00:30:30.46\00:30:36.73
the love of God
was portrayed in a way
00:30:36.77\00:30:41.94
that this universe has
not seen and will not see.
00:30:41.97\00:30:47.48
So what's God's
plan for you and I?
00:30:47.51\00:30:49.84
The plan that God has for
you and I, my dear friends,
00:30:49.88\00:30:52.91
wherever you are watching,
wherever you are listening,
00:30:52.95\00:30:55.28
is this, I believe
that at the end of time,
00:30:55.32\00:30:57.99
God's plan for His people
based on that prayer of Jesus
00:30:58.02\00:31:02.36
is that the world would know God
00:31:02.39\00:31:04.86
through the character
00:31:04.89\00:31:07.13
that is
demonstrated by His people,
00:31:07.16\00:31:11.60
who have chosen,
00:31:11.63\00:31:12.97
who have chosen
to turn their backs
00:31:13.00\00:31:16.20
on the ways of this world.
00:31:16.24\00:31:20.98
And I have chosen
to live their lives
00:31:21.01\00:31:24.11
in harmony with the will of God
00:31:24.15\00:31:27.12
and to emulate the
character of Jesus.
00:31:27.15\00:31:30.65
That is what God is waiting for.
00:31:30.69\00:31:32.99
Really, is that
what God is waiting for?
00:31:33.02\00:31:34.89
Is He waiting for
His beautiful character
00:31:34.92\00:31:38.26
of love to be demonstrated
00:31:38.29\00:31:40.96
before the entire
world through His people?
00:31:41.00\00:31:43.03
Is that what God
is really waiting for?
00:31:43.06\00:31:47.44
If I read my Bible
correctly, and I believe I do.
00:31:47.47\00:31:50.57
The final message of love
00:31:50.61\00:31:51.94
that needs to go
to the entire world
00:31:51.97\00:31:53.88
contains these words.
00:31:53.91\00:31:56.18
Revelation 14:6
and 7, John cries out,
00:31:56.21\00:32:02.18
"Then I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven,
00:32:02.22\00:32:05.85
having the" what?
00:32:05.89\00:32:07.22
"The everlasting gospel."
What's the everlasting gospel?
00:32:07.26\00:32:10.29
What's the word gospel mean?
00:32:10.33\00:32:11.99
It means good news.
Good news about what?
00:32:12.03\00:32:14.06
Good news that God has
tipped heaven upside down
00:32:14.10\00:32:17.13
in order to save the human race.
00:32:17.17\00:32:20.27
The goods news
that God was willing
00:32:20.30\00:32:22.24
to bankrupt heaven
in giving Jesus Christ
00:32:22.27\00:32:25.11
in order to save the human race.
00:32:25.14\00:32:28.08
The everlasting gospel
that needs to be preached
00:32:28.11\00:32:30.45
to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people,
00:32:30.48\00:32:33.95
saying with a loud voice,
"Fear God and give Him, what?
00:32:33.98\00:32:37.65
"Glory, for the hour
of His judgment has come
00:32:37.69\00:32:39.79
and worship Him who made
heaven and earth, and the sea
00:32:39.82\00:32:42.32
and the springs of water."
00:32:42.36\00:32:43.73
That is God's plan,
00:32:43.76\00:32:45.09
that is God's aim for you and I.
00:32:45.13\00:32:47.00
At the end of time,
00:32:47.03\00:32:48.56
to be part of
God's end time army
00:32:48.60\00:32:51.40
to show forth
the character of God,
00:32:51.43\00:32:54.20
the love of God,
00:32:54.24\00:32:56.30
that all may know the
reality of who God is.
00:32:56.34\00:33:00.91
This is eternal
life that they may, what?
00:33:00.94\00:33:04.25
Know you, the only true God
00:33:04.28\00:33:07.95
and Jesus Christ
whom You have sent.
00:33:07.98\00:33:10.82
That's God's plan.
00:33:10.85\00:33:12.69
That's God's plan A.
00:33:12.72\00:33:14.79
And there isn't a plan B.
00:33:14.82\00:33:16.56
If there isn't a plan B,
00:33:16.59\00:33:20.56
that's God's primary
purpose for you and for me,
00:33:20.60\00:33:25.03
to give Him glory
in all that we do.
00:33:25.07\00:33:28.90
And I have come
to the conclusion
00:33:28.94\00:33:31.17
that there is no way,
00:33:31.21\00:33:34.34
there is absolutely no way
that this wretched, miserable,
00:33:34.38\00:33:41.28
poor, blind, and naked sinner
00:33:41.32\00:33:45.29
that stands before you
00:33:45.32\00:33:48.49
can show forth the glory of God
00:33:48.52\00:33:52.79
as I have been invited
to in the everlasting gospel
00:33:52.83\00:33:56.83
unless I'm daily
willing to be filled
00:33:56.87\00:34:00.40
with the Holy Spirit.
00:34:00.44\00:34:02.74
I just can't, and I've tried.
00:34:02.77\00:34:04.54
Trust me, I've tried.
00:34:04.57\00:34:06.21
I've tried plan B, C, D,
00:34:06.24\00:34:08.58
E, F, Z, ZA, ZB, ZC.
00:34:08.61\00:34:14.48
I have tried them all.
00:34:14.52\00:34:17.59
And I've discovered,
unless the Holy Spirit fills me
00:34:17.62\00:34:20.79
day by day, there is no hope.
00:34:20.82\00:34:25.86
But when the Holy Spirit
fills you and the Holy Spirit
00:34:25.89\00:34:29.10
fills me for the glory of God,
00:34:29.13\00:34:31.53
we are willing to do
everything and anything.
00:34:31.57\00:34:34.40
We are willing to go
no matter where God leads
00:34:34.44\00:34:38.04
because we are daily praying
in harmony with His will.
00:34:38.07\00:34:43.91
Because someone who
knows God has learnt to trust
00:34:43.95\00:34:47.85
that the will of God is
always the best way forward.
00:34:47.88\00:34:52.02
No matter what anyone says,
00:34:52.05\00:34:54.02
no matter even what
the government says,
00:34:54.06\00:34:56.99
what do you mean by
the government, Danny?
00:34:57.03\00:34:58.36
What's the government got
to do with your sermon tonight?
00:34:58.39\00:35:00.40
Well, let me tell you a story.
00:35:00.43\00:35:03.53
This year...
00:35:03.57\00:35:04.90
Well, actually last
year, I was invited to go
00:35:04.93\00:35:07.07
and preach an
evangelistic series
00:35:07.10\00:35:10.17
in the country of Burundi.
00:35:10.21\00:35:13.17
Anyone know here
who, where Burundi is?
00:35:13.21\00:35:15.71
Okay, a few of you know.
00:35:15.74\00:35:17.08
Burundi is there in mid Africa,
borders with Uganda and Rwanda.
00:35:17.11\00:35:23.05
I think, most people here
would be familiar with Rwanda
00:35:23.08\00:35:26.79
and the terrible atrocity
00:35:26.82\00:35:28.19
that took place there
a couple of decades ago.
00:35:28.22\00:35:31.66
And anyway, I'm
the kind of person
00:35:31.69\00:35:33.60
that when I'm
invited to go to Africa,
00:35:33.63\00:35:35.76
I just love Africa.
00:35:35.80\00:35:37.13
Africa is like where I
get my spiritual renewal,
00:35:37.17\00:35:42.37
evangelism, I'm not sure
what it's like in America,
00:35:42.40\00:35:44.84
Pastor John.
00:35:44.87\00:35:46.21
But in Australia,
evangelism is tough work.
00:35:46.24\00:35:49.18
You know, you invite
people to the football,
00:35:49.21\00:35:53.88
and they'll queue up all
night with their sleeping bag
00:35:53.92\00:35:56.45
to get tickets.
00:35:56.48\00:35:58.35
You invite them to come to hear
the good news of the gospel,
00:35:58.39\00:36:00.79
and in Australia, it's hijacker.
00:36:00.82\00:36:02.72
So, when I have an opportunity
to go to Africa, I do.
00:36:02.76\00:36:05.59
So anyway,
without any hesitation,
00:36:05.63\00:36:08.36
I said, "Yeah, sure. I'm in."
00:36:08.40\00:36:10.03
I'm off.
00:36:10.07\00:36:12.20
And I was about
to book my ticket.
00:36:12.23\00:36:14.24
And I mean, I got a
call from a fellow pastor,
00:36:14.27\00:36:17.34
Pastor Fred who was
also planning on going,
00:36:17.37\00:36:19.81
and he's like, "Danny,
my wife has advised me that
00:36:19.84\00:36:24.31
it may not be all
that safe to go to Burundi.
00:36:24.35\00:36:27.32
There's a travel warning
by the Australian government."
00:36:27.35\00:36:30.29
And I'm like, "Really?"
00:36:30.32\00:36:31.65
So I get online and I go
00:36:31.69\00:36:33.02
to the Australian Foreign
Affairs Department website
00:36:33.05\00:36:36.32
to check out
what's up with Burundi.
00:36:36.36\00:36:38.86
And sure enough,
00:36:38.89\00:36:43.00
"Do not travel"
in red, red alert.
00:36:43.03\00:36:48.10
We all know what a
red light means, don't we?
00:36:48.14\00:36:50.87
Well, we should know
what a red light means.
00:36:50.91\00:36:53.88
And I'm like,
"What's up with this?
00:36:53.91\00:36:56.21
I was all excited,
I was ready to go."
00:36:56.24\00:36:59.11
But that kind of really,
00:36:59.15\00:37:00.82
you know, put a
dampener on things.
00:37:00.85\00:37:04.32
And so I looked at
some of other countries
00:37:04.35\00:37:05.95
that have a red alert,
00:37:05.99\00:37:07.32
and you may recognize
some of them as Afghanistan,
00:37:07.36\00:37:10.56
Yemen, Syria, South Sudan.
00:37:10.59\00:37:14.36
I mean, these were
in the same basket.
00:37:14.40\00:37:17.03
So I'm like, "What do I do?
00:37:17.07\00:37:19.30
And I just started to pray.
00:37:19.33\00:37:23.30
I've learnt to trust in God.
00:37:23.34\00:37:25.47
"Lord, this is what
the government says,
00:37:25.51\00:37:27.78
what do I do? What do I do?"
00:37:27.81\00:37:30.91
And so the Lord said,
"I'll take care of it.
00:37:30.95\00:37:34.18
I'll take care of it."
00:37:34.22\00:37:35.55
So anyway, first
hurdle, I had to tell my wife.
00:37:35.58\00:37:40.06
So I was like,
"Lord, you've got to open up
00:37:40.09\00:37:41.86
a lot of doors for me to
get on that plane to Burundi,
00:37:41.89\00:37:44.33
You've got to open
up a lot of doors."
00:37:44.36\00:37:46.16
And the first
hurdle was my wife.
00:37:46.19\00:37:48.36
And I said to
her, I had to tell her.
00:37:48.40\00:37:52.43
I wasn't gonna jump on the plane
00:37:52.47\00:37:55.20
and then something
happen, and she's like, "What?
00:37:55.24\00:37:57.21
You knew all of
this and didn't tell me?"
00:37:57.24\00:37:59.77
Anyway, so I shared with her.
00:37:59.81\00:38:01.14
I said, I said, "Honey,
you know, this is the story.
00:38:01.18\00:38:04.31
This is what the
government is advising,
00:38:04.35\00:38:06.41
and I'm preparing to go,
the people are waiting for me,'
00:38:06.45\00:38:09.78
and so and so, and
so on and so forth,
00:38:09.82\00:38:11.35
there's a whole big TMI
or Total Member Involvement
00:38:11.39\00:38:14.86
program going on
there throughout Burundi.
00:38:14.89\00:38:17.13
And you know, I don't want
to disappoint these people,
00:38:17.16\00:38:19.46
I've been preparing for
months and months and months.
00:38:19.49\00:38:23.20
And you know,
what she said to me?
00:38:23.23\00:38:25.07
"Go, I can't
wait for you to go."
00:38:25.10\00:38:26.77
No, she didn't say
that. She didn't say that.
00:38:26.80\00:38:30.97
I thought she was
going to say, "No, don't go."
00:38:31.01\00:38:33.94
But instead, she
said, "Pray about it.
00:38:33.98\00:38:38.08
Pray about it."
00:38:38.11\00:38:40.38
I'd received the all clear
from the folk there in Burundi.
00:38:40.42\00:38:43.65
I was expecting that.
00:38:43.69\00:38:45.49
That, kind of, wasn't a
big door to get through.
00:38:45.52\00:38:48.76
And then that
morning, that morning,
00:38:48.79\00:38:50.53
when I prayed that prayer,
00:38:50.56\00:38:52.03
I have a habit of singing hymns.
00:38:52.06\00:38:54.63
I won't sing it
here this evening.
00:38:54.66\00:38:57.73
Otherwise, it'll be the
end of the whole weekend.
00:38:57.77\00:39:01.00
I cannot sing.
00:39:01.04\00:39:02.57
I'm not even
allowed to sing at home.
00:39:02.60\00:39:05.11
Only to myself.
00:39:05.14\00:39:07.34
That morning, I was up
to this particular hymn
00:39:07.38\00:39:10.25
in the hymn book.
00:39:10.28\00:39:11.61
I go through the hymn book,
00:39:11.65\00:39:12.98
and I sing the
hymns that I know.
00:39:13.01\00:39:15.08
True story, God is my witness.
00:39:15.12\00:39:17.09
That morning, I was
up to hymn number 508.
00:39:17.12\00:39:23.06
Can anyone guess
what hymn number 508 is?
00:39:23.09\00:39:27.53
Anywhere with Jesus,
and here I am singing,
00:39:27.56\00:39:31.43
"Anywhere with
Jesus, I can safely go
00:39:31.47\00:39:34.74
anywhere He leads me
in this world below,"
00:39:34.77\00:39:37.91
including Burundi.
00:39:37.94\00:39:39.64
"Anywhere without Him,
dearest joys would fade.
00:39:39.67\00:39:44.18
Anywhere with
Jesus, I am not afraid."
00:39:44.21\00:39:47.42
I was like,
"Lord, I'm ready to go.
00:39:47.45\00:39:50.49
I'm ready to go."
00:39:50.52\00:39:53.09
When you know the
prayer answering God,
00:39:53.12\00:39:58.83
even if the
circumstances say no,
00:39:58.86\00:40:03.37
if God says yes, you
can go forward in faith.
00:40:03.40\00:40:07.57
Little did I know that
00:40:07.60\00:40:08.94
there was a
demon-possessed young lady
00:40:08.97\00:40:11.17
that God wanted
me to minister to,
00:40:11.21\00:40:13.51
that was baptized and
gave her heart to Jesus.
00:40:13.54\00:40:16.24
Little did I know that
there was a Muslim woman
00:40:16.28\00:40:18.91
and her husband
who was in prison
00:40:18.95\00:40:20.52
that gave their hearts to Jesus.
00:40:20.55\00:40:22.62
Little did I know
what God would do,
00:40:22.65\00:40:25.49
little did I know.
00:40:25.52\00:40:28.92
I have learned to trust in God.
00:40:28.96\00:40:31.03
I have learned that God
is a prayer answering God.
00:40:31.06\00:40:34.00
And when God answers prayer,
00:40:34.03\00:40:35.43
He gives you a peace,
00:40:35.46\00:40:36.80
a wonderful peace that
passes all understanding.
00:40:36.83\00:40:40.57
Now when I go to one of my,
00:40:40.60\00:40:42.84
if not my favorite scripture,
Philippians 4:6 and 7.
00:40:42.87\00:40:48.08
Philippians 4:6 and 7,
00:40:48.11\00:40:50.41
"Be anxious for nothing
but in everything by," what?
00:40:50.45\00:40:54.32
"Prayer and supplication,
00:40:54.35\00:40:55.68
with
thanksgiving in your hearts,
00:40:55.72\00:40:57.95
let your requests
be made known to," who?
00:40:57.99\00:41:00.22
"To God, and the peace of God,
00:41:00.26\00:41:02.66
which surpasses
all understanding,
00:41:02.69\00:41:04.49
will guard your hearts
and minds through," who?
00:41:04.53\00:41:07.10
"Christ Jesus, our Lord."
00:41:07.13\00:41:08.46
Now what does that look like
00:41:08.50\00:41:09.83
and why has
Philippians 4:6 and 7
00:41:09.86\00:41:12.03
become one of my, if
not my favorite scripture?
00:41:12.07\00:41:15.74
Let me show you
my right shoulder.
00:41:15.77\00:41:18.27
Is there a picture
of my right shoulder
00:41:18.31\00:41:19.67
up there somewhere?
00:41:19.71\00:41:21.41
I'm not sure if there is.
00:41:21.44\00:41:22.94
There it is,
that's my right shoulder,
00:41:22.98\00:41:25.21
and there's a
10-centimeter scar here
00:41:25.25\00:41:27.82
on my right shoulder.
00:41:27.85\00:41:29.18
Now I would take off my jacket
and undo my shirt to show you
00:41:29.22\00:41:33.56
but that'll take time
and I don't want to show you
00:41:33.59\00:41:35.72
my big muscles to scare you.
00:41:35.76\00:41:37.46
So just believe me,
that's my right shoulder.
00:41:37.49\00:41:41.66
Why have I got
that 10 centimeter scar
00:41:41.70\00:41:44.07
on my right shoulder?
00:41:44.10\00:41:45.50
Well, you see, back in 2007,
00:41:45.53\00:41:48.67
what had been
diagnosed by doctors
00:41:48.70\00:41:52.64
over a period of
about one to two years,
00:41:52.67\00:41:55.81
as simply a dark brown mole.
00:41:55.84\00:42:00.12
"Nothing to be afraid of, Danny.
00:42:00.15\00:42:01.65
Go home, live
happily ever after."
00:42:01.68\00:42:05.72
After my
brother-in-law, who's a doctor,
00:42:05.75\00:42:09.32
recommended I go and
just simply take it out.
00:42:09.36\00:42:12.49
It was discovered that
00:42:12.53\00:42:13.86
it wasn't simply
a dark brown mole,
00:42:13.90\00:42:17.27
but this was a
melanoma, a malignant melanoma,
00:42:17.30\00:42:22.24
an invasive malignant
melanoma that had been growing
00:42:22.27\00:42:27.14
ever so slowly,
but it was growing.
00:42:27.18\00:42:30.71
Now what was the result?
00:42:30.75\00:42:32.31
What was the result?
00:42:32.35\00:42:34.48
Before we get to the result,
00:42:34.52\00:42:36.82
I want to share with you
what took place immediately
00:42:36.85\00:42:40.49
after I had received
that news from the doctor,
00:42:40.52\00:42:44.63
after the tests came through.
00:42:44.66\00:42:46.66
Before I share that,
00:42:46.70\00:42:48.03
let me share with you
what took place immediately
00:42:48.06\00:42:49.86
before I entered the
office of the doctor.
00:42:49.90\00:42:53.27
There on the wall,
in the Port Macquarie
00:42:53.30\00:42:56.44
where I was living at
the time on the Central Coast
00:42:56.47\00:42:59.94
of New South Wales,
00:42:59.97\00:43:01.84
there on the wall of
the skin cancer clinic
00:43:01.88\00:43:05.41
was a poster with
the tragic statistic
00:43:05.45\00:43:10.12
than more than
1,000 Australian males
00:43:10.15\00:43:13.39
every year die of melanoma.
00:43:13.42\00:43:16.69
So I had just read that,
and I had that in my mind,
00:43:16.73\00:43:19.69
and I'm walking
into the doctor's office.
00:43:19.73\00:43:22.63
And he shares
with me the results,
00:43:22.66\00:43:24.70
"Danny, it's bad
news, very bad news.
00:43:24.73\00:43:29.10
It's been there for a while.
00:43:29.14\00:43:30.57
We don't know if it's
spread into your lymph nodes.
00:43:30.61\00:43:33.54
We don't know.
We just don't know.
00:43:33.58\00:43:35.61
Do you have months to
live? Do you have a year, two?
00:43:38.41\00:43:42.05
We don't know until we
get that operation done.
00:43:42.08\00:43:46.25
And then we'll know."
00:43:46.29\00:43:48.49
I remember moving from
the office into my car,
00:43:48.52\00:43:53.56
and I remember it
like it happened yesterday.
00:43:53.60\00:43:57.67
I sat in my car and
this incredible peace
00:43:57.70\00:44:02.94
overwhelmed me
as I began to pray,
00:44:02.97\00:44:05.91
"Lord, I just want to thank
you for the 36 years of life
00:44:05.94\00:44:11.55
that You have given to me.
00:44:11.58\00:44:13.05
I want to thank You that
00:44:13.08\00:44:15.45
You revealed Your love to me
00:44:15.48\00:44:17.25
in such a beautiful
and such a powerful way
00:44:17.29\00:44:20.76
ever since I
gave my heart to You,
00:44:20.79\00:44:22.76
some 18 years before.
00:44:22.79\00:44:24.69
This second half of
my life has been beyond
00:44:24.73\00:44:28.16
what I could imagine.
00:44:28.20\00:44:29.53
I want to thank You,
I want to praise You.
00:44:29.56\00:44:30.90
And, Lord, if this is
the last year, so be it.
00:44:30.93\00:44:34.37
May Your will be done."
00:44:34.40\00:44:35.74
And I went home
singing hymns as you do
00:44:35.77\00:44:40.24
after the doctors told you,
00:44:40.28\00:44:41.61
"You've got a
malignant melanoma."
00:44:41.64\00:44:43.08
I went home singing hymns.
00:44:46.92\00:44:48.88
I went home praising the Lord.
00:44:48.92\00:44:52.05
My wife looks at me
00:44:52.09\00:44:53.46
and she thought
the news was good.
00:44:53.49\00:44:54.92
She didn't know
what the news would be.
00:44:54.96\00:44:56.73
I was just told that I
needed to see the doctor
00:44:56.76\00:45:00.46
for the results.
00:45:00.50\00:45:02.20
And she thought
the news was good
00:45:02.23\00:45:03.57
and she's like,
"Danny, is all well?"
00:45:03.60\00:45:07.34
And I'm like, "Yes, it is."
00:45:07.37\00:45:11.47
God is good.
00:45:11.51\00:45:13.31
God is on His throne.
00:45:13.34\00:45:16.28
On the other side,
00:45:16.31\00:45:17.98
this is what I
haven't, she's like...
00:45:18.01\00:45:20.38
You can
imagine. You can imagine.
00:45:20.42\00:45:24.32
I'm still here.
00:45:24.35\00:45:26.76
God preserved
my life, I believe.
00:45:26.79\00:45:28.92
But doctors were
shocked that it had remained
00:45:28.96\00:45:31.73
dormant for so long.
00:45:31.76\00:45:34.70
Not my concern.
00:45:34.73\00:45:36.67
When I prayed,
00:45:36.70\00:45:38.03
"Father, not my will
but Your will be done,"
00:45:38.07\00:45:40.00
I was in complete peace.
00:45:40.04\00:45:42.17
My friend, you and I
can have complete peace
00:45:42.20\00:45:45.11
when we simply
surrender whatever it is
00:45:45.14\00:45:48.81
into the hands of God,
00:45:48.84\00:45:50.18
knowing that when you
know God through prayer
00:45:50.21\00:45:54.18
and you trust in
Him with all things,
00:45:54.22\00:45:56.92
you can sing in the storm.
00:45:56.95\00:46:00.22
There was a
beautiful, beautiful song
00:46:00.26\00:46:02.22
that I remember
singing in Sabbath school
00:46:02.26\00:46:04.79
as a little boy,
With Christ in the vessel,
00:46:04.83\00:46:08.06
I can, what?
00:46:08.10\00:46:09.43
I can smile at the storm.
00:46:09.46\00:46:13.44
With Christ in my vessel,
I can smile at the storm.
00:46:13.47\00:46:18.47
I love this statement,
00:46:18.51\00:46:19.84
this one line
statement from Ellen White
00:46:19.87\00:46:24.48
where she writes in
Ministry of Healing,
00:46:24.51\00:46:27.08
that chapter
entitled "Prayer for the Sick"
00:46:27.12\00:46:29.58
and I have shared
this on so many occasions
00:46:29.62\00:46:32.75
to those that I have
been privileged to anoint
00:46:32.79\00:46:37.13
in the name of God,
in the name of Christ.
00:46:37.16\00:46:39.63
"God is too wise and
good to answer our prayers
00:46:39.66\00:46:43.57
always at just the time
00:46:43.60\00:46:46.17
and in just the
manner we desire."
00:46:46.20\00:46:49.04
He's too good, He's too wise.
00:46:49.07\00:46:52.41
He knows what's best for us.
00:46:52.44\00:46:56.38
We serve a loving and kind God
who is always thinking of that
00:46:56.41\00:47:02.55
which is in our
best eternal interest.
00:47:02.58\00:47:06.45
When you know that kind of
God, everything will be okay,
00:47:06.49\00:47:12.99
and you can sing
00:47:13.03\00:47:16.20
no matter what you
have been diagnosed with.
00:47:16.23\00:47:19.37
No matter what your
financial situation may be,
00:47:19.40\00:47:22.77
no matter what your
family situation may be,
00:47:22.80\00:47:26.14
no matter what
storm comes your way,
00:47:26.17\00:47:28.68
you can sing in the storm,
00:47:28.71\00:47:32.11
because you know
00:47:32.15\00:47:33.48
that you serve a
prayer answering, loving God.
00:47:33.52\00:47:38.45
As we prepare to land,
00:47:38.49\00:47:40.16
I want go to one of
my favorite stories,
00:47:40.19\00:47:42.42
a chapter in the life of
Christ from the Book of Matthew.
00:47:42.46\00:47:46.23
In Matthew Chapter 8,
00:47:46.26\00:47:48.70
we read these beautiful words
00:47:48.73\00:47:52.33
of what took place on one night,
00:47:52.37\00:47:55.34
one hairy and scary night.
00:47:55.37\00:47:58.07
Matthew 8:23,
00:47:58.11\00:48:01.34
"Now when He got into a boat,
His disciples followed Him.
00:48:01.38\00:48:04.01
And suddenly, a great
tempest arose on the sea,
00:48:04.05\00:48:06.92
so that the boat was
covered with the waves,
00:48:06.95\00:48:09.38
but He was asleep.
00:48:09.42\00:48:13.36
Then His disciples came to
Him, and awoke Him, saying,
00:48:13.39\00:48:15.92
"Lord," what?
00:48:15.96\00:48:17.39
"Save us."
00:48:17.43\00:48:19.19
What a prayer to pray!
00:48:19.23\00:48:20.56
"Lord, save us.
We are perishing."
00:48:20.60\00:48:23.83
But He said to them,
00:48:23.87\00:48:25.20
"Why are you fearful,
O you of little faith?
00:48:25.23\00:48:28.67
Then He arose, and
rebuked the winds and the sea,
00:48:28.70\00:48:31.47
and there was a great calm.'
00:48:31.51\00:48:34.18
So the men marveled,
saying," notice these words,
00:48:34.21\00:48:37.68
"Who can this," what?
00:48:37.71\00:48:40.52
"Be that even the winds
and the sea obey Him?' "
00:48:40.55\00:48:46.25
My question for you
tonight, for me, for all of us,
00:48:46.29\00:48:51.26
wherever you may be
watching or listening is,
00:48:51.29\00:48:53.83
do you know, do you know the God
00:48:53.86\00:48:59.07
who answers prayer?
00:48:59.10\00:49:00.67
"Who can this
be? Who can this be?"
00:49:00.70\00:49:03.10
Have you discovered who He is?
00:49:03.14\00:49:06.24
I can guarantee you, my
friend, if you have discovered
00:49:06.27\00:49:09.38
who He is, you
will not be afraid.
00:49:09.41\00:49:12.58
You will not be afraid
00:49:12.61\00:49:15.02
because instead
of a great tempest,
00:49:15.05\00:49:18.19
it will be a great calm,
a great calm, a great calm.
00:49:18.22\00:49:24.09
Do you know Jesus as
the one who answers prayer?
00:49:24.13\00:49:29.00
Jesus said,
"This is eternal life,
00:49:29.03\00:49:31.57
that they may know
You, the only true God,
00:49:31.60\00:49:35.24
and Jesus Christ
whom You have sent."
00:49:35.27\00:49:39.67
I want to encourage you
00:49:39.71\00:49:41.04
to get to know
Jesus through prayer,
00:49:41.08\00:49:43.45
and watch how He
answers your prayers.
00:49:43.48\00:49:46.68
Watch how He changes
and transforms your life.
00:49:46.72\00:49:50.65
I want to end by sharing
with you a personal journey,
00:49:50.69\00:49:54.79
personal journey.
00:49:54.82\00:49:56.39
Now almost three decades old.
00:49:56.42\00:50:00.20
Some of you can see
up on the screen here
00:50:00.23\00:50:02.90
and recognize
these series produced
00:50:02.93\00:50:07.24
more than 30 years ago
now by Pastor Kenneth Cox.
00:50:07.27\00:50:11.47
I understand he's
still alive and going strong.
00:50:11.51\00:50:15.41
He must be filled
00:50:15.44\00:50:16.78
with the Holy
Spirit, Pastor John.
00:50:16.81\00:50:18.65
He is indeed a man
filled with the Holy Spirit.
00:50:18.68\00:50:21.95
The Book of Revelation
through these videotapes
00:50:21.98\00:50:25.59
had a huge impact on my life.
00:50:25.62\00:50:27.86
As an
18-year-old, I had grown up
00:50:27.89\00:50:32.59
in a beautiful, loving, kind
00:50:32.63\00:50:35.30
Seventh-day
Adventist Christian home.
00:50:35.33\00:50:38.20
But during my
teenage years, I decided that
00:50:38.23\00:50:43.10
I needed to find
out more about the world
00:50:43.14\00:50:45.81
and know less about God.
00:50:45.84\00:50:48.04
So I wandered away.
00:50:48.08\00:50:49.61
But through the
prayers of a loving mother,
00:50:49.64\00:50:52.71
through the
prayers of a loving mother
00:50:52.75\00:50:55.65
who was willing to
travel by train, by train
00:50:55.68\00:51:00.56
two hours from where we lived
00:51:00.59\00:51:03.26
all the way to
the conference office
00:51:03.29\00:51:05.63
there in Victoria in a
place called Nunawading,
00:51:05.66\00:51:08.43
to go in and hire these videos.
00:51:08.46\00:51:11.23
Back in the days...
00:51:11.27\00:51:12.60
Do you remember the
days when we had videos?
00:51:12.63\00:51:14.50
I don't even think
many people even know
00:51:14.54\00:51:16.50
what DVDs are in this
time, know little of videos.
00:51:16.54\00:51:19.24
She would go and she
would hire these videos
00:51:19.27\00:51:23.75
produced by Kenneth Cox,
00:51:23.78\00:51:25.61
Pastor Kenneth Cox,
an American evangelist,
00:51:25.65\00:51:28.95
bring them home, two more
hours on a Friday afternoon
00:51:28.98\00:51:34.49
in order that God may
work through these message
00:51:34.52\00:51:39.33
to touch the heart of
her son, her prodigal son
00:51:39.36\00:51:43.73
at the age of 18.
00:51:43.77\00:51:46.80
At the age of 18,
00:51:46.84\00:51:49.34
this prodigal gave his heart
to Christ one Friday night.
00:51:49.37\00:51:53.11
It was November,
Friday night back in 1990
00:51:55.81\00:51:59.68
when Jesus took
all my sins away.
00:51:59.71\00:52:02.95
I confess them all.
00:52:02.98\00:52:04.42
He took them all away,
00:52:04.45\00:52:05.79
and He gave me
a brand new start.
00:52:05.82\00:52:09.02
Is God a prayer answering God?
00:52:09.06\00:52:12.59
My friends, I'm here.
00:52:12.63\00:52:14.06
I'm here today
because of the prayers
00:52:14.10\00:52:16.36
of a mother who
prayed and worked.
00:52:16.40\00:52:21.30
And through this
American preacher,
00:52:21.34\00:52:25.01
through a video
cassette, God was able to,
00:52:25.04\00:52:28.38
through His Holy Spirit,
00:52:28.41\00:52:30.05
to touch an
18-year-old teenager,
00:52:30.08\00:52:34.32
interested in everything...
00:52:34.35\00:52:38.52
but God has a
thousand ways to reach people
00:52:38.55\00:52:40.89
of which we know nothing of.
00:52:40.92\00:52:42.96
My friends, pray, pray, pray.
00:52:42.99\00:52:46.19
If you have children,
who have wandered away,
00:52:46.23\00:52:49.56
pray, pray, pray, pray, pray.
00:52:49.60\00:52:52.17
And God will
impress you what to do.
00:52:52.20\00:52:54.04
You may need to
go by train two hours
00:52:54.07\00:52:56.97
in order to
pick up what you need
00:52:57.01\00:52:58.77
and go back home two hours.
00:52:58.81\00:53:00.31
You may need to
make that sacrifice.
00:53:00.34\00:53:04.51
God is a prayer answering God.
00:53:04.55\00:53:06.82
The individuals
00:53:06.85\00:53:08.38
who were producing these videos,
00:53:08.42\00:53:11.82
Carl Branster who's still
alive up there in Queensland
00:53:11.85\00:53:16.73
was heading up the
videotaping in the productions.
00:53:16.76\00:53:20.53
There by his side was his son.
00:53:20.56\00:53:23.16
There by his side was
his daughter-in-law, Liz.
00:53:23.20\00:53:29.07
God is a prayer answering God.
00:53:29.10\00:53:30.84
Twenty five years, fast
forward 25 years from 1990,
00:53:30.87\00:53:35.94
and I have the opportunity
00:53:35.98\00:53:37.31
through a
miraculous chain of events
00:53:37.35\00:53:41.75
to reach out to Elizabeth Liz
00:53:41.78\00:53:46.86
and lead her to Christ
00:53:46.89\00:53:48.56
who was there
producing those videos.
00:53:48.59\00:53:53.16
I had the
opportunity to study with her,
00:53:53.19\00:53:55.76
to baptize her in
this very font here
00:53:55.80\00:53:59.07
at Avondale Memorial Church.
00:53:59.10\00:54:01.14
Twenty five years
later, I had the opportunity
00:54:01.17\00:54:03.94
to study with her prodigal
son and her prodigal daughter.
00:54:03.97\00:54:09.81
And God,
through His Holy Spirit,
00:54:09.84\00:54:11.35
led them to Jesus.
00:54:11.38\00:54:12.81
God is a prayer answering God.
00:54:16.95\00:54:20.16
Through the ministry
of an American evangelist,
00:54:20.19\00:54:23.63
through the hard
work of church members
00:54:23.66\00:54:28.26
willing to do whatever it takes,
00:54:28.30\00:54:30.77
all hours of the night,
God was able to work miracles.
00:54:30.80\00:54:35.17
They pray that these videos
00:54:35.20\00:54:36.87
would end up in
the hands of someone
00:54:36.91\00:54:41.14
who would give
their heart to Jesus.
00:54:41.18\00:54:42.54
Little did I know that
that video would end up
00:54:42.58\00:54:45.45
in my mother's hand
00:54:45.48\00:54:46.82
who would share it with her son
00:54:46.85\00:54:48.65
who 25 years later,
00:54:48.68\00:54:50.02
God would use to
reach out to them
00:54:50.05\00:54:51.85
and bring them
back into the fold.
00:54:51.89\00:54:54.49
Our God is a prayer
answering God, my friends.
00:54:54.52\00:54:59.06
Our God is a
prayer answering God.
00:54:59.09\00:55:01.36
My question is, do you know
00:55:01.40\00:55:05.53
God as a prayer answering God?
00:55:05.57\00:55:08.14
Do you know God as a
prayer answering God?
00:55:08.17\00:55:11.41
Taste and see that Lord is good.
00:55:11.44\00:55:13.51
Get to know Him,
00:55:13.54\00:55:14.88
get to know
Him, get to know Him.
00:55:14.91\00:55:18.51
Let us pray.
00:55:18.55\00:55:19.88
Loving Father in heaven,
00:55:19.91\00:55:22.02
wow, You are indeed
a prayer answering God.
00:55:22.05\00:55:28.52
Father, the
prayer of Your son was
00:55:28.56\00:55:34.76
that they may know
You, the only true God
00:55:34.80\00:55:40.00
and Jesus Christ
whom You have sent.
00:55:40.04\00:55:43.07
Oh, Father, I stand
here not because I'm worthy
00:55:43.10\00:55:47.11
but, Father, I stand here
because a prayer answering God
00:55:47.14\00:55:50.98
answered the
prayer of my dear mother
00:55:51.01\00:55:54.42
all those years ago.
00:55:54.45\00:55:56.55
And I am here now basking
in the grace and the glory
00:55:56.58\00:56:01.12
of my Savior and
Lord Jesus Christ
00:56:01.16\00:56:05.43
who has given me this privilege,
00:56:05.46\00:56:07.13
this incredible
privilege that I do not deserve
00:56:07.16\00:56:11.47
to be a messenger of His love.
00:56:11.50\00:56:14.90
Oh, Father, that's Your prayer
for each and every one of us.
00:56:14.94\00:56:19.34
Father, it's Your
prayer that all of us
00:56:19.37\00:56:21.54
will live our lives
00:56:21.58\00:56:22.91
for the honor and
glory of Jesus Christ,
00:56:22.94\00:56:25.15
that we will reveal
the character of God
00:56:25.18\00:56:27.52
and His love to those
around us who are in darkness,
00:56:27.55\00:56:31.19
deep darkness.
00:56:31.22\00:56:34.19
Oh, Father, may the things
in our lives that attract us
00:56:34.22\00:56:39.36
and distract us from
seeking the character of Christ
00:56:39.39\00:56:44.10
and being filled
with the Holy Spirit
00:56:44.13\00:56:45.97
as Pastor John
prayed earlier and preached,
00:56:46.00\00:56:48.70
may there be a blackout
so that the light of Jesus
00:56:48.74\00:56:54.64
may shine in our
hearts, that it may shine out
00:56:54.68\00:56:57.75
and that others may be brought
00:56:57.78\00:56:59.18
into the fold of Jesus Christ
and prepare for His kingdom,
00:56:59.21\00:57:02.98
is our prayer in Jesus'
name, and everybody say it,
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amen and amen.
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And God bless you.
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