Hi, I'm Wintley Phipps. 00:00:27.52\00:00:29.26 And welcome to our program, 00:00:29.29\00:00:31.23 Perfecting Me, Becoming More Like Jesus. 00:00:31.26\00:00:35.16 I'm so glad you joined us. 00:00:35.20\00:00:37.17 My guest today on our program are Ruthie Jacobsen, 00:00:37.20\00:00:41.54 Head of Prayer Ministry of the North American division 00:00:41.57\00:00:44.47 of Seventh-day Adventist. 00:00:44.51\00:00:46.11 Pastor Georges Fleurimond, 00:00:46.14\00:00:48.21 Pastor of the West Park Seventh-day Adventist Church. 00:00:48.24\00:00:51.15 And Mrs. Adly Campos, Speaker and President 00:00:51.18\00:00:54.28 of Family Well-Being International. 00:00:54.32\00:00:56.92 You'll hear from them a little later. 00:00:56.95\00:01:00.19 I believe that there is nothing more important 00:01:00.22\00:01:02.99 or exciting you can do with your life 00:01:03.02\00:01:06.76 than becoming every day more like Jesus. 00:01:06.80\00:01:11.40 Sanctification should be full of joy. 00:01:11.43\00:01:15.77 In the Book of Genesis 6:5, the Word of God says, 00:01:15.80\00:01:19.67 "And God saw that the wickedness of man 00:01:19.71\00:01:22.18 was great in the earth, 00:01:22.21\00:01:23.68 and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart 00:01:23.71\00:01:26.41 was only evil continually." 00:01:26.45\00:01:28.72 Can you imagine an age 00:01:28.75\00:01:30.09 in which people did whatever the evil imaginations 00:01:30.12\00:01:33.82 can conceive? 00:01:33.86\00:01:35.19 Someone says, "We're living in certain time right now." 00:01:35.22\00:01:38.46 The Prophet Enoch was living in a time 00:01:38.49\00:01:41.13 when Christ like character was not easy to find. 00:01:41.16\00:01:45.87 The people of Enoch's, they were doing evil 00:01:45.90\00:01:48.30 on a scale which could not be imagined. 00:01:48.34\00:01:51.94 And it was into this darkness that God shown a light. 00:01:51.97\00:01:56.24 Enoch was an example of how you live out 00:01:56.28\00:01:59.68 and preserve Christ like character 00:01:59.71\00:02:03.05 in an immoral age and in a decadent age. 00:02:03.08\00:02:06.35 He was an example of how you live out 00:02:06.39\00:02:09.32 Christ like character surrounded by sin, 00:02:09.36\00:02:13.56 yet without being affected, and influenced, 00:02:13.60\00:02:16.80 and seduced by it. 00:02:16.83\00:02:18.90 Enoch was an example 00:02:18.93\00:02:20.44 of how you walk among ungodly people 00:02:20.47\00:02:23.51 and remain pure in Christ like character. 00:02:23.54\00:02:27.18 In spite of the corruption of that age, 00:02:27.21\00:02:29.78 Enoch perfected a Christian character. 00:02:29.81\00:02:35.32 He perfected a Christ like character. 00:02:35.35\00:02:39.09 Today, we're going to examine 00:02:39.12\00:02:40.76 how you live in a profane and vulgar world 00:02:40.79\00:02:44.23 and still grow more every day 00:02:44.26\00:02:47.16 to resemble, reflect, and reveal 00:02:47.20\00:02:50.63 the character of God. 00:02:50.67\00:02:53.37 Stay with us. 00:02:53.40\00:02:55.00 For 300 years, 00:02:59.54\00:03:02.28 Enoch lived in daily, hourly, 00:03:02.31\00:03:07.12 and constant secret communion with God. 00:03:07.15\00:03:12.65 And this life of hourly secret prayer 00:03:12.69\00:03:16.59 shaped his character, molded his character. 00:03:16.62\00:03:21.10 Enoch understood 00:03:21.13\00:03:22.83 what most Christians never will, 00:03:22.86\00:03:26.33 that through hourly prayer, we behold Him. 00:03:26.37\00:03:32.51 And by beholding, 00:03:32.54\00:03:34.51 we are changed into His righteous character. 00:03:34.54\00:03:39.41 Enoch understood that after conversion 00:03:39.45\00:03:44.15 comes character growth and character development. 00:03:44.19\00:03:48.92 He understood that after surrendering to God, 00:03:48.96\00:03:53.56 the work of growing in character 00:03:53.60\00:03:56.16 to be like the character of God has only just begun. 00:03:56.20\00:04:02.70 And nothing strengthens the character 00:04:02.74\00:04:05.91 like a life of secret hourly prayer 00:04:05.94\00:04:10.71 and communion with God. 00:04:10.75\00:04:13.85 My journey to understanding the power of secret prayer 00:04:13.88\00:04:17.95 began with a great man, a great evangelist. 00:04:17.99\00:04:22.49 I learned from him that secret prayer. 00:04:22.52\00:04:26.56 I learned the secret of hourly prayer. 00:04:26.59\00:04:30.33 The importance of hourly secret prayer. 00:04:30.37\00:04:36.44 It has to be continual, it has to be regular, 00:04:36.47\00:04:39.84 it has to be fervent, it has to be powerful. 00:04:39.87\00:04:44.65 I learned the power of hourly secret prayer 00:04:44.68\00:04:48.28 and I recommend it to you. 00:04:48.32\00:04:51.02 If we're going to walk like Enoch walked, 00:04:51.05\00:04:53.76 if we're going to live like Enoch lived, 00:04:53.79\00:04:57.23 we're going to have to learn 00:04:57.26\00:04:59.03 the power of secret hourly prayer. 00:04:59.06\00:05:04.30 Well, secret prayers are silent expressions 00:05:04.33\00:05:09.34 of adulation, exultation, and praise. 00:05:09.37\00:05:15.04 And they are just that really secret. 00:05:15.08\00:05:19.21 Yes, secret prayer does not rely on vocabulary, 00:05:19.25\00:05:24.49 it does not rely on eloquence. 00:05:24.52\00:05:27.99 It was D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who reminded us 00:05:28.02\00:05:31.89 that secret prayer demands no special dress, 00:05:31.93\00:05:36.56 no special place, no special scholarship. 00:05:36.60\00:05:41.27 Secret prayer seeks no notice, no applause. 00:05:41.30\00:05:46.81 God's heart is not moved by our eloquence 00:05:46.84\00:05:50.45 or even our lengthy prayers, 00:05:50.48\00:05:54.52 but rather His heart is moved by our humility 00:05:54.55\00:05:58.65 and our sincerity. 00:05:58.69\00:06:01.22 The Apostle Paul understood 00:06:01.26\00:06:02.86 the power of hourly secret prayer. 00:06:02.89\00:06:07.36 That's why he exhorted us 00:06:07.40\00:06:10.23 to pray without ceasing hourly secret prayer 00:06:10.27\00:06:17.14 and dependence upon God 00:06:17.17\00:06:20.48 is the only cure I know for secret sin. 00:06:20.51\00:06:25.91 Secret prayer is the only cure I know 00:06:25.95\00:06:31.79 for secret sin. 00:06:31.82\00:06:34.86 Hourly secret prayer 00:06:34.89\00:06:37.36 is the greatest power we have in this world. 00:06:37.39\00:06:43.50 Because in secret prayer, 00:06:43.53\00:06:44.87 the soul is free from surrounding influence, 00:06:44.90\00:06:50.47 it is free from excitement. 00:06:50.51\00:06:53.48 In secret prayer, 00:06:53.51\00:06:55.48 you're free from the need to impress other people. 00:06:55.51\00:06:59.78 You're free to express to God your frailty. 00:06:59.81\00:07:03.18 You don't have to shout in secret prayer 00:07:03.22\00:07:06.76 because God can hear you. 00:07:06.79\00:07:10.23 But you can if you want to shout in secret. 00:07:10.26\00:07:16.16 Either way, your secret prayer should reveal 00:07:16.20\00:07:19.93 a calm, quiet trust, and faith in God. 00:07:19.97\00:07:25.94 Every secret prayer you pray says to the devil, 00:07:25.97\00:07:29.54 "In the name of Jesus, 00:07:29.58\00:07:31.45 stay away from my house, my family." 00:07:31.48\00:07:34.98 The devil hates secret prayer. 00:07:35.02\00:07:39.65 I want you to see this video sent to us by our friends 00:07:39.69\00:07:43.96 at the 700 Club. 00:07:43.99\00:07:45.56 Sandy Winger was six weeks into her first pregnancy 00:07:50.40\00:07:53.54 when she says, she heard God tell her, 00:07:53.57\00:07:55.44 her baby was a girl and to name her Zoey, 00:07:55.47\00:07:58.84 which means life. 00:07:58.87\00:08:00.61 And at that moment I thought she is just going to have 00:08:00.64\00:08:03.11 that God kind of life, you know, joyful 00:08:03.14\00:08:06.05 and I had no idea at that time what would unfold, you know, 00:08:06.08\00:08:11.15 the following months. 00:08:11.19\00:08:13.19 Sandy's husband, Shane remembers 00:08:13.22\00:08:15.12 at their 20 week ultrasound, the doctor said 00:08:15.16\00:08:17.96 there was a problem. 00:08:17.99\00:08:19.59 Zoey's skull had not closed 00:08:19.63\00:08:21.66 and 40% of her brain was outside the skull. 00:08:21.70\00:08:25.77 They call it posterior encephalocele 00:08:25.80\00:08:27.87 and he could see her skull, and where it was open, 00:08:27.90\00:08:29.94 and where her brain began to grow outside of her head, 00:08:29.97\00:08:34.04 and 80% of it was outside. 00:08:34.08\00:08:36.78 Our heart sank. 00:08:36.81\00:08:38.21 And so I remember... 00:08:38.25\00:08:42.05 the tears just started to trickle, you know, 00:08:42.08\00:08:45.75 down my face. 00:08:45.79\00:08:47.56 And the same day, you're so excited 00:08:47.59\00:08:50.86 and then you just get hit, 00:08:50.89\00:08:53.09 and I remember my husband saying them all, 00:08:53.13\00:08:57.03 "What are the chances of her surviving? 00:08:57.07\00:08:59.93 What are the chances that 00:08:59.97\00:09:01.34 she is going to make it through this?" 00:09:01.37\00:09:02.94 And he said, "In my 30 year profession, 00:09:02.97\00:09:04.91 I've never seen a case like this make it to birth." 00:09:04.94\00:09:09.61 And I think I asked again like okay, 00:09:09.64\00:09:11.41 so there is a percentage, give me a percentage 00:09:11.45\00:09:13.42 and he is like, "None." 00:09:13.45\00:09:14.92 The doctor recommended they abort Zoey. 00:09:14.95\00:09:18.22 Sandy and Shane decided otherwise. 00:09:18.25\00:09:21.32 We're not going to do it, we serve too big of a God. 00:09:21.36\00:09:24.69 Life whether it's in the womb 00:09:24.73\00:09:27.76 for nine months or eight months, it's life. 00:09:27.80\00:09:31.50 And it's life that it's not ours to take away. 00:09:31.53\00:09:35.00 And so we began to talk 00:09:35.04\00:09:36.37 and we began just to share scriptures. 00:09:36.40\00:09:38.04 We really believed that Zoey means life. 00:09:38.07\00:09:42.01 And we believe the enemy come to try to steal 00:09:42.04\00:09:44.35 and try to take her potential, to take her life, 00:09:44.38\00:09:47.32 and we're going to believe what God's word says that, 00:09:47.35\00:09:49.05 "The children are a blessing of the Lord." 00:09:49.08\00:09:50.89 We've to have faith that God loves her 00:09:50.92\00:09:52.99 even more than me and my wife combined, 00:09:53.02\00:09:55.52 that He loves her more than we do. 00:09:55.56\00:09:57.49 And so we put our faith and confidence in Him, 00:09:57.53\00:10:00.63 despite of what we felt, 00:10:00.66\00:10:02.16 despite of what the doctor's opinion was 00:10:02.20\00:10:04.50 or what his thoughts were. 00:10:04.53\00:10:05.97 And so that to us 00:10:06.00\00:10:07.57 was the most critical time I believe 00:10:07.60\00:10:09.94 because that was the time we came together 00:10:09.97\00:10:11.41 and just made a decision. 00:10:11.44\00:10:13.51 For months, they held on to hope 00:10:13.54\00:10:15.78 and prayed for a miracle. 00:10:15.81\00:10:17.78 Faith is the one thing that pleases God, 00:10:17.81\00:10:20.08 and so our part is just simply to believe. 00:10:20.12\00:10:22.92 Our part isn't performing the miracle. 00:10:22.95\00:10:25.59 There is nothing that we could do, 00:10:25.62\00:10:27.39 there is nothing that the doctors could do. 00:10:27.42\00:10:29.46 I remember what God spoke to me, six weeks along, 00:10:29.49\00:10:34.00 He knew her name would be a Zoey for a reason. 00:10:34.03\00:10:37.53 He knew that she would have life. 00:10:37.57\00:10:39.83 He knew the outcome 00:10:39.87\00:10:41.40 before we even knew the diagnosis or the problem, 00:10:41.44\00:10:45.41 He knew everything that was going to happen. 00:10:45.44\00:10:47.74 And so we clung on to the fact that we knew 00:10:47.78\00:10:53.35 what God had spoke that, He said, 00:10:53.38\00:10:55.62 she would have the God kind of life 00:10:55.65\00:10:57.39 and the God kind of life is joy, and peace, and life. 00:10:57.42\00:11:02.02 And so I hung on to that word very tightly. 00:11:02.06\00:11:07.30 Despite all odds, Zoey made it to term. 00:11:07.33\00:11:10.37 During delivery, 00:11:10.40\00:11:11.73 once more their faith was put to the test. 00:11:11.77\00:11:14.57 The first thing that I saw of Zoey was, 00:11:14.60\00:11:16.47 I saw it was her brain, it was... 00:11:16.50\00:11:19.04 I mean there was no skull on the back of her head... 00:11:19.07\00:11:21.48 And so for me, that was really hard. 00:11:21.51\00:11:28.45 I didn't know if she would make it. 00:11:28.48\00:11:30.35 I just remember... 00:11:33.92\00:11:35.66 Looking in that little incubator 00:11:40.26\00:11:43.73 and she lifted her little head 00:11:43.77\00:11:46.87 and I just knew you're going to be fine. 00:11:46.90\00:11:51.14 And I didn't question in that moment 00:11:51.17\00:11:56.41 whether she would continue to live, what would happen. 00:11:56.44\00:12:01.52 Just lifting up her little head, 00:12:01.55\00:12:03.55 and she was so perfect to me, and so tiny, 00:12:03.59\00:12:08.92 and they had everything bandaged, and covered 00:12:08.96\00:12:13.66 but I just knew God has huge plans for you. 00:12:13.70\00:12:19.00 And I didn't know what it would be, 00:12:19.03\00:12:21.17 everything that would happen in her life 00:12:21.20\00:12:24.77 but I knew she was the most beautiful baby 00:12:24.81\00:12:29.34 I had ever laid my eyes on, 00:12:29.38\00:12:31.65 and I couldn't wait to just pick her up 00:12:31.68\00:12:34.78 and to hold her. 00:12:34.82\00:12:37.32 Two days later, 00:12:37.35\00:12:38.69 Zoey had surgery to remove brain matter 00:12:38.72\00:12:40.86 and close the hole in her skull. 00:12:40.89\00:12:43.36 And just five days later, 00:12:43.39\00:12:44.99 she was released from the hospital. 00:12:45.03\00:12:47.60 Shane and Sandy say, 00:12:47.63\00:12:48.96 "God continued to answer prayers 00:12:49.00\00:12:50.87 and provide healing in life 00:12:50.90\00:12:52.70 beyond what anyone thought possible." 00:12:52.73\00:12:55.30 Zoey absolutely is a blessing. 00:12:55.34\00:12:57.27 She is one of the biggest joys of my life. 00:12:57.31\00:13:00.88 She is nine years old today, she is full of life, 00:13:00.91\00:13:03.71 she is full of energy. 00:13:03.75\00:13:06.05 I thank God that we chose to believe 00:13:06.08\00:13:09.82 and the people that we had surrounding us 00:13:09.85\00:13:11.79 were people of faith. 00:13:11.82\00:13:13.69 What a miracle she is 00:13:13.72\00:13:15.52 and a testament of God's faithfulness 00:13:15.56\00:13:17.99 and His goodness. 00:13:18.03\00:13:19.53 What He says is true and His word is true, 00:13:19.56\00:13:22.53 and He is not going to set you up for failure. 00:13:22.56\00:13:26.07 Everyday I'm healed and that's all my story. 00:13:26.10\00:13:30.11 He is a good God, 00:13:30.14\00:13:31.87 He wants to show His self big, 00:13:31.91\00:13:35.61 He wants to do huge things. 00:13:35.64\00:13:38.21 He is just looking for people who are willing to say, 00:13:38.25\00:13:40.98 "I trust you." 00:13:41.02\00:13:42.35 Joining us again are my guests Ruthie Jacobsen, Adly Campos, 00:13:46.55\00:13:50.89 and Pastor Georges Fleurimond. 00:13:50.93\00:13:53.66 I want to ask you all 00:13:53.70\00:13:55.16 just to use your imagination a little bit. 00:13:55.20\00:13:58.47 And imagine what you think it must have been like 00:13:58.50\00:14:03.00 the prayer life that Enoch carried on. 00:14:03.04\00:14:08.71 What do you think was a part of that prayer life? 00:14:08.74\00:14:13.15 Sister Ruthie, can you dream a little bit and say, 00:14:13.18\00:14:16.18 well, it was probably like this? 00:14:16.22\00:14:21.49 Well, I think that it was a happy relationship. 00:14:21.52\00:14:25.59 I'm sure there was connection, 00:14:25.63\00:14:27.23 I'm sure there was, you know, just communion. 00:14:27.26\00:14:31.80 But I heard a pastor say one time 00:14:31.83\00:14:35.64 because God and Enoch were such good friends. 00:14:35.67\00:14:40.48 That finally God said to Enoch, 00:14:40.51\00:14:43.08 "I don't want to leave you here. 00:14:43.11\00:14:44.91 I want you to come and be in heaven with me." 00:14:44.95\00:14:47.98 And that's the result of that happy friendship 00:14:48.02\00:14:52.42 because there was an obedient heart, 00:14:52.45\00:14:54.96 he was listening, you know, 00:14:54.99\00:14:57.09 he just wanted to be with the Lord. 00:14:57.13\00:15:00.36 He wanted to hear His voice 00:15:00.40\00:15:01.73 and he wanted to walk in that obedience 00:15:01.76\00:15:03.80 and it must have been a joy, constant joy. 00:15:03.83\00:15:07.74 And there's probably a direct connection 00:15:07.77\00:15:11.67 between his constant hourly communion with God 00:15:11.71\00:15:16.75 and the fact that God took him. 00:15:16.78\00:15:19.98 They are connected. 00:15:20.02\00:15:23.52 There was something about 00:15:23.55\00:15:25.72 what that experience of communing with God did 00:15:25.75\00:15:29.39 for his character. 00:15:29.42\00:15:31.16 Because remember, when God looks down at us, 00:15:31.19\00:15:34.80 He is not just looking to see how often we pray. 00:15:34.83\00:15:39.27 He is looking to see 00:15:39.30\00:15:41.00 what that prayer life is doing for our character. 00:15:41.04\00:15:45.81 And... So go ahead. 00:15:45.84\00:15:49.28 I want to share one more thing. Yes. 00:15:49.31\00:15:51.11 One of the perks of a friendship is that 00:15:51.15\00:15:54.88 you trust one another. 00:15:54.92\00:15:56.92 I know, I believe that Enoch came to trust God, 00:15:56.95\00:16:00.56 but God came to trust Enoch too. 00:16:00.59\00:16:02.59 Yes, absolutely. 00:16:02.62\00:16:03.96 He showed it first somebody like to trust. 00:16:03.99\00:16:06.59 Absolutely. I love it. 00:16:06.63\00:16:08.43 Sister Campos, 00:16:08.46\00:16:09.80 what do you think about when you dream of 00:16:09.83\00:16:12.40 what Enoch's prayer life must have been like? 00:16:12.43\00:16:14.94 What comes to your mind? 00:16:14.97\00:16:17.54 I see him out in nature. 00:16:17.57\00:16:21.31 Yes. 00:16:21.34\00:16:22.68 In order to have that peacefulness 00:16:22.71\00:16:25.21 that he wanted to have, 00:16:25.25\00:16:27.22 to be able to be with his Lord and Master, his Maker. 00:16:27.25\00:16:32.19 He wanted so much to be with Him 00:16:32.22\00:16:34.89 that he separated himself 00:16:34.92\00:16:37.56 from everyone and everything else, 00:16:37.59\00:16:40.23 in order to be with his Lord, with his God. 00:16:40.26\00:16:44.87 He had such hunger of being with Him 00:16:44.90\00:16:50.81 that he spent every moment with Him. 00:16:50.84\00:16:54.24 He was like breathing to Him. Yes. 00:16:54.28\00:16:57.11 The moments that he spent with his Father, with God, 00:16:57.15\00:17:01.12 he was like breathing... 00:17:01.15\00:17:02.48 We cannot survive without breathing. 00:17:02.52\00:17:04.95 For him, for Enoch, he could not live 00:17:04.99\00:17:09.02 without that constant communion with the Father 00:17:09.06\00:17:12.16 and therefore he had to separate himself, 00:17:12.19\00:17:15.06 come apart, come aside 00:17:15.10\00:17:17.47 in order to have that communion with his Father. 00:17:17.50\00:17:21.20 You know, there is a scripture that says us, 00:17:21.24\00:17:22.80 "The hart panteth after the water brook." 00:17:22.84\00:17:26.61 A thirsty deer, you know, 00:17:26.64\00:17:29.44 that's how my soul pants after the Lord. 00:17:29.48\00:17:33.42 And again, it's not just panting now and then, 00:17:33.45\00:17:37.49 or it's not just panting on Sabbath. 00:17:37.52\00:17:40.89 It's panting that way for Him from the moment you get up, 00:17:40.92\00:17:46.09 everyday, I tell people 24/7 if it's possible 00:17:46.13\00:17:52.67 and so, Pastor Fleurimond, when you think of 00:17:52.70\00:17:56.04 or dream about what went into Enoch's prayer life 00:17:56.07\00:18:00.88 that helped him to perfect a Christian character. 00:18:00.91\00:18:04.18 What comes to your mind? 00:18:04.21\00:18:07.42 In my mind, I see a transparent Enoch, 00:18:07.45\00:18:10.99 I see Enoch 00:18:11.02\00:18:12.99 that is in a culture that is, 00:18:13.02\00:18:18.89 may not be pro-prayer or pro-God. 00:18:18.93\00:18:21.93 Yeah, yeah. 00:18:21.96\00:18:23.50 But his prayer life is of such that, 00:18:23.53\00:18:27.14 that the contact they are in is real, 00:18:27.17\00:18:29.50 it is not wrote, it is not a functuary, 00:18:29.54\00:18:33.78 it is not something that is ritual, 00:18:33.81\00:18:37.51 it is something that is earnest. 00:18:37.55\00:18:39.61 And I believe that God looks at an honest constant prayer 00:18:39.65\00:18:45.29 and He shines on that. 00:18:45.32\00:18:48.09 And then the text, 00:18:48.12\00:18:49.72 the text talks about how they walked together. 00:18:49.76\00:18:52.49 And so in my imagination, I can see, you know, 00:18:52.53\00:18:54.83 two friends who are together, 00:18:54.86\00:18:57.37 and they are able to have real conversation. 00:18:57.40\00:19:00.04 They're having a good time, 00:19:00.07\00:19:01.74 and to share with one another the contents of their hearts, 00:19:01.77\00:19:05.54 and to pour into each other, you know, guidance, 00:19:05.57\00:19:09.54 and blessings, and things of that sort. 00:19:09.58\00:19:12.05 Yeah. 00:19:12.08\00:19:13.42 Can you think of a better way to live? 00:19:13.45\00:19:14.95 I can't think of a better way to live. 00:19:14.98\00:19:16.65 I can't think of a more exciting, 00:19:16.69\00:19:19.02 fulfilling way to live 00:19:19.05\00:19:21.52 than in constant communion with God. 00:19:21.56\00:19:25.86 Amen. 00:19:25.89\00:19:27.23 I wanted to ask both of you, all of you 00:19:27.26\00:19:29.86 about your thoughts and your experience. 00:19:29.90\00:19:34.54 Can you remember a time when you were walking 00:19:34.57\00:19:38.24 with the Lord so closely that when you prayed, 00:19:38.27\00:19:42.91 maybe you prayed out loud 00:19:42.94\00:19:44.28 or maybe you prayed a secret prayer, 00:19:44.31\00:19:48.28 that you are absolutely sure God heard your prayer 00:19:48.32\00:19:53.25 and answered that prayer. 00:19:53.29\00:19:55.16 It wasn't as though, when you prayed, 00:19:55.19\00:19:59.16 the Lord had to ask the angel, "Who was that again?" 00:19:59.19\00:20:03.26 You know, the Lord knew who you were 00:20:03.30\00:20:06.80 because you were so close 00:20:06.84\00:20:08.27 that you've kept in such close contact with Him. 00:20:08.30\00:20:10.97 Can you remember an experience where you prayed out loud 00:20:11.01\00:20:14.04 and because of your walk with God, 00:20:14.08\00:20:16.18 you know God answered that prayer? 00:20:16.21\00:20:18.55 Sister Campos? 00:20:18.58\00:20:21.45 I can think of the time 00:20:21.48\00:20:22.82 when my oldest son was about two years old. 00:20:22.85\00:20:27.79 And we had gone to swimming pool 00:20:27.82\00:20:30.83 to spend the day swimming with other members of the family. 00:20:30.86\00:20:34.66 Yeah. 00:20:34.70\00:20:36.03 We were all dressed, ready to depart, 00:20:36.06\00:20:38.47 when all of a sudden I noticed that he was not around. 00:20:38.50\00:20:42.67 And I started looking for him, and calling him, 00:20:42.70\00:20:46.44 and he was nowhere to be found. 00:20:46.47\00:20:49.84 Immediately, I prayed because he liked water so much 00:20:49.88\00:20:54.58 that I thought for sure 00:20:54.62\00:20:56.28 he went back to the swimming pool. 00:20:56.32\00:20:59.19 There were five swimming pools. 00:20:59.22\00:21:01.66 So I went looking for him at the lowest level one, 00:21:01.69\00:21:05.23 he wasn't there. 00:21:05.26\00:21:06.76 Nor the second, not the third, and not the fourth, 00:21:06.80\00:21:09.43 again, I said Lord, please, 00:21:09.46\00:21:12.50 just save him from wherever he is. 00:21:12.53\00:21:15.87 I know you'll answer my prayer, Lord. 00:21:15.90\00:21:18.31 Thank you. Yes. 00:21:18.34\00:21:19.91 I went to the deepest pool 00:21:19.94\00:21:22.68 and what I saw I could not believe, 00:21:22.71\00:21:25.11 he was floating, 00:21:25.15\00:21:26.75 he only had a little stick on his hand 00:21:26.78\00:21:29.65 about this big, very slim. 00:21:29.68\00:21:32.69 But he was floating. 00:21:32.72\00:21:34.92 How was he floating, I know to this day 00:21:34.96\00:21:39.33 that the Lord answered my prayer 00:21:39.36\00:21:41.96 and He saved him from drowning. 00:21:42.00\00:21:44.43 Two years old, he didn't know how to swim, 00:21:44.47\00:21:46.80 he didn't know any better. 00:21:46.84\00:21:48.57 But the Lord answered my prayer instantly 00:21:48.60\00:21:52.34 at that very moment when I prayed. 00:21:52.37\00:21:54.84 Praise the Lord. Pastor Fleurimond? 00:21:54.88\00:21:58.98 There are so many, 00:21:59.01\00:22:00.35 I think that the one that I would like 00:22:00.38\00:22:02.02 to actually speak about. 00:22:02.05\00:22:04.75 I think one of the questions you asked was, 00:22:04.79\00:22:06.89 whether it was an audible prayer 00:22:06.92\00:22:08.72 or a silent, a secretive prayer. 00:22:08.76\00:22:11.79 This was actually a secretive prayer. 00:22:11.83\00:22:15.16 This takes me back to my days in undergrad 00:22:15.20\00:22:18.77 and I wanted to graduate on time with my class. 00:22:18.80\00:22:24.01 I didn't want to be one of these guys 00:22:24.04\00:22:25.37 who had to wait an additional year 00:22:25.41\00:22:27.04 or additional summer. 00:22:27.08\00:22:28.48 And so we were getting down 00:22:28.51\00:22:32.58 to the final days of the last semester 00:22:32.61\00:22:35.68 and I knew that there was one class that I needed to take 00:22:35.72\00:22:40.02 that I hadn't taken. 00:22:40.06\00:22:41.72 And so I went and I applied for graduation anyways, 00:22:41.76\00:22:45.79 with the intention of taking that class in the summer. 00:22:45.83\00:22:49.76 But I had been told by others 00:22:49.80\00:22:52.50 who had attempted the same thing 00:22:52.53\00:22:54.37 that their situation had not worked to their favor. 00:22:54.40\00:22:57.47 But anyhow, I prayed about it in silence. 00:22:57.51\00:23:01.14 And before I even received conformation, 00:23:01.18\00:23:05.75 you know, I knew God was going to answer in my favor. 00:23:05.78\00:23:07.95 In fact, my parents were already on their way, 00:23:07.98\00:23:10.32 they were traveling from Florida 00:23:10.35\00:23:12.35 to Huntsville, Alabama, in faith. 00:23:12.39\00:23:14.92 And the reality of it all is, 00:23:14.96\00:23:16.62 on a Sabbath evening after I came home from church, 00:23:16.66\00:23:21.30 I went to the mailbox after Sabbath 00:23:21.33\00:23:23.63 and there were two envelopes from the registrar's office. 00:23:23.67\00:23:27.20 One that said, it could not aqueous, 00:23:27.24\00:23:29.87 and then the one that said congratulations. 00:23:29.90\00:23:32.07 And I of course chose the one that said congratulations, 00:23:32.11\00:23:35.14 and I checked that. 00:23:35.18\00:23:36.98 And, you know, I was able to go into the summer 00:23:37.01\00:23:39.01 and finish my course, and by God's grace 00:23:39.05\00:23:41.15 able to graduate from undergrad. 00:23:41.18\00:23:43.69 And so for me that has always been a mark of power 00:23:43.72\00:23:48.32 of the secret prayer, 00:23:48.36\00:23:49.89 even if you don't say it out loud or, you know, 00:23:49.92\00:23:52.96 ask others to pray with you, 00:23:52.99\00:23:54.86 it was my personal private prayer 00:23:54.90\00:23:57.30 between me and God, and He answered for me. 00:23:57.33\00:24:00.04 Well, Ruthie, we've got another moment, 00:24:00.07\00:24:01.64 we got one minute to go, 00:24:01.67\00:24:03.64 but can you tell us about an experience you had 00:24:03.67\00:24:07.44 when you were so close to the Lord, 00:24:07.48\00:24:08.94 and you were praying, 00:24:08.98\00:24:10.31 and you know God answered your prayer? 00:24:10.35\00:24:14.02 Well, I'll try to make this quick 00:24:14.05\00:24:16.69 but I believe that the Lord likes to answer 00:24:16.72\00:24:19.09 our tangible prayers 00:24:19.12\00:24:20.76 to give us faith to ask for really big things. 00:24:20.79\00:24:23.63 You know, faith, endurance, and trust. 00:24:23.66\00:24:26.63 And so I pray everyday for money for Prayer Ministries 00:24:26.66\00:24:30.93 for the North American division. 00:24:30.97\00:24:33.54 One day I had a man come up to me after church 00:24:33.57\00:24:36.04 and he said, 00:24:36.07\00:24:37.41 "If you ever need any money, just contact me." 00:24:37.44\00:24:40.88 And he had given hundreds of thousands of dollars. 00:24:40.91\00:24:45.88 That was a direct answer to prayer. 00:24:45.91\00:24:47.98 I believe the Lord loves to provide for His work. 00:24:48.02\00:24:50.62 Yes. Well, I'll tell you... Amen. 00:24:50.65\00:24:53.09 I've had an answer to prayer. 00:24:53.12\00:24:55.46 I've been in only one plane crash in my life. 00:24:55.49\00:24:59.46 And we were coming over the Casket Mountains 00:24:59.49\00:25:03.47 and I was talking to the Lord, that was a silent prayer 00:25:03.50\00:25:06.60 'cause, you know, when the plane is shaking 00:25:06.63\00:25:08.14 you don't want to have audible prayers, 00:25:08.17\00:25:10.77 not at that time, you're praying silently. 00:25:10.81\00:25:13.04 And I remember saying, Lord, why are you so good to me? 00:25:13.07\00:25:17.45 And I kept hearing God say to me, 00:25:17.48\00:25:19.08 "My son, no matter what happens, 00:25:19.11\00:25:21.72 I'm going to take care of you." 00:25:21.75\00:25:23.28 And as we went in, 00:25:23.32\00:25:24.65 the pilot forgot to put the wheels down on the plane 00:25:24.69\00:25:28.29 and we crashed. 00:25:28.32\00:25:29.69 But I want you to know, God is faithful, 00:25:29.72\00:25:32.19 I'm still here. 00:25:32.23\00:25:33.66 We praise His name. Amen. 00:25:33.70\00:25:35.50 I want to thank you all so much for this beautiful program 00:25:35.53\00:25:40.64 to encourage people in their life of secret prayer. 00:25:40.67\00:25:43.84 Secret prayer means you have a daily, 00:25:48.71\00:25:51.05 hourly, constant surrender, 00:25:51.08\00:25:53.75 and yes, an unbroken connection with God. 00:25:53.78\00:25:58.15 When I come home and turn my computer on, 00:25:58.19\00:26:01.76 do you know that it automatically connects 00:26:01.79\00:26:04.16 to the internet? 00:26:04.19\00:26:05.89 And as long as the computer stays on, 00:26:05.93\00:26:09.96 it stays connected. 00:26:10.00\00:26:12.83 Even when I'm not using it, it stays connected. 00:26:12.87\00:26:18.34 A missionary had a car one day that would never start, 00:26:18.37\00:26:20.78 he had to push it to get it started. 00:26:20.81\00:26:23.28 So he would either park on a hill 00:26:23.31\00:26:25.75 or leave the engine running. 00:26:25.78\00:26:27.92 He did this for two years. 00:26:27.95\00:26:31.52 When a new missionary came to replace him, 00:26:31.55\00:26:34.39 he explained his arrangement for getting the car started 00:26:34.42\00:26:36.86 and the new man began looking under the hood. 00:26:36.89\00:26:41.00 Before the explanation was complete, 00:26:41.03\00:26:43.43 the new missionary interrupted, "Dr. Jackson, 00:26:43.47\00:26:46.20 I believe the only trouble with this car 00:26:46.23\00:26:49.44 is this loose cable." 00:26:49.47\00:26:51.41 And he gave the cable a twist, 00:26:51.44\00:26:53.64 stepped into the car, turned the engine, 00:26:53.68\00:26:56.54 and to the missionary's astonishment 00:26:56.58\00:26:59.35 the engine roared into life. 00:26:59.38\00:27:02.15 For two years, he had been trying 00:27:02.18\00:27:04.72 to get this car to run properly. 00:27:04.75\00:27:08.22 What he didn't realize was 00:27:08.26\00:27:10.56 the power was there all the time. 00:27:10.59\00:27:15.53 The only problem was a loose connection 00:27:15.56\00:27:20.04 that kept him from putting that power to work. 00:27:20.07\00:27:24.34 Secret prayer is your connection with God. 00:27:24.37\00:27:29.88 It will keep you powerful and turned on. 00:27:29.91\00:27:35.62 I'm Wintley Phipps, thank you for joining us. 00:27:35.65\00:27:39.59 I want you to know that to be a Christian 00:27:39.62\00:27:45.13 means, yes, to be Christ like. 00:27:45.16\00:27:48.76