Hello, and welcome to
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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We're so glad
you've joined us today.
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We have a wonderful
study in the Word of God today,
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we know you're
going to be blessed.
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You know, we're on
lesson number four,
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we're going to be
talking about 1prayer power.
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We're going to talk
about interceding for others.
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I'm sure you're
excited about that as I am.
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And you know, again, I
know you have many choices,
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but you decided to join us here
and we're very glad for that.
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You know, we're on
lesson number four.
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So be sure lesson number four,
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be sure and get
your study guide.
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Some of you may not
have your guides right now.
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And you'll want to
follow along with us
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and you can do that by
going and downloading them
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at absg.adventist.org.
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That's absg.adventist.org.
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Get those study
guides and join in with us.
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I know you'll be blessed.
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As you see we're
getting ready to start.
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So stay right there.
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We'll be right
back in just a moment.
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Hello, and welcome once again
to 3ABN Sabbath School panel.
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Welcome back.
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We'll be again on
lesson number four.
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So get what you
need, pencil, paper
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or get your Bible and sit down
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because you're going to
have a just a wonderful study
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in the Word of God.
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You know, those of us
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who have been
through that lesson,
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you may be going through
the first time right now today.
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We went through it, we
already have been blessed.
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That panel has been blessed
and we're talking about that,
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we want to make sure
that we introduce the panel,
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not that they
need an introduction,
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but you know, it's nice to...
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We believe
there'll be new people
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tuning in all the time.
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I'm going to say by
the hundreds and by faith
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by thousands and
by faith millions.
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We're praising God for that.
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So if you're one of
the new ones, praise God.
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How about writing to
3ABN to let us know that
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you're tuning in
for the first time.
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Thank you again
for joining us here.
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Okay, to my immediate
left, Sister Jill Morikone.
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It's good to have you.
Good to be here, Pastor.
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It makes me feel strange to say
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it's good to have
you because you know, it,
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but it's good to work together.
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I've enjoyed it
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and come to love
everyone on the panel.
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And most of all is
your love for Jesus.
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That's what
shines through. Amen.
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To your left,
Pastor John Lomacang.
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Always good to be here
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and open the
Word of God together.
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Yeah, yeah. I love it.
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When he's
getting ready for that,
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you can just see it
start coming all over his body.
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You can just see
it comes to his mind,
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he starts to focus
on the Word of God.
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So I always
appreciate it lot again.
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And you have him
to your left there.
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Yes, who is that? I don't know.
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He's one of the
new kids on the block.
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Yeah, I had to say
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'cause I think I
heard it was like what?
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A year or more?
It's been a little while.
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Since you've joined us
here, Brother Greg Morikone.
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I mean, it's really
it's a pleasure to have you.
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I know that you're busy
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and you're taking
time out to do this but...
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It's a blessing to
open the Word of God
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and I'm looking forward
to today's study, Pastor.
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Yes. Okay.
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Yes and next to you,
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Brother Ryan
Day, Pastor Ryan Day.
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Man, I'm excited.
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Excited for this
lesson, talking about prayer.
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Yes, it's going to be good.
And I love that excitement.
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Keep that excitement for Jesus.
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You know, I think these lessons
will bring that out in us
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because it talks
about Jesus so much.
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Let's get in.
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We're going to do
to the first part.
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The memory text is James 5:16.
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And that's one that
probably many of you have used.
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We'll have prayer
first. Yes, thank you.
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Let's pray for that.
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But, Brother,
John, how about you?
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Would you have
prayer, please? Sure. Yes.
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Loving Father in heaven,
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the opportunity
is always a blessing
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whenever we include Your
Holy Spirit's power here.
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And we do pray that now
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You'll come and fill
our minds and hearts.
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Strengthen us, create a unity
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and may this topic
on prayer reach out
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and touch someone
today to let them know that
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prayer will open the
door to possibilities
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and find in the
presence of God the joy
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that they are looking for.
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In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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Thank you because today
is our lesson number four.
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We're talking about the
prayer, the power of prayer.
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And I think most of us
here and I know you at home,
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you recognize the need of power
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in our hearts
and lives every day.
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So memory text in James 5:16,
and you have it in your lesson.
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If you haven't,
now remember to be sure
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and download those and get
them to study along with us.
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James 5:16, the Bible says,
"Confess your trespassers,"
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says your, King James says what?
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Faults.
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"Confess your
faults one to another
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and pray for one
another that you may be healed.
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The effective, oh yeah,
effectual, fervent prayers
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of a righteous
man availeth much."
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You know, that's powerful
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and probably could spend an hour
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on that passage of scripture,
but praise God for that.
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In our lesson,
and I'm going to read
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because I think that
this really hits the spot
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for the opening of
this lesson number four.
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So I'm going to
take it here right
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from the lesson what it
says and this goes from,
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if you have your Bibles be
sure and looking in Acts 4:31.
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Acts 4:31.
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Again, there's some
power that really comes here.
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I love the Book of Acts,
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because it's
just, it's power packed.
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You know, every
time you read a verse,
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and it's like,
something miraculous happened,
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God just worked another
miracle that people are on fire.
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God's people are working.
Notice what it says here.
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It says, "And
when they had prayed,
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the place where they
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were assembled
together was," what?
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Shake it. It
was, whoo, I like it.
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I can't help but I
want to go on here.
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That's right. It was shaken.
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I mean, maybe you felt like
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that sometime
when you were praying.
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Maybe it didn't,
physical shaking going on.
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But you felt like you
were shaking in the spirit.
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You know that the heaven
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was close to you
something heaven came down.
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Glory filled your soul.
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And so, notice here, it said,
"They were assembled together,
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and they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit."
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I know they were in one accord
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and they spake the
Word of God with what?
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Whoo, glory with
boldness. I like that.
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Notice, disciples
prayed and when they prayed,
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it said they were filled
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with the Holy
Spirit of the Living God.
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They spoke the
word with boldness.
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Do we not live in the day
that we need to have boldness?
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We come boldly to
the throne of God,
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then we find help
in our time of need.
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But I think if there's ever
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was a time for
where boldness is needed,
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and I'm not
talking about overdoing it,
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we're talking
about holy boldness
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because God has
said it in His Word.
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We may claim it
and the power is ours.
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Praise God for that.
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And also in the Acts
of the Apostle, page 37,
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our lesson brings this
out and I love this too.
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It says, "There was
a great relationship
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between the prayers
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and the infilling
of the Holy Spirit.
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We all have been praying,
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we're praying
for the latter rain.
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We're praying for the
power of the Holy Spirit.
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But notice there,
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there's a
relationship between prayers
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and the infilling
of the Holy Spirit.
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So if you're in...
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We need to
invite the Holy Spirit
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because that'd
be the Holy Spirit's
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waiting for the
invitation to come.
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And we invite the
Holy Spirit will come,
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powerfully
proclaiming God's Word.
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Notice it talks
about the disciples here.
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Disciples did not
ask for a blessing
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for themselves merely.
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What were they asking?
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Most times when
we get on our knees,
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we begin to pray, what happen?
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We've been, "Oh,
Lord, I have needs.
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Right.
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Man, I need my mind sometime
and there's nothing wrong,
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we can pray for those things
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but notice what
they had on their mind.
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When we are imbued
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with the Spirit
of the Living God,
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other people are on our hearts.
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The work of God
is on our hearts.
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Notice this, they did not ask
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for a blessing
for themselves merely,
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they were weighed
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with the burden of
salvation for souls,
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and I believe that's
what we all should be doing,
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there's no doubt about it.
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They realize that the gospel
was to be carried to the world.
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They claimed the power
that Christ had promised.
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So part of that
we're talking about today
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is claiming the promise of God.
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He's promised...
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Sunday's lesson
we'll get into that.
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Sunday's lesson is to talk about
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"A Cosmic Struggle."
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And so you know, we
look at cosmic struggle
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doesn't that mean
that's a universal struggle.
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That's the whole
universe and I'm not big enough
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to understand
the whole universe,
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you know and all about it.
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I'm lucky, I did
try to comprehend
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this little planet that
we're on that what is going on.
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So cosmic struggle is going
on. And what is it going on for?
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Would it be
going on for the souls
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and the hearts
and the minds of men?
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There's a
struggle that's going on
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and we're going to
read something about prayer,
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how important it is
before I get into that.
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2 Testimonies 3:13
says this. I like it.
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I could end it right here.
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It says, "Pray
much, pray much for prayer
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is one of the most essential,"
and I like the way it said
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and hadn't thought so
much as essential duty.
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It's a duty we have as
Christians to pray much.
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And I've always say, hey,
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a whole lot less talking
and a whole lot more praying.
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You know, not so
much to talk about,
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but we got a lot to pray about.
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Without it you cannot
maintain a Christian walk,
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it elevates, it
strengthens and it enables.
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It is the soul talking to God.
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What a privilege we have,
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as just human beings,
mere dust of the earth, sinful.
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We come to Christ
give our life Him.
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We can talk to Him
and I love Steps to Christ
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where it says 93,
"Prayer is the opening
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of the heart to
God as a friend."
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You know, which I hear
people say all the time.
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They've been in church for
umpteen years and they say,
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"I don't know how to pray.
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I don't know how to pray."
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Well, I don't know
if I know how to pray.
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I just look in the Word of God.
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And I talked to him as a friend.
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I go to Him and I can take
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my thoughts, my cares, my
desires, my whatever it is,
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and I could lay them at His feet
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and I know He cares.
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I know He hears,
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opening the heart
of God as a friend.
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God is always ready. God
is always willing to hear.
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Well, I'm going to go
right into our lesson here.
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I guess I better,
time's running out.
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Our lesson wants us
to compare a few passages
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of scripture and ask
ourselves some questions
00:10:00.86\00:10:03.06
here I think is
very, very important here
00:10:03.10\00:10:05.03
is how do these
passages influence our need
00:10:05.07\00:10:09.47
and understanding
of not only prayer,
00:10:09.50\00:10:12.44
but intercessory prayer.
00:10:12.47\00:10:14.34
And I think we
can glean from that
00:10:14.38\00:10:16.41
or how valuable
really is prayer.
00:10:16.44\00:10:20.22
What's going on
in the world today,
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is it something we need to be
00:10:22.25\00:10:23.59
praying about and
who is in control?
00:10:23.62\00:10:27.02
If you have your Bible,
turn to me Revelation 12:7-9
00:10:27.06\00:10:32.09
very familiar
passage of scripture,
00:10:32.13\00:10:33.66
I'm sure to each one of you,
00:10:33.70\00:10:35.16
but we'll read those
Revelation12:7-9 says,
00:10:35.20\00:10:38.20
"And there was war," where?
00:10:38.23\00:10:39.93
"In heaven: Michael
00:10:39.97\00:10:41.30
and his angels
fought against the dragon,
00:10:41.34\00:10:42.67
and the dragon
fought against his angels."
00:10:42.70\00:10:44.87
Verse 8, "And prevailed not,
00:10:44.91\00:10:47.81
neither was their place
found any more in heaven."
00:10:47.84\00:10:50.61
Verse 9, "And the great dragon
was cast out, that old serpent,
00:10:50.65\00:10:54.65
called the Devil and Satan,
which deceiveth the," what?
00:10:54.68\00:10:58.15
"The whole world."
Now where was he cast out?
00:10:58.19\00:11:00.86
"He was cast out to the earth,
00:11:00.89\00:11:02.22
and his angels
were cast out with him."
00:11:02.26\00:11:04.19
So we can see now
the importance of prayer,
00:11:04.23\00:11:07.80
how we need to
be praying, and why?
00:11:07.83\00:11:09.66
Because the devil is
down here as a roaring lion,
00:11:09.70\00:11:12.93
and certainly wanting to seek
00:11:12.97\00:11:14.30
and to devour those
who you know, give their,
00:11:14.34\00:11:16.64
they don't set Christ in
their heart and their life.
00:11:16.67\00:11:20.01
Verse 7 really stands out,
00:11:20.04\00:11:22.71
something I don't
think I still understand.
00:11:22.74\00:11:25.05
There's
something that I've read,
00:11:25.08\00:11:26.41
I've heard all my life
that there was war in heaven.
00:11:26.45\00:11:29.05
And when I was just a youngster,
00:11:29.08\00:11:30.42
I kept thinking,
"How can there be?
00:11:30.45\00:11:31.82
When he's talking
about war in heaven,
00:11:31.85\00:11:33.19
what kind of a war was
it and what went on here?"
00:11:33.22\00:11:35.42
So rather than
to go into all that,
00:11:35.46\00:11:36.79
just food for thought,
00:11:36.83\00:11:38.19
the Bible said
there was contention,
00:11:38.23\00:11:40.10
there was war in heaven,
and the dragon was cast out
00:11:40.13\00:11:43.10
because he went
against God, did he not?
00:11:43.13\00:11:45.83
What was it over?
00:11:45.87\00:11:48.30
What was the
contention really over?
00:11:48.34\00:11:50.04
It wasn't over the law of
God, the way God you know,
00:11:50.07\00:11:52.47
God was in charge.
00:11:52.51\00:11:54.18
The devil wanted
to be in charge also.
00:11:54.21\00:11:56.34
In fact, he
said, I'm going to be.
00:11:56.38\00:11:58.85
And so when the devil
is cast out to this earth,
00:11:58.88\00:12:02.12
when he's cast out to this earth
00:12:02.15\00:12:03.49
as we think about it here,
00:12:03.52\00:12:05.02
he was wanting to
do all that he could
00:12:05.05\00:12:06.59
certainly to take it over
00:12:06.62\00:12:07.96
and then to set
in the place of God.
00:12:07.99\00:12:10.59
Isaiah 14 isn't 13 and 14.
00:12:10.63\00:12:13.16
He just makes
some simple statements
00:12:13.19\00:12:14.53
as he says there,
00:12:14.56\00:12:15.90
"I will ascend
into heaven," right?
00:12:15.93\00:12:17.57
"I will be like what?
00:12:17.60\00:12:19.30
"I'll exalt my throne
right above the stars of God,
00:12:19.33\00:12:21.94
I will be like the most High."
00:12:21.97\00:12:25.17
Wow, big talk.
00:12:25.21\00:12:27.38
A lot of language here
00:12:27.41\00:12:28.74
after the guy that
just got thrown out.
00:12:28.78\00:12:30.88
In fact the one
who just got beat up,
00:12:30.91\00:12:32.41
as it were, you know,
but he still has a plan
00:12:32.45\00:12:35.28
and he brought
that plan down here.
00:12:35.32\00:12:36.72
He started in heaven,
he brought it down here.
00:12:36.75\00:12:38.69
God shows us that there
was and is a continual what?
00:12:38.72\00:12:42.02
Struggle that's
going on down here.
00:12:42.06\00:12:44.73
Every day of your
life, every day of my life,
00:12:44.76\00:12:47.16
we have to realize
it's a struggle going on.
00:12:47.20\00:12:49.00
We need prayer.
00:12:49.03\00:12:50.37
We need to be
praying for our kids.
00:12:50.40\00:12:51.73
We need to be praying for our,
00:12:51.77\00:12:53.10
they say for our
enemies, you know, the stranger,
00:12:53.13\00:12:55.54
each and every one every day
00:12:55.57\00:12:56.91
because there is a battle royale
00:12:56.94\00:12:59.87
that's going on
for the souls of men.
00:12:59.91\00:13:02.51
And that's you and me.
00:13:02.54\00:13:03.91
So when we look at each other
during day so you know what?
00:13:03.95\00:13:05.85
Kenny's maybe going
through a struggle today,
00:13:05.88\00:13:07.38
I need to pray for him.
00:13:07.42\00:13:08.75
I'm glad that God
lays that on our heart
00:13:08.78\00:13:10.12
from time to time that
sometimes somebody's name
00:13:10.15\00:13:12.42
comes in your mind,
then what do you do?
00:13:12.45\00:13:14.59
You begin to pray
for that individual.
00:13:14.62\00:13:17.26
Manuscript 3-21-1900.
00:13:17.29\00:13:19.56
Manuscript 3-21-1900 says this,
00:13:19.59\00:13:24.67
"If the curtain
could be rolled back,
00:13:24.70\00:13:26.23
you would see
the armies of heaven
00:13:26.27\00:13:27.97
are in continual
warfare with Satanic agencies."
00:13:28.00\00:13:32.87
There's a
continual warfare going on.
00:13:32.91\00:13:35.31
So we have good
angels, God and Christ
00:13:35.34\00:13:37.45
and we have the
evil angels, right?
00:13:37.48\00:13:39.38
And so there's
that battle royale
00:13:39.41\00:13:40.75
we call about this
going on for the souls of men.
00:13:40.78\00:13:43.62
It's almost too much
for us maybe to understand,
00:13:43.65\00:13:46.25
but listen, we
are a defeated foe
00:13:46.29\00:13:48.49
if we do not have
Christ on our side.
00:13:48.52\00:13:50.63
If we've not accepted him
00:13:50.66\00:13:51.99
as our Lord and our Savior,
we will lose this battle.
00:13:52.03\00:13:56.50
But if we have him on our side,
00:13:56.53\00:13:58.03
we are more than
conquerors through Christ,
00:13:58.07\00:13:59.83
isn't that right?
00:13:59.87\00:14:01.20
We're going to make
it to the kingdom of God
00:14:01.24\00:14:03.41
because of who Jesus is.
00:14:03.44\00:14:05.37
And I've heard
people mentioned many times,
00:14:05.41\00:14:07.01
you know, the tickets
already been paid for.
00:14:07.04\00:14:09.11
And I always like to say
it's at the will call window.
00:14:09.14\00:14:12.01
You don't have to go
to it's at the will call.
00:14:12.05\00:14:14.58
Now I know that pretty
well, when I was younger,
00:14:14.62\00:14:16.32
I used to lay side tickets
when I went to the basketball.
00:14:16.35\00:14:18.95
I'll leave, I better leave that.
00:14:18.99\00:14:20.46
But I just go to
the will call window.
00:14:20.49\00:14:21.89
You know why?
00:14:21.92\00:14:23.26
I didn't want to
waste time standing in line
00:14:23.29\00:14:24.63
because I'm afraid I
was going to miss something.
00:14:24.66\00:14:26.46
I wish people were
more that way about church.
00:14:26.49\00:14:28.33
You know, I want
to be there first,
00:14:28.36\00:14:30.03
not last, I want
to sit in the front,
00:14:30.07\00:14:31.40
not in the back.
00:14:31.43\00:14:32.77
We live in the time
00:14:32.80\00:14:34.14
I'm telling you
in earth's history
00:14:34.17\00:14:35.50
where we need to be praying.
00:14:35.54\00:14:36.87
We need to be
interceding for others,
00:14:36.91\00:14:38.37
because the Bible says
that Christ is always what?
00:14:38.41\00:14:40.68
He's always interceding.
00:14:40.71\00:14:42.64
What an example as
He intercedes for us,
00:14:42.68\00:14:44.68
should we not be
interceding for others?
00:14:44.71\00:14:47.75
Absolutely, we should be.
00:14:47.78\00:14:49.12
Pray for one another,
00:14:49.15\00:14:50.49
the Bible says
and so I encourage you
00:14:50.52\00:14:52.42
to pray one for another.
00:14:52.45\00:14:53.92
You know why?
Because Jesus is coming.
00:14:53.96\00:14:55.82
We want to be ready and
there's power in prayer.
00:14:55.86\00:14:58.16
Amen.
00:14:58.19\00:14:59.53
Thank you so much, Pastor Kenny,
00:14:59.56\00:15:00.90
what a wonderful foundation.
00:15:00.93\00:15:02.26
Think about
that cosmic conflict,
00:15:02.30\00:15:04.27
the great
controversy that's going on
00:15:04.30\00:15:06.10
and the power of
prayer in the midst of that,
00:15:06.13\00:15:09.90
I have Monday's
lesson which is "Jesus:
00:15:09.94\00:15:12.94
The Mighty Intercessor."
00:15:12.97\00:15:15.61
What an incredible lesson
00:15:15.64\00:15:17.31
and we could
spend the entire hour
00:15:17.35\00:15:20.28
just studying that,
00:15:20.32\00:15:22.08
because if anyone knew
how to pray, it's Jesus.
00:15:22.12\00:15:24.79
If anyone knew how to intercede
for others, it's Jesus.
00:15:24.82\00:15:28.72
If anyone knew how to
win in this cosmic conflict,
00:15:28.76\00:15:32.16
it's Jesus.
00:15:32.19\00:15:33.53
So we're going to take a look
00:15:33.56\00:15:34.90
at His intercessory
ministry both on earth.
00:15:34.93\00:15:38.13
We'll look at
some of those times
00:15:38.17\00:15:39.50
when Jesus walked this earth
00:15:39.53\00:15:40.87
and He prayed, as
well as in heaven.
00:15:40.90\00:15:44.21
So let's start
with His time on earth.
00:15:44.24\00:15:45.94
We're going to the Book of Luke,
00:15:45.97\00:15:47.94
Luke more than any
other gospel writer
00:15:47.98\00:15:51.61
portrays Jesus as praying
00:15:51.65\00:15:54.25
during these key
moments of His life.
00:15:54.28\00:15:56.65
And in fact, some
of the same stories
00:15:56.69\00:15:58.12
that are in some
of the other gospels
00:15:58.15\00:16:00.29
don't mention the
fact that Jesus prayed,
00:16:00.32\00:16:02.32
but Luke mentions the
fact that Jesus prayed.
00:16:02.36\00:16:05.13
So we're starting
with at His baptism.
00:16:05.16\00:16:07.30
This is seven key
pivotal moments in Jesus life.
00:16:07.33\00:16:10.60
We're going to
start with His baptism.
00:16:10.63\00:16:11.97
This is Luke Chapter 3.
00:16:12.00\00:16:13.44
Luke Chapter 3,
00:16:13.47\00:16:14.80
and we're going to
look at verses 21 and 22.
00:16:14.84\00:16:18.67
"When all the
people were baptized,
00:16:18.71\00:16:20.41
it came to pass that
Jesus also was baptized,
00:16:20.44\00:16:24.18
and while He prayed,
the heaven was opened.
00:16:24.21\00:16:28.32
And the Holy Spirit
descended in bodily form
00:16:28.35\00:16:30.65
like a dove upon Him,
and a voice came from heaven
00:16:30.69\00:16:34.06
which said, 'You
are My beloved Son,
00:16:34.09\00:16:37.39
in You I am well pleased.'"
00:16:37.43\00:16:40.63
So what happened here
at the baptism of Jesus?
00:16:40.66\00:16:43.20
Prayer opened the heavens,
literally and symbolically.
00:16:43.23\00:16:47.97
Prayer brought the
infilling of the Holy Spirit
00:16:48.00\00:16:51.27
because the Holy
Spirit descended like a dove.
00:16:51.31\00:16:54.64
Prayer brought a visible
00:16:54.68\00:16:56.14
and audible sign
of God's acceptance
00:16:56.18\00:17:00.22
because God spoke,
"This is my beloved Son."
00:17:00.25\00:17:03.22
Prayer reminded
Jesus of who He was.
00:17:03.25\00:17:07.16
Let's look at the
second pivotal moment.
00:17:07.19\00:17:08.86
This is Luke 5, jump
over a couple of chapters.
00:17:08.89\00:17:11.39
Luke 5:16.
00:17:11.43\00:17:14.23
It says, it's
very simple sentence,"
00:17:14.26\00:17:16.33
So He Himself often withdrew
00:17:16.36\00:17:19.40
into the wilderness and prayed."
00:17:19.43\00:17:21.67
Now, you might
read that and just say,
00:17:21.70\00:17:23.07
okay, Jesus prayed,
00:17:23.10\00:17:24.54
but this comes just
after He healed a leper.
00:17:24.57\00:17:27.58
And in the next verse,
00:17:27.61\00:17:28.94
He begins teaching,
00:17:28.98\00:17:30.31
and then He heals the paralytic.
00:17:30.35\00:17:32.31
We see in this passage
00:17:32.35\00:17:33.85
that prayer strengthened Jesus
for healing, for preaching,
00:17:33.88\00:17:39.42
for teaching, for
His ministry of saving.
00:17:39.45\00:17:43.69
We see that it was
pivotal for Him in ministry,
00:17:43.73\00:17:47.50
to continue in prayer.
00:17:47.53\00:17:49.66
Number three, we
go to Luke Chapter 6,
00:17:49.70\00:17:52.03
we see that he prayed
before selecting His disciples.
00:17:52.07\00:17:55.80
Luke 6:12-3,
00:17:55.84\00:17:59.84
"Now it came to
pass in those days
00:17:59.87\00:18:01.51
that He went out to
the mountain to pray,
00:18:01.54\00:18:03.61
and continued," how long?
00:18:03.65\00:18:05.28
"All night in prayer to God.
00:18:05.31\00:18:08.15
And when it was day,
00:18:08.18\00:18:09.52
He called His
disciples to Himself
00:18:09.55\00:18:11.49
and from them he chose 12,
whom he also named apostles."
00:18:11.52\00:18:16.16
Now Jesus prayed
all night in prayer.
00:18:16.19\00:18:19.59
And that prayer empowered
Him to select His disciples.
00:18:19.63\00:18:24.30
That prayer gave Him
wisdom and direction,
00:18:24.33\00:18:26.63
it gave Him courage,
00:18:26.67\00:18:28.00
it gave Him what He needed
to select those disciples.
00:18:28.04\00:18:31.84
Moment number four,
Jesus prayed before telling
00:18:31.87\00:18:35.94
His disciples of
His impending death.
00:18:35.98\00:18:39.41
We see that Luke Chapter 9,
00:18:39.45\00:18:41.08
jump over a
couple more chapters.
00:18:41.12\00:18:42.95
Luke 9:18-20,
00:18:42.98\00:18:46.19
"And it happened, as
He was alone praying,
00:18:46.22\00:18:48.26
that His disciples
joined Him, and He asked them,
00:18:48.29\00:18:51.16
'Who do the
crowds say that I am?"
00:18:51.19\00:18:53.09
And they said, John
the Baptist, Elijah,
00:18:53.13\00:18:55.16
old prophets are risen,
they mentioned several things.
00:18:55.20\00:18:57.70
And then verse 20, He said,
00:18:57.73\00:18:59.57
"'But who do you say that I am?'
00:18:59.60\00:19:01.50
Peter answered and
said, 'The Christ of God.'"
00:19:01.54\00:19:04.31
And then directly after that,
00:19:04.34\00:19:06.44
Jesus predicted His
death and His resurrection.
00:19:06.47\00:19:11.15
You could almost
say prayer enabled Him
00:19:11.18\00:19:14.08
to share this difficult news
00:19:14.12\00:19:16.42
with those people that He loved.
00:19:16.45\00:19:18.62
It gave Him wisdom and tact
00:19:18.65\00:19:20.16
and the right words
and the right spirit,
00:19:20.19\00:19:22.32
and it even empowered
Him to move toward the cross.
00:19:22.36\00:19:26.43
We see Jesus praying again
00:19:26.46\00:19:27.80
just before the transfiguration.
00:19:27.83\00:19:29.76
We're still in Luke 9,
just a few verses down.
00:19:29.80\00:19:32.60
Luke 9:28 and 29,
"Now it came to pass,
00:19:32.63\00:19:36.57
about eight days
after these sayings,
00:19:36.60\00:19:39.24
that He took
Peter, John, and James
00:19:39.27\00:19:41.14
and went up on
the mountain to pray.
00:19:41.18\00:19:42.98
As He prayed, the
appearance of His face
00:19:43.01\00:19:44.91
was altered,
00:19:44.95\00:19:46.28
and His robe became
white and glistening."
00:19:46.31\00:19:49.72
We see here that prayer
brought the presence of heaven.
00:19:49.75\00:19:52.45
That prayer empowered Jesus,
00:19:52.49\00:19:55.16
both
spiritually and emotionally.
00:19:55.19\00:19:57.36
That prayer
changed Jesus physically
00:19:57.39\00:20:00.33
because His appearance changed.
00:20:00.36\00:20:02.30
We see again that
prayer brought the visible
00:20:02.33\00:20:04.37
and audible sign
of God's presence,
00:20:04.40\00:20:06.43
just like at His baptism.
00:20:06.47\00:20:08.47
We see again that
prayer reminded Jesus
00:20:08.50\00:20:10.31
of who He was
just as at His baptism.
00:20:10.34\00:20:14.14
And that prayer also revealed
00:20:14.18\00:20:16.61
these heavenly truths to others,
00:20:16.64\00:20:18.11
to John and James and Peter.
00:20:18.15\00:20:21.18
Snapshot number
six is we see prayer
00:20:21.22\00:20:23.72
before Peter's great
temptation and denial of Christ.
00:20:23.75\00:20:27.79
We're in Luke 22.
00:20:27.82\00:20:29.16
This is almost
to the end of Luke.
00:20:29.19\00:20:30.56
Luke 22:31-34.
00:20:30.59\00:20:33.50
"And the Lord
said, 'Simon, Simon!'"
00:20:33.53\00:20:35.20
he's speaking to Peter,
00:20:35.23\00:20:36.56
"Indeed, Satan
has asked for you,
00:20:36.60\00:20:38.30
that he may sift you as wheat,
00:20:38.33\00:20:40.80
but I have prayed for you,
00:20:40.84\00:20:45.07
that your faith should not fail,
00:20:45.11\00:20:48.11
and when you
have returned to Me,
00:20:48.14\00:20:50.15
or when you're converted,
strengthen your brethren."
00:20:50.18\00:20:53.72
And then Peter says,
00:20:53.75\00:20:55.08
"Oh, I've got this God,
I'm going to follow You."
00:20:55.12\00:20:56.65
And Jesus says,
00:20:56.69\00:20:58.02
"Before the cock
crows three times,
00:20:58.05\00:20:59.89
you are going to deny Me."
00:20:59.92\00:21:02.36
The word prayed there, it
says I have prayed for you.
00:21:02.39\00:21:04.53
In the Greek it means
begged, beseeched, request.
00:21:04.56\00:21:10.33
Jesus says, "I love you, Peter
00:21:10.37\00:21:12.57
and I have begged
God for your soul."
00:21:12.60\00:21:16.04
That is intercession.
00:21:16.07\00:21:18.37
Prayer leads to conversions.
00:21:18.41\00:21:20.24
Prayer saves others
from the attack of the enemy.
00:21:20.28\00:21:23.04
Prayer strengthens others faith.
00:21:23.08\00:21:25.48
Prayer makes a difference
in someone else's life.
00:21:25.51\00:21:28.95
And then the last snapshot
00:21:28.98\00:21:30.32
we see of Jesus praying is
in the Garden of Gethsemane
00:21:30.35\00:21:32.79
right before He
goes to the cross.
00:21:32.82\00:21:34.59
We're in Luke 22:40-43,
00:21:34.62\00:21:38.69
"When He came to the
place, He said to them,
00:21:38.73\00:21:41.00
'Pray that you may not
enter into temptation.'
00:21:41.03\00:21:43.57
And He was withdrawn from
them about a stone's throw,
00:21:43.60\00:21:46.90
and He knelt down
and prayed, saying,
00:21:46.94\00:21:49.20
'Father, if it's Your will,
00:21:49.24\00:21:51.24
take this cup away from
Me, nevertheless not My will,
00:21:51.27\00:21:55.71
but Yours be done.'"
00:21:55.74\00:21:57.85
Prayer enabled
Jesus to surrender.
00:21:57.88\00:22:01.28
It placed Him in that position
to accept His Father's will
00:22:01.32\00:22:04.69
and it strengthened Him
00:22:04.72\00:22:06.45
for the coming
trial of the cross.
00:22:06.49\00:22:09.76
Now let's jump just
briefly to the Book of Hebrews.
00:22:09.79\00:22:12.69
This is Jesus'
ministry as an intercessor,
00:22:12.73\00:22:15.20
not just while He
walked to this earth,
00:22:15.23\00:22:17.13
but Him in heaven.
00:22:17.17\00:22:19.00
Hebrews is one of
the clearest places
00:22:19.03\00:22:22.07
where we see Christ's
00:22:22.10\00:22:23.44
intercessory ministry in heaven.
00:22:23.47\00:22:25.57
We see that Christ
is the better sacrifice
00:22:25.61\00:22:28.21
because He died
once and for all.
00:22:28.24\00:22:30.28
We see that He
is a better priest,
00:22:30.31\00:22:32.15
because He can
actually take away sin.
00:22:32.18\00:22:34.88
And the ministry is based
00:22:34.92\00:22:36.25
on the sacrificial
death found on Calvary.
00:22:36.28\00:22:39.42
So after His sacrifice,
00:22:39.45\00:22:41.06
Jesus ascended to heaven
and became our high priest.
00:22:41.09\00:22:44.86
We see that in Romans 8:34,
00:22:44.89\00:22:47.40
"Who is He who
condemns, it is Christ who died,
00:22:47.43\00:22:50.80
and furthermore is also risen,
00:22:50.83\00:22:52.70
who is even at the right hand
00:22:52.73\00:22:54.60
of God who makes
intercession for us.
00:22:54.64\00:22:58.27
Jesus right now interceding
00:22:58.31\00:23:00.74
at the right hand of the
Father for you and for me.
00:23:00.78\00:23:04.05
We see that this intercession
00:23:04.08\00:23:05.41
can only be done by
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:23:05.45\00:23:08.28
1 Timothy 2:5,
"There is one God.
00:23:08.32\00:23:12.02
There is one
mediator between God and men,
00:23:12.05\00:23:16.09
the man Jesus Christ."
00:23:16.12\00:23:18.39
We see that this
intercession is for our sins.
00:23:18.43\00:23:22.16
1 John 2:1-2.
00:23:22.20\00:23:24.30
John says, "My little children,
these things I write to you,
00:23:24.33\00:23:27.37
so that you may not sin.
00:23:27.40\00:23:28.94
But if anyone sins,
we have an advocate,
00:23:28.97\00:23:32.97
we have an
intercessor with the Father,
00:23:33.01\00:23:35.98
Jesus Christ the righteous."
00:23:36.01\00:23:38.85
We see that His intercession,
00:23:38.88\00:23:40.35
the Lord Jesus'
intercession is complete.
00:23:40.38\00:23:43.32
Hebrews 7:25,
00:23:43.35\00:23:46.29
"Therefore he is able
also to save to the uttermost."
00:23:46.32\00:23:50.06
That word in Greek means
utterly, completely, forever,
00:23:50.09\00:23:54.03
perfectly through all time.
00:23:54.06\00:23:56.70
"He is able to
save to the uttermost
00:23:56.73\00:23:59.43
those who come
to God through Him,
00:23:59.47\00:24:01.64
since He forever lives."
00:24:01.67\00:24:03.51
He always lives to
make intercession for them.
00:24:03.54\00:24:07.04
So in closing in my section,
00:24:07.08\00:24:09.71
you and I are called to
be intercessors for others.
00:24:09.74\00:24:12.85
One of my favorite
passages is Ezekiel 22:30,
00:24:12.88\00:24:16.79
the Word of God says, "I
sought for a man among them
00:24:16.82\00:24:20.06
who would make a
wall, and stand in the gap
00:24:20.09\00:24:22.72
before Me on behalf of the land,
00:24:22.76\00:24:25.89
that I should not
destroy it, but I found no one."
00:24:25.93\00:24:30.37
God calls you and I to stand
00:24:30.40\00:24:34.80
in the gap for our
brothers and sisters.
00:24:34.84\00:24:37.81
We are called to intercede.
00:24:37.84\00:24:40.28
Now we don't forgive sins,
00:24:40.31\00:24:41.88
Jesus does that
in the heavenlies,
00:24:41.91\00:24:44.35
but we are called to
intercede on behalf of others.
00:24:44.38\00:24:49.15
I think of Psalms 2:8,
00:24:49.18\00:24:52.75
"Ask of Me, Jesus is speaking,
00:24:52.79\00:24:54.52
and I will give You the heathen
00:24:54.56\00:24:56.89
for Your inheritance
00:24:56.93\00:24:58.26
and the uttermost
parts of the earth
00:24:58.29\00:25:00.03
for Your possession."
00:25:00.06\00:25:01.40
So intercede for
the salvation of others.
00:25:01.43\00:25:05.30
Praise the Lord. What
a wonderful foundation.
00:25:05.33\00:25:07.87
I've been blessed already.
00:25:07.90\00:25:09.37
We pray that
you've been blessed also.
00:25:09.40\00:25:10.74
We're going to
take a short break.
00:25:10.77\00:25:12.11
We'll be right
back in just a moment.
00:25:12.14\00:25:13.48
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Hello, and welcome back
to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:25:49.18\00:25:51.61
Again, we're
glad you're joining.
00:25:51.65\00:25:53.01
We're going to get
right into Tuesday's lesson
00:25:53.05\00:25:55.12
with Pastor John Lomacang
00:25:55.15\00:25:56.65
and I'm interested
in this, it's very good,
00:25:56.69\00:25:58.25
"Paul's Intercessory Prayers."
00:25:58.29\00:26:00.09
You know, Pastor Kenny,
00:26:00.12\00:26:01.46
and those of you
watching the program,
00:26:01.49\00:26:03.53
intercessory prayer is powerful.
00:26:03.56\00:26:07.03
Yes.
00:26:07.06\00:26:08.40
We just found out as
Jill pointed out that
00:26:08.43\00:26:10.80
intercessory
prayer makes a difference.
00:26:10.83\00:26:13.57
When Jesus prayed for Peter,
00:26:13.60\00:26:15.70
to me that was one of
the greatest evidences
00:26:15.74\00:26:18.64
that not only did
the Lord pray for Him,
00:26:18.67\00:26:20.84
but the Lord knew that
Peter needed to go through
00:26:20.88\00:26:23.11
what he was about to go through.
00:26:23.14\00:26:24.48
And that's why
00:26:24.51\00:26:25.85
I like the
phrase that Jesus used,
00:26:25.88\00:26:28.18
"When you are converted,
strengthen the brethren."
00:26:28.22\00:26:31.59
He didn't pray for
Peter not to go through
00:26:31.62\00:26:33.42
what he was going to go through.
00:26:33.46\00:26:34.79
He said, "I'm going to pray
that when you go through it,
00:26:34.82\00:26:37.13
you'll be back."
00:26:37.16\00:26:38.69
And the evidence
that the Lord knew that
00:26:38.73\00:26:41.26
Peter was going to come
back, He says and when you are,
00:26:41.30\00:26:43.70
when you return,
when you come back,
00:26:43.73\00:26:47.24
strengthen the brethren.
00:26:47.27\00:26:48.64
Sometimes the Lord prays for us
00:26:48.67\00:26:50.11
and I want you
to get this point.
00:26:50.14\00:26:51.57
He doesn't pray for
the trials to be withheld.
00:26:51.61\00:26:54.78
He pray for our faith
00:26:54.81\00:26:56.14
not to fail in the
midst of the trials.
00:26:56.18\00:26:58.15
So many
Christians become Christians
00:26:58.18\00:27:00.05
and they think the
moment the trial comes,
00:27:00.08\00:27:02.45
that I didn't sign up for this.
00:27:02.48\00:27:04.32
Well, the reason why
the Lord sends the trial,
00:27:04.35\00:27:06.92
or the reason why
He allows the trial.
00:27:06.96\00:27:09.39
Servant of the Lord says,
00:27:09.42\00:27:10.76
we'll discover that trials
00:27:10.79\00:27:12.13
are no small blessing
in the school of Christ.
00:27:12.16\00:27:16.33
They are designed to nerve us
00:27:16.36\00:27:18.83
to the determination to succeed.
00:27:18.87\00:27:22.27
So if the Lord allows a trial,
00:27:22.30\00:27:24.24
He wants to file down
some of the rough edges,
00:27:24.27\00:27:27.18
but He will never allow
a trial to break His child.
00:27:27.21\00:27:30.45
He never sends it to break us,
00:27:30.48\00:27:32.45
He sends it to lead
us to the only place
00:27:32.48\00:27:34.98
where we find our courage
and strength and deliverance.
00:27:35.02\00:27:37.62
That's why He said to Peter,
00:27:37.65\00:27:38.99
when you're converted
strengthen the brethren,
00:27:39.02\00:27:40.72
but not only does Christ
pray for us, intercessory,
00:27:40.76\00:27:43.76
I'm going to get
to Paul's in a moment,
00:27:43.79\00:27:45.13
but I have to go to the
work of the Holy Spirit.
00:27:45.16\00:27:47.23
Now we like Romans 8:28.
00:27:47.26\00:27:49.73
But I want you to
see the precursor,
00:27:49.76\00:27:51.27
the preamble to Romans 8:28
00:27:51.30\00:27:53.77
because the
reason for Romans 8:28
00:27:53.80\00:27:55.87
is verse 26 and 27.
00:27:55.90\00:27:59.57
And by the way,
the context of this is
00:27:59.61\00:28:02.34
how God sustains
us through our trials,
00:28:02.38\00:28:05.61
for I consider that
00:28:05.65\00:28:07.25
the suffering
of the present time
00:28:07.28\00:28:08.62
are not worthy to be compared.
00:28:08.65\00:28:10.45
And then and Paul points out
00:28:10.49\00:28:12.05
how God steps in and intercedes.
00:28:12.09\00:28:13.82
He works and the spirit
00:28:13.86\00:28:15.19
is continuing to keep us
from our trials crushing us.
00:28:15.22\00:28:18.29
Then He starts in verse 26.
00:28:18.33\00:28:19.89
"In the same way
00:28:19.93\00:28:21.26
or likewise the spirit
also helps in our weaknesses.
00:28:21.30\00:28:25.83
For we do not know
00:28:25.87\00:28:27.20
what we should
pray for as we ought,
00:28:27.24\00:28:29.04
even when we pray."
00:28:29.07\00:28:30.51
Lord says, you
are not really praying
00:28:30.54\00:28:31.87
for what you
need, but it goes on.
00:28:31.91\00:28:34.74
"But the spirit himself
makes intercession for us
00:28:34.78\00:28:39.38
with groanings
which cannot be uttered."
00:28:39.41\00:28:41.32
Meaning for those of you that
think tongues as a prayer life.
00:28:41.35\00:28:45.55
No, you can't speak in tongues.
00:28:45.59\00:28:47.82
Tongues is not
what you think it is.
00:28:47.86\00:28:50.63
It is not an intercessory
prayer language, right?
00:28:50.66\00:28:53.46
The spirit is the only one
00:28:53.50\00:28:55.16
that has an
intercessory prayer language
00:28:55.20\00:28:57.27
that you can
utter with groanings
00:28:57.30\00:28:59.53
which cannot be uttered.
00:28:59.57\00:29:00.90
That's right.
00:29:00.94\00:29:02.70
Now he who
searches the hearts knows
00:29:02.74\00:29:06.07
what the mind of the spirit is,
00:29:06.11\00:29:08.14
because he, now
this is powerful,
00:29:08.18\00:29:10.91
now it goes from
the spirit interceding
00:29:10.95\00:29:12.61
to Christ interceding.
00:29:12.65\00:29:14.18
He makes intercession
00:29:14.22\00:29:15.55
for the saints
according to the will of God.
00:29:15.58\00:29:17.19
Notice, we pray
00:29:17.22\00:29:18.59
the spirit intercedes to Christ,
00:29:18.62\00:29:19.95
Christ intercedes to God.
00:29:19.99\00:29:21.72
Notice the intercessory chain.
00:29:21.76\00:29:23.49
It's a powerful chain, reliable.
00:29:23.53\00:29:25.76
And that's why verse 28 can be
00:29:25.79\00:29:29.36
our confidence with us praying,
00:29:29.40\00:29:33.00
the spirit
interceding to Christ,
00:29:33.03\00:29:35.20
Christ interceding to
the Father in our behalf,
00:29:35.24\00:29:37.91
then verse 28 becomes reality.
00:29:37.94\00:29:39.91
And because of that,
00:29:39.94\00:29:42.34
we know that all
things work together for good
00:29:42.38\00:29:44.41
to those who love God,
00:29:44.45\00:29:45.91
to those who are called
according to His purpose.
00:29:45.95\00:29:48.58
If you have the spirit,
00:29:48.62\00:29:49.98
take in your
prison, fixing it up,
00:29:50.02\00:29:52.42
bring it to Jesus and
He takes to the Father.
00:29:52.45\00:29:54.66
How will things not
work together for good?
00:29:54.69\00:29:56.59
Come on, can I get an amen?
00:29:56.62\00:29:58.53
It's my little choir right here.
00:29:58.56\00:30:00.80
But we have to
understand that is the key.
00:30:00.83\00:30:03.50
You don't worry about
your prayer sounding good.
00:30:03.53\00:30:06.17
Because even the nicest prayers
00:30:06.20\00:30:08.20
still are prayed
with this reality.
00:30:08.24\00:30:10.71
We don't know what
we should pray for us.
00:30:10.74\00:30:12.07
That's right.
00:30:12.11\00:30:13.44
Okay, so the spirit
says, I know what he meant.
00:30:13.48\00:30:15.48
So let's take this father,
here, Christ, you take it now.
00:30:15.51\00:30:18.81
Now this makes sense.
00:30:18.85\00:30:20.52
It's like, somebody
writes a letter and said,
00:30:20.55\00:30:22.48
"Could you edit it for me?"
00:30:22.52\00:30:23.89
Well, the Lord is
always editing our letters.
00:30:23.92\00:30:25.25
You know why?
00:30:25.29\00:30:26.62
Because He knows the
end from the beginning.
00:30:26.65\00:30:28.06
But in the ministry
of Paul, Paul prayed,
00:30:28.09\00:30:30.29
and what I liked about it,
00:30:30.33\00:30:31.66
we're going to go
to Ephesians 1:15-21,
00:30:31.69\00:30:34.73
we're going to see that
00:30:34.76\00:30:36.10
not only did Paul
pray for new converts,
00:30:36.13\00:30:38.13
but Paul knew
that something happened
00:30:38.17\00:30:39.63
when he prays that
00:30:39.67\00:30:41.00
would not have
happened otherwise,
00:30:41.04\00:30:42.84
and we must know that.
00:30:42.87\00:30:44.21
See, when somebody
says, "Well, I pray for you."
00:30:44.24\00:30:46.78
Don't approach prayer as
a well, I'll pray for you.
00:30:46.81\00:30:50.85
Prayer is, you're going
to talk to God on my behalf.
00:30:50.88\00:30:54.08
Thank you.
00:30:54.12\00:30:55.45
It's not a, well, let's see,
I can't help you financially,
00:30:55.48\00:30:58.12
I can't help you morally,
I can't help you physically.
00:30:58.15\00:31:00.86
I'll pray for you.
00:31:00.89\00:31:02.22
If you're going to go to
00:31:02.26\00:31:03.59
into the presence
of God on my behalf,
00:31:03.63\00:31:04.96
I'm gonna say
thank you for that.
00:31:04.99\00:31:06.76
Because I would rather
00:31:06.80\00:31:08.13
you talk to God
about my problems
00:31:08.16\00:31:09.86
than anybody on earth
00:31:09.90\00:31:11.83
because nobody on
earth they can say.
00:31:11.87\00:31:13.77
And what amazes me,
00:31:13.80\00:31:15.14
people may at that moment desire
00:31:15.17\00:31:17.27
or want to help you.
00:31:17.31\00:31:18.97
But when your
prayers are resolved,
00:31:19.01\00:31:21.01
and when your
problems are resolved,
00:31:21.04\00:31:22.81
God is the only one that
00:31:22.84\00:31:24.18
puts him in the
depths of the sea
00:31:24.21\00:31:25.55
and remembers them no more,
00:31:25.58\00:31:26.92
everybody else
still remembers them.
00:31:26.95\00:31:28.92
Okay, that's so much
for that encouragement.
00:31:28.95\00:31:31.62
Now, I'm going to go
ahead in the interest of time
00:31:31.65\00:31:33.22
and bring these
five, these six points out.
00:31:33.25\00:31:36.16
When you read Ephesians 1:15-21,
00:31:36.19\00:31:40.00
you'll discover that
00:31:40.03\00:31:41.90
there are six things
that Paul prayed about.
00:31:41.93\00:31:44.83
In the interest of time,
I'm just going to go ahead
00:31:44.87\00:31:46.77
and bring them out
and you'll get a chance
00:31:46.80\00:31:48.30
to read them in your study life.
00:31:48.34\00:31:50.11
But one of the first things
he prayed for is in verse 17.
00:31:50.14\00:31:54.74
He says that the God of our,
00:31:54.78\00:31:56.88
that the God of
our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:31:56.91\00:31:59.51
the Father of glory may give
to you the spirit of wisdom.
00:31:59.55\00:32:03.62
That's the first thing
00:32:03.65\00:32:04.99
he prayed for us to
have the spirit of wisdom.
00:32:05.02\00:32:07.39
Second thing Paul pray
for, wisdom and knowledge.
00:32:07.42\00:32:12.39
Thirdly, verse 18,
he also prayed that
00:32:12.43\00:32:14.73
we have the eyes
of your understanding,
00:32:14.76\00:32:18.27
be enlightened.
00:32:18.30\00:32:19.87
He said, "Lord, I'm praying that
00:32:19.90\00:32:21.24
they get wisdom,
they get knowledge.
00:32:21.27\00:32:23.30
And they also that
these things lead to the eyes
00:32:23.34\00:32:26.14
of their understanding
being enlightened."
00:32:26.17\00:32:29.04
You got to pray
when you open your Bible
00:32:29.08\00:32:30.41
because you
can't get enlightenment
00:32:30.45\00:32:32.11
unless you pray
for it ahead of time.
00:32:32.15\00:32:34.02
Also, He prayed
that they may know
00:32:34.05\00:32:35.98
what is the hope
of their calling.
00:32:36.02\00:32:37.52
What are they?
00:32:37.55\00:32:38.89
That they may know
00:32:38.92\00:32:40.26
what the hope of
their calling is.
00:32:40.29\00:32:41.62
Fifthly he prayed
that they would know
00:32:41.66\00:32:45.29
what are the riches of the glory
00:32:45.33\00:32:46.66
of His
inheritance in the spirit.
00:32:46.70\00:32:49.00
If you
understood your inheritance,
00:32:49.03\00:32:52.20
then you wouldn't
walk around like an orphan.
00:32:52.23\00:32:57.31
God does not have grandchildren.
00:32:57.34\00:33:00.44
He has children.
00:33:00.48\00:33:02.08
I've never seen the
grandchildren of Israel,
00:33:02.11\00:33:04.51
the children of Israel.
00:33:04.55\00:33:05.88
I've never seen,
00:33:05.91\00:33:07.25
we are the grandchildren of God.
00:33:07.28\00:33:08.72
There is no closer connection
than a child to a father.
00:33:08.75\00:33:11.99
So don't walk around
like you're an orphan.
00:33:12.02\00:33:14.32
And the last
thing He prayed for that
00:33:14.36\00:33:16.06
we might know what is
the exceeding greatness
00:33:16.09\00:33:19.39
of His power
toward us who believe.
00:33:19.43\00:33:22.76
If you understood the power
that God made available to you,
00:33:22.80\00:33:25.33
you wouldn't be
walking around like
00:33:25.37\00:33:26.70
life is just a humdrum aspect
00:33:26.74\00:33:29.17
and you're in a quagmire
of a relationship with Christ.
00:33:29.20\00:33:32.31
We are not locked down
in this pool of inactivity.
00:33:32.34\00:33:36.75
We are simply in a journey
00:33:36.78\00:33:38.11
and a part of that journey
is the Lord is filing away
00:33:38.15\00:33:41.08
anything that
doesn't resemble Him.
00:33:41.12\00:33:43.25
And that's why
intercessory prayer
00:33:43.28\00:33:44.72
is necessary so that our faith
as Christ said will not fail.
00:33:44.75\00:33:48.62
In the Book of
Philippians 1:3-11.
00:33:48.66\00:33:52.19
And I'm making
reference to these because
00:33:52.23\00:33:54.00
I want you to go
back and look at these.
00:33:54.03\00:33:55.96
Paul brings out how the prayer,
00:33:56.00\00:34:01.37
the note in Paul's prayer.
00:34:01.40\00:34:03.64
If you were a
Philippian church member,
00:34:03.67\00:34:05.41
you would appreciate the
way that Paul prayed for you.
00:34:05.44\00:34:08.71
Paul prayed so that
00:34:08.74\00:34:10.25
when they received his
letter, they would know that
00:34:10.28\00:34:13.42
he's not just praying
for good Bible studies,
00:34:13.45\00:34:15.75
or for great walk with Christ,
00:34:15.78\00:34:17.59
but he was praying in a sincere,
00:34:17.62\00:34:19.72
he says in verse 10,
00:34:19.75\00:34:21.69
"That you may approve the
things that are excellent,
00:34:21.72\00:34:25.19
that you may be sincere,
00:34:25.23\00:34:28.10
and without offence
till the day of Christ."
00:34:28.13\00:34:31.03
You know, and
then also being filled
00:34:31.07\00:34:33.23
with the fruits of righteousness
00:34:33.27\00:34:35.00
which are by Jesus Christ,
to the glory and praise of God.
00:34:35.04\00:34:38.67
So Paul is praying
for these evidences
00:34:38.71\00:34:40.31
to show up very clearly.
00:34:40.34\00:34:41.68
So quickly, six
things, Jill. Yay!
00:34:41.71\00:34:44.91
Six things.
00:34:44.95\00:34:46.92
One, pray not just,
00:34:46.95\00:34:49.12
your prayer is not
just about content,
00:34:49.15\00:34:51.29
it's not just the
content of your prayer,
00:34:51.32\00:34:53.46
but the condition of your life.
00:34:53.49\00:34:55.86
"Confess your
trespasses to one another.
00:34:55.89\00:34:58.16
The effectual fervent prayer
of righteous man avails much."
00:34:58.19\00:35:01.53
James 5:16.
00:35:01.56\00:35:03.26
Not just the
content of your prayer,
00:35:03.30\00:35:05.37
but the condition of your life.
00:35:05.40\00:35:07.04
Second one, God
does not answer prayer
00:35:07.07\00:35:09.24
just because we ask,
00:35:09.27\00:35:10.67
He answers because we obey Him.
00:35:10.71\00:35:13.88
Psalm 34:15,
"The eyes of the Lord
00:35:13.91\00:35:15.98
are on the righteous
00:35:16.01\00:35:17.48
and his ears are
open to their cry."
00:35:17.51\00:35:20.65
Thirdly, the desire that
God has for each one of us.
00:35:20.68\00:35:24.52
God wants us to
pray for each other.
00:35:24.55\00:35:27.02
Abraham have prayed
for Abimelech and his wife.
00:35:27.06\00:35:29.86
And when God pray for Abimelech
00:35:29.89\00:35:32.03
and his wife, say that 10 times,
00:35:32.06\00:35:33.70
Abimelech and his wife.
00:35:33.73\00:35:35.76
Not only did God
hear that prayer,
00:35:35.80\00:35:37.37
but God blessed
him with a child.
00:35:37.40\00:35:39.90
Also, Moses prayed for Israel.
00:35:39.93\00:35:41.87
Numbers 11:2,
00:35:41.90\00:35:43.44
"Then the people
cried out to Moses,
00:35:43.47\00:35:45.11
and when Moses
prayed to the Lord,
00:35:45.14\00:35:47.04
the fire was quenched."
00:35:47.08\00:35:49.14
Pray for people
and in five and six,
00:35:49.18\00:35:52.08
"Obedience is a
prerequisite to prayer."
00:35:52.11\00:35:55.95
1 John 3:22, "And whatever
we ask we receive from Him
00:35:55.98\00:35:59.72
because we keep His commandments
00:35:59.75\00:36:01.09
and do those things
00:36:01.12\00:36:02.46
that are pleasing at His sight."
00:36:02.49\00:36:03.83
And lastly, God also answers
00:36:03.86\00:36:05.43
the prayer of the one
asking for forgiveness.
00:36:05.46\00:36:08.56
"Repent therefore
of your wickedness,
00:36:08.60\00:36:11.33
and pray God if perhaps
00:36:11.37\00:36:14.14
the thought of your
heart may be forgiven you."
00:36:14.17\00:36:16.60
That is Acts 8:22.
00:36:16.64\00:36:18.71
Lastly, God never
gives $1,000 answer
00:36:18.74\00:36:20.94
to a 10-cent prayer.
00:36:20.98\00:36:22.74
If your prayer must
mean something to God,
00:36:22.78\00:36:25.88
if your prayer, if
you want God to move
00:36:25.91\00:36:27.58
when you speak, you
must move when God speaks.
00:36:27.62\00:36:31.32
Greg. Thank you, Pastor.
00:36:31.35\00:36:32.69
Wow, fantastic
intercessory prayer.
00:36:32.72\00:36:35.02
I have Wednesday's
"Unseen Powers at Work."
00:36:35.06\00:36:38.83
And you've probably all
seen the little cartoons
00:36:38.86\00:36:41.60
where it shows
like a devil on like,
00:36:41.63\00:36:43.87
right one shoulder
00:36:43.90\00:36:45.23
and an angel on
the other shoulder
00:36:45.27\00:36:47.24
and they're
talking to the poor guy
00:36:47.27\00:36:48.60
in between like into
his ears like, oh, wow.
00:36:48.64\00:36:50.77
But you know, there
really is a great controversy.
00:36:50.81\00:36:52.77
There really is a battle
00:36:52.81\00:36:54.18
and there's really unseen things
00:36:54.21\00:36:55.71
that are going
on behind the scenes
00:36:55.74\00:36:58.25
and it's over us.
00:36:58.28\00:36:59.61
I think Pastor Kenny,
I liked what you read.
00:36:59.65\00:37:01.32
There was a quote
you read early on about
00:37:01.35\00:37:02.98
if the curtain
could be rolled back.
00:37:03.02\00:37:05.19
Wow, what's going on?
00:37:05.22\00:37:06.59
It's a battle
between Christ and Satan,
00:37:06.62\00:37:08.02
but it's over us
and it's over souls.
00:37:08.06\00:37:09.82
So unseen powers at work.
00:37:09.86\00:37:12.16
The lesson brings
up a very fascinating
00:37:12.19\00:37:14.30
example of this unseen
battle that's going on,
00:37:14.33\00:37:17.50
and that is Daniel Chapter 10.
00:37:17.53\00:37:20.10
So I would invite you to
turn to Daniel Chapter 10.
00:37:20.14\00:37:22.34
We're going to attempt
to go through these verses
00:37:22.37\00:37:24.81
rather quickly today
in our allotted time,
00:37:24.84\00:37:28.04
but starting with verse 2 and 3,
00:37:28.08\00:37:30.58
it says, "In those days
00:37:30.61\00:37:31.95
I, Daniel, was
mourning three full weeks,
00:37:31.98\00:37:34.82
I ate no pleasant food,
00:37:34.85\00:37:36.52
no meat or wine
came into my mouth,
00:37:36.55\00:37:38.99
nor did I anoint myself at all,
00:37:39.02\00:37:41.19
till three whole
weeks were fulfilled."
00:37:41.22\00:37:45.66
A question for you,
why was Daniel in mourning?
00:37:45.69\00:37:49.00
You'd have to go
back to Daniel Chapter 9,
00:37:49.03\00:37:51.03
isn't that right, Pastor?
00:37:51.07\00:37:52.40
And that
explains why Daniel here
00:37:52.43\00:37:53.77
is trying to figure out
00:37:53.80\00:37:55.34
why God's people
are still in captivity.
00:37:55.37\00:37:58.11
So Daniel is here in
Chapter 10 of Daniel,
00:37:58.14\00:38:01.18
he's mourning
and he's interceding
00:38:01.21\00:38:02.54
for three whole weeks.
00:38:02.58\00:38:03.91
That's a long
time. That's 21 days.
00:38:03.95\00:38:07.52
And Daniel Chapter 10
is he seeking to understand
00:38:07.55\00:38:10.52
from God regarding
the fate of his people,
00:38:10.55\00:38:13.42
and why they're
still in captivity.
00:38:13.46\00:38:15.72
And then going down to verses 4
through 9 of Daniel Chapter 10.
00:38:15.76\00:38:20.26
Just real quickly,
00:38:20.30\00:38:21.63
Daniel is describing Jesus here.
00:38:21.66\00:38:25.30
It's a man clothed in linen,
00:38:25.33\00:38:27.64
waist girded with
gold, face like lightning,
00:38:27.67\00:38:30.71
eyes like torches of
fire, arms and feet like bronze.
00:38:30.74\00:38:36.44
And then here now is
where we start getting
00:38:36.48\00:38:38.01
into this unseen
battle that is taking place.
00:38:38.05\00:38:42.25
If we look at verses 10
and 11 of Daniel Chapter 12.
00:38:42.28\00:38:47.16
It says,
"Suddenly, a hand touched me,
00:38:47.19\00:38:50.96
which made me
tremble on my knees
00:38:50.99\00:38:53.03
and on the palms of my hands."
00:38:53.06\00:38:55.06
Verse 11, "And he said to me,
00:38:55.10\00:38:56.93
'O, Daniel, man,
greatly beloved.'"
00:38:56.97\00:39:00.07
That's beautiful,
isn't it right there?
00:39:00.10\00:39:02.00
"Understand the
words that I speak to you
00:39:02.04\00:39:04.21
and stand up right,
00:39:04.24\00:39:05.57
for I have now been sent to you.
00:39:05.61\00:39:08.61
While he was
speaking this word to me,
00:39:08.64\00:39:10.41
I stood trembling."
00:39:10.45\00:39:12.11
So who touched Daniel here?
00:39:12.15\00:39:14.18
The speedy angel touched Daniel.
00:39:14.22\00:39:16.32
And I think this
is really precious
00:39:16.35\00:39:17.69
because here's Daniel.
00:39:17.72\00:39:19.05
He's struggling, he's
praying, he's fasting.
00:39:19.09\00:39:20.99
And here an angel
says this and touches him.
00:39:21.02\00:39:23.63
And then he says,
"Man, greatly beloved."
00:39:23.66\00:39:25.96
You know, I think about
00:39:25.99\00:39:27.33
our own struggle
in our own lives.
00:39:27.36\00:39:28.70
You know, we're
trying to figure out
00:39:28.73\00:39:30.07
what's going on.
00:39:30.10\00:39:31.43
We've got maybe
this voice in this ear
00:39:31.47\00:39:32.80
and then another
voice in this other ear,
00:39:32.83\00:39:34.17
we're trying to
figure out what's going on.
00:39:34.20\00:39:35.54
We're interceding to the Lord.
00:39:35.57\00:39:36.91
But God says,
00:39:36.94\00:39:38.27
you may not quite
have the answer right now,
00:39:38.31\00:39:39.64
but you're greatly
beloved, I still care for you.
00:39:39.67\00:39:43.24
So then moving on to verse 12.
00:39:43.28\00:39:45.71
This is where it
gets more interesting.
00:39:45.75\00:39:48.02
And I think is
what's interesting is like,
00:39:48.05\00:39:50.89
okay, my prayer
is not being heard.
00:39:50.92\00:39:52.35
Daniel's been
praying for three weeks.
00:39:52.39\00:39:54.36
He's been fasting
too for three weeks
00:39:54.39\00:39:56.86
and it seems like his
prayer is not being heard.
00:39:56.89\00:39:59.79
And Daniel 10:12 says,
00:39:59.83\00:40:02.46
"Then he, the angel said to me,
00:40:02.50\00:40:05.43
'Do not fear, Daniel,
for from the first day..."
00:40:05.47\00:40:10.41
Wow. Beautiful, isn't it?
00:40:10.44\00:40:13.27
"From the first day that
00:40:13.31\00:40:14.64
you set your
heart to understand,
00:40:14.68\00:40:16.01
and to humble
yourself before your God."
00:40:16.04\00:40:18.55
What does it say there?
00:40:18.58\00:40:19.91
"Your words were heard,
00:40:19.95\00:40:22.88
and I have come
because of your words."
00:40:22.92\00:40:25.65
The angel was sent to answer
00:40:25.69\00:40:27.02
Daniel's prayer
from the very first day.
00:40:27.06\00:40:29.72
Maybe didn't feel
like things were happening
00:40:29.76\00:40:31.09
but God heard his prayer.
00:40:31.13\00:40:33.46
And like Isaiah
66:24 and it says,
00:40:33.50\00:40:36.33
"And it shall come to pass that
00:40:36.36\00:40:38.17
before they call I will answer
00:40:38.20\00:40:40.40
and while they are yet speaking,
00:40:40.44\00:40:42.47
I will hear.
00:40:42.50\00:40:44.31
Okay, so here's the battle,
00:40:44.34\00:40:45.67
verses 13 and 14
of Daniel Chapter 10.
00:40:45.71\00:40:49.01
"But the prince of the
kingdom of Persia withstood me,"
00:40:49.04\00:40:52.15
that's the
angel, "twenty-one days,
00:40:52.18\00:40:54.68
and behold, Michael,
one of the chief princes,
00:40:54.72\00:40:57.35
came to help me,"
came to help the angel,
00:40:57.39\00:40:59.72
"for I had been left alone there
00:40:59.75\00:41:01.46
with the kings of Persia.
00:41:01.49\00:41:03.32
Now I have come to
make you understand
00:41:03.36\00:41:05.19
what will happen to your
people in the latter days,
00:41:05.23\00:41:08.20
for the vision refers
to many days yet to come."
00:41:08.23\00:41:11.00
So we kind of have a
little Bible study here.
00:41:11.03\00:41:12.73
So just quickly the
prince of the Kingdom of Persia,
00:41:12.77\00:41:15.40
that equals Satan.
00:41:15.44\00:41:17.21
So you can see here that
00:41:17.24\00:41:18.57
there is a supernatural
warfare that is going on,
00:41:18.61\00:41:22.51
as Daniel is praying
here in Daniel Chapter 10.
00:41:22.54\00:41:25.38
Just really quick,
these are some just notes
00:41:25.41\00:41:26.85
you can jot down
to do further study
00:41:26.88\00:41:28.72
later on as pastor
mentioned in his part.
00:41:28.75\00:41:30.92
John 12:31, Jesus called
Satan, the prince of this world.
00:41:30.95\00:41:35.02
John 14:30.
00:41:35.06\00:41:36.89
Also, Jesus refers to Satan
as the prince of this world.
00:41:36.93\00:41:40.26
Paul called Satan,
the prince of the earth.
00:41:40.30\00:41:42.66
Ephesians 2:2.
00:41:42.70\00:41:46.10
So then we have Michael here
00:41:46.13\00:41:47.74
in this verse of
Daniel 10:13 and 14.
00:41:47.77\00:41:51.54
Michael is
referred to as Christ.
00:41:51.57\00:41:53.98
The term Michael
00:41:54.01\00:41:55.34
is used five times in the Bible,
00:41:55.38\00:41:56.85
and Michael
means who is like God.
00:41:56.88\00:42:00.28
And I think of
Revelation Chapter 12.
00:42:00.32\00:42:01.85
It was read earlier.
00:42:01.88\00:42:03.25
And it's a very
well-known passage
00:42:03.28\00:42:05.65
and it says that
there was war in heaven
00:42:05.69\00:42:07.19
and Michael and his
angels fought against who?
00:42:07.22\00:42:10.49
Fight against the dragon.
00:42:10.53\00:42:12.86
I think of Jude Chapter
9, it talks about Michael
00:42:12.89\00:42:16.23
and the archangel,
Michael, the Archangel.
00:42:16.26\00:42:18.33
He was contending
with Satan over what?
00:42:18.37\00:42:20.84
The body of Moses.
00:42:20.87\00:42:22.47
So again, you see a conflict
00:42:22.50\00:42:24.14
here that's happening
between Christ and Satan.
00:42:24.17\00:42:26.94
But again, Michael is
referred to as Christ.
00:42:26.98\00:42:30.31
I like what it
says here in the lesson.
00:42:30.35\00:42:33.01
If you look with
me in your lesson,
00:42:33.05\00:42:35.15
hopefully you're
studying along as Pastor Kenny
00:42:35.18\00:42:36.99
mentioned by going to ABSG.
00:42:37.02\00:42:39.49
Is that right?
00:42:39.52\00:42:40.86
Okay, yes, you can
download the lesson.
00:42:40.89\00:42:42.46
It says, "Why did
it take three weeks
00:42:42.49\00:42:44.89
for the prayer to be answered?
00:42:44.93\00:42:46.49
What temporarily
hindered those prayers?
00:42:46.53\00:42:49.80
It says, "Daniel 10
draws the curtain aside,
00:42:49.83\00:42:52.67
and reveals the
struggle between good and evil.
00:42:52.70\00:42:55.64
As Daniel prays,
Michael the almighty Jesus
00:42:55.67\00:42:58.37
descends from
heaven to beat back
00:42:58.41\00:43:00.08
the forces of hell.
00:43:00.11\00:43:02.01
Although we may not see
it, Jesus is at work to answer
00:43:02.04\00:43:05.11
our prayers of
intercession as well.
00:43:05.15\00:43:07.32
He is a mighty Savior.
00:43:07.35\00:43:08.88
Not one of our
prayers goes unnoticed."
00:43:08.92\00:43:11.92
Praise the Lord for that.
00:43:11.95\00:43:13.69
I want to just
jump into quickly,
00:43:13.72\00:43:15.22
Job is another example
00:43:15.26\00:43:16.59
of the conflict
that's happening, Job1:6-8.
00:43:16.62\00:43:20.80
And just skipping
down for lack of time,
00:43:20.83\00:43:23.16
I like verse...
00:43:23.20\00:43:25.40
Well, we can start with verse 7.
00:43:25.43\00:43:26.84
"And the Lord said unto
Satan, 'Where do you come?'
00:43:26.87\00:43:29.50
And Satan
answered the Lord and said,
00:43:29.54\00:43:31.04
'From going to
and fro on the earth,
00:43:31.07\00:43:32.51
and from walking
up and down in it,
00:43:32.54\00:43:34.34
and the Lord said unto Satan,
00:43:34.38\00:43:36.44
'Have you
considered my servant Job
00:43:36.48\00:43:39.01
that there was none
like him in the earth,
00:43:39.05\00:43:41.15
a perfect man
and upright one that
00:43:41.18\00:43:43.15
feareth God and
askew with evil?"
00:43:43.18\00:43:45.55
You know, I
think about this battle
00:43:45.59\00:43:46.92
that's going on
behind the scenes.
00:43:46.96\00:43:48.46
It's a battle
that's very individual.
00:43:48.49\00:43:50.89
It wasn't like Christ and
Satan were just talking about,
00:43:50.93\00:43:52.99
hey, the world,
they're talking about Job
00:43:53.03\00:43:54.66
an individual person.
00:43:54.70\00:43:56.03
So it's amazing to
me, Ryan, I think about
00:43:56.06\00:43:58.27
what if God in
heaven and now He's like,
00:43:58.30\00:44:00.84
Satan if you consider Ryan.
00:44:00.87\00:44:03.14
Pastor John right now. Wow.
00:44:03.17\00:44:05.04
Hey, Satan, have you considered?
00:44:05.07\00:44:06.91
You know, you think about
that though that's personal.
00:44:06.94\00:44:08.98
So that's where the battle
00:44:09.01\00:44:10.35
is taking place
over us as individuals.
00:44:10.38\00:44:12.65
So how do we fight
00:44:12.68\00:44:14.02
because we're being fought over?
00:44:14.05\00:44:15.38
So what do we need to do?
00:44:15.42\00:44:16.75
Go to Ephesians Chapter 6. Okay.
00:44:16.79\00:44:19.52
We're being fought over,
we need to equip ourselves.
00:44:19.55\00:44:22.22
Ephesians
6:11-18, and it says what?
00:44:22.26\00:44:27.20
"Put on the whole armor of God,
00:44:27.23\00:44:29.66
that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.
00:44:29.70\00:44:32.93
For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood,
00:44:32.97\00:44:35.20
but against
principalities and powers,
00:44:35.24\00:44:37.41
against the rulers of
the darkness of this world,
00:44:37.44\00:44:40.11
against spiritual
wickedness in high places."
00:44:40.14\00:44:42.21
Verse 13,
"Wherefore take unto you
00:44:42.24\00:44:44.65
the whole armor of God,
00:44:44.68\00:44:46.01
that you may be able to
withstand in the evil day,
00:44:46.05\00:44:49.52
and having done all, to stand."
00:44:49.55\00:44:51.52
Going all the
way down to verse 18.
00:44:51.55\00:44:53.36
It talks about also prayer.
00:44:53.39\00:44:54.79
So, for the unseen battle that
00:44:54.82\00:44:56.93
we're talking about today,
we need the belt of truth,
00:44:56.96\00:45:00.96
the breastplate
of righteousness,
00:45:01.00\00:45:03.37
the shoes of the
gospel, the shield of faith,
00:45:03.40\00:45:05.87
the helmet of salvation,
the sword of the spirit.
00:45:05.90\00:45:08.00
And of course, we
need prayer as well.
00:45:08.04\00:45:10.97
And I like Luke
22:31 and 32, it says,
00:45:11.01\00:45:15.64
"Jesus is saying, 'Peter,
Satan has desire to have you,
00:45:15.68\00:45:19.35
but I, Jesus
have prayed for you.'"
00:45:19.38\00:45:20.92
So again,
insert your name there,
00:45:20.95\00:45:23.15
Greg, Satan has
desired to have you
00:45:23.18\00:45:27.29
but I, Jesus
has prayed for you."
00:45:27.32\00:45:30.39
So put your name there.
Boy, that's powerful, isn't it?
00:45:30.43\00:45:32.09
You have Jesus Christ,
00:45:32.13\00:45:33.63
the Son of God
intercede in your behalf.
00:45:33.66\00:45:35.83
And He's there in that
battle behind the scenes.
00:45:35.86\00:45:37.80
Yes, there's a battle going on.
00:45:37.83\00:45:39.17
But we know as
Mr. Danny always says,
00:45:39.20\00:45:41.37
read the back of
the book, Revelation,
00:45:41.40\00:45:42.74
we know who's won,
that's Christ so, yes,
00:45:42.77\00:45:44.51
there's a
battle that's going on.
00:45:44.54\00:45:45.94
But if we put on the
whole armor of Jesus Christ,
00:45:45.97\00:45:48.21
we have nothing to be afraid of.
00:45:48.24\00:45:49.94
So in closing, the
battle is real for sure.
00:45:49.98\00:45:52.51
But we do not have to fear,
00:45:52.55\00:45:54.12
for Christ is on our
side as long as we submit
00:45:54.15\00:45:57.02
and commit our
way unto the Lord.
00:45:57.05\00:45:59.62
Amen. Wow, thank you so much.
00:45:59.65\00:46:01.29
Praise the Lord. Wow.
00:46:01.32\00:46:02.96
You know, just
listening to everyone talk.
00:46:02.99\00:46:05.19
You know, that's,
what's the blessing
00:46:05.23\00:46:06.59
of Thursday's lesson
because you get to glean
00:46:06.63\00:46:08.40
and hear from
all of the blessing
00:46:08.43\00:46:09.96
that comes before it.
00:46:10.00\00:46:11.33
But, man, just
focusing in on prayer.
00:46:11.37\00:46:14.64
In fact, that's what
Thursday's lesson is entitled,
00:46:14.67\00:46:16.77
"Prayer Focus."
00:46:16.81\00:46:18.14
And I think there's kind of
00:46:18.17\00:46:19.51
a double application
to this particular lesson,
00:46:19.54\00:46:22.38
this particular
title being that,
00:46:22.41\00:46:24.38
yes, we need to focus on prayer.
00:46:24.41\00:46:26.75
And I still appreciate
00:46:26.78\00:46:28.12
Pastor Mark
Finley's approach to this,
00:46:28.15\00:46:29.92
the subject of the fact that
we're talking about witnessing,
00:46:29.95\00:46:32.75
we're talking about
making friends for God,
00:46:32.79\00:46:35.09
but can you make
friends for God in lack prayer
00:46:35.12\00:46:38.96
or do it without prayer?
00:46:38.99\00:46:40.36
Prayer is such a vital,
00:46:40.40\00:46:41.73
important aspect
of Christian living.
00:46:41.76\00:46:44.20
And, you know, there
are often those chapters,
00:46:44.23\00:46:46.57
those verses, those chapters,
00:46:46.60\00:46:47.94
those passages in Scripture
that we've read so many times
00:46:47.97\00:46:51.61
and I'm about to open
here with 1 Samuel Chapter 12.
00:46:51.64\00:46:56.01
So you want to go
there, 1 Samuel Chapter 12.
00:46:56.04\00:46:59.11
I've read the Book of 1
Samuel through it many times.
00:46:59.15\00:47:02.82
And this is one of those texts
00:47:02.85\00:47:04.35
that never really stuck
out to me in my early years
00:47:04.39\00:47:07.29
of reading Scripture.
00:47:07.32\00:47:08.66
But not too long ago actually
on a Sabbath School panel.
00:47:08.69\00:47:11.89
I think it was Michelle
who had read this, this text,
00:47:11.93\00:47:14.93
and it just stuck out to
me and I never forgot it.
00:47:14.96\00:47:17.30
But the lesson opens with this
00:47:17.33\00:47:19.27
and it kind of sets
the tone for the importance
00:47:19.30\00:47:21.57
of focusing on
prayer or prayer focus,
00:47:21.60\00:47:24.74
not just focusing on prayer,
but also that in your prayers,
00:47:24.77\00:47:28.01
God wants you to
focus in on some specifics.
00:47:28.04\00:47:31.28
God wants you to be
specific in your prayer life.
00:47:31.31\00:47:34.05
Tell Him what it
is that you need,
00:47:34.08\00:47:36.05
tell Him what it
is that you want,
00:47:36.08\00:47:37.49
in the sense of
His will, obviously,
00:47:37.52\00:47:39.69
which we're going to
read in just a few moments,
00:47:39.72\00:47:41.19
according to His will.
00:47:41.22\00:47:42.59
But notice, 1 Samuel 12:22-24,
00:47:42.62\00:47:47.46
powerful, powerful.
00:47:47.50\00:47:48.83
This is, it shakes me
when I think about this.
00:47:48.86\00:47:50.93
It says, "For the Lord
will not forsake His people,"
00:47:50.97\00:47:53.90
praise God, "for
His great namesake,
00:47:53.94\00:47:56.81
because it has pleased the
Lord to make you His people.
00:47:56.84\00:48:01.08
Moreover,"
notice this, "as for me,
00:48:01.11\00:48:04.55
far be it from me that I
should sin against the Lord,
00:48:04.58\00:48:08.72
in ceasing to pray for you."
00:48:08.75\00:48:11.69
But I will teach you
the good and the right way.
00:48:11.72\00:48:16.02
Only fear the Lord
and serve Him in truth
00:48:16.06\00:48:18.49
with all your heart,
00:48:18.53\00:48:19.86
for consider what great
things He has done for you."
00:48:19.89\00:48:25.47
Now tie that or pair that
00:48:25.50\00:48:27.04
with Job 16:21,
which is very simple.
00:48:27.07\00:48:30.04
It says, "Oh,
that one might plead
00:48:30.07\00:48:33.68
for a man with God,
00:48:33.71\00:48:35.68
as a man pleads
for his neighbor!"
00:48:35.71\00:48:39.55
When you take
these two passages,
00:48:39.58\00:48:41.02
especially that 1
Samuel Chapter 12,
00:48:41.05\00:48:43.15
that we just read
verses 22 through 24.
00:48:43.18\00:48:45.99
According to the Bible,
00:48:46.02\00:48:47.99
it is a sin to neglect praying
for your brothers and sisters.
00:48:48.02\00:48:52.83
And that's powerful.
00:48:52.86\00:48:55.63
And, you know, to
think that we often,
00:48:55.66\00:49:00.20
we often find
ourselves in a situation
00:49:00.24\00:49:02.20
where we hear people
that are in need of prayer.
00:49:02.24\00:49:03.61
We hear people
that are struggling.
00:49:03.64\00:49:04.97
We hear people in general
that we know need the Lord.
00:49:05.01\00:49:08.18
But we're busy.
00:49:08.21\00:49:09.61
You know, we've got our careers,
00:49:09.64\00:49:11.01
we've got our lives ahead of us.
00:49:11.05\00:49:12.45
We've got, we are busy,
busy, busy all the time.
00:49:12.48\00:49:14.85
But we don't take time to pause
00:49:14.88\00:49:16.92
and pray and
intercede for our brother
00:49:16.95\00:49:19.29
to pray an intercessory prayer.
00:49:19.32\00:49:21.82
And I had mentioned in
one of the previous lessons,
00:49:21.86\00:49:24.09
the three legs of the stool.
00:49:24.13\00:49:25.66
You know, we have,
I think Brother Levin
00:49:25.69\00:49:27.73
even brings this out
in his all about Jesus
00:49:27.76\00:49:29.16
revival seminar.
00:49:29.20\00:49:30.53
And he talks about how you know,
00:49:30.57\00:49:31.90
you have to have those
three legs on the stool,
00:49:31.93\00:49:33.60
if you take one
off, it doesn't stand.
00:49:33.64\00:49:35.30
So that would be Bible
study, prayer and witnessing.
00:49:35.34\00:49:37.84
And you know, many of us
struggle in one of those areas.
00:49:37.87\00:49:40.34
Some of us struggle
in all of those areas.
00:49:40.38\00:49:42.21
But if you remove prayer from,
00:49:42.24\00:49:44.05
if you remove that
leg that says prayer
00:49:44.08\00:49:46.15
from the Christian life,
00:49:46.18\00:49:47.52
the stool will
not stand properly.
00:49:47.55\00:49:49.98
And so we have so
many beautiful promises
00:49:50.02\00:49:52.99
in the Word of God in
relation, in regards to prayer,
00:49:53.02\00:49:56.22
one that I often do
as I'm in pastoral now
00:49:56.26\00:49:58.83
in answering calls
and talking to people
00:49:58.86\00:50:00.83
on the phone and
praying with them.
00:50:00.86\00:50:02.20
I never cease to forget
00:50:02.23\00:50:03.57
this particular
promise found here
00:50:03.60\00:50:04.93
in 1 John 5:14-16.
00:50:04.97\00:50:08.90
More particular
verses 14 and 15.
00:50:08.94\00:50:11.41
But you got to tack
on verse 16, as well.
00:50:11.44\00:50:13.88
So 1 John Chapter 5,
00:50:13.91\00:50:15.24
notice what the Bible
says beginning in verse 14.
00:50:15.28\00:50:18.38
"Now, this is the
confidence that we have in him,"
00:50:18.41\00:50:21.32
I love that, "that
if we ask anything,"
00:50:21.35\00:50:23.79
and here's the key,
"according to His will."
00:50:23.82\00:50:25.65
That's right. Right?
00:50:25.69\00:50:27.02
And you can't just ask anything,
00:50:27.06\00:50:28.39
Lord give me a million dollars.
00:50:28.42\00:50:29.76
It may not be His will for
you to have a million dollars.
00:50:29.79\00:50:31.66
So you have to pray
things according to His will.
00:50:31.69\00:50:34.26
And the Bible says
He hears us, right?
00:50:34.30\00:50:36.93
And if we know that He hears us,
00:50:36.97\00:50:39.13
whatever we ask,
00:50:39.17\00:50:40.50
we know that we
have the petitions
00:50:40.54\00:50:42.67
that we have asked of Him.
00:50:42.70\00:50:44.31
That's a beautiful promise.
00:50:44.34\00:50:45.67
You lift up a prayer to Christ
00:50:45.71\00:50:47.04
and you say,
"Father, this is, this...
00:50:47.08\00:50:48.91
I'm praying, Lord, this
is what I need in my life.
00:50:48.94\00:50:50.95
And I pray, Lord,
00:50:50.98\00:50:52.31
that it is
according to Your will."
00:50:52.35\00:50:53.68
But as Jesus prayed,
nevertheless, not My will,
00:50:53.72\00:50:56.15
but yours, right?
00:50:56.18\00:50:57.52
And He hears us
and He will answer,
00:50:57.55\00:50:59.15
but notice
verse16, rather interesting.
00:50:59.19\00:51:00.89
"If anyone sees his
brother sinning a sin,
00:51:00.92\00:51:03.66
which does not lead to death,"
00:51:03.69\00:51:05.49
and that kind of
throws some people off,
00:51:05.53\00:51:06.86
wait a second, all
sin leads to death, right?
00:51:06.90\00:51:09.10
But continue
reading and we'll explain.
00:51:09.13\00:51:10.97
"He says if you see
your brother sinning a sin
00:51:11.00\00:51:12.53
which does not lead to death,
00:51:12.57\00:51:13.97
He will ask and
He will give him life
00:51:14.00\00:51:16.57
for those who commit
sin not leading to death."
00:51:16.60\00:51:19.34
There is sin leading to death.
00:51:19.37\00:51:22.08
I do not say that he
should pray about that.
00:51:22.11\00:51:23.81
So obviously, what
He's referring to here
00:51:23.85\00:51:26.11
would be obviously all
sin according to 1 John,
00:51:26.15\00:51:29.05
the Book 1 John Chapter 1 there.
00:51:29.08\00:51:30.79
We're told that
if any sin, any sins,
00:51:30.82\00:51:33.19
the manner of
sin that we confess,
00:51:33.22\00:51:35.02
He will hear us,
He will forgive us
00:51:35.06\00:51:36.76
and cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.
00:51:36.79\00:51:38.43
But the one sin,
obviously John would be
00:51:38.46\00:51:40.30
referring to is
the unpardonable sin,
00:51:40.33\00:51:42.26
the one sin that
a person can commit.
00:51:42.30\00:51:44.33
In other words, the state in
00:51:44.37\00:51:45.70
which we cannot be listening to
00:51:45.73\00:51:47.74
or rejecting the leading
00:51:47.77\00:51:49.10
guiding power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:51:49.14\00:51:50.47
Of course, Jesus calls it
blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
00:51:50.51\00:51:53.31
And, of course, I believe that
00:51:53.34\00:51:54.68
is what He's talking about here.
00:51:54.71\00:51:56.04
The one sin that He
cannot forgive obviously,
00:51:56.08\00:51:58.08
he says, do not say that
00:51:58.11\00:51:59.45
I should that we
should pray about that.
00:51:59.48\00:52:01.02
But those sins which
does not lead to death,
00:52:01.05\00:52:04.39
those sins that we may commit
00:52:04.42\00:52:05.75
but we are forgiven
because we bring them to Him,
00:52:05.79\00:52:08.12
we confess them, we repent,
we placed them before Him.
00:52:08.16\00:52:11.56
Jesus says, "Pray for
your brothers and sisters
00:52:11.59\00:52:13.43
in that situation."
00:52:13.46\00:52:14.80
Pray for them because
00:52:14.83\00:52:16.16
He will hear and He will answer.
00:52:16.20\00:52:18.30
When we pray for others,
the lesson brings us out,
00:52:18.33\00:52:20.64
when we pray for others,
00:52:20.67\00:52:22.00
we become a channel of
God's blessing to them.
00:52:22.04\00:52:24.91
He pours out the
river of the water of life
00:52:24.94\00:52:27.24
from heavens
thrown through us to them.
00:52:27.28\00:52:30.35
That's powerful.
00:52:30.38\00:52:31.71
Satan's whole host trembles
00:52:31.75\00:52:34.18
at the sound of
earnest intercession.
00:52:34.22\00:52:37.82
And I love this.
00:52:37.85\00:52:39.19
I love this quote here,
Testimonies for the Church,
00:52:39.22\00:52:41.12
volume 1, page 346.
00:52:41.16\00:52:43.12
I love this right here.
00:52:43.16\00:52:44.49
"Satan cannot endure to have
his powerful rival appeal to,
00:52:44.53\00:52:49.86
for he fears and trembles
00:52:49.90\00:52:51.93
before his strength and majesty.
00:52:51.97\00:52:55.64
And the sound of
a fervent prayer,
00:52:55.67\00:52:58.81
at the sound of
a fervent prayer,
00:52:58.84\00:53:01.01
excuse me, Satan's
whole host trembles.
00:53:01.04\00:53:04.21
If you want to make the
devil shake in his boots,
00:53:04.25\00:53:06.85
send up a prayer, right?
00:53:06.88\00:53:08.38
Send up a fervent prayer.
00:53:08.42\00:53:10.22
Pray for your
brothers and sisters,
00:53:10.25\00:53:11.95
pray for the church,
00:53:11.99\00:53:13.32
pray for your
pastors, pray for yourself.
00:53:13.36\00:53:15.36
Pray for your family.
00:53:15.39\00:53:16.73
The devil trembles when
you open the prayer line
00:53:16.76\00:53:19.59
and you begin to discuss
00:53:19.63\00:53:20.96
with Jesus as one
talking to a friend,
00:53:21.00\00:53:22.93
the host of the
devil, they tremble.
00:53:22.96\00:53:27.80
I often heard someone,
00:53:27.84\00:53:29.24
somebody said
this to me one time
00:53:29.27\00:53:31.54
and I never forgot it.
00:53:31.57\00:53:33.21
He said, if you want to know
00:53:33.24\00:53:34.58
how popular the
Sabbath school teachers
00:53:34.61\00:53:37.18
then go to Sabbath School.
00:53:37.21\00:53:38.91
If you want to know
how popular the pastor is,
00:53:38.95\00:53:41.65
go to the divine worship hour.
00:53:41.68\00:53:43.72
But if you want to
know how popular God is,
00:53:43.75\00:53:45.65
go to prayer meeting.
00:53:45.69\00:53:49.22
And that always stuck with me.
00:53:49.26\00:53:50.86
Because often we find
ourselves you know our,
00:53:50.89\00:53:53.56
you know, Sabbath
morning services packed right
00:53:53.60\00:53:56.40
for the most part in some cases.
00:53:56.43\00:53:58.23
You know, Sabbath
school and divine worship hour,
00:53:58.27\00:54:01.34
but prayer meeting we struggle.
00:54:01.37\00:54:02.84
This is an aspect
00:54:02.87\00:54:04.21
of the Christian
walk in our churches
00:54:04.24\00:54:05.94
and in our lives
today, we need more prayer.
00:54:05.97\00:54:09.34
I often think of
that passage in Scripture,
00:54:09.38\00:54:11.51
which is
actually a positive story.
00:54:11.55\00:54:13.01
It's found in Acts Chapter 12.
00:54:13.05\00:54:15.15
And you can go there if
you want to really put that
00:54:15.18\00:54:16.69
in my reference a
couple of scriptures here,
00:54:16.72\00:54:18.55
but Peter gets
thrown in prison by Herod.
00:54:18.59\00:54:20.92
This is where Herod kills James,
00:54:20.96\00:54:22.49
the brother of John, and
he throws Peter in prison
00:54:22.52\00:54:24.43
and after Passover,
00:54:24.46\00:54:25.79
he's going to
deal with Peter, right?
00:54:25.83\00:54:27.16
But it's interesting,
00:54:27.20\00:54:28.53
verse 5 of Acts
Chapter 12, says,
00:54:28.56\00:54:30.00
"Peter was
therefore kept in prison,
00:54:30.03\00:54:31.70
and constant
prayer was offered to God
00:54:31.73\00:54:34.60
for him by the church."
00:54:34.64\00:54:36.97
Now, what
astounds me about this,
00:54:37.01\00:54:38.34
while it is a positive story,
00:54:38.37\00:54:39.74
that obviously we know
00:54:39.77\00:54:41.11
the angel breaks
Peter out of prison.
00:54:41.14\00:54:43.14
But it's interesting here,
notice verses 12 and onward,
00:54:43.18\00:54:45.95
it says, "So when he
was when he had considered
00:54:45.98\00:54:48.12
this he came to
the house of Mary,"
00:54:48.15\00:54:49.88
now he's out, right?
00:54:49.92\00:54:51.25
"So he goes to
the house of Mary,
00:54:51.29\00:54:52.62
the mother of John
whose surname is Mark,
00:54:52.65\00:54:54.16
where many were
gathered together praying."
00:54:54.19\00:54:56.29
Who are they praying for?
00:54:56.32\00:54:57.66
They're praying for
Peter, "Lord, save this brother.
00:54:57.69\00:55:00.06
Herod's going to kill
him." I think it's John.
00:55:00.10\00:55:03.47
No, no, it was
the brother of John,
00:55:03.50\00:55:05.80
James was murdered.
00:55:05.83\00:55:07.34
And so in this case,
it's saying James is gone,
00:55:07.37\00:55:09.47
now Peter's about to be gone.
00:55:09.50\00:55:10.84
They're praying
for this brother.
00:55:10.87\00:55:12.21
But notice and
Peter knocked at the door.
00:55:12.24\00:55:13.58
This is verse 13.
00:55:13.61\00:55:15.21
And the girl Rhoda
answered, and verse 14, it says,
00:55:15.24\00:55:17.98
"When she
recognized Peter's voice
00:55:18.01\00:55:19.45
because of her gladness,
she did not open the gate,
00:55:19.48\00:55:21.32
but ran in and announced
00:55:21.35\00:55:22.68
the Peter stood before the game.
00:55:22.72\00:55:24.05
But they said to her,
you're beside yourself.
00:55:24.09\00:55:26.96
No, no, it can't be Peter.
00:55:26.99\00:55:28.52
You know, I think often is
that how our prayer life goes,
00:55:28.56\00:55:32.23
you know, we often need to pray.
00:55:32.26\00:55:33.63
But we also need to believe
in what we're praying for.
00:55:33.66\00:55:35.90
These people are paused
00:55:35.93\00:55:37.27
and praying for
Peter to be released
00:55:37.30\00:55:39.83
from prison to be saved.
00:55:39.87\00:55:41.34
And while they're praying,
God is answering their prayer.
00:55:41.37\00:55:44.47
This brother is
at the door knocking
00:55:44.51\00:55:46.07
and then he
comes knocking there.
00:55:46.11\00:55:47.44
Hey, Peter's here,
no, it ain't Peter, right.
00:55:47.48\00:55:49.14
We're often,
oftentimes we're in disbelief
00:55:49.18\00:55:51.71
of what God's Word actually says
00:55:51.75\00:55:53.58
and the promises
that He's given us,
00:55:53.62\00:55:55.22
in reference to this amazing,
00:55:55.25\00:55:56.82
beautiful aspect
of our prayer life.
00:55:56.85\00:55:59.22
We need to pray more,
00:55:59.25\00:56:00.59
we need to believe
in the power of prayer.
00:56:00.62\00:56:02.79
And we need to believe that
00:56:02.82\00:56:04.16
God will and can
answer those prayers,
00:56:04.19\00:56:06.23
according to His will.
00:56:06.26\00:56:07.93
So my final appeal here
is pray, pray, pray, pray,
00:56:07.96\00:56:11.40
as Paul says,
pray without ceasing.
00:56:11.43\00:56:13.77
Amen.
00:56:13.80\00:56:15.14
Praise the Lord, to me
that's some good stuff.
00:56:15.17\00:56:17.51
Praise God for that.
00:56:17.54\00:56:18.87
My uncle always say when
the times would get hard,
00:56:18.91\00:56:21.24
difficult he'd say, pray kids.
00:56:21.28\00:56:23.11
So I'm saying that pray kids,
this is time we need to pray.
00:56:23.14\00:56:25.35
Final thoughts.
00:56:25.38\00:56:26.72
We have about a
minute and a half
00:56:26.75\00:56:28.08
or so what, final thoughts?
00:56:28.12\00:56:30.65
I just want to appeal to you
00:56:30.69\00:56:32.02
to intercede on
behalf of others,
00:56:32.05\00:56:34.32
to make a decision every day
00:56:34.36\00:56:36.69
to lift up someone's name
before the throne of grace.
00:56:36.73\00:56:39.46
Amen.
00:56:39.49\00:56:40.83
There's such a thing as
called prayer prevention.
00:56:40.86\00:56:44.67
Now you want to not
prevent your prayers.
00:56:44.70\00:56:48.70
Listen to what
Isaiah says, Isaiah 59:2,
00:56:48.74\00:56:51.21
"But your iniquity
have separated you from God
00:56:51.24\00:56:54.61
and your sins have
hidden His face from you
00:56:54.64\00:56:56.68
so that He will not hear."
00:56:56.71\00:56:58.51
Lay aside the
iniquities of your life,
00:56:58.55\00:57:00.65
lay aside the things
that so easily besets you.
00:57:00.68\00:57:03.59
And there'll be no
prevention to your prayers.
00:57:03.62\00:57:05.85
Thank you.
00:57:05.89\00:57:07.42
You know, there
is an unseen battle
00:57:07.46\00:57:08.79
that's going on
and it's over us.
00:57:08.82\00:57:10.83
But I want to encourage
you to take Ephesians 6:11-18,
00:57:10.86\00:57:14.26
put on the whole
armor of Jesus Christ today.
00:57:14.30\00:57:18.20
I just want to echo
what pastor said, you know,
00:57:18.23\00:57:20.17
I was reading this morning,
actually, as I was praying
00:57:20.20\00:57:23.27
and considering the
subject and, you know,
00:57:23.30\00:57:25.31
the Bible says,
00:57:25.34\00:57:26.68
as well as the
Spirit of Prophecy
00:57:26.71\00:57:28.04
that often it's our sin
that separates us from God
00:57:28.08\00:57:30.85
and keeps us from hearing,
from answering our prayers.
00:57:30.88\00:57:33.48
So lay your sins before the Lord
00:57:33.52\00:57:35.68
and pray to Him in faith.
00:57:35.72\00:57:37.79
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:57:37.82\00:57:39.15
It's been a good study.
I've been blessed myself.
00:57:39.19\00:57:40.86
Desire of Ages,
quickly just a line, 504 says,
00:57:40.89\00:57:43.59
"By faith a prayer presses
back the power of the enemy."
00:57:43.63\00:57:47.93
And by the grace of God,
we're pressing back today.
00:57:47.96\00:57:50.47
We're glad that you joined us
00:57:50.50\00:57:51.90
and by the way,
don't forget next week
00:57:51.93\00:57:53.27
we've got an important lesson,
00:57:53.30\00:57:54.64
be on number five,
"Spirit Empowered Witnessing."
00:57:54.67\00:57:58.04
Be sure and join us then,
00:57:58.07\00:57:59.64
we look forward to
spending our time with you.
00:57:59.67\00:58:02.28
Amen.
00:58:02.31\00:58:04.01