Hi I'm Shelley Quinn, inviting you 00:00:01.98\00:00:02.95 to join us today, on Issues 00:00:02.96\00:00:03.93 and Answers, as we discuss Intercessory Prayer. 00:00:03.94\00:00:06.98 And how you by participating may 00:00:07.01\00:00:09.75 change the lives, of your loved ones. 00:00:09.78\00:00:11.86 If you're like me, you have a family member. Who 00:00:34.21\00:00:36.58 you wish could know the joy of a personal relationship 00:00:36.61\00:00:40.47 with the Lord. What do you do when you have 00:00:40.50\00:00:43.71 someone like that in your life, you know you can't 00:00:43.74\00:00:46.88 take a fiddle and beat somebody over the head, 00:00:46.91\00:00:48.80 to convince them how beautiful the music is, 00:00:48.83\00:00:50.93 nor can you take the Bible and beat someone over the 00:00:51.25\00:00:54.02 head to convince them how much God loves them, 00:00:54.05\00:00:56.12 but one thing you can do is pray for them and that's 00:00:56.36\00:01:00.13 what we're going to be talking about today 00:01:00.16\00:01:01.90 on Issues and Answers is Intercessory Prayer. 00:01:02.07\00:01:05.29 You know this is something that we are commanded 00:01:05.54\00:01:07.99 to pray for others and according to Samuel it's 00:01:08.02\00:01:10.76 even a sin when we don't pray for others, let me share 00:01:10.79\00:01:14.06 a scripture with you from First Samuel 12 verse 23 00:01:14.09\00:01:17.34 he writes, more over as for me far be it from me that 00:01:17.37\00:01:21.80 I should cease to, that I should sin against 00:01:21.83\00:01:25.21 the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. 00:01:25.24\00:01:28.34 So, we're going to be discussing that today with 00:01:28.66\00:01:31.54 our very special guest Dr. Cindy Tutsch 00:01:31.57\00:01:34.01 and Dr. Tutsch thank you so much for coming to 3ABN 00:01:34.35\00:01:38.22 I'm glad to be here! You've been here before 00:01:38.25\00:01:40.24 I've seen that face on 3ABN. Several times, actually 00:01:40.27\00:01:43.19 I think I started about 16 or 17 years ago 00:01:43.22\00:01:45.61 with my first statement. Praise the Lord and you did 00:01:45.64\00:01:47.32 some teen pathways before. Yes, I know you are the 00:01:47.35\00:01:50.36 mother of two. Three. Three! Aha! 00:01:50.39\00:01:53.80 Okay, we're gonna talk about all these things, but first 00:01:53.83\00:01:55.84 tell us what you are doing right now as the 00:01:56.31\00:01:58.92 Associate Director for the Ellen G. White Estate? 00:01:58.95\00:02:01.86 My focus actually is helping youth and young 00:02:02.27\00:02:04.75 adults understand that Ellen White, still has things that 00:02:04.78\00:02:07.06 are relevant to their spirituality, in other words 00:02:07.09\00:02:09.55 even though she with a 19th century visionary, she still 00:02:09.58\00:02:12.83 talks about issues that face kids today and directs 00:02:12.86\00:02:16.48 them to Jesus. Directs them to Jesus, 00:02:16.51\00:02:18.17 the answer to all of their conflicting claims of life. 00:02:18.20\00:02:20.80 Okay now let me ask you this question, because I'm sure 00:02:20.83\00:02:24.08 we have a number of our guests, who do not know who 00:02:24.11\00:02:27.14 Ellen White is? So, can you explain, just tell us a 00:02:27.17\00:02:30.48 little bit of her history. Oh, certainly! 00:02:30.51\00:02:32.45 Well, Seventh-Day Adventists base all of their doctrines 00:02:32.75\00:02:35.37 on the Bible and interestingly enough in 00:02:35.40\00:02:39.04 Romans 12 and First Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 00:02:39.07\00:02:40.81 4, we find listed as one of the gifts of the spirit, the 00:02:41.07\00:02:44.04 gift of prophecy and even before the Seventh-Day 00:02:44.07\00:02:47.83 Adventist church was organized as a denomination 00:02:47.86\00:02:50.41 when it was still a nucleus of believers 00:02:50.44\00:02:51.88 that were expecting the Lord to come 00:02:51.91\00:02:54.17 and eager for his second coming, our early 00:02:54.20\00:02:57.99 pioneers discovered that there was according to these 00:02:58.02\00:03:02.16 lists, gifts of prophecy, the possibility of someone being 00:03:02.19\00:03:06.97 a prophet even in contemporary times, even 00:03:07.09\00:03:10.97 in extra-biblical times. And so when this young 00:03:11.00\00:03:12.02 teenager Ellen, who was then Harmon, that was her maiden 00:03:12.05\00:03:15.58 name, had a vision, some people were skeptical you 00:03:15.61\00:03:19.24 know, can this really but instead 00:03:19.27\00:03:21.00 of determining whether she was authentic just by some 00:03:21.03\00:03:24.68 kind of experiential feeling they went to the scriptures. 00:03:24.71\00:03:27.47 What does the scriptures have to say and they discovered 00:03:27.67\00:03:29.75 that there were several tests of a prophet, including 00:03:29.78\00:03:31.93 Isaiah 8:20 to the law to the testimony, they speak not. 00:03:31.96\00:03:34.68 according to this word there is no light in them 00:03:34.71\00:03:37.28 and so as a result of studying the Bible and 00:03:37.31\00:03:39.51 comparing these messages of Ellen Harmon and later Ellen 00:03:39.54\00:03:42.11 White, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church believed 00:03:42.14\00:03:44.24 that she had indeed received messages 00:03:44.27\00:03:46.05 from God, never to contradict the scripture, 00:03:46.08\00:03:48.12 never to supercede the scripture, but always to 00:03:48.15\00:03:51.41 direct people back to the scripture and direct them to 00:03:51.44\00:03:53.96 Jesus. And so, Ellen G. White was one of the 00:03:53.99\00:03:57.95 founders for the Seventh-Day Adventists movement and they 00:03:57.98\00:04:00.34 were as you said these nucleus of people, it was all 00:04:00.37\00:04:02.63 in denominational, who were really seeking the 00:04:02.66\00:04:05.73 scriptures coming to, trying to understand about 00:04:05.76\00:04:08.18 the second coming of the Lord. Right. 00:04:08.21\00:04:10.05 So, now you are, tell us a little bit about your 00:04:10.08\00:04:13.88 children in your family, you have a doctorate. I have a 00:04:13.91\00:04:18.25 doctorate of ministry from the, Andrews University, 00:04:18.28\00:04:20.57 Seventh-Day Adventist Geological Seminary 00:04:20.60\00:04:22.45 and then, our daughter is actually an attorney 00:04:23.00\00:04:24.98 in Eastern Washington, she does Social Services 00:04:25.01\00:04:27.10 Law, you know, helping the poor and marginalize, 00:04:27.13\00:04:29.00 and those who are the least in society and have no 00:04:29.03\00:04:31.36 voice, very proud of her for that and then we have twin 00:04:31.39\00:04:34.14 sons who are 34. Oh! That's where I messed up. Double 00:04:34.26\00:04:37.56 trouble, double joy. That's why I thought you only had 00:04:37.59\00:04:40.69 one son that was 34, but you were talking about 00:04:40.72\00:04:42.93 two different sons there. Right. Yeah 00:04:42.96\00:04:44.36 As a mother and one who, how long have, have you always 00:04:44.39\00:04:50.20 had a personal relationship with the Lord or was this 00:04:50.23\00:04:53.41 something that developed later in life. 00:04:53.44\00:04:55.34 What was your history with God? 00:04:56.03\00:04:58.13 My parents actually, became Christians and 00:04:58.39\00:05:00.28 then Seventh-Day Adventist Christians when I was just a 00:05:00.31\00:05:02.33 child about the age of four but I had my own 00:05:02.36\00:05:05.61 personal encounter with Jesus, when I 00:05:05.64\00:05:07.08 was eight, that sounds kind of young. 00:05:07.11\00:05:08.95 Praise God. But I actually, heard the voice of God 00:05:08.98\00:05:12.03 speaking to me, not a literal audible voice, but a 00:05:12.06\00:05:14.32 gentle calling to my soul. That's First Kings 19:12, the 00:05:14.35\00:05:18.50 still small voice of God. Exactly at that young age. 00:05:18.53\00:05:21.56 And I took Bible studies, decided that I wanted 00:05:21.81\00:05:25.29 to be a Christian, for myself 00:05:25.32\00:05:26.70 gave my heart and soul to Jesus as a child, 00:05:26.74\00:05:29.56 and of course I had that, some of those struggles that 00:05:29.83\00:05:33.18 many people have when they were teenagers I had those 00:05:33.21\00:05:35.98 struggles too and came back to a stronger and deeper 00:05:36.01\00:05:39.26 commitment to Jesus when I was, 00:05:39.29\00:05:40.74 probably oh! I don't know, about 24 00:05:40.77\00:05:43.26 and one of the agencies that guides you to bring 00:05:43.67\00:05:46.12 me back to full commitment to him was the little book 00:05:46.15\00:05:50.80 by Ellen White, called Steps to Christ. 00:05:50.83\00:05:52.31 Yes! My husband's favorite book, I love that book as 00:05:52.34\00:05:55.13 well. Oh, okay. And then, she has so much 00:05:55.16\00:05:58.08 to talk about the personal relationship. 00:05:58.11\00:06:00.38 You know, a lot of people think that religion is 00:06:00.41\00:06:02.63 gonna save them, it doesn't matter what name is across 00:06:02.66\00:06:06.47 the church that you attend, what matters most 00:06:06.50\00:06:10.07 I shouldn't say it doesn't matter at all, but it doesn't 00:06:10.38\00:06:12.33 it matters very little if you don't have a personal 00:06:12.36\00:06:14.83 relationship with the Lord and that's what this book is. 00:06:14.86\00:06:17.53 Our whole obedience, our keeping the Sabbath, 00:06:17.56\00:06:20.28 whatever we do its response to grace, the wonderful 00:06:20.31\00:06:22.91 grace of God. Absolutely. And what I have discovered 00:06:22.94\00:06:25.49 when I'm traveling around to various countries 00:06:25.52\00:06:27.48 on behalf of the general conference of 00:06:27.51\00:06:29.72 Seventh-Day Adventists is that many persons have 00:06:30.03\00:06:32.95 strong concerns for either a friend or a family member 00:06:33.45\00:06:37.36 who was making lifestyle decisions that seemed to be 00:06:37.39\00:06:39.72 destructive, they're concerned that they haven't 00:06:39.75\00:06:43.00 either their family, their children or 00:06:43.32\00:06:44.84 their best friends, yet made a decision for 00:06:44.87\00:06:47.08 Jesus that brings them that peace and that joy. 00:06:47.11\00:06:49.84 So, I am discovering that a lot of persons are thinking 00:06:50.26\00:06:53.44 what can I do about this, do I lecture as you mentioned 00:06:53.71\00:06:56.24 at the beginning, do I continually try to give 00:06:56.27\00:06:59.59 my testimony, do I pray and certainly our own 00:06:59.62\00:07:03.91 personal testimony is very important and the 00:07:03.94\00:07:06.36 Holy Spirit kind of nudges us along when we 00:07:06.39\00:07:09.69 can give that testimony, but I want like to especially 00:07:09.72\00:07:12.16 talk today about intercessory prayer. 00:07:12.36\00:07:14.08 Absolutely. And you know before you start 00:07:14.11\00:07:16.14 about that I think you would agree with me that 00:07:16.17\00:07:19.02 sometimes the most important thing that we can do in 00:07:19.22\00:07:22.33 addition to praying for our loved ones especially if 00:07:22.36\00:07:26.13 you live with those loved ones, is show them the 00:07:26.16\00:07:29.29 example of grace operating in our life because if 00:07:29.32\00:07:33.26 we are not walking, if we just talk the 00:07:33.29\00:07:36.68 talk and we don't walk in his footsteps, 00:07:36.71\00:07:38.74 people aren't going to listen to anything that we say. 00:07:38.92\00:07:41.23 And you know Jesus must have been winsome, 00:07:41.52\00:07:43.17 because the children loved him according to the 00:07:43.20\00:07:44.99 scriptures. They like to sit on his laps. 00:07:45.02\00:07:46.75 They like to collect around him. 00:07:46.78\00:07:48.23 So, he must have been a very open, very gentle, 00:07:48.26\00:07:51.43 very appealing, loving person and certainly our 00:07:51.46\00:07:55.49 children when they are younger and need teaching 00:07:55.52\00:07:57.33 from the scripture, they need our example. 00:07:57.36\00:07:59.45 But as they grow older and began to leave the home. 00:08:00.23\00:08:02.76 They already know what's right and so what can 00:08:03.14\00:08:05.76 we do best to draw them. Perhaps to a renewal 00:08:05.79\00:08:10.38 of their relationship with Jesus or may be even a 00:08:10.41\00:08:12.93 first time experience with Jesus. 00:08:12.96\00:08:14.94 And I think once our children leave our home 00:08:15.43\00:08:17.45 this idea of intercessory period becomes even 00:08:18.33\00:08:20.75 more important, more pivotal to administrate 00:08:20.78\00:08:23.50 our own kids. Amen. 00:08:23.53\00:08:25.01 I'm thinking of First Timothy, chapter 2 00:08:25.77\00:08:28.36 where Paul says, I urge you, that's a pretty strong words, 00:08:28.79\00:08:32.64 that's the command, first of all he says to pray for all 00:08:32.67\00:08:36.84 people as you make your request, plead for God's 00:08:36.87\00:08:40.47 mercy upon them and give thanks. I like that, gives 00:08:40.50\00:08:43.63 thanks, usually we plead for God's mercy and 00:08:43.66\00:08:45.64 then we go into worry mode. Now here he instructs us 00:08:45.67\00:08:48.63 to give thanks and then verse 3, this is good. 00:08:48.66\00:08:52.49 In other words, Intercessory prayer 00:08:52.52\00:08:53.70 is good and pleases God our savior, for he wants 00:08:53.73\00:08:57.85 everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 00:08:57.88\00:09:00.85 He wants us to pray for all humanity and that's 00:09:00.88\00:09:03.79 our command to pray. Right it's not our option. 00:09:03.82\00:09:06.56 And let's discuss what Intercessory prayers 00:09:06.89\00:09:09.85 because that's a terminology that many Christians 00:09:09.88\00:09:12.91 are familiar with, but how would you say 00:09:12.94\00:09:15.29 Intercessory prayer differs from other prayer. 00:09:15.90\00:09:18.76 I think a lot of our prayer is praise the God, which is 00:09:19.45\00:09:22.21 wonderful and thanksgiving to Jesus for what he has 00:09:22.34\00:09:24.44 done in our lives. And it could also be 00:09:24.47\00:09:26.81 petition, asking for specific things in our life perhaps or 00:09:26.84\00:09:29.98 in the lives of others, I think Intercessory prayers 00:09:30.67\00:09:33.38 is when we hold someone up to Jesus and say Oh! God 00:09:33.41\00:09:36.46 please just fill them with your Holy Spirit. 00:09:36.49\00:09:38.76 and have them to understand who you are? 00:09:39.09\00:09:41.26 Have them to understand that you died for them 00:09:41.29\00:09:43.73 and you care about them like there was not another 00:09:43.76\00:09:45.54 stool on the earth to share their, 00:09:45.57\00:09:47.40 your watch care. And that Intercessory prayer 00:09:47.43\00:09:49.80 then is our asking God to save this person. 00:09:49.83\00:09:53.14 To whom, for whom we have a great love and 00:09:53.70\00:09:56.20 a great burden that they know Jesus personally. 00:09:56.23\00:09:58.68 So, Intercessory prayer is kind of standing in the gap 00:09:58.71\00:10:01.42 for someone else. Now, see if you agree with this. 00:10:01.45\00:10:03.95 You may not, but I tell people often that 00:10:03.98\00:10:06.70 you know God will not force his will on someone's life 00:10:07.08\00:10:10.93 I know my sister was involved with drugs for 00:10:10.96\00:10:13.03 15 years and I interceded on her behalf constantly 00:10:13.06\00:10:17.14 I was praying for her, because I knew she wasn't 00:10:17.17\00:10:18.89 praying for herself. Right. 00:10:18.92\00:10:20.64 And I tell people God is like a loving God 00:10:20.80\00:10:24.01 has put handcuffs if you will on himself. 00:10:24.04\00:10:27.53 That he will not superimpose his will 00:10:27.56\00:10:30.99 upon someones lives and prayer is kind of, 00:10:31.02\00:10:33.77 Intercessory Prayers is like the key that unlocks 00:10:33.80\00:10:36.90 those cuffs and gives him permission to work in 00:10:36.93\00:10:39.33 someones life who just flat won't turn to the Lord. 00:10:39.36\00:10:43.25 So, I like that analogy. I like it because of the 00:10:43.28\00:10:47.00 great controversy, the great battle between 00:10:47.03\00:10:48.92 Christ and Satan. Satan has said, these are 00:10:48.95\00:10:51.26 mine you know they have not made any claim to your name 00:10:51.29\00:10:54.28 These are mine and so God is allowing Satan to make 00:10:54.31\00:10:58.66 that claim, but only to a degree, if we're saying 00:10:58.69\00:11:01.62 God we're asking you to send your spirit to this 00:11:01.71\00:11:04.71 person's life, then as you say it releases 00:11:04.80\00:11:06.91 God to do that and still have things fear and 00:11:06.94\00:11:09.71 this great converse. This great battle 00:11:09.74\00:11:11.93 between the will of God who's cast a vote for our soul 00:11:11.96\00:11:14.77 and the will of Satan who's cast a vote for us soul 00:11:14.80\00:11:17.40 and then ultimately we have to cast the deciding vote. 00:11:17.43\00:11:20.20 There is another text I think that is encouraging 00:11:20.77\00:11:22.91 to us when we get kind of weary of praying for 00:11:22.94\00:11:25.22 the same person, it's Psalms 126, verse 5, Psalms 00:11:25.25\00:11:29.85 126, verse 5. I like this one because 00:11:29.88\00:11:32.77 sometimes particularly for our friends they ask 00:11:32.80\00:11:35.45 us to pray for them and we start out doing 00:11:35.48\00:11:37.34 pretty well and then we kind of forget. 00:11:37.37\00:11:39.44 And this reminds us that we need to be persistent 00:11:39.77\00:11:42.84 and it says in verse 5. Those who plant in tears 00:11:43.63\00:11:46.92 will harvest with shouts of joy. 00:11:46.95\00:11:49.41 Amen! They reap as they go to plant 00:11:49.44\00:11:51.69 their seed, but they sing as they return with a harvest. 00:11:51.72\00:11:54.68 And that says to me you know it might be kind of hard 00:11:54.97\00:11:57.35 going, you might see any indications at first. 00:11:57.38\00:11:59.49 that God is really working in the life of the person 00:11:59.52\00:12:01.79 that we love so much, but if we persist 00:12:01.82\00:12:04.13 if we are tenacious, God is in process and we just 00:12:04.16\00:12:08.34 have to have faith that he is working even though 00:12:08.37\00:12:10.20 we might not seen any outward indications of that. 00:12:10.23\00:12:13.15 You know that persistence is something in Luke 18, 00:12:13.18\00:12:15.42 that Jesus was so clear when he gave the parable 00:12:15.45\00:12:18.68 of the persistent widow that he wanted us to 00:12:18.71\00:12:22.39 continue to pray until we see the reaping of this 00:12:22.42\00:12:26.59 and I believe it's Luke 18:8 where he says when 00:12:26.92\00:12:30.15 the son of man comes back will he find faith on the 00:12:30.18\00:12:33.27 earth, I think if we give up in prayer, particularly 00:12:33.30\00:12:36.56 in praying for others. It shows a lack of faith 00:12:36.59\00:12:39.35 but one thing that I want to make sure that I just 00:12:39.59\00:12:43.58 admonish you, if somebody asks you to pray for them 00:12:43.90\00:12:46.58 and you say yes I will, do yourself a favor. 00:12:46.61\00:12:50.28 So, that you won't be caught a liar 00:12:50.80\00:12:53.65 and that is pray for them right then. 00:12:53.68\00:12:55.56 That's a great idea. Because once if you tell 00:12:55.59\00:12:57.56 somebody yes I'll pray for you. It's so easy when we're 00:12:57.59\00:13:00.59 being bombarded by so many images during 00:13:00.62\00:13:02.91 the days, so many interruptions and our 00:13:02.94\00:13:05.04 lifestyles are so hectic. You may have the best 00:13:05.07\00:13:07.69 of intentions to pray for somebody. 00:13:07.72\00:13:09.41 And then your memory lapses you know, a week 00:13:09.81\00:13:12.63 later you're thinking. Oh! You hear about their. 00:13:12.66\00:13:14.76 Right. Problems and you're thinking 00:13:14.79\00:13:16.17 Oh! I meant to pray for them. 00:13:16.20\00:13:17.66 I like the idea of praying for them immediately 00:13:17.69\00:13:19.69 and also it's been helpful to me in my advancing 00:13:19.72\00:13:21.97 aid is to add it to my prayer journal. 00:13:22.00\00:13:24.47 Absolutely. And then I'm reminded 00:13:24.50\00:13:26.16 to pray for this person? 00:13:26.19\00:13:27.27 I like to tell you a story. Surely. 00:13:27.30\00:13:29.46 This is about my son and I asked him permission 00:13:29.61\00:13:32.10 to tell this story and he said sure mom, 00:13:32.13\00:13:33.97 if it would be an encouragement 00:13:34.00\00:13:35.21 to other parents and may be even young people who 00:13:35.24\00:13:37.31 are struggling with their spirituality, absolutely. 00:13:37.34\00:13:40.13 My son has always been very athletic from the 00:13:40.76\00:13:43.12 time he was just a kind of a toddler and when he made a 00:13:43.15\00:13:46.32 decision for Jesus he was about 11 years old. 00:13:46.35\00:13:48.81 But as time when on it kind of waned a 00:13:48.84\00:13:51.49 little bit, it kind of got put on the back burner. 00:13:51.52\00:13:53.61 He is an extreme snowboarder, in another 00:13:54.04\00:13:56.36 words he is a sponsored snowboarder, you could see 00:13:56.39\00:13:58.74 his picture on postures and snowboard magazines 00:13:58.77\00:14:02.53 and such, even though there are definitely 00:14:02.56\00:14:04.90 Christians in the snowboard industry or culture. 00:14:04.93\00:14:08.14 There is a lot of people they are kind of partiers 00:14:08.17\00:14:10.44 And you know, I think that kind of maybe rubbed off on 00:14:10.83\00:14:13.79 him a little bit. Surely. 00:14:13.82\00:14:15.00 And so Church and God and making time for God. 00:14:15.03\00:14:17.77 Sort of wasn't really that important in his life. 00:14:18.01\00:14:20.36 And every night my husband and I would pray that 00:14:20.60\00:14:23.00 our son would come home spiritually. 00:14:23.03\00:14:24.66 That he would renew that decision for Jesus 00:14:24.69\00:14:27.36 that he had made with all of his heart when 00:14:27.39\00:14:29.05 he was just 11 years old. And we have a good 00:14:29.08\00:14:31.67 relationship, but you know he only came to church 00:14:31.70\00:14:34.61 when mom came to visit. And you know just wasn't 00:14:34.64\00:14:37.40 really, really into the things of the spirit. 00:14:37.43\00:14:39.70 And we had made some lifestyle decisions that 00:14:39.93\00:14:42.44 were very, of great concern to me because I was 00:14:42.47\00:14:45.01 afraid that he would you know destroy his body 00:14:45.04\00:14:48.41 from whom Christ died and never have the opportunity 00:14:48.44\00:14:50.61 to make a decision for God. And one day I was walking in 00:14:50.64\00:14:54.63 a state park and got out off cell phone range. 00:14:54.66\00:14:57.18 When I'm came back in there was a message 00:14:57.21\00:14:59.22 from my son, now Shelley you know as parents 00:14:59.25\00:15:02.21 we know very well when something is wrong with 00:15:02.24\00:15:04.35 our kids it's that mother's intuition, and so I thought 00:15:04.38\00:15:08.08 hmm, that sounds a little bit different, his 00:15:08.11\00:15:10.92 cell phone message was mom call me. 00:15:10.95\00:15:13.19 And just those three words, so I called up one of my friends 00:15:13.42\00:15:16.57 who was one of my prayer warrior friends and 00:15:16.60\00:15:18.78 I said I don't know what's going on with my son 00:15:18.81\00:15:20.66 Mickey, but I'm gonna return this call will you 00:15:20.69\00:15:22.98 just cover me with prayer and I ask Jesus to give me 00:15:23.32\00:15:25.55 the words that he would have me speak. 00:15:25.58\00:15:27.34 And so when I called my son he said mom, 00:15:27.37\00:15:30.09 I just want to tell you, I can't sleep and I had just read 00:15:30.49\00:15:34.21 Neil Nedley's excellent book on depression 00:15:34.24\00:15:36.24 the way out. Yes And so I talked 00:15:36.27\00:15:38.57 to him about some of this stressors in his life. 00:15:38.60\00:15:40.26 He was taking a couple of really hard classes in 00:15:40.29\00:15:42.78 university and had just changed jobs, that he was 00:15:42.81\00:15:45.72 a flight instructor at a new place. 00:15:45.75\00:15:47.85 And you know there were a number of things, 00:15:47.88\00:15:50.15 a number of changes in his life. And I talked to him about 00:15:50.18\00:15:52.89 some of the physiological things that he could do to 00:15:53.11\00:15:55.57 avoid depression and insomnia and that sort of 00:15:55.60\00:15:59.22 thing. And he thanked me and a couple of days later 00:15:59.25\00:16:02.86 he called me again and this time his voice sounded 00:16:03.61\00:16:05.34 almost ragged, just almost despairing, and 00:16:05.37\00:16:09.77 I was concerned and he said mom, I'm still not sleeping 00:16:09.91\00:16:15.23 I'm not sleeping at all and I'm a flight instructor. 00:16:15.26\00:16:19.28 And I'm afraid I'm gonna to crash with my students. 00:16:19.31\00:16:21.98 And I said Mickey, do you think this is a 00:16:23.23\00:16:26.62 spiritual battle and just like that, Shelley. 00:16:26.65\00:16:29.65 He said, yes. Wow! 00:16:29.68\00:16:31.65 And I just prayed I said, Oh! Lord, give me the words. 00:16:31.93\00:16:33.98 And I said Mickey, do you remember 00:16:34.78\00:16:35.94 a couple years of ago I sent you a book 00:16:35.97\00:16:38.22 the name of that is a call to stand 00:16:38.70\00:16:40.31 apart, and it's an adaptation of some of the 00:16:40.34\00:16:43.04 Ellen White's writings for young people who might 00:16:43.07\00:16:45.72 struggle with some of the 19th century language 00:16:45.75\00:16:47.81 and so it's written in contemporary English. 00:16:47.84\00:16:50.13 And I said, do you remember that book. 00:16:50.54\00:16:51.81 And he said, yes. And I said, well, do you 00:16:52.39\00:16:55.33 still have it? Now, that was an question because 00:16:55.36\00:16:57.92 sometimes may son called my mail out to him 00:16:57.95\00:17:01.36 propaganda packages. And so the contents 00:17:01.39\00:17:04.34 didn't always stay in house. 00:17:04.37\00:17:05.94 And he said yes, and that surprised me that he 00:17:06.49\00:17:08.46 knew that he still had that book because I send it 00:17:08.49\00:17:10.34 to him a couple of years before. 00:17:10.37\00:17:11.52 And I said, well, why don't you go home and why 00:17:11.55\00:17:14.63 don't you read the chapter you can come home anytime. 00:17:14.66\00:17:17.75 It's chapter 4 and he said well, okay, and that 00:17:19.12\00:17:24.03 chapter is just amazing of course it's the story 00:17:24.06\00:17:26.27 of the prodigal son in contemporary language. 00:17:26.30\00:17:28.39 It starts out, this the story of a young man 00:17:28.76\00:17:30.86 weary of the restrains of living at home. 00:17:30.89\00:17:32.73 And then it goes through what happened with the 00:17:32.97\00:17:34.90 young man as he went away from home and talks about 00:17:34.93\00:17:37.19 in a language that young people can understand. 00:17:37.22\00:17:39.88 And then it talks about that young man coming back, 00:17:40.26\00:17:43.36 coming back and then father running to embrace him 00:17:43.39\00:17:47.00 with his passionate warm embrace of love. 00:17:47.03\00:17:51.58 You know with no words of condemnation and 00:17:51.61\00:17:53.50 no words of judgment and just welcoming him back 00:17:53.53\00:17:56.00 to the family, it's such a beautiful story that tells 00:17:56.03\00:17:59.24 a completely different perception of God then 00:17:59.27\00:18:02.34 many people have, they think of him as kind of 00:18:02.37\00:18:04.20 stern and demanding in his requirements. 00:18:04.23\00:18:06.40 But when they just take that first step back 00:18:06.91\00:18:08.96 to the Lord they find how loving and compassionate 00:18:08.99\00:18:11.62 he really is. And the story ends 00:18:11.65\00:18:14.20 like this, don't wait or try to clean yourself up. 00:18:14.23\00:18:18.35 So, you could be good enough to come to Jesus. 00:18:18.38\00:18:20.86 If we waited to be good enough, we would never come. 00:18:21.37\00:18:24.55 Amen! Jesus is waiting for you 00:18:24.58\00:18:27.05 calling you, yearning for you. 00:18:27.08\00:18:28.92 And all heaven will celebrate when you come home. 00:18:29.77\00:18:33.00 Amen! You know my son 00:18:33.16\00:18:35.61 called me the next day and he said, mom I read 00:18:35.64\00:18:39.00 that story, and I was just thinking, I was thinking 00:18:39.03\00:18:41.45 back when I was a counselor at youth camp. 00:18:41.48\00:18:44.17 I was thinking about all the times when I had this 00:18:44.53\00:18:47.38 peace because I was right with God and he said, 00:18:47.41\00:18:50.34 I want that experience again, he said the person 00:18:50.37\00:18:52.43 I am today, he said that's not really who I want to be. 00:18:52.46\00:18:54.99 He said I just want you to know mom 00:18:55.52\00:18:56.56 that last night I invited Jesus to be my savior 00:18:56.59\00:18:59.65 again. Praise God, praise God. I just can't tell you 00:18:59.68\00:19:03.17 how the joy just filled my heart. 00:19:04.08\00:19:06.30 Absolutely. Up to overflowing. 00:19:06.33\00:19:08.72 And a couple of weeks later I went to visit him 00:19:09.38\00:19:11.29 across the country he lives in Washington state 00:19:11.32\00:19:13.13 and I live in Maryland. And I stayed at his house 00:19:13.16\00:19:16.89 and I noticed that the contents of his refrigerator 00:19:16.92\00:19:18.85 were different and the things on his wall 00:19:18.88\00:19:20.37 were different and the books in his bookshelf 00:19:20.40\00:19:22.08 were different, but what really got me was the next 00:19:22.11\00:19:25.60 morning when we got up and had breakfast. 00:19:25.63\00:19:27.76 Mickey said to be, mom would you like to study 00:19:27.95\00:19:30.42 the Sabbath school lesson with me. 00:19:30.45\00:19:31.75 Praise God. Oh! I nearly dropped my tea. 00:19:32.00\00:19:35.12 You know that was four years ago and his 00:19:35.15\00:19:37.12 relationship with Jesus has remained strong 00:19:37.15\00:19:39.84 and growing and further he married a wonderful 00:19:39.87\00:19:42.38 Christian woman and they are active in their young 00:19:42.41\00:19:44.72 adult group in their church and I thought you know 00:19:44.75\00:19:47.15 maybe that story would be encouraging to parents 00:19:47.18\00:19:49.59 who are praying for their children and thinking oh! 00:19:49.62\00:19:52.24 you know will they ever come home. 00:19:52.27\00:19:53.84 You know Cindy, as we are listening to your story 00:19:54.28\00:19:56.51 about Mickey, this reminds me of a scripture 00:19:56.54\00:19:58.96 from Jeremiah 31:16 and the scripture says. 00:19:58.99\00:20:03.51 Thus says the Lord, restrain your voice from weeping 00:20:03.79\00:20:07.71 and your eyes from tears, for your work shall be 00:20:07.74\00:20:11.21 rewarded, says the Lord. And then in the amplified 00:20:11.24\00:20:15.37 it says and your children, your children being in brackets 00:20:15.40\00:20:19.69 that's what in the context. "Your children shall return 00:20:19.72\00:20:22.29 from the enemies land." Praise God. 00:20:22.32\00:20:24.69 I do too. He promises us in Isaiah 00:20:24.72\00:20:27.72 that God will contend with those who contend with us. 00:20:27.99\00:20:30.86 And he will save our children. And save our children. 00:20:31.44\00:20:34.39 Yes. So, the whole idea of praying, you 00:20:34.42\00:20:37.95 know there are times and it may not be your child. 00:20:38.39\00:20:41.27 It could be your husband. It could be your wife. 00:20:41.30\00:20:45.21 It could be a good friend. But, the whole idea of 00:20:45.24\00:20:48.27 people you know the joy in your story was your son 00:20:48.30\00:20:53.19 knew what he was missing. He had experienced that 00:20:53.22\00:20:57.40 joy and peace in his life. He knew that he was feeling 00:20:57.43\00:21:02.14 empty now he wanted what had before before, the biggest 00:21:02.17\00:21:06.32 problem I think is for people who, that we are praying for 00:21:06.35\00:21:09.44 who have never known that. Yes. 00:21:09.76\00:21:11.82 Now in reaching them it is the prayer, but it's also 00:21:12.13\00:21:16.13 that's where don't you think that's where a 00:21:16.16\00:21:18.70 personal testimony and the example that we set 00:21:18.73\00:21:22.65 in living and showing that we're calm. 00:21:22.68\00:21:25.91 Right, that Jesus has done something for us and they 00:21:25.94\00:21:28.29 wonder, where did you get that calmness 00:21:28.65\00:21:30.75 where do you get that joy. And they know that 00:21:30.78\00:21:32.91 not everything was right in our lives they can see 00:21:33.60\00:21:35.28 maybe that we've lost our job, whether our house burned 00:21:35.31\00:21:37.92 down. Exactly. Or you know we got in a 00:21:37.95\00:21:38.99 car accident and whatever it is. 00:21:39.02\00:21:40.93 But, when they see that we maintain that consistency. 00:21:41.16\00:21:43.92 And we're not always consistent because we are. 00:21:44.24\00:21:46.81 Human. Exactly, and I just, but I think that does often 00:21:46.84\00:21:51.52 offer an opportunity for us to give our personal 00:21:52.17\00:21:54.25 testimony to persons who perhaps they have never 00:21:54.28\00:21:57.19 encountered Christ in anyway. I liked the text that you 00:21:57.22\00:22:00.90 shared and I also like Isaiah 43, I'm reading from 00:22:00.93\00:22:04.62 verse 5. Do not be afraid, for I am with you, 00:22:04.65\00:22:08.64 Amen! I will gather you and 00:22:08.67\00:22:10.64 your children from east and west and from 00:22:10.67\00:22:12.70 north and south, in other words wherever they have 00:22:12.73\00:22:14.51 gone in their spiritual experience. 00:22:14.54\00:22:16.66 He says from the distant corners of the earth 00:22:16.98\00:22:18.95 I will bring them back I will claim them for my 00:22:18.98\00:22:22.13 own glory because I created them. 00:22:22.16\00:22:24.36 That's encouraging to me. It's wonderful, but I'm 00:22:25.06\00:22:27.36 sitting here, I'm thinking there is probably someone 00:22:27.39\00:22:29.55 who is watching us right now. Who prayed for 00:22:29.58\00:22:32.32 their children, and/or a husband 00:22:32.35\00:22:33.92 or a brother, or sister, or parent and they 00:22:33.95\00:22:36.27 prayed and they prayed and they prayed and 00:22:36.30\00:22:38.19 they never saw that person give their heart to the Lord, 00:22:38.22\00:22:43.52 before they died. Before the person that 00:22:44.04\00:22:46.54 was praying died or the other person die. 00:22:46.57\00:22:48.19 Before the person for whom they were praying died. 00:22:48.22\00:22:50.70 And they, and you know I see often i'll have someone come 00:22:50.73\00:22:53.48 up to me and say I prayed I did all of these things 00:22:53.51\00:22:56.84 but, then I died and I never saw them give their 00:22:57.27\00:22:59.46 heart to the Lord and I always tell people 00:22:59.49\00:23:02.84 you don't know what happened in those closing 00:23:03.08\00:23:05.63 moments of their life. You don't you know we can't 00:23:05.66\00:23:09.09 judge just because we see of course usually we are 00:23:09.12\00:23:12.86 going by the evidence presented to us. 00:23:12.89\00:23:15.40 Right. Right. But, we don't know, I believe that 00:23:15.43\00:23:19.54 we're called to be the planters of the seed, but it's 00:23:19.57\00:23:22.93 God that gives the harvest. It's God that's keeping 00:23:22.96\00:23:26.81 it a well watered garden and gives us the harvest. 00:23:26.84\00:23:29.20 Exactly and also we can't discount the choice 00:23:29.23\00:23:33.22 the human will. I would have suppose that 00:23:33.25\00:23:35.70 Adam and Eve prayed earnestly for their son Cain. 00:23:35.73\00:23:39.16 We don't know whether Cain will be in heaven 00:23:39.96\00:23:41.66 because the Bible doesn't tell us that they must 00:23:41.69\00:23:43.81 have been very discouraged by the behavior of Cain. 00:23:43.84\00:23:46.72 I mean here he murders you know their beloved Abel. 00:23:46.75\00:23:50.68 And so sometimes I think that we don't necessarily 00:23:51.27\00:23:53.46 know the outcome on this earth but that doesn't 00:23:53.52\00:23:55.88 give us any reason to leave off praying, the Lord 00:23:55.91\00:23:59.00 says pray with persistence, pray without ceasing. 00:23:59.03\00:24:02.22 Be not weary of well doing for you will reap if you, 00:24:03.21\00:24:06.04 if you faint not. You know then you 00:24:06.07\00:24:07.95 can always think of Job, in Job 42:10 00:24:07.98\00:24:10.94 where the Lord said because Job, when he turned and 00:24:10.97\00:24:15.25 starting praying for his friends, God then turned 00:24:15.28\00:24:18.63 Job's situation around and actually restored everything 00:24:18.66\00:24:21.74 and gave him twice as much. So, there is, there can be 00:24:21.77\00:24:24.58 a benefit and I believe that Intercessory Prayer 00:24:24.61\00:24:28.07 does benefit us, it helps draw us near to the Lord, 00:24:28.10\00:24:31.07 it gives us, we are calling on, it gives us more of 00:24:31.10\00:24:34.93 the Lord's heart for others as we intercede for them. 00:24:34.96\00:24:37.53 Indeed. Do you agree? Absolutely and it also 00:24:37.56\00:24:40.84 reminds me when I'm praying for the person 00:24:40.87\00:24:43.79 it reminds me if my need to be on the alert in case 00:24:44.13\00:24:47.13 the Holy Spirit is saying saying something to me 00:24:47.16\00:24:48.72 about a testimony I could give or you know someway 00:24:49.26\00:24:52.83 that I could be aware of the other person's need 00:24:52.86\00:24:56.87 and may be respond to that, not in the preaching 00:24:56.90\00:24:58.89 lecturing way, but just in a recognizing their 00:24:58.92\00:25:03.43 humanity and recognizing how God is the one that 00:25:03.46\00:25:07.30 can fill the emotional and spiritual 00:25:07.33\00:25:09.42 needs in their heart. Amen. 00:25:09.45\00:25:11.20 And you know the more you intercede for 00:25:11.23\00:25:13.62 others I think, I often will pray for a divine 00:25:13.65\00:25:16.81 appointment. Yes. 00:25:16.84\00:25:18.03 And I ask the Lord, by what I mean by that is that 00:25:18.06\00:25:21.66 I'm asking the Lord to connect me with someone 00:25:21.69\00:25:24.38 that day by his will for whom or to whom 00:25:24.41\00:25:29.23 I could minister and often when I am really focused 00:25:29.26\00:25:35.58 on Intercessory Prayer and I'm praying for a divine 00:25:35.61\00:25:38.00 appointment as I am out. You know I'll be standing 00:25:38.03\00:25:40.49 in the line and Lord will say go and pray for 00:25:40.52\00:25:42.20 this person and you can feel like an absolute, 00:25:42.23\00:25:45.94 well, it can make you feel a little stranger 00:25:47.69\00:25:51.19 out of the ordinary. Like you're sticking out 00:25:51.22\00:25:52.64 like a sore thumb, to walk up to a total stranger 00:25:52.67\00:25:55.15 and say you know I would like to pray with you. 00:25:55.18\00:25:58.38 I am impressed to pray with you. 00:25:58.41\00:25:59.93 But, it has never failed that the Lord will lead you 00:26:00.43\00:26:04.49 right to the person who would just begin to weep 00:26:04.52\00:26:08.17 or sometimes may not say well, I'm not sure I need 00:26:08.55\00:26:11.59 any prayer. I said are you sure I really feel that the 00:26:11.62\00:26:13.55 Lord was directing me and suddenly the flood gate 00:26:13.58\00:26:16.65 breaks. Amen! And they will start 00:26:16.68\00:26:19.32 talking to you about something and you can 00:26:19.35\00:26:22.34 pray with this person and they may not have any 00:26:22.37\00:26:24.71 relationship with the Lord. But, that's how the Lord 00:26:24.74\00:26:27.09 has reached them when you do that, I mean just 00:26:27.12\00:26:30.67 your willingness to intercede for others. 00:26:30.70\00:26:32.70 That's very inspirational to me I've never done 00:26:32.73\00:26:34.81 that I have don't a lot of literature evangelism 00:26:34.84\00:26:36.79 where I go door to door with young people. 00:26:36.82\00:26:39.59 I've directed ten years of student literature 00:26:39.62\00:26:42.09 evangelism programs. And I've encouraged the 00:26:42.12\00:26:44.22 young people to pray with the people at the door. 00:26:44.25\00:26:46.06 And say you know is there anything I can pray for you 00:26:46.16\00:26:49.17 about concerning your family, there has been wonderful 00:26:49.20\00:26:51.18 response and I've done that myself as I have gone 00:26:51.21\00:26:53.49 door to door with gospel literature. 00:26:53.52\00:26:54.99 But I have never gone up to a complete stranger 00:26:55.38\00:26:57.13 in a store or a mall or something like that. 00:26:57.16\00:26:58.84 I think that you would definitely have to know 00:26:59.82\00:27:02.99 that you were directed by the spirit and I admire 00:27:03.02\00:27:05.26 your ability to recognize the voice of God and to do that. 00:27:05.29\00:27:10.46 I think also of God's promise here in Ezekiel 34, verse 16. 00:27:10.65\00:27:16.40 I will search for my lost ones who strayed away and 00:27:16.43\00:27:21.06 I will bring them safely home again. 00:27:21.09\00:27:24.29 Amen! Dr. Cindy Tutsch, thank you 00:27:24.32\00:27:27.08 so much for joining us today Cindy, it's just been 00:27:27.11\00:27:29.48 a real pleasure to have you here and its always good 00:27:29.51\00:27:32.48 when someone is ministering from experience and you 00:27:32.51\00:27:36.17 know something that I wanted to share with 00:27:36.20\00:27:38.47 our viewers as we are going off the air is you may think 00:27:38.50\00:27:43.37 well who is interceding on my behalf. 00:27:43.40\00:27:45.33 Let me share a promise from Hebrews 7 and verse 25. 00:27:45.36\00:27:49.38 This is talking about our Lord Jesus and it says 00:27:49.82\00:27:52.70 therefore he is able to say to the uttermost 00:27:52.73\00:27:56.50 those who he is praying for since he is always 00:27:56.94\00:28:01.23 living to make petitions to God and intercede 00:28:01.26\00:28:04.97 on their behalf. Jesus is interceding 00:28:05.00\00:28:07.31 for you. Don't forget that. 00:28:07.34\00:28:09.47