Because you are the
primetime generation,
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I want to begin
today with the story.
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I got a letter from
one of our listeners.
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We're not only on
television but we're on radio
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and he was listening
on WAUS several years ago.
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So he is responding
to what we shared that
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Sabbath here in the pulpit.
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I wrote him back,
responded back to him
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and out of that
conversation in the mail,
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we set up an
appointment to meet.
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He was living up in St.
Joe and businessman in St. Joe.
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So I made
arrangements to go to his home,
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met him, his wife, family.
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And out of that,
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out of that meeting
through the radio at first...
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a steady relationship developed.
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He was eager to
get into the word.
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Now, this gentleman,
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a quasi God believer...
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but I am agnostic about Jesus.
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I just don't
know about this thing
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you're saying about
Jesus, you Christians.
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Considered himself a Christian.
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So he made a deal,
okay, every Wednesday
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he is a controller of
his company, still, still is.
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Okay, every Wednesday
noon, I'll come up there
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and let just walk
the beach together,
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we might have a
brownbag, might not,
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but we just study for one hour.
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You give your lunch break
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and I'll give
mine and so we did,
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week after week after week
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and that went
around for three years.
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And I'm telling you
he is just not getting it
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about this Jesus
and I am at my wits end.
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I'm saying there is--
what more I can do, please.
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And then the man
went through a crisis.
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A meltdown crisis.
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And one night alone in his home,
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something supernatural happened.
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And I want him to
tell you what happened.
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And so where is my
friend Dick Mackie?
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Where are you, Dick?
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There you are. Come on up.
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Dick and I become friends.
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He is a runner, he encouraged me
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in this life of running
but, Dick, here you are,
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you're going
through that meltdown.
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Wife, children gone separated,
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you're in that
house all alone one night.
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Tell us what happened?
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Well, it was-- it was probably
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the lowest point of my life.
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I know a bunch of people here
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and they've been supporting
me and encouraging me.
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But I was really
depressed and lonely this night.
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And I made a few phone calls,
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this is before cell
phones, nobody was home.
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I'm just feeling
really, really alone.
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I'm in the kitchen
and I'm washing dishes
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and guys do wash dishes.
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Especially if there's
nobody else in the house,
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and I'm washing dishes
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and I'm crying
and guys do cry too.
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And I'm talking to God,
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I've been talking
to God all my life
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but talking to Him and saying,
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I just-- I just
want to be helped,
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I just want someone to be there,
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I just want to helped.
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And I'm standing
there at the sink
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and I felt arms
wrapping around me from behind.
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I don't understand what happened
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but I knew, somehow
I knew this was Jesus.
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I had prayed to God
and God had sent Jesus
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and I still didn't
understand all the connections.
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But I knew that
Jesus must come from God
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and be with God, and
that was the beginning.
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And we
connected after that story
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you told me about
what had happened.
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And then it was just--
everything started falling
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in place after
that and pretty soon,
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we're getting
ready to stand in that
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baptistery together you and
I, so you write this poem to--
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Because you're a poet
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and I used to share
your poetry with me.
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But you write a special
poem, tell us about that poem?
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I wanted to do my testimony
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and it come out in poetry form.
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But I'm still
struggling with this cross.
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I don't-- you know,
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how do you reconcile the world
through blood guts and gore,
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I just don't understand that
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and I wrote this
poem, I showed it to Dwight,
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I showed it to the
person who was going to sing it.
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And they came
back and they said,
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we have a problem with
this because it's not biblical.
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And Dwight said,
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we can't-- we can't use this
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and I went home that
night and I opened the door,
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I got about few feet inside
hit the wall slid down the wall.
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I'm on the floor crying,
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because I don't know what to do.
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I mean, this is--
I'm depressed together
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you know, and I'm
just-- I said to God,
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what do I do, what do I do?
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And inside my
head very distinctly
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the words came, let
Jesus speak for Himself.
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And I got a pencil and paper
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and within couple of minutes,
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I wrote down these lines.
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"Weep not my child,
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embrace the love of
my heart with share,
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I know you're ashamed
and your unspoken prayer,
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upon my cross that
prayer and God were reconciled.
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When faith proclaimed
my grace forever there."
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Amen.
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And I'd like to say two
things to this congregation.
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One, thank you for
being there when I needed it.
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And secondly,
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I was raised in a
congregational church.
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I was practicing
Catholic for 15 years or so
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but I have never
met the Jesus you know
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until I came here,
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you know Jesus
different than anyone else
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and the world
needs to know your Jesus.
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Amen,
beautiful. Thank you, Dick.
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Excellent.
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So we were in that
baptistery together,
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it was a hallelujah
day for you and for me.
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Now I tell you why I'm wanting
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Dick to share his
story several reasons.
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Number one,
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here's a story
of a God who says,
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okay, you've done everything,
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you can step out of
the way, this is My moment.
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And supernaturally,
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God can step in to
the people we care about,
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just supernaturally do
whatever He's got to do
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like He did for you.
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God answers prayer.
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Yeah.
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Number two,
here you are a friend
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and servant of God
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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We saw Dick this morning,
he was receiving the offering.
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He's also one of our...
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first grade Sabbath
school leaders, yeah.
00:08:09.34\00:08:12.64
And number three, number three,
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several years ago we huddled up
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with our senior leadership team
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and we said we have to
got to put something together
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to equip
contemporary Christian Adventist
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with the ability to be a
winsome contagious witness.
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So for years now under
Skip McCarty's leadership
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we've been working
on something called
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the Contagious
Adventist Seminar.
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So to put that
little study team together
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we said, wait a minute,
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we have got to have a
quasi agnostic serving
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on that-- on
that team and Dick--
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Someone who saw
light. Someone who saw light.
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Who could, better
could sit in our circle
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and now say,
hey, let me tell you,
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how it comes across to me.
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And so, Dick, you had
a part in the research
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and the writing process
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and you actually
wrote some of the material
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for that study on
the Lord Jesus Christ.
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This is an incredible seminar
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and we're just ready to offer
the alpha version that Dick
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and our team have been
working on for years, years.
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If you would reach into
your bulletin right now,
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you're gonna see a
little piece of paper like this
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and I need you while Dick
is standing right here with me,
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I need you to pull it out
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because I want you to take this.
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I want you
this-- this is gonna be
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so user friendly for you.
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This is gonna be no pressure.
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Easy learning,
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how you can become
a winsome contagious
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disciple of the Lord
Jesus in the third millennium.
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Come on, we can't
use the old methods
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of our grandpas and grandmas,
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we've got to
have something fresh.
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And so if you
would turn it over,
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there is a place
for you to scribble down
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your name, your address,
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give us your cell
phone, put your email in twice,
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so that we make sure we
can get in touch with you.
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Because next Sabbath
we're gonna offer first time
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in history
hallelujah, the alpha version
00:09:58.57\00:10:01.05
of the Contagious
Adventist Seminar.
00:10:01.08\00:10:02.70
We're gonna offer in
the Physics Amphitheater
00:10:02.73\00:10:04.75
10 o'clock.
00:10:04.78\00:10:06.13
You can come at 10 o'clock.
00:10:06.16\00:10:08.24
We're gonna have
topnotch team of teachers there.
00:10:08.27\00:10:10.94
We're gonna give
the syllabus to you
00:10:10.97\00:10:13.04
that Dick has helped to prepare.
00:10:13.07\00:10:14.89
You will never be the same again
00:10:14.92\00:10:16.89
after the
Contagious Adventist Seminar.
00:10:16.92\00:10:18.45
And so I wish you take
a moment right now just--
00:10:18.48\00:10:21.16
just scribble your
name down and address,
00:10:21.19\00:10:24.44
so that we can
have it in just a moment
00:10:24.47\00:10:26.35
when the ushers come to
give extra study guides out,
00:10:26.38\00:10:29.46
they also
receive these from you,
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so take a moment
real quick right now.
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And, Dick Mackie, God bless you,
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your testimony is
what Jesus is all about.
00:10:35.35\00:10:37.79
Thank you very much.
00:10:37.82\00:10:38.85
How about another
hand for Dick Mackie?
00:10:38.88\00:10:41.30
The ushers are
gonna come your way,
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take a pen, I'm serious
00:10:49.82\00:10:51.07
just grab a pen right
now and fill that out.
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Combine about three
moments to receive it.
00:10:53.88\00:10:58.75
But I'm not gonna wait for them
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because I'm so excited
about today's teaching.
00:10:59.84\00:11:02.04
It's the third
story in the Book of Acts
00:11:02.07\00:11:04.34
and we just come to it
by the journey we are on
00:11:04.37\00:11:09.01
two Sabbaths already in
this series of primetime
00:11:09.04\00:11:10.93
but is there a more
primetime story than Acts 3.
00:11:10.96\00:11:13.84
Open your Bible to Acts 3.
00:11:13.87\00:11:15.07
This is one of my favorite
in the whole Book of Acts.
00:11:15.10\00:11:18.58
Acts Chapter 3.
00:11:18.61\00:11:20.08
We got to go to the
story because there is a secret
00:11:20.11\00:11:22.66
tucked away in this story
that is the primetime key.
00:11:22.69\00:11:29.04
Primetime key to this prayer,
00:11:29.07\00:11:31.06
"Give me, give me Your eyes,
00:11:31.09\00:11:32.86
oh, God, give me Your eyes."
00:11:32.89\00:11:35.33
So if you didn't
bring your Bible,
00:11:35.36\00:11:36.50
take a pew Bible,
it will be page 734.
00:11:36.53\00:11:38.39
Let's go 734,
00:11:38.42\00:11:40.07
that's a New King
James Version in the pew,
00:11:40.10\00:11:41.74
but I'm gonna be here,
I got to find it myself.
00:11:41.77\00:11:43.88
I'm gonna be here
00:11:43.91\00:11:45.01
in the Today's New
International Version,
00:11:45.04\00:11:48.12
the TNIV.
00:11:48.15\00:11:50.84
All right, Acts
Chapter 3, follow along.
00:11:50.87\00:11:56.71
Ushers, we're
gonna wait a little bit,
00:11:56.74\00:12:00.00
I didn't see you guys jump up
00:12:00.03\00:12:01.39
and actually they're
not through filling it out.
00:12:01.42\00:12:03.02
So hold on and then we get
00:12:03.05\00:12:04.89
to the study
guide in just a moment.
00:12:04.92\00:12:06.80
That way though
they will have just that
00:12:06.83\00:12:08.15
extra moment to fill it out.
00:12:08.18\00:12:10.29
We got the best
ushers in the world
00:12:10.32\00:12:12.02
and they're ready to go,
00:12:12.05\00:12:13.65
but I want to give
you just one more moment.
00:12:13.68\00:12:15.71
I see some of you are
still writing, that's okay.
00:12:15.74\00:12:17.93
Fill it out, we'll be
away in just a moment.
00:12:17.96\00:12:20.17
Acts 3:1, "One
day Peter and John..."
00:12:20.20\00:12:24.27
And how old was John?
00:12:24.30\00:12:25.35
We don't know, John
was probably a teenager
00:12:25.38\00:12:27.38
when Jesus called
him, he might have been 19.
00:12:27.41\00:12:30.24
He's John boy, this
is the kid in the group.
00:12:30.27\00:12:32.70
So if he was 19 or 20
when Jesus called him,
00:12:32.73\00:12:35.37
he's three and half,
00:12:35.40\00:12:36.80
he's 23 in this--
he's 23 in the story,
00:12:36.83\00:12:39.28
I want you university
students to know that,
00:12:39.31\00:12:41.24
he's 23, 24 may
be max out to 25,
00:12:41.27\00:12:45.84
okay, so he is your age.
00:12:45.87\00:12:47.61
Peter and John,
00:12:47.64\00:12:48.82
I'm talking
about them, not Jeff.
00:12:48.85\00:12:50.43
We don't know-- we
don't know Peter's age
00:12:50.46\00:12:52.53
but if Peter were 35
and we know he was married
00:12:52.56\00:12:55.73
when Jesus called him
but if Peter in his 30s
00:12:55.76\00:12:58.15
you know, he's late
30s maybe early 40s.
00:12:58.18\00:13:00.99
So you have this, you
have this 25 year old kid
00:13:01.02\00:13:03.82
as it were 23 with
the big old bragger
00:13:03.85\00:13:07.72
so fishermen, they're
both fishermen actually
00:13:07.75\00:13:10.53
trained on the Sea of Galilee.
00:13:10.56\00:13:12.86
So here is what's
happened, verse 1,
00:13:12.89\00:13:14.62
"One day Peter and John
were going up to the temple
00:13:14.65\00:13:18.73
at the time of prayer--
at three in the afternoon."
00:13:18.76\00:13:23.00
It's the time of
the evening sacrifice.
00:13:23.03\00:13:24.71
Wherever they were in Jerusalem,
00:13:24.74\00:13:26.01
Peter looked over John
and John boy looked at Peter
00:13:26.04\00:13:27.85
and say, hey, you
want to go to prayer,
00:13:27.88\00:13:30.36
let's go to pray together.
00:13:30.39\00:13:31.72
There's nothing
wrong with two men praying.
00:13:31.75\00:13:32.83
Is that a sin for two men
00:13:32.86\00:13:33.91
to be friends and pray together?
00:13:33.94\00:13:35.71
Are you kidding?
00:13:35.74\00:13:36.83
Let's go to prayer.
And they both agree.
00:13:36.86\00:13:39.15
Verse 2, "Now a man
who was lame from birth..."
00:13:39.18\00:13:44.60
We know from
the end of the story
00:13:44.63\00:13:46.21
in Chapter 4 he's 40 years old,
00:13:46.24\00:13:47.53
he's been-- he's been lame,
00:13:47.56\00:13:49.33
ladies and
gentlemen, for 40 years,
00:13:49.36\00:13:50.92
"A man who was lame
from birth was being carried
00:13:50.95\00:13:53.89
to the temple gate..."
00:13:53.92\00:13:55.20
Now, what's the
name of the temple gate?
00:13:55.23\00:13:57.41
What does it say in your Bible?
00:13:57.44\00:13:58.94
It's a gate Beautiful
and I'm telling you what,
00:13:58.97\00:14:01.33
I've been to Jerusalem
00:14:01.36\00:14:02.43
and I've seen
what the architects
00:14:02.46\00:14:05.08
and archeologists
have collaborated,
00:14:05.11\00:14:06.74
they have this
incredible spread to show
00:14:06.77\00:14:09.26
what Jerusalem looked
like at the time of Christ
00:14:09.29\00:14:11.93
and its heritage temple.
00:14:11.96\00:14:13.30
You cannot imagine
the glory of that temple.
00:14:13.33\00:14:16.44
This gate Beautiful,
00:14:16.47\00:14:17.51
these are massive
white ivory colonnades
00:14:17.54\00:14:21.24
and carved into
the white in gold
00:14:21.27\00:14:25.20
is the trellis of a
vine all the way to the top.
00:14:25.23\00:14:28.50
They say in the
afternoon when that sun begins
00:14:28.53\00:14:30.63
to dip towards the west
and it shines on that gate,
00:14:30.66\00:14:35.20
it is resplendent hence
the name gate Beautiful.
00:14:35.23\00:14:39.57
All right, "Now a
man was lame from birth,"
00:14:39.60\00:14:41.25
it is verse 2,
"was being carried
00:14:41.28\00:14:42.50
to the temple
gate called Beautiful,
00:14:42.53\00:14:44.13
where he was
put every day to beg
00:14:44.16\00:14:46.28
from those going
into the temple courts.'
00:14:46.31\00:14:48.20
'It's not a
dishonorable profession,
00:14:48.23\00:14:49.64
you can't do
anything else with these legs,
00:14:49.67\00:14:51.15
these legs have never
sustained your body's weight.
00:14:51.18\00:14:57.58
So, you gonna have to beg.
00:14:57.61\00:15:01.14
And who better-- who
better to make the appeal to,
00:15:01.17\00:15:04.12
than the people
are gonna worship God.
00:15:04.15\00:15:05.62
There is no heart
this more open to you
00:15:05.65\00:15:07.66
than a heart that's
on its way to worship God
00:15:07.69\00:15:09.31
and so that's
strategic wise planning,
00:15:09.34\00:15:11.61
they put them at
that gate, he's gonna ask.
00:15:11.64\00:15:15.04
Verse 3, "When he saw
Peter and John about to enter."
00:15:15.07\00:15:22.38
You know, there is
a law about giving,
00:15:22.41\00:15:24.47
the people who give the
most are usually the poorest.
00:15:24.50\00:15:27.23
You want to get
money, go to a poor person,
00:15:27.26\00:15:28.59
don't go to wealthy
person, go to a poor person.
00:15:28.62\00:15:30.28
Now I know there are so
many exceptions to that rule,
00:15:30.31\00:15:33.67
don't lock me into
it, but you understand.
00:15:33.70\00:15:35.69
He sees these two fishermen
just two threadbare fishermen
00:15:35.72\00:15:39.40
on the way to
prayer meeting together
00:15:39.43\00:15:40.98
and he says, you know what,
00:15:41.01\00:15:42.05
these goys got a coin
in those deep pockets,
00:15:42.08\00:15:44.18
I'm gonna try so that's what--
00:15:44.21\00:15:46.54
that's what Luke tells us here,
00:15:46.57\00:15:47.75
"When he saw Peter
and John about to enter."
00:15:47.78\00:15:49.86
They're just stepping
off that last stair going
00:15:49.89\00:15:51.74
into the gate Beautiful,
he asked them for money.
00:15:51.77\00:15:54.87
Hey, fellows alms for the poor,
00:15:54.90\00:15:57.32
hey, hey, hey,
over here, over here,
00:15:57.35\00:15:58.58
over here, over
here, alms for the poor.
00:15:58.61\00:16:01.68
Puts his boney hand out.
00:16:01.71\00:16:05.22
And verse 4, Peter
stops dead in his track.
00:16:05.25\00:16:10.23
"Peter looked
straight at him, as did John."
00:16:10.26\00:16:14.83
They stop, big man
looks, younger man looks,
00:16:14.86\00:16:18.31
they both lock on...
00:16:18.34\00:16:20.34
to that lame man
sitting beneath the colonnade.
00:16:20.37\00:16:25.13
And then Peter said
and I'm telling you what,
00:16:25.16\00:16:27.95
the lame man's heart
just soars into heaven
00:16:27.98\00:16:30.40
when he hears these words.
00:16:30.43\00:16:31.52
Peter said, hey, boy, look at us
00:16:31.55\00:16:35.52
and the guy's
heart leaps you know why,
00:16:35.55\00:16:37.61
because obviously the only time
00:16:37.64\00:16:39.72
anybody in this temple
yells out for attention
00:16:39.75\00:16:42.33
is when he's going
to do something mighty
00:16:42.36\00:16:45.60
to be applauded by the public.
00:16:45.63\00:16:48.15
And so the beggar's heart leaps,
00:16:48.18\00:16:49.81
all right, I'm looking.
00:16:49.84\00:16:51.70
Look at us he says,
and Peter sees that.
00:16:51.73\00:16:56.43
He sees that
expectation on a face
00:16:56.46\00:16:58.36
and he has to
cut it out right now
00:16:58.39\00:17:01.24
and he looks into
that beggar's faces,
00:17:01.27\00:17:02.87
he said hey, I have no silver,
00:17:02.90\00:17:09.95
I have no gold.
00:17:09.98\00:17:13.30
The guy says,
what a sucker I am,
00:17:13.33\00:17:18.06
I thought, look at me,
00:17:18.09\00:17:21.90
look at me boy, I
have no silver, gold.
00:17:21.93\00:17:26.74
I'd learn this
verse as a kid growing up.
00:17:26.77\00:17:29.20
"Silver and gold have I none,
00:17:29.23\00:17:33.94
but such as I have I
give thee in the name
00:17:33.97\00:17:36.31
of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, get up and walk."
00:17:36.34\00:17:41.81
And that man, that 40
year old is paralyzed,
00:17:41.84\00:17:47.20
physically and emotionally
00:17:47.23\00:17:49.72
he is in that split
second that is not unfamiliar
00:17:49.75\00:17:55.23
with all of our
journey that split second
00:17:55.26\00:17:57.20
between unbelief and
belief, he's not sure.
00:17:57.23\00:18:03.24
Forty years of
wasted vegetable legs,
00:18:03.27\00:18:07.05
you're asking me
to get up and walk.
00:18:07.08\00:18:10.30
And Peter sees in
that split second as well,
00:18:10.33\00:18:13.00
there is a faith
crisis right here.
00:18:13.03\00:18:14.96
By the way it's okay
to have a faith crisis.
00:18:14.99\00:18:16.72
It's okay to be an unbeliever.
00:18:16.75\00:18:18.27
It's okay to be suspended
between unbelief and belief
00:18:18.30\00:18:21.84
if you don't stay there forever.
00:18:21.87\00:18:24.45
And God send us a good friend
00:18:24.48\00:18:25.81
who in that moment says,
I want to help your belief
00:18:25.84\00:18:27.69
because that's
exactly what Peter does.
00:18:27.72\00:18:29.06
Look at the next verse.
00:18:29.09\00:18:30.12
Peter reaches out
and he grabs the man,
00:18:30.15\00:18:32.44
he grabs the man
probably his right hand,
00:18:32.47\00:18:34.45
the man's right hand
and he said all right, go.
00:18:34.48\00:18:38.49
Now this guy, this guy
isn't even a sack of potatoes,
00:18:38.52\00:18:42.37
Peter has pulled in,
he's pulled in hundreds,
00:18:42.40\00:18:45.45
hundreds of pounds of
fish look at that torso.
00:18:45.48\00:18:50.13
So he reaches down
and just like picking up
00:18:50.16\00:18:51.87
a little, little gunny
sack, he says, come on.
00:18:51.90\00:18:56.82
And you notice this,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:18:56.85\00:18:58.21
isn't this
amazing, isn't this amazing,
00:18:58.24\00:19:01.08
watch this, verse 7,
00:19:01.11\00:19:02.39
"Taking him by the right hand,
00:19:02.42\00:19:03.99
he Peter helped
him up the lame man up,
00:19:04.02\00:19:06.41
and somewhere
between down and up
00:19:06.44\00:19:09.41
instantly the man's
feet and ankles iron, iron.
00:19:09.44\00:19:16.66
And here is the
greatest understatement
00:19:21.41\00:19:22.62
in the entire Book of Acts.
00:19:22.65\00:19:24.85
"He humped to his
feet and began to walk.
00:19:24.88\00:19:27.44
And then he went with
them into the temple courts,
00:19:27.47\00:19:30.58
walking and
jumping and praising God."
00:19:30.61\00:19:33.79
Do you remember when
you were a kid come on,
00:19:33.82\00:19:35.73
don't pretend like that all.
00:19:35.76\00:19:37.09
Do you remember
when you were a kid
00:19:37.12\00:19:38.50
and your daddy would
come waking into the room
00:19:38.53\00:19:39.79
and say hey, we're
going to the zoo today.
00:19:39.82\00:19:44.11
You remember how you reacted.
00:19:44.14\00:19:45.57
Come on, you start, you start,
00:19:45.60\00:19:47.33
I remember my kids they
would just start jumping
00:19:47.36\00:19:49.04
and then they go like this,
00:19:49.07\00:19:50.56
did you do
that, did you do that?
00:19:50.59\00:19:52.48
You were so excited,
00:19:52.51\00:19:53.93
you couldn't hold
that back physically
00:19:53.96\00:19:55.88
and that is
precisely what's happened
00:19:55.91\00:19:58.57
with this man
with iron legs now,
00:19:58.60\00:20:00.59
he is leaping and jumping
00:20:00.62\00:20:02.91
and it's Luke's
favorite phrase praising God.
00:20:02.94\00:20:07.17
And old boy does
it start a commotion?
00:20:07.20\00:20:09.70
Verse 10,
00:20:09.73\00:20:11.84
"When all the people saw
him walking and praising God,
00:20:11.87\00:20:13.93
they recognized
him as the same man
00:20:13.96\00:20:15.14
who used to sit begging at
the temple called Beautiful,
00:20:15.17\00:20:17.55
and they were filled
with wonder and amazement
00:20:17.58\00:20:19.60
at what had
happened to him the end?"
00:20:19.63\00:20:23.50
Isn't that a great story?
00:20:23.53\00:20:25.14
I just love that story.
00:20:25.17\00:20:27.59
It reminds me of another story
00:20:27.62\00:20:29.46
about Thomas Aquinas
the great Middle Ages
00:20:29.49\00:20:32.75
theologian of the
church and philosopher.
00:20:32.78\00:20:35.34
One day he was
having personal audience
00:20:35.37\00:20:37.23
with Pope Urban
IV, there in Rome.
00:20:37.26\00:20:41.58
And the pope was
taking his beloved counselor
00:20:41.61\00:20:44.95
and theologian and showing him
00:20:44.98\00:20:46.75
the amassed treasures of Rome,
00:20:46.78\00:20:48.66
heaped high on the
tables and the pope says to him,
00:20:48.69\00:20:52.67
you see Thomas my son,
00:20:52.70\00:20:55.06
the church can no longer
say silver and gold have I none.
00:20:55.09\00:21:01.78
The theologian shut back,
00:21:01.81\00:21:05.71
oh yes, Holy Father
00:21:05.74\00:21:08.36
but neither can she
say in the name of Jesus
00:21:08.39\00:21:11.41
of Nazareth get up and walk.
00:21:11.44\00:21:16.56
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:21:16.59\00:21:17.75
I grant you the
wealth of the church today,
00:21:17.78\00:21:19.88
we are a wealthy
church relatively speaking.
00:21:19.91\00:21:23.45
We got wealth but
where is the power
00:21:23.48\00:21:26.14
of the Risen Christ?
00:21:26.17\00:21:28.45
Where is the
power that can cry out,
00:21:28.48\00:21:30.63
silver and gold have we none
00:21:30.66\00:21:32.17
but in the name
of Jesus of Nazareth
00:21:32.20\00:21:33.77
get up and walk
boy now, where is it?
00:21:33.80\00:21:41.08
Makes you wonder.
00:21:41.11\00:21:45.95
Big time we may
be sitting here today
00:21:45.98\00:21:48.27
in need of the secret that
set ablaze that first church.
00:21:48.30\00:21:54.11
If I understand
my Bible correctly
00:21:54.14\00:21:55.43
what happened to the
church in the beginning
00:21:55.46\00:21:56.53
it's supposed to
happen all over again
00:21:56.56\00:21:58.78
with the church in the
ending, is that not true.
00:21:58.81\00:22:00.96
Then we need to
know that secret.
00:22:00.99\00:22:02.13
Jot it down, you'll
never forget the secret.
00:22:02.16\00:22:03.61
Once you jot it down
you will never forget it,
00:22:03.64\00:22:05.73
I have been praying.
00:22:05.76\00:22:07.58
Take out your study guide now.
00:22:07.61\00:22:09.64
Now, ushers, that's when
I need you to go, all right?
00:22:09.67\00:22:13.34
Study guides are already out,
00:22:13.37\00:22:14.80
everybody's got them, all right.
00:22:14.83\00:22:16.67
Have you turned in the--
this beautiful yellow cards
00:22:16.70\00:22:18.88
everything's done,
head deacon is saying,
00:22:18.91\00:22:20.61
Dwight, it's under control.
00:22:20.64\00:22:21.93
Thank you, Milan.
00:22:21.96\00:22:23.54
All right, those of
you watching on television,
00:22:23.57\00:22:24.96
let me take a moment with you.
00:22:24.99\00:22:26.12
We're delighted to have you.
00:22:26.15\00:22:27.18
Please go to our website.
00:22:27.21\00:22:28.41
Let me put it on
the screen for you,
00:22:28.44\00:22:29.67
www.pmchurch.tv.
00:22:29.70\00:22:35.41
And those of you in here
if you still didn't get it,
00:22:35.44\00:22:36.95
you got to get the study guide.
00:22:36.98\00:22:38.20
If you didn't
get the study guide,
00:22:38.23\00:22:39.26
this may be the most important
study guide in this series.
00:22:39.29\00:22:41.59
Just hold your hand
up, if you didn't get it.
00:22:41.62\00:22:43.36
It's not one per family.
00:22:43.39\00:22:44.62
This will be a
private study guide
00:22:44.65\00:22:46.15
as you'll see in just a moment.
00:22:46.18\00:22:47.71
Now those of you watching on TV,
00:22:47.74\00:22:48.90
you can get the
same study guide,
00:22:48.93\00:22:50.30
you're looking for
the series primetime,
00:22:50.33\00:22:51.88
this is part 3.
00:22:51.91\00:22:53.27
If you didn't get
the first two parts,
00:22:53.30\00:22:54.37
go to our website
00:22:54.40\00:22:56.15
and get the
podcast you can get it.
00:22:56.18\00:22:57.81
But you're looking
for Down on All Fours
00:22:57.84\00:22:59.68
that's the title
of today's teaching
00:22:59.71\00:23:01.07
Down on All Fours.
00:23:01.10\00:23:02.66
When you see that it
will say study guide,
00:23:02.69\00:23:04.64
click there and you'll have it.
00:23:04.67\00:23:07.57
We got it here,
we are ready to go.
00:23:07.60\00:23:09.74
All right, number one,
00:23:09.77\00:23:10.86
you see the first line
there, fill it in please.
00:23:10.89\00:23:13.39
The primetime secret of
the church in the beginning
00:23:13.42\00:23:17.73
and at the
ending remains the same:
00:23:17.76\00:23:19.92
It is the time of prayer that
unleashes the time of power."
00:23:19.95\00:23:25.06
Now, that is a crucial point.
00:23:25.09\00:23:27.36
If I got the direct
quote straight out of the TNIV,
00:23:27.39\00:23:30.15
let's put it on
the screen please,
00:23:30.18\00:23:31.37
verse 1 again of Acts 3,
00:23:31.40\00:23:33.55
"One day Peter and John
were going up to the temple
00:23:33.58\00:23:36.82
at the time of prayer."
00:23:36.85\00:23:40.12
It was while they were on
their way to prayer meeting
00:23:40.15\00:23:43.00
that this miracle took place.
00:23:43.03\00:23:45.29
The man would
not have been healed,
00:23:45.32\00:23:46.96
if the man had not
headed to prayer meeting.
00:23:46.99\00:23:51.21
No prayer, in
that case no power.
00:23:51.24\00:23:55.44
And I suppose Peter and John,
John was 25 like you, he's 24.
00:23:55.47\00:23:59.39
I suppose he had a
dozen, maybe two dozen,
00:23:59.42\00:24:01.15
maybe three dozen reasons
why he should not be going
00:24:01.18\00:24:04.15
to prayer meeting this
week, I just can't do it.
00:24:04.18\00:24:08.01
And they would have been
valid and we would have said,
00:24:08.04\00:24:09.41
yeah, you bet I understand,
you don't have to go to this.
00:24:09.44\00:24:13.18
But they went to prayer
00:24:13.21\00:24:15.50
and it was on
their way to prayer
00:24:15.53\00:24:17.04
that the power was unleashed,
it's at the time of prayer.
00:24:17.07\00:24:22.19
Wow, obviously there
is nothing more essential
00:24:22.22\00:24:26.26
than prayer at
least in the Book of Acts.
00:24:26.29\00:24:30.02
Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
00:24:30.05\00:24:31.71
I mean if we really
believed that ourselves,
00:24:31.74\00:24:34.77
wouldn't we be
praying all the time.
00:24:34.80\00:24:37.20
I mean if you really
believed in the power of prayer.
00:24:37.23\00:24:40.95
There is a great
line here, Frank Laubach.
00:24:40.98\00:24:43.05
Put it on your--
in your study guide,
00:24:43.08\00:24:45.24
fill this in please,
00:24:45.27\00:24:46.31
"Prayer is the
mightiest power on earth.
00:24:46.34\00:24:49.51
Listen, enough of
us, if we prayed enough,
00:24:49.54\00:24:54.18
could save the
world-- if we prayed enough."
00:24:54.21\00:24:58.20
Three enoughs
00:24:58.23\00:25:00.25
are just enough for
us to get the message
00:25:00.28\00:25:03.10
that if we prayed
enough, enough of us,
00:25:03.13\00:25:05.55
this world would
be a different place.
00:25:05.58\00:25:11.49
John Dawson in
his marvelous book
00:25:11.52\00:25:13.93
Taking Our Cities for God.
00:25:13.96\00:25:16.58
I read that book
three or four times through,
00:25:16.61\00:25:18.40
it just keeps moving me
every time I go through it
00:25:18.43\00:25:20.23
and there is one line
every time I come on it,
00:25:20.26\00:25:22.70
it just stirs my heart.
00:25:22.73\00:25:23.85
It's in a series of lines,
00:25:23.88\00:25:24.94
you know I want
to give them to you.
00:25:24.97\00:25:26.00
There are three lines here.
Let me give you the first one.
00:25:26.03\00:25:27.78
It's in there in
your study guide.
00:25:27.81\00:25:28.85
"The priorities of
eternity and the spiritual world
00:25:28.88\00:25:31.50
should be the realities
that dominate our thinking."
00:25:31.53\00:25:34.69
And then he asked the
question that made me stop.
00:25:34.72\00:25:36.28
Boy, when he asks this question
00:25:36.31\00:25:37.34
the first time
I'm reading the book,
00:25:37.37\00:25:38.67
wow, he asked the question.
00:25:38.70\00:25:41.78
"Are you a Christian in belief
but an agnostic in practice?"
00:25:41.81\00:25:49.52
Hey, what's an agnostic?
00:25:49.55\00:25:51.07
What's an agnostic?
00:25:51.10\00:25:52.60
Somebody said, I'm not sure,
00:25:52.63\00:25:53.88
I'm not sure, I
really believe this
00:25:53.91\00:25:54.96
and that, I mean,
I just don't know.
00:25:54.99\00:25:57.13
Are you a
Christian? Am I a Christian?
00:25:57.16\00:25:58.47
But of course, I believe
in the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:25:58.50\00:26:00.02
hallelujah.
00:26:00.05\00:26:01.09
But am I practically
and in practice an agnostic.
00:26:01.12\00:26:05.52
He said, Dwight, I
never call you an agnostic,
00:26:05.55\00:26:07.38
I wouldn't do that to you.
00:26:07.41\00:26:09.33
Why would you call
anybody an agnostic?
00:26:09.36\00:26:11.16
Because if I'm not tapping in
00:26:11.19\00:26:13.81
to the supernatural
power of almighty God
00:26:13.84\00:26:17.83
and I'm trying to handle
my life always in my own,
00:26:17.86\00:26:19.90
I'm always coming
up with the solution,
00:26:19.93\00:26:21.35
I'm always looking to
get my way out of stuff,
00:26:21.38\00:26:23.44
nothing wrong with using our
brains that we've been given,
00:26:23.47\00:26:25.92
but if I'm
totally dependant on me,
00:26:25.95\00:26:28.39
I'm an agnostic.
00:26:28.42\00:26:29.66
I just don't believe that
00:26:29.69\00:26:30.72
God is really able in
this case to do much at all.
00:26:30.75\00:26:36.12
Are you a Christian in belief
but an agnostic in practice?"
00:26:36.15\00:26:38.97
And then, hold on now,
00:26:39.00\00:26:40.15
Dawson just blew
me out of the water
00:26:40.18\00:26:43.19
with what you're about to read.
00:26:43.22\00:26:44.92
It's there in your study guide.
00:26:44.95\00:26:46.62
The prayer, look at this,
"The prayer of a human being
00:26:46.65\00:26:50.10
can alter history by releasing
angels into the earth."
00:26:50.13\00:26:56.81
I had to pause
button right there.
00:26:56.84\00:26:58.15
I know that there
are some of you here.
00:26:58.18\00:27:00.92
Your very
sterile paradigm of life
00:27:00.95\00:27:03.22
on this planet does not allow
00:27:03.25\00:27:04.58
for angelic
intervention at any point.
00:27:04.61\00:27:06.98
It's just to-- that's
for old ladies and children,
00:27:07.01\00:27:09.73
you're too
bright, you're too wise,
00:27:09.76\00:27:11.67
too many degrees.
00:27:11.70\00:27:14.88
Who angels?
00:27:14.91\00:27:15.94
Please, there are no angels.
00:27:15.97\00:27:19.94
I got to share with you my--
00:27:19.97\00:27:21.18
my other most
favorite story in Acts.
00:27:21.21\00:27:23.46
Just go over there to
Chapter 12 for a moment.
00:27:23.49\00:27:25.12
Can't stay long
here. Cannot stay long.
00:27:25.15\00:27:27.42
Acts Chapter 12
00:27:27.45\00:27:29.87
and wait, I'm gonna
put it on the screen here,
00:27:29.90\00:27:32.00
"It was about this
time that Herod arrested
00:27:32.03\00:27:33.77
some who belonged to the church,
00:27:33.80\00:27:34.90
intending to persecute them."
00:27:34.93\00:27:36.11
And guess what?
00:27:36.14\00:27:37.45
John boy, remember John boy,
00:27:37.48\00:27:38.80
this is his older brother James,
00:27:38.83\00:27:40.66
he's out there James.
00:27:40.69\00:27:41.91
Herod arrested
James and listen to this
00:27:41.94\00:27:45.22
had him beheaded, adios.
00:27:45.25\00:27:50.73
And then when he saw that
00:27:50.76\00:27:51.79
it pleased the
religious authorities,
00:27:51.82\00:27:53.63
you know what Herod did?
00:27:53.66\00:27:54.92
He said, man, you guys
gonna like this, don't you?
00:27:54.95\00:27:56.70
Let me get
another one those apostles
00:27:56.73\00:27:58.39
and he takes Peter, and
Peter is put into prison
00:27:58.42\00:28:02.46
prepared to be
beheaded the next day
00:28:02.49\00:28:05.65
when the story starts here.
00:28:05.68\00:28:07.89
And isn't this amazing,
I used to wrestle with it.
00:28:07.92\00:28:10.13
Look at verse 5, "So
Peter was kept in prison,
00:28:10.16\00:28:13.97
but the church was earnestly
praying to God for him.
00:28:14.00\00:28:16.47
And I'm saying, man,
00:28:16.50\00:28:17.64
come on guys you
really blew it for James
00:28:17.67\00:28:19.18
why didn't you have a
prayer meeting for James,
00:28:19.21\00:28:21.35
you could have got him out
00:28:21.38\00:28:24.20
and he said, isn't weird
00:28:24.23\00:28:25.27
they didn't have
the prayer meeting
00:28:25.30\00:28:26.33
until the second guy
is in and then it hit me.
00:28:26.36\00:28:29.41
'Cause Steven's
already been martyred
00:28:29.44\00:28:31.76
and it hit me, you know what?
00:28:31.79\00:28:33.40
I bet the church
thought, the early church,
00:28:33.43\00:28:35.75
hey, the guys
that were with Jesus,
00:28:35.78\00:28:39.01
can't touch
him, can't touch him.
00:28:39.04\00:28:41.20
If you are an
apostle, you're guaranteed,
00:28:41.23\00:28:44.15
and then James gone.
00:28:44.18\00:28:47.31
And boy when
wicked King Herod says,
00:28:47.34\00:28:49.46
I'm gonna take number
2, that place goes berserk.
00:28:49.49\00:28:54.72
We have got to pray.
00:28:54.75\00:28:56.86
You know the word
there by the way in the Greek
00:28:56.89\00:28:58.60
what it says, they
earnestly pray for Peter.
00:28:58.63\00:29:00.93
It's the same word that
the same author Luke uses
00:29:00.96\00:29:03.86
in his gospel Chapter 22:44,
00:29:03.89\00:29:05.91
when he describes
Jesus Down on All Fours
00:29:05.94\00:29:08.79
in the garden of Gethsemane
00:29:08.82\00:29:10.24
pleading with
God to save his life.
00:29:10.27\00:29:12.04
They are doing the
same kind of praying
00:29:12.07\00:29:13.54
it's all four praying,
it's called Down on All Fours.
00:29:13.57\00:29:17.61
They are begging God constantly,
00:29:17.64\00:29:21.91
earnestly, save Peter.
00:29:21.94\00:29:25.27
And the old Peter blesses
00:29:25.30\00:29:26.52
so, he figures he's
gonna be gone tomorrow.
00:29:26.55\00:29:28.35
Look if it's good for James,
00:29:28.38\00:29:29.93
we fish together for
so many years, I'm next.
00:29:29.96\00:29:33.64
Peter is sound
asleep in the prison.
00:29:33.67\00:29:36.83
I tell you what?
00:29:36.86\00:29:37.89
That's the peace
that passes understanding.
00:29:37.92\00:29:41.22
I don't understand it.
00:29:41.25\00:29:43.14
I'd be up saying
prayer all night long.
00:29:43.17\00:29:46.86
Is there any sin I left
out because I'm going tomorrow.
00:29:46.89\00:29:51.82
Peter is sound
asleep, snoring away.
00:29:51.85\00:29:55.45
And unfortunately for Peter,
00:29:55.48\00:29:57.13
he has an
impolite guardian angel.
00:29:57.16\00:30:02.15
That angel just
doesn't have courtesy at all.
00:30:02.18\00:30:04.58
You look at the next verse.
00:30:04.61\00:30:05.99
It says the angel
shows up, what verse is this?
00:30:06.02\00:30:08.06
It says the angel
shows up in verse 7,
00:30:08.09\00:30:10.95
"Suddenly an angel of
the Lord appeared to him
00:30:10.98\00:30:12.33
and a light shone in the cell."
00:30:12.36\00:30:13.91
And get this, he strikes him,
00:30:13.94\00:30:17.80
when I'm asleep all
you have to just say,
00:30:17.83\00:30:19.31
hey, Dwight, shh,
shh, Dwight, hey, hey.
00:30:19.34\00:30:22.44
You don't hit me,
00:30:22.47\00:30:25.11
but that's what
the angel did, wake up.
00:30:25.14\00:30:29.48
You know the
angel probably knows
00:30:29.51\00:30:30.92
that these fishermen
can sleep through anything
00:30:30.95\00:30:32.52
and he knows a
little gentle call.
00:30:32.55\00:30:36.79
You know, Peter up
and just like that,
00:30:36.82\00:30:42.80
chains all gone,
come on, come on,
00:30:42.83\00:30:44.82
come on, come on
we got stuff to do.
00:30:44.85\00:30:46.46
Go, follow me.
00:30:46.49\00:30:49.35
Four units of
Roman guards, four each,
00:30:49.38\00:30:51.58
four door opens, they're asleep,
00:30:51.61\00:30:55.37
four door opens
they're all asleep.
00:30:55.40\00:30:58.31
Four more door
opens all are asleep,
00:30:58.34\00:31:01.10
four more and its outdoors,
00:31:01.13\00:31:03.04
door opens angel and Peter gone
00:31:03.07\00:31:05.71
and they-- the 16
sleep through it all.
00:31:05.74\00:31:09.43
The record says, that
the angel went one block
00:31:09.46\00:31:11.40
with Peter and shh, it's gone.
00:31:11.43\00:31:15.13
Peter says, I'm not
dreaming. This is fresh air.
00:31:15.16\00:31:18.95
And you know where Peter goes,
00:31:18.98\00:31:20.05
he goes straight
to prayer meeting,
00:31:20.08\00:31:21.82
they're in
prayer meeting for him.
00:31:21.85\00:31:23.58
I wish we had time
to unpack the story
00:31:23.61\00:31:24.97
because when he goes
to the prayer meeting,
00:31:25.00\00:31:26.26
he knocks on the door,
there is a servant Granny Rose,
00:31:26.29\00:31:29.33
in Greek it's Rhoda
but her name is Rose.
00:31:29.36\00:31:31.28
She answers the door, she
said, who's there, who's there?
00:31:31.31\00:31:34.11
He says, it's Peter.
00:31:34.14\00:31:36.51
She said, I said, who's there.
00:31:36.54\00:31:39.30
He said, I said Peter.
00:31:39.33\00:31:42.28
Peter who?
00:31:42.31\00:31:44.82
Peter me.
00:31:44.85\00:31:48.05
She is so excited
00:31:48.08\00:31:50.54
the one they've
been praying for is here.
00:31:50.57\00:31:53.05
She leaves the door locked,
00:31:53.08\00:31:55.14
goes back to the prayer meeting,
00:31:55.17\00:31:56.27
she said, hey guys, time outs,
00:31:56.30\00:31:57.90
hey, hey, takes the
young adult to do this,
00:31:57.93\00:31:59.70
stop praying, enough prayers,
00:31:59.73\00:32:02.44
shh, woman get down,
00:32:02.47\00:32:04.07
no, hey Peter is at the door.
00:32:04.10\00:32:06.34
Get down and pray girl.
00:32:06.37\00:32:09.41
How long you've been praying?
00:32:09.44\00:32:11.54
No, I'm serious
Peter is at the door.
00:32:11.57\00:32:13.56
You got to be crazy.
00:32:13.59\00:32:15.15
No, I'm telling,
he's at the door.
00:32:15.18\00:32:17.76
And they opened the
door and Peter comes walking
00:32:17.79\00:32:19.39
and they said, why didn't
you tell us he was at the door.
00:32:19.42\00:32:23.65
I love that story
because ladies and gentlemen,
00:32:23.68\00:32:25.88
it's
counterculture to the paradigm
00:32:25.91\00:32:27.55
you and I have grown up in.
00:32:27.58\00:32:28.73
Our paradigm is you pray,
00:32:28.76\00:32:29.99
who cares maybe
something happen,
00:32:30.02\00:32:31.40
maybe be
doesn't but they believe
00:32:31.43\00:32:32.96
they said, no God,
00:32:32.99\00:32:34.56
you have angels
that you can release
00:32:34.59\00:32:38.23
and that's John Dawson's point.
00:32:38.26\00:32:40.67
That's Dawson's point.
00:32:40.70\00:32:41.73
Let me read it again,
"The prayer of a human being
00:32:41.76\00:32:43.49
can alter history by releasing
angels into the earth."
00:32:43.52\00:32:47.05
And here is what struck me.
00:32:47.08\00:32:49.70
I tell you I was
reprimanded with this line.
00:32:49.73\00:32:54.31
"If we really believed
this truth, Dawson writes,
00:32:54.34\00:32:58.06
we would pray with intensity,
and we pray constantly."
00:32:58.09\00:33:03.81
I read that line years
ago and every time I read it
00:33:03.84\00:33:05.83
I just go, huh,
00:33:05.86\00:33:07.59
if I really believed
that the almighty God
00:33:07.62\00:33:10.66
of the universe
when I pray is prepared
00:33:10.69\00:33:13.53
if need be to release the forces
00:33:13.56\00:33:16.48
of his army in heaven
to answer that prayer,
00:33:16.51\00:33:19.79
I would be in prayer
intensely and constantly.
00:33:19.82\00:33:25.65
I would be praying all the time
00:33:25.68\00:33:26.80
and so would you,
don't you go look at me
00:33:26.83\00:33:28.31
like you wouldn't,
you would if you believed.
00:33:28.34\00:33:32.76
"No wonder in the Book of Acts
00:33:32.79\00:33:34.17
we find the
record that the praying
00:33:34.20\00:33:35.90
of its primetime
players Acts records
00:33:35.93\00:33:38.48
that praying 25 times,
00:33:38.51\00:33:40.52
write it down 25
times there in prayer,
00:33:40.55\00:33:45.09
I counted it in the Greek.
00:33:45.12\00:33:47.62
That's why I'm
convinced, ladies and gentlemen,
00:33:47.65\00:33:49.48
that prayer is
the most potent weapon
00:33:49.51\00:33:51.09
in this arsenal of
the primetime generation.
00:33:51.12\00:33:54.01
You are the primetime generation
00:33:54.04\00:33:56.00
and listen, prayer is your most
potent weapon in your arsenal.
00:33:56.03\00:34:00.65
And by the way this
is not any old prayer,
00:34:00.68\00:34:02.44
oh, God is
gracious, God is good,
00:34:02.47\00:34:04.14
let us thank Him for this--
no, it's not any old prayer.
00:34:04.17\00:34:06.57
Lord, I lay me down
to sleep my pray this,
00:34:06.60\00:34:08.64
my soul to keep-- no, no, no.
00:34:08.67\00:34:12.75
This is prayer for lost people.
00:34:12.78\00:34:15.80
Now listen by name,
00:34:15.83\00:34:18.68
by name, by name.
00:34:18.71\00:34:24.86
In fact if you like to
take this entire teaching
00:34:24.89\00:34:29.04
and reduce it to a
single sentence here it is
00:34:29.07\00:34:32.19
in your study
guide, fill it in please.
00:34:32.22\00:34:34.13
"Prayer is the power of
passion put to practice."
00:34:34.16\00:34:41.43
That's it.
00:34:41.46\00:34:42.51
Prayer is the power of
passion put to practice.
00:34:42.54\00:34:45.94
You're saying, hey, Dwight,
00:34:45.97\00:34:47.01
what passion are
you talking about?
00:34:47.04\00:34:48.17
What we've been talking
about for the last two Sabbaths,
00:34:48.20\00:34:50.27
that God's unrelenting
passion for lost people.
00:34:50.30\00:34:54.09
That is the
most, that is the most
00:34:54.12\00:34:55.50
explosive power in the universe.
00:34:55.53\00:34:57.96
Are you following the news?
00:34:57.99\00:34:59.02
Did you hear what
happened this last week
00:34:59.05\00:35:00.77
beneath the
grassy sod of the border
00:35:00.80\00:35:03.56
between Switzerland and France,
00:35:03.59\00:35:04.96
did you hear about that?
00:35:04.99\00:35:06.05
The world's
largest atom smasher,
00:35:06.08\00:35:10.27
particle accelerator 17
miles circuit underground
00:35:10.30\00:35:14.75
was put in operation.
00:35:14.78\00:35:16.58
They want to find
out how the Big Bang,
00:35:16.61\00:35:18.31
how could the
universe have started
00:35:18.34\00:35:20.02
with immense power.
00:35:20.05\00:35:21.69
Ladies and
gentlemen, that power is nothing
00:35:21.72\00:35:25.74
in comparison to the God
who's the Lord of the universe.
00:35:25.77\00:35:30.83
Prayer, prayer is
tapping the passion.
00:35:30.86\00:35:34.08
In fact, you know what?
00:35:34.11\00:35:35.17
God's love for lost people
00:35:35.20\00:35:37.25
is the great... Write this down.
00:35:37.28\00:35:38.42
"God's love for lost
people is the greatest power
00:35:38.45\00:35:41.91
in the universe bar none."
00:35:41.94\00:35:44.68
When you and I go to our knees
00:35:44.71\00:35:46.28
and we remember by name
an individual who is lost,
00:35:46.31\00:35:49.37
we are tapping into his passion,
00:35:49.40\00:35:50.95
we are tapping into his power.
00:35:50.98\00:35:52.66
Prayer is the power of
passion put to practice.
00:35:52.69\00:35:59.09
My friend Joe Engelkemier
in his marvelous book,
00:35:59.12\00:36:02.94
30 days, 30 days to
Intercessory Prayer.
00:36:02.97\00:36:09.05
He's quoting Andrew Murray
the great South African divine,
00:36:09.08\00:36:13.14
and it's in your study guide,
00:36:13.17\00:36:14.32
these are the
words of Andrew Murray,
00:36:14.35\00:36:16.39
30 days to more
powerful Intercessory Prayer
00:36:16.42\00:36:19.09
"Where there is much
prayer, Murray is writing,
00:36:19.12\00:36:22.62
there will be much of the Spirit
00:36:22.65\00:36:24.38
and where there
is much of the Spirit
00:36:24.41\00:36:25.78
there will be much prayer."
00:36:25.81\00:36:26.85
Now hold on.
00:36:26.88\00:36:27.91
Between our
Impotence, you know what?
00:36:27.94\00:36:30.80
Im means no, potence
means power, no power.
00:36:30.83\00:36:33.91
Between our no power
and God's Omnipotence,
00:36:33.94\00:36:37.30
Omni means all
so that's all power
00:36:37.33\00:36:39.25
between our no
power and God's all power
00:36:39.28\00:36:42.33
intercession, write it down
00:36:42.36\00:36:44.15
intercession is
the blessed link."
00:36:44.18\00:36:49.64
And what is intercession?
00:36:49.67\00:36:51.45
Intercession is
praying for other
00:36:51.48\00:36:52.71
is what Jesus does
for you and me 24/7.
00:36:52.74\00:36:55.46
Have you ever read Hebrews 7:25?
00:36:55.49\00:36:57.64
And He always lives to
make intercession for us 24/7.
00:36:57.67\00:37:01.74
And by the way hold on,
00:37:01.77\00:37:03.41
this isn't something He started
00:37:03.44\00:37:04.72
once He got back to
heaven after the ascension.
00:37:04.75\00:37:06.97
No, no, no, no.
00:37:07.00\00:37:08.04
Jesus was an intercessor
when He was here on earth.
00:37:08.07\00:37:10.71
In fact the night before
He was executed, get this,
00:37:10.74\00:37:13.95
He sees the same
Peter, the same Peter.
00:37:13.98\00:37:16.82
He sees Simon and He says,
00:37:16.85\00:37:19.31
this is Luke 22, "Simon, Simon,
00:37:19.34\00:37:22.08
Satan has desired
to sift you like sand
00:37:22.11\00:37:26.93
but I have prayed for you
that you will be converted."
00:37:26.96\00:37:32.15
He was an
intercessor before He left us.
00:37:32.18\00:37:35.29
He prayed for the
lost and so should we.
00:37:35.32\00:37:38.46
In fact jot this down.
00:37:38.49\00:37:39.73
This is Paul, one of
the great intercessors
00:37:39.76\00:37:42.34
of Christian history.
00:37:42.37\00:37:43.60
This is what I Timothy, I
Timothy 2:1, 3 fill it in.
00:37:43.63\00:37:48.21
Paul says, "I urge
then that petitions,
00:37:48.24\00:37:49.83
and prayers, and intercession
00:37:49.86\00:37:50.94
and thanksgiving
be made for everyone.
00:37:50.97\00:37:52.75
This is good and
pleases God our Savior,
00:37:52.78\00:37:55.63
who wants all
people to be saved..."
00:37:55.66\00:38:00.18
And notice there's
still more to that.
00:38:00.21\00:38:01.60
"Who wants all
people to be saved
00:38:01.63\00:38:04.16
and to come to a
knowledge of the truth."
00:38:04.19\00:38:07.69
Some people say, well, if
you just get him up to Jesus
00:38:07.72\00:38:09.62
and that's all they need.
00:38:09.65\00:38:10.74
No, no that's to be saved
00:38:10.77\00:38:12.21
but you also need to come
to a knowledge of the truth.
00:38:12.24\00:38:16.88
I wish God
wants all to be saved.
00:38:16.91\00:38:20.20
Clearly prayer is the
power of God's passion
00:38:20.23\00:38:22.45
put to human practice.
00:38:22.48\00:38:23.54
I'm telling you what?
00:38:23.57\00:38:24.60
It's the most potent weapon
00:38:24.63\00:38:26.25
in the arsenal
of faith and love.
00:38:26.28\00:38:32.64
God could do for Dick Mackie.
00:38:32.67\00:38:34.48
Listen to me carefully now.
00:38:34.51\00:38:36.84
Dick was standing
right here with me,
00:38:36.87\00:38:37.90
sitting out there now.
00:38:37.93\00:38:39.14
God could do for Dick
Mackie what Dwight could not do
00:38:39.17\00:38:42.39
if he had spend
another 30 years,
00:38:42.42\00:38:45.79
I've done all the
arguing, done all the logic,
00:38:45.82\00:38:47.85
looked at all the
scripture, not enough
00:38:47.88\00:38:51.82
but God says, all right,
hey, Dwight stand back now,
00:38:51.85\00:38:54.68
you're praying for Dick, good.
00:38:54.71\00:38:57.05
Let me show what I can do boy,
00:38:57.08\00:38:59.74
and Dick on a night
when he's collapsed in tears,
00:38:59.77\00:39:04.27
senses somebody come behind him
00:39:04.30\00:39:07.10
and say you are not alone.
00:39:07.13\00:39:10.61
And in his heart he
says, this is Jesus.
00:39:10.64\00:39:15.52
Look, I could with
Saul with the little light
00:39:15.55\00:39:17.67
on the road to Damascus,
now he believes in Jesus.
00:39:17.70\00:39:20.90
I can do with
Dick in the kitchen.
00:39:20.93\00:39:22.23
You guys, you
write me off too soon.
00:39:22.26\00:39:24.83
What do you
think I am, impotent?
00:39:24.86\00:39:27.72
I can do anything I want.
00:39:27.75\00:39:29.62
You just talk to
me about the lost,
00:39:29.65\00:39:30.84
I'll take care of the
rest, isn't it something.
00:39:30.87\00:39:33.10
No wonder Wesley Duewel,
00:39:33.13\00:39:34.53
I love this line,
boy, you fill it in,
00:39:34.56\00:39:37.35
"You can love more
people through prayer
00:39:37.38\00:39:39.51
than any other way."
00:39:39.54\00:39:42.57
You wanna love this world,
00:39:42.60\00:39:44.16
you love people through prayer
00:39:44.19\00:39:45.44
more than any other way.
00:39:45.47\00:39:46.75
So here is the question.
00:39:46.78\00:39:47.91
Dwight, how can I effectively
pray for lost people?
00:39:47.94\00:39:49.78
Let me close by sharing
with you five very simple
00:39:49.81\00:39:51.94
but successful strategies.
00:39:51.97\00:39:54.84
You'll be able to do
this to pray for your family,
00:39:54.87\00:39:56.78
your friends, your
neighbors and even strangers.
00:39:56.81\00:39:59.22
Watch this, you
pray for strangers.
00:39:59.25\00:40:01.12
Jot this down now in closing.
00:40:01.15\00:40:02.94
Number 1, make a list.
00:40:02.97\00:40:06.08
Without a list you'll never
remember to pray for the lost.
00:40:06.11\00:40:08.26
Who goes on that
list keep your pen moving.
00:40:08.29\00:40:10.04
Anyone you care about
who needs to know Christ
00:40:10.07\00:40:12.46
and his truth.
00:40:12.49\00:40:14.28
So that can be
members of your family
00:40:14.31\00:40:15.42
but of course start
with those closest to you.
00:40:15.45\00:40:17.52
You might have
family member who are lost.
00:40:17.55\00:40:18.90
It could be your parents,
it could be your children,
00:40:18.93\00:40:20.80
it could be your brother-in-law,
00:40:20.83\00:40:21.94
it could be your cousin.
00:40:21.97\00:40:23.34
Look, I know you
have a huge family tree,
00:40:23.37\00:40:25.33
you don't have to put
your whole family tree
00:40:25.36\00:40:26.87
on that prayer,
on that prayer list,
00:40:26.90\00:40:28.60
but you have a special
burden for some of your family,
00:40:28.63\00:40:32.22
put their names
on your prayer list.
00:40:32.25\00:40:35.08
Who else goes on that
list? Put your friends.
00:40:35.11\00:40:36.78
Well, you're
talking about my friends.
00:40:36.81\00:40:37.84
Well, I'm talking
about your classmates,
00:40:37.87\00:40:39.54
I'm talking about roommates,
00:40:39.57\00:40:41.17
I'm talking about
buddies from childhood,
00:40:41.20\00:40:43.12
I'm talking
about golfing partners.
00:40:43.15\00:40:44.61
I don't how you
have your friends,
00:40:44.64\00:40:46.00
you got your friends.
00:40:46.03\00:40:47.15
Do I have to put
all my friends on?
00:40:47.18\00:40:48.55
No, just put the
lost friends number 1
00:40:48.58\00:40:50.49
and those that you're
especially burdened for,
00:40:50.52\00:40:53.53
just put him down.
00:40:53.56\00:40:55.02
Do you got any neighbors?
00:40:55.05\00:40:56.13
Yeah, I got the guy in
the next room in the dorm,
00:40:56.16\00:40:57.99
pray for him, I
got neighbors at home.
00:40:58.02\00:40:59.65
Are they lost?
00:40:59.68\00:41:00.76
Pray for them by name.
00:41:00.79\00:41:02.82
You have associates at work,
00:41:02.85\00:41:04.04
you have
colleagues in your profession,
00:41:04.07\00:41:05.88
you know they are lost.
00:41:05.91\00:41:06.95
Pray for them.
00:41:06.98\00:41:08.32
Now hold on, you can
even pray for strangers
00:41:08.35\00:41:13.99
who have no idea that
you are praying for them.
00:41:14.02\00:41:17.11
You are a total
stranger to them.
00:41:17.14\00:41:19.04
I have two names
on my prayer list
00:41:19.07\00:41:23.96
of well-known
preachers and I pray for them.
00:41:23.99\00:41:29.62
If you would go
to them and say hey,
00:41:29.65\00:41:31.87
this guy name Dwight
he's praying for you,
00:41:31.90\00:41:34.20
they would be
affronted as it were
00:41:34.23\00:41:36.18
by that-- by the very thought,
00:41:36.21\00:41:37.49
what do you mean
praying for me, I'm saved.
00:41:37.52\00:41:40.90
Ah, but you see...
00:41:40.93\00:41:43.38
I'm desperate for these leaders
00:41:43.41\00:41:48.04
to know the truth of
the book they preach,
00:41:48.07\00:41:54.46
and I'm thinking if this
guy could find that truth.
00:41:54.49\00:42:01.03
Oh, what God
could do on this planet.
00:42:01.06\00:42:06.52
They know nothing by
the human being name Dwight,
00:42:06.55\00:42:11.21
but I pray for them,
they are on my prayer list.
00:42:11.24\00:42:13.20
You can pray for strangers.
00:42:13.23\00:42:16.35
Point is you got
to pray for somebody.
00:42:16.38\00:42:19.23
Make the list, all
right let me put a quotation
00:42:19.26\00:42:21.42
on the screen for you,
00:42:21.45\00:42:23.33
"In our
petitions we are to include
00:42:23.36\00:42:25.00
our neighbors as
well as ourselves.
00:42:25.03\00:42:27.04
No one prays aright
who seeks a blessing
00:42:27.07\00:42:29.61
for herself alone."
00:42:29.64\00:42:32.32
If our prayers of all become
me, me, me, me, me, me, me,
00:42:32.35\00:42:35.50
I'm telling you what you
can still get through to God,
00:42:35.53\00:42:37.50
you're getting
the great blessing
00:42:37.53\00:42:38.95
until you get off you sister,
until you get off you bro,
00:42:38.98\00:42:42.47
your prayers are not
having the maximum effect
00:42:42.50\00:42:45.53
they can have back on you,
00:42:45.56\00:42:46.72
pray for other people all right.
00:42:46.75\00:42:48.73
Number 1, make a list.
00:42:48.76\00:42:49.79
Number 2, pray the
list. Pray the list.
00:42:49.82\00:42:53.55
Should I pray
this list every day?
00:42:53.58\00:42:54.84
No, you don't have to, the
list is gonna get too long,
00:42:54.87\00:42:56.83
you won't be able
to do it every day.
00:42:56.86\00:42:57.89
There is other stuff you
and God have got to deal with.
00:42:57.92\00:43:01.61
I pray the list every Friday,
00:43:01.64\00:43:03.33
Friday morning is my prayer list
00:43:03.36\00:43:04.45
to go through that prayer list
in its entirety once a week.
00:43:04.48\00:43:09.21
The point is there is
no point in a prayer list,
00:43:09.24\00:43:11.20
if you're not praying it.
00:43:11.23\00:43:12.34
I used to have prayer
list all over the house
00:43:12.37\00:43:14.87
but I never prayed them.
00:43:14.90\00:43:16.50
It took me a while to realize
00:43:16.53\00:43:18.24
the whole point of a
prayer list is to use it.
00:43:18.27\00:43:22.38
Make the list. Pray the list.
00:43:22.41\00:43:24.87
And by the way look at
the blessing in store for you,
00:43:24.90\00:43:26.59
we can put this on
the screen for you,
00:43:26.62\00:43:27.95
"As we seek to
win others to Christ,
00:43:27.98\00:43:29.77
bearing the burden
of souls in our prayers,
00:43:29.80\00:43:32.26
our own hearts will throb
00:43:32.29\00:43:34.12
with the quickening
influence of God's grace,
00:43:34.15\00:43:36.13
our own affections will
glow with more divine fervor,
00:43:36.16\00:43:39.27
our whole Christian life
will be more of a reality,
00:43:39.30\00:43:42.41
more earnest
and more prayerful."
00:43:42.44\00:43:44.17
I'm telling you the residual,
00:43:44.20\00:43:45.66
the reciprocal
benefits are out of sight
00:43:45.69\00:43:50.02
when you pray for somebody else.
00:43:50.05\00:43:51.97
All right,
number 3, Work the list.
00:43:52.00\00:43:53.45
Make the list. Pray the list.
00:43:53.48\00:43:54.70
Work the list for
sometime I've had the name
00:43:54.73\00:43:57.06
of a college
professor on my prayer list.
00:43:57.09\00:44:00.93
He teaches at another
college in our vicinity.
00:44:00.96\00:44:03.85
We studied the Bible together,
00:44:03.88\00:44:05.19
the spirit
seemed to be leading us
00:44:05.22\00:44:06.38
deeper and deeper and deeper
00:44:06.41\00:44:07.84
when all of the
sudden I'm telling you,
00:44:07.87\00:44:09.07
he went through a
crisis, it was a meltdown.
00:44:09.10\00:44:12.12
And when that crisis was over
00:44:12.15\00:44:15.94
every effort I made to reconnect
00:44:15.97\00:44:17.56
and get that, get
our studies going again,
00:44:17.59\00:44:19.64
it was all rebuffed, no, no, no.
00:44:19.67\00:44:22.44
Emais, phones I say
God, he is on my prayer list,
00:44:22.47\00:44:26.55
I got to keep him
on my prayer list.
00:44:26.58\00:44:28.97
So I kept praying.
00:44:29.00\00:44:30.38
One day, when I'm
praying my prayer list
00:44:30.41\00:44:32.26
on Friday this name came
with special burden to me
00:44:32.29\00:44:37.60
and I prayed again for him
and I said God you know what,
00:44:37.63\00:44:39.68
I've done everything I can,
00:44:39.71\00:44:40.75
I don't know
what to be doing now,
00:44:40.78\00:44:42.28
I'm at my wits end,
00:44:42.31\00:44:44.46
this professor
what do you think?
00:44:44.49\00:44:46.51
Here's the deal
God if you want me,
00:44:46.54\00:44:48.73
if this thing is over it's over,
00:44:48.76\00:44:50.29
sometimes it's
over I understand that.
00:44:50.32\00:44:52.59
But if this is not
over and You want us
00:44:52.62\00:44:54.74
to study together
again, you have him contact me.
00:44:54.77\00:44:59.04
Two hours later he
wrote me an email said,
00:44:59.07\00:45:01.72
Dwight, I've
missed our time together,
00:45:01.75\00:45:03.30
when can we reconnect in study?
00:45:03.33\00:45:05.84
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:45:05.87\00:45:06.91
this is not a
story about Dwight.
00:45:06.94\00:45:08.55
This is a story
about an our almighty God
00:45:08.58\00:45:09.91
who says, why don't you
talk to me about these people?
00:45:09.94\00:45:12.35
I'm the one that
wants to save them.
00:45:12.38\00:45:14.80
You pray for them,
00:45:14.83\00:45:15.97
I act for them, you ask me.
00:45:16.00\00:45:19.03
You got to work your
list, that's the point.
00:45:19.06\00:45:20.48
You can't just say,
oh, do something for them.
00:45:20.51\00:45:22.09
You have to be
willing to get out
00:45:22.12\00:45:23.29
of your comfort
zone, make that contact,
00:45:23.32\00:45:25.26
have that conversation.
00:45:25.29\00:45:26.43
You say, now,
Dwight, there is no way
00:45:26.46\00:45:28.86
I could ever have a
Bible study with anybody,
00:45:28.89\00:45:30.85
lead somebody to Jesus or teach,
00:45:30.88\00:45:32.61
show somebody the
teachings of the Bible.
00:45:32.64\00:45:34.19
My friend, you are so wrong,
00:45:34.22\00:45:37.46
that's why we have
00:45:37.49\00:45:38.52
the Contagious
Adventist Seminar.
00:45:38.55\00:45:40.21
That's why you
haven't handed it in yet,
00:45:40.24\00:45:42.31
please hand it in,
00:45:42.34\00:45:43.39
that's why that
little yellow slip
00:45:43.42\00:45:45.04
gives you a chance to
get in on the ground floor
00:45:45.07\00:45:48.00
and help us,
raise up a generation
00:45:48.03\00:45:53.19
that is equipped to
tell the truth about Jesus.
00:45:53.22\00:45:57.72
You deal with the
most primetime teachings
00:45:57.75\00:45:59.23
in all the Holy Scripture
and it's gonna be no threat,
00:45:59.26\00:46:02.15
user friendly, it
is gonna work with you.
00:46:02.18\00:46:06.90
You come next Saturday.
00:46:06.93\00:46:10.36
You come 10 o'clock
Physics Amphitheater,
00:46:10.39\00:46:12.05
there is room for you,
you come, you can know.
00:46:12.08\00:46:17.09
All right,
number 1, Make a list.
00:46:17.12\00:46:18.98
Number 2, Pray the list.
00:46:19.01\00:46:20.07
Number 3, Work the list.
00:46:20.10\00:46:21.13
Number 4, Grow the
list. Grow the list.
00:46:21.16\00:46:25.41
God will keep
bringing new names to you
00:46:25.44\00:46:26.67
if you'll
faithfully keep adding them.
00:46:26.70\00:46:28.28
Because you know what?
00:46:28.31\00:46:29.34
You know what's
happening, don't you?
00:46:29.37\00:46:30.40
God's walking up and
down your dormitory hallway,
00:46:30.43\00:46:32.57
God say, man, I need somebody
00:46:32.60\00:46:33.67
in this
dormitory hallway praying
00:46:33.70\00:46:35.12
but nobody is praying.
00:46:35.15\00:46:36.22
God comes along to you
and you're the guy praying.
00:46:36.25\00:46:37.97
He says, you know what?
00:46:38.00\00:46:39.08
My, man, you are my
intercessor on that hallway,
00:46:39.11\00:46:41.58
I'm gonna bring
more names to you,
00:46:41.61\00:46:42.81
I'm gonna bring more names
and more names and more names
00:46:42.84\00:46:44.94
because you're
the guy acting on it.
00:46:44.97\00:46:46.04
You live in your neighborhood
00:46:46.07\00:46:47.13
and nobody else
in your neighborhood
00:46:47.16\00:46:48.32
is praying for the lost.
00:46:48.35\00:46:49.54
But God finds your heart.
00:46:49.57\00:46:50.99
Trust me, if your are
willing to pray for lost people,
00:46:51.02\00:46:54.89
He will bring them
more and more and more.
00:46:54.92\00:46:58.45
Grow your list.
00:46:58.48\00:47:00.41
In fact, would you
jot this down, please?
00:47:00.44\00:47:02.07
"You will grow your
passion for the lost
00:47:02.10\00:47:04.74
as you grow your
prayers for the lost."
00:47:04.77\00:47:08.36
You want to have
passion for lost people.
00:47:08.39\00:47:09.98
Pray for them.
00:47:10.01\00:47:11.39
It will come, it will come.
00:47:11.42\00:47:14.55
Oh, look at this
prayer, isn't it some,
00:47:14.58\00:47:15.71
put it on the screen for you.
00:47:15.74\00:47:16.77
"Oh, that
earnest prayer of faith,
00:47:16.80\00:47:18.91
that the earnest prayer of
faith may arise everywhere."
00:47:18.94\00:47:21.28
What prayer is this?
00:47:21.31\00:47:22.38
Oh, I love this.
00:47:22.41\00:47:23.47
"Give me souls buried
now in error or I die!"
00:47:23.50\00:47:29.61
Just give me somebody to reach
00:47:29.64\00:47:34.04
in my business for you.
00:47:34.07\00:47:36.94
Give me somebody, please.
00:47:36.97\00:47:39.61
God will honor that
and finally number 5,
00:47:39.64\00:47:41.23
keep the list.
00:47:41.26\00:47:42.65
You know what that means?
Keep on praying no matter what.
00:47:42.68\00:47:44.67
No matter what happens, no
matter what doesn't happen.
00:47:44.70\00:47:47.08
Don't quit praying
because it doesn't happen,
00:47:47.11\00:47:49.96
just keep praying.
00:47:49.99\00:47:54.21
Don't quit bringing that
00:47:54.24\00:47:55.29
lost heart to
Jesus in your prayers.
00:47:55.32\00:47:56.64
I want to
close-- I want to close
00:47:56.67\00:47:57.97
with the story of George Muller
00:47:58.00\00:48:00.16
who through sheer faith
and prayer raised get this,
00:48:00.19\00:48:05.98
he raised the
equivalent of $180 million
00:48:06.01\00:48:12.12
without ever asking a
human being for a penny.
00:48:12.15\00:48:15.70
He said, God, here's the
deal early on in his life,
00:48:15.73\00:48:17.77
he was burdened for
the orphans of England.
00:48:17.80\00:48:20.50
He said, God, here's the deal.
00:48:20.53\00:48:22.60
If you provide I'll
never ask a soul for money
00:48:22.63\00:48:25.58
and God says, let's go.
00:48:25.61\00:48:27.32
And so George Muller 180 million
00:48:27.35\00:48:29.48
he never asked one soul,
00:48:29.51\00:48:31.15
God just supernaturally
put a burden on somebody,
00:48:31.18\00:48:34.06
somebody show, hey, I
thought you might need this.
00:48:34.09\00:48:36.56
Ten thousand orphans in
his string of orphanages
00:48:36.59\00:48:40.61
in England in the mid
1800s, 10,000 orphans got saved
00:48:40.64\00:48:45.12
because a man had a
passion for lost kids.
00:48:45.15\00:48:49.53
Don't you tell
me God doesn't know
00:48:49.56\00:48:50.82
what He's doing?
00:48:50.85\00:48:52.86
Anyway this is George Muller
00:48:52.89\00:48:53.93
so he-- so early on in his life
00:48:53.96\00:48:55.66
he says, okay God, I'm
picking five lost friends
00:48:55.69\00:48:58.04
and I'm gonna
pray for these friends.
00:48:58.07\00:49:00.02
I 'm gonna pray for these
friends until they're saved.
00:49:00.05\00:49:02.40
Here is the story.
00:49:02.43\00:49:03.76
So with these five
lost friends early on
00:49:03.79\00:49:06.73
after fiver years one friend
came to Christ, halleluiah.
00:49:06.76\00:49:10.22
I got four lost
friends, he kept praying,
00:49:10.25\00:49:12.16
10 more years of prayer,
00:49:12.19\00:49:14.15
two more friends were converted.
00:49:14.18\00:49:17.25
I got two lost friends now.
00:49:17.28\00:49:19.25
He came over
here to United States,
00:49:19.28\00:49:21.18
he was in Chicago.
00:49:21.21\00:49:22.74
And he told the crowd
I have prayed for two men
00:49:22.77\00:49:25.98
by name every day for 35 years
00:49:26.01\00:49:28.81
on land or sea, sick or well,
00:49:28.84\00:49:30.94
I have remembered
them before God by name
00:49:30.97\00:49:32.87
and I shall continue to
pray for them daily by name
00:49:32.90\00:49:35.80
until they're saved or die.
00:49:35.83\00:49:37.86
And after 35 years of prayer
the fourth friend was saved,
00:49:37.89\00:49:41.15
one friend left.
00:49:41.18\00:49:44.14
And for 52 years
George Muller prayed
00:49:44.17\00:49:48.80
for that one friend
00:49:48.83\00:49:51.35
until death
came and took Muller.
00:49:51.38\00:49:55.61
Three days after his
funeral the friend was saved.
00:49:55.64\00:50:00.04
You can't quit.
00:50:00.07\00:50:01.78
Keep the list
means keep praying.
00:50:01.81\00:50:05.42
Don't you-- as
long as you're alive,
00:50:05.45\00:50:09.49
you keep praying.
00:50:09.52\00:50:11.56
There has got to be
somebody in your life right now
00:50:11.59\00:50:14.24
that desperately
needs you to be praying.
00:50:14.27\00:50:16.10
You know what?
00:50:16.13\00:50:17.56
I suppose there's
somebody that you know that
00:50:17.59\00:50:20.00
if you didn't pray
for that lost person,
00:50:20.03\00:50:22.09
there wouldn't be
another soul on this planet
00:50:22.12\00:50:24.11
who by name would be
praying for that individual.
00:50:24.14\00:50:26.75
There has to be somebody.
00:50:26.78\00:50:29.21
Five lost friends you got them.
00:50:29.24\00:50:31.59
Five people who
are lost, you got them.
00:50:31.62\00:50:35.55
What would happen
if you and I said hey,
00:50:35.58\00:50:38.68
come on we're the
primetime generation,
00:50:38.71\00:50:41.12
let's use the most
potent weapon we have.
00:50:41.15\00:50:43.37
You don't have to go
to school for this weapon,
00:50:43.40\00:50:45.19
you just go to your knees.
00:50:45.22\00:50:46.44
What would happen if
you and I agree, okay,
00:50:46.47\00:50:48.29
Dwight, I'm gonna
pray for five lost people.
00:50:48.32\00:50:50.73
We're congregation of 3,000
00:50:50.76\00:50:52.38
that would be 15,000 lost people
00:50:52.41\00:50:54.61
who would be prayed
for every single week.
00:50:54.64\00:50:56.81
That's not an
insignificant number.
00:50:56.84\00:50:59.24
And you can come up
with more than five.
00:50:59.27\00:51:03.44
They are at the end of your
study guide, you see it there.
00:51:03.47\00:51:05.24
I wish you take your
study guide right now
00:51:05.27\00:51:08.14
and I wish you'll fill it
out, I'm giving you a moment,
00:51:08.17\00:51:10.19
quiet I'm gonna bring my
friend Brad Krueger out here
00:51:10.22\00:51:12.66
with his psalm
that he put together,
00:51:12.69\00:51:14.83
there is an old gospel
hymn, ''For You I'm Praying",
00:51:14.86\00:51:17.04
I need you to listen
to the words of this hymn
00:51:17.07\00:51:18.55
because it's so great.
00:51:18.58\00:51:19.92
But I don't want
you to be distracted
00:51:19.95\00:51:21.80
from writing the names down
00:51:21.83\00:51:23.03
because at the end of
the hymn just three stanzas.
00:51:23.06\00:51:25.40
At the end of it,
we're gonna go to our knees
00:51:25.43\00:51:27.51
and we're gonna
hold this up to God
00:51:27.54\00:51:28.85
and we're-- this
would be the first prayer
00:51:28.88\00:51:30.76
for some of you for the
lost-- for five lost friends.
00:51:30.79\00:51:36.23
So right now
take that study guide
00:51:36.26\00:51:38.15
and by the way when
you're doing the study guide,
00:51:38.18\00:51:39.67
let me just remind you,
00:51:39.70\00:51:41.01
you see the little
asterisk at the bottom,
00:51:41.04\00:51:43.13
circle the ones you want
to invite to Discoveries '08.
00:51:43.16\00:51:46.34
Mark Finley is gonna
be here in, in four weeks.
00:51:46.37\00:51:51.51
You want to
invite some of these,
00:51:51.54\00:51:53.09
your heart maybe
needs to be prepared for,
00:51:53.12\00:51:54.89
just circle the names of
the ones you want to invite.
00:51:54.92\00:51:58.26
Singers back
come on sing for us,
00:51:58.29\00:51:59.78
sing us that
"For you I'm praying".
00:51:59.81\00:52:01.00
Now, I tell you what?
00:52:01.03\00:52:02.06
If you know the
chorus, if you know the chorus
00:52:02.09\00:52:04.09
it's a great chorus, I
heard it at first service.
00:52:04.12\00:52:06.26
If you know that
chorus you sing with them,
00:52:06.29\00:52:08.49
you sing with them.
00:52:08.52\00:52:10.30
"For you I'm
praying," "For you I'm praying"
00:52:10.33\00:52:14.71
I have a Savior
00:52:23.71\00:52:26.68
He's pleading in glory
00:52:26.71\00:52:32.78
A dear, loving Savior
00:52:32.81\00:52:37.05
Though earth friends be few
00:52:37.08\00:52:41.90
And now He is watching
00:52:41.93\00:52:46.18
In tenderness o'er me
00:52:46.21\00:52:53.21
And oh, that my Savior
00:52:53.24\00:52:59.32
Were your Savior, too
00:52:59.35\00:53:07.17
For you I am praying
00:53:07.20\00:53:11.48
For you I am praying
00:53:11.51\00:53:15.74
For you I am praying
00:53:15.77\00:53:22.01
I'm praying for you
00:53:22.04\00:53:28.97
When Jesus has found you
00:53:29.00\00:53:32.40
Tell others the story
00:53:32.43\00:53:36.10
That's my loving
Savior is your Savior, too
00:53:36.13\00:53:43.57
Then pray that your
Savior may take them to glory
00:53:43.60\00:53:51.25
And prayer will be answered
00:53:51.28\00:53:57.15
'Twas answered for you!
00:53:57.18\00:54:01.40
For you I am praying
00:54:01.43\00:54:05.45
For you I am praying
00:54:05.48\00:54:09.92
For you I am praying
00:54:09.95\00:54:16.16
For you I am praying
00:54:23.97\00:54:30.19
Amen.
00:54:39.93\00:54:44.24
Now, we need to pray.
00:54:44.27\00:54:45.97
Let's go to our knees right now,
00:54:46.00\00:54:47.52
right where you
are, take this list,
00:54:47.55\00:54:49.63
with the list in your hand just,
00:54:49.66\00:54:51.08
we're gonna lift this list,
this list corporately to God.
00:54:51.11\00:54:55.34
For you I am praying let's do.
00:54:55.37\00:54:57.88
And so Holy Father we
are here on our knees.
00:55:02.70\00:55:09.60
We look at the church in Acts,
00:55:09.63\00:55:11.09
apparently they move forward
00:55:11.12\00:55:12.44
on their knees for lost people.
00:55:12.47\00:55:16.82
And so wanting to
follow that example set,
00:55:16.85\00:55:20.38
we've gone to our knees.
00:55:20.41\00:55:23.71
Oh, God, our
prayer is the simple one,
00:55:23.74\00:55:25.08
just two prayers.
00:55:25.11\00:55:26.20
Prayer number 1,
keep us on our knees
00:55:26.23\00:55:29.64
for these lost
friends and family.
00:55:29.67\00:55:34.25
Keep us on our knees.
00:55:34.28\00:55:39.60
On behalf of these we love.
00:55:39.63\00:55:42.00
On behalf of
these we hardly know
00:55:42.03\00:55:45.21
but they're lost.
00:55:45.24\00:55:47.71
Just two prayers,
Jesus, keep us on our knees
00:55:47.74\00:55:50.87
and keep them these
names we scribbled down,
00:55:50.90\00:55:54.36
keep them on Your heart.
00:55:54.39\00:55:56.62
Don't You ever
turn away from them,
00:55:56.65\00:56:02.05
as long as there is a
breath in that boy's body.
00:56:02.08\00:56:07.16
As long as a heart
of that girl beats,
00:56:07.19\00:56:12.09
Jesus, do whatever it takes.
00:56:12.12\00:56:17.52
We tried everything.
00:56:17.55\00:56:20.75
It have to be supernatural,
00:56:20.78\00:56:24.63
but surely You can.
00:56:24.66\00:56:29.27
Pour out upon us
is the ancient Prophet
00:56:29.30\00:56:31.91
Zechariah said a spirit
of supplication in grace
00:56:31.94\00:56:35.61
and we may we pray for the
lost as long as we have breath
00:56:35.64\00:56:41.18
or until You come...
00:56:41.21\00:56:46.03
in your name we
collectively pray right now,
00:56:49.86\00:56:55.99
amen.
00:56:56.02\00:56:58.10
Let me take one more moment
00:56:58.13\00:56:59.23
as we close out our
worship time together
00:56:59.26\00:57:01.02
and tell you about
our weekly sermon podcast.
00:57:01.05\00:57:04.36
Each week around here
we got a very special group
00:57:04.39\00:57:07.29
of technically savvy volunteers
00:57:07.32\00:57:09.51
from our media department
00:57:09.54\00:57:10.85
and gather together
to publish a podcast
00:57:10.88\00:57:12.80
of the sermon messages
like the one you heard today.
00:57:12.83\00:57:16.00
These messages by the way,
00:57:16.03\00:57:17.26
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All you have to do to receive
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Let me give you the
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00:57:26.27\00:57:30.74
And while there
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00:57:30.77\00:57:32.24
just click on the podcast,
00:57:32.27\00:57:33.89
then you're gonna
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00:57:33.92\00:57:35.49
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00:57:35.52\00:57:36.57
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00:57:36.60\00:57:38.47
it's that simple.
00:57:38.50\00:57:40.15
Once again our
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00:57:40.18\00:57:44.31
And by the way,
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00:57:44.34\00:57:45.73
you can also
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00:57:45.76\00:57:47.38
to follow along with
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00:57:47.41\00:57:49.79
I hope you join the
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00:57:49.82\00:57:51.88
enjoy that podcast
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00:57:51.91\00:57:55.16
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that's what it's for,
00:57:55.19\00:57:56.69
to bless you
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00:57:56.72\00:57:59.33
In the mean time, God bless you
00:57:59.36\00:58:01.38
and keep you as you journey on
00:58:01.41\00:58:03.59
and I'm looking forward to
seeing you again right here
00:58:03.62\00:58:05.89
as we continue to share
God's Holy Scriptures together.
00:58:05.92\00:58:10.65