Participants: Greg & Jill Morikone (Host), Pr. John & Angela Lomacang & Jason Bradley
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW016003A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:29 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:07 Hello, friends, and welcome to 3ABN Today Family Worship. 01:11 We are so glad to be joining you 01:13 in your living room or wherever you're tuning in, 01:15 maybe even by radio and happy Sabbath. 01:18 You know, it's a blessing to have 01:19 the family worship together as a family. 01:21 We may not quite be blood relatives, 01:23 but we are family in the Lord, that's for sure. 01:25 So welcome 01:26 and we're always happy to join you 01:28 in your living room. 01:29 You know, it's always neat because a lot of times-- 01:32 I mean, we don't get the opportunity of meeting you 01:34 in person a lot of times, but there is a connection 01:37 and many times you may come through a tour of 3ABN, 01:39 we may meet you in route on the road 01:41 and that is a blessing 01:42 because we actually get to meet you face to face. 01:44 And I look forward to heaven. 01:46 If we're all faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ, 01:48 one day on the sea of glass 01:50 we will be able to meet in heaven face to face. 01:53 Wouldn't that be neat? 01:54 And just think Jesus Christ will be there in real 01:56 how I like to think maybe family worship in heaven. 01:58 Yeah. Wouldn't that be incredible. 02:00 We think, I mean, family worship is a blessing 02:02 with family with brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus. 02:05 But you think family worship at the feet of Jesus. 02:08 I mean, that's just incredible. Wow. 02:09 Absolutely incredible. 02:11 Who we have with us today join us for family worship? 02:13 Yeah, we have some of our 3ABN family here. 02:15 Over on our right is Jason Bradley. 02:18 Jay, we are so glad to have you here. 02:20 We're so glad God brought you here. 02:22 That's for sure. 02:23 And now I call you neighbor. 02:25 Yeah, we are neighbors. 02:28 It's not necessary where we live 02:29 but we live a lot here in the office at 3ABN 02:31 so you're best to my neighbor. 02:32 You and your mom, Dare to Dream and you are right next door 02:34 so I call him my neighbor, you and your mom. 02:37 But tell us just a little bit in case people don't know 02:39 who you are and what you do here at 3ABN? 02:41 Okay. 02:42 Well, I'm the assistant to the general manager. 02:45 That's your mom. Okay, assistant to my mom. 02:48 That's a great thing. 02:49 And so do little bit of every, 02:52 sometimes producing program, 02:54 sometimes it's going to conventions 02:55 and meeting people and talking about the network. 02:58 Sometimes it's going to churches 03:00 and speaking about the network and sometimes it's office work 03:03 and whatever my mom/boss needs. Absolutely. 03:06 You know, that's an incredible thing though 03:08 because not all mom and sons 03:11 could have a working relationship like that 03:13 where you can work together like you do, 03:14 so that's a testimony really to your relationship together. 03:18 And you've been here at 3ABN how long? 03:21 Two years. Wow. 03:22 Yeah, two years. 03:23 Two years, incredible. Wow. Amen. 03:25 The Lord has brought you on quite a journey 03:26 and it's neat to have you here 03:28 and seen how the Lord is working in your life. 03:30 It's a testimony to what God can do 03:31 and about prayer which is our topic. 03:33 That's right. We are talking about prayer. 03:36 You know, in our family worship and we are excited about that. 03:39 And on this side over here, we have our own pastor, 03:43 Pastor John and Angela Lomacang. 03:45 And it's such a joy, I mean, to me, 03:47 you've been here how many years now? 03:49 Thirteen. Wow. 03:50 Thirteen years. It just went by so quickly. 03:53 And that's why it's kind of a funny thing because I... 03:56 From week to week, I go through this up and down challenge 03:59 but I decided well, if I've been here 13 years, 04:02 let me start looking like, so I stopped coloring my hair. 04:05 You look distinguished, Pastor. I like. 04:08 There is a lot of wisdom in that. 04:09 Yes. That's right. 04:11 Well, you know, wisdom you do definitely. 04:13 If you don't learn anything from being here at 3ABN, 04:16 you surely do get wisdom and praise the Lord for that. 04:19 But it's good to be here. 04:20 And my wife, tell them what you do, Honey, 04:22 because I don't want them to just think you are my wife 04:24 and some people might know, but there is somebody 04:26 who may not know. 04:27 Okay, well, I'm Angela Lomacang and I work at 3ABN Radio 04:31 and I've been there, wow, about what? 04:34 At least 10 years. 04:36 At least 10 years I've been there 04:37 and it's a-- it's a learning curve for me 04:41 because I had no experience in radio at all. 04:45 But I've learned and I love my job. 04:47 Amen. Amen. 04:49 I host a program called Crossroads. 04:51 It's a great program. A radio program. 04:53 Praise the Lord. Thank you. 04:54 And I'm just happy to be here. 04:57 Thank you for inviting us to your home. 05:01 For family worship. For family worship. 05:02 I know, we are blessed to have you here 05:04 'cause we know you both are very busy, 05:05 but it's nice to have our pastor, 05:06 our very young pastor and his wife here 05:08 with us for family worship. 05:09 We've seen you both grow in your time here 05:12 and God has plans that are coming to pass 05:17 in a wonderful way in your life. 05:18 So thank you for being allowing us to come 05:20 and join you in this family worship topic. 05:22 I'm excited about it too. 05:23 It's a joy. It's a joy, it is. 05:26 Pastor, you also-- I mean, you wear so many hats. 05:28 You do programs here at 3ABN, 05:30 you're world evangelism director for 3ABN, plus pastor 05:34 at the Thompsonville Seventh-day Adventist Church. 05:36 It's just such a joy because to me 05:38 it's such a joy to have a pastor and his wife 05:41 who are godly, who are principled, 05:45 who just want to follow God with their whole heart 05:47 and who are just wonderful couple to get down 05:50 and spend time with. 05:52 So we are just glad to have you here. 05:53 As my sister-in-law said today, 05:55 she said, "How could you guys be so busy in the country?" 05:58 Oh, yes, she sure did. My sister Lecia. 06:01 I said, you don't know. 06:02 This maybe the country in local 06:04 but we're the center of God's gospel universe 06:09 because so much of the world is impacted by 3ABN. 06:11 You know, that is a great point, pastor, 06:12 because, you know, it always amazes me. 06:14 You know, when I drive here to 3ABN 06:15 and my commute is not very long. 06:17 You know, two-- what, it is about three miles. 06:20 Three miles is a commute here. 06:22 Neither is ours. 06:23 Don't laugh to hard, pastor. 06:25 Pastor C.A. said, well, he commuted back in New York 06:28 sometimes was it 90 miles or 90 minutes 06:30 I forgot what it was. No, it's only 90 miles. 06:31 It's something enormous amount of commute 06:33 to get to work but we're so blessed. 06:35 And it is amazing to me 06:36 what happens here in this little cornfield 06:38 and really, you know, our topic today worship is prayer. 06:41 You know, what God did through the ministry of 3ABN, 06:44 through many prayers obviously going up 06:46 for this ministry as it started out 06:48 and how this message is going around the world 06:50 and when our heads are on the pillow 06:51 and we sleep at night that message still goes out. 06:54 Radio, Angie. Amen. 06:55 Television, Internet, all those, 06:57 it's amazing what God is doing. 06:59 So, yeah, thank you very much for your prayers. 07:01 I know many of you have stood with 3ABN 07:02 since the beginning. 07:04 Thank you for your prayers, your financial support. 07:07 It's neat because, you know, you may not be able to support 07:10 but financially maybe you can by through the prayers, 07:12 but in heaven you will know 07:14 that the work that you have done to support this ministry 07:17 what it has done to bring souls to the kingdom, 07:18 so praise the Lord for that. 07:19 Amen. 07:21 I know we've got some music too. 07:22 We do. I always love music. 07:24 To me part of family worship is spending time in the Words. 07:28 Spending time with brothers and sisters 07:30 and praying together, 07:32 but also spending time with music. 07:34 And we have a couple songs 07:35 centered around our prayer theme 07:37 and we have Summer Boyd on the piano 07:40 but she is also running jib. 07:41 So she is busy today. 07:43 She ran from the jib over to the piano. 07:45 We're gonna start with "I Must Tell Jesus." 07:48 All right. 07:51 And the words should be on your screen 07:53 and don't forget, you can sing on with us. 07:54 it's nice to have you join us for worship. 07:57 I must tell Jesus all of my trials 08:03 I cannot bear these burdens alone 08:09 In my distress He kindly will help me 08:15 He ever loves and cares for His own 08:21 I must tell Jesus I must tell Jesus 08:27 I cannot bear my burdens alone 08:33 I must tell Jesus I must tell Jesus 08:39 Jesus can help me, Jesus alone 08:44 Let's go to verse two. 08:46 I must tell Jesus all of my troubles 08:52 He is a kind, compassionate Friend 08:58 If I but ask Him, He will deliver 09:04 Make of my troubles quickly and end 09:10 I must tell Jesus I must tell Jesus 09:17 I cannot bear my burdens alone 09:23 I must tell Jesus I must tell Jesus 09:29 Jesus can help me, Jesus alone 09:35 O how the world to evil allures me 09:42 O how my heart is tempted to sin 09:48 I must tell Jesus, and He will help me 09:55 Over the world the vict'ry to win 10:00 Let's go with chorus, here we go. 10:01 I must tell Jesus I must tell Jesus 10:07 I cannot bear my burdens alone 10:14 I must tell Jesus I must tell Jesus 10:20 Jesus can help me, Jesus alone 10:28 What a powerful song. That's right. 10:30 I must tell Jesus all of my troubles. 10:33 Also, you know, we wish to tell Jesus 10:34 all of our happiness too and all the worries 10:36 that take place in our lives and it's neat 10:38 because Jesus always hears us. 10:41 It's amazing how prayer works 10:42 and we'll talk about that little bit later on 10:44 but another great song is 10:46 "Whisper A Prayer." "Whisper A Prayer" anytime. 10:48 You know, anytime a day God says, You can come to me." 10:51 Morning, noon, night when we are in trouble, 10:54 when we are having a good time, whatever, 10:55 just come to God and open up our heart to Him. 10:58 So I hope you know this song "Whisper A Prayer" 11:00 and now the words will be on your screen. 11:04 Let's sing all three verses. 11:07 Whisper a prayer in the morning 11:14 Whisper a prayer at noon 11:21 Whisper a prayer in the ev'ning 11:27 To keep your heart in tune 11:35 God answers prayer in the morning 11:43 God answers prayer at noon 11:50 God answers prayer in the ev'ning 11:57 To keep your heart in tune 12:05 Jesus may come in the morning 12:12 Jesus may come at noon 12:19 Jesus may come in the ev'ning 12:26 So keep your heart in tune 12:34 Beautiful. Amen. 12:36 You know, that song reminds me of my pathfinder days. 12:39 Really, you must have sung that song in pathfinder. 12:42 It was part of your vesper 12:44 and vacation Bible school growing up in New York City, 12:46 "Whisper A Prayer" 12:48 that song has a lot of mileage on it 12:49 but hey, it's true. 12:51 There is no particular time of day 12:54 that prayer is not acceptable. 12:56 And sometimes we limit it to the morning, 12:58 sometimes we limit it to at night 13:00 when we just tumble in our beds 13:02 and on the way down, help me as I sleep. 13:04 But we need it all day. We do. 13:06 In noon, in evening and Daniel in the Bible 13:09 is a great example of that. 13:11 Three times a day. 13:12 We tend to also pray when we were in the stores. 13:15 Amen. It's good. 13:17 Do we really need this? 13:18 Yeah. Yeah. 13:19 You know, it's interesting because just as we are... 13:21 Jay and I were just talking just a little bit ago 13:23 that really, you know, lot of times we tend to pray 13:25 when something is going on, 13:26 like something big in our lives maybe going on 13:28 but we are talking about... 13:29 Being in trouble. 13:31 You pray when you get in trouble and all that stuff 13:33 but we need to pray and give God thanks 13:36 because I mean, we're so blessed. 13:38 Everybody is so blessed that you have a roof over your head, 13:40 a car that you drive, gas in your car, 13:42 food in your refrigerator, I mean, air in your lungs. 13:45 There is so much to be thankful for. 13:48 You know, it's a good point, even on the food, 13:49 you may not have the most gourmet spread 13:52 but hey, you got something to eat. 13:54 Thank the Lord for that. 13:55 So, yeah, that's great. Amen. 13:57 Well, let's look at a verse 13:58 and then we will jump into our topic. 13:59 Yeah. We got some questions. 14:01 Let's go to Matthew Chapter 7 and before we read it, 14:03 we should pray because we open with prayer 14:05 before we started the program but we didn't open with prayer 14:08 with you all at home as well so... 14:09 Yeah, very true. 14:10 Especially when talking about prayer. 14:12 We should pray. 14:13 Before we open the Word of God, we want to make sure we pray. 14:16 And, Pastor, would you mind 14:17 to offer the prayer for us as we start? 14:19 Sure. Let's do that. 14:20 Loving Father in heaven, this is Your book, 14:22 we are Your servants, Your Holy Spirit inspired it 14:25 and we want to be able to glean from it 14:27 what the message is for us today. 14:29 So guide our hearts and minds and connect our family 14:32 that's tuning in by television or radio. 14:35 May they hear what the spirit has to say 14:37 to each of our hearts. 14:38 We thank You in Jesus' name, amen. 14:40 Amen. Amen. 14:41 So I hope that you are turning in your Bibles at home too 14:43 because we like for participation, 14:46 that's always a blessing. 14:47 So turn in your Bibles to Matthew 7, you said. 14:49 Matthew 7:7-8. All right. 14:51 Seven and eight. And this is a famous text. 14:53 It's a good one. Yes, it is. 14:55 Angie, you want to read it? Sure. 14:57 It says, "Ask, and it will be given to you, seek, 15:00 and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you. 15:05 For everyone who asks receives, 15:08 and he who seeks finds, 15:11 and to him who knocks it will be opened." 15:15 Now you could read that verse and you could think, 15:18 "Okay, I'm gonna ask God for brand new Mercedes." 15:21 Right, I mean you can say this, 15:22 "So what exactly it says ask and you shall receive." 15:25 So why do we pray? 15:27 What is the purpose of prayer? 15:29 Well, one of my favorite quotations is 15:32 "Prayer is the opening of the heart to God 15:34 as to a friend." 15:35 And that's quoted throughout 15:37 so many of Ellen White's writings. 15:38 Yeah. 15:40 But let's put this into the context of today 15:43 in the Facebook, the Twitter. 15:45 Okay. The texting generation. 15:48 Well, why do people text to their friends 15:51 because they want to keep in touch. 15:52 And I think one of the first things 15:55 Hebrews 11:6 comes to my mind and the Bible says, 15:57 "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, 16:00 for he that comes to God must believe that He is." 16:03 So if I talk to Him, I must believe that He is. 16:07 And so to me, prayer, the first thing it does to me, 16:11 it is acknowledges in my own life 16:14 that I know you are there. 16:16 You see, I wouldn't send a text to somebody 16:18 that I won't think is there. 16:19 I wouldn't put a post on Facebook 16:21 for a friend to read that I don't have. 16:23 And so first thing to me when you say as 16:28 "opening your heart to a friend" 16:30 you don't talk to friend just on special occasions. 16:33 Matter of fact some people on Facebook they will say, 16:36 "I'm on my way to the door. 16:37 I just had some breakfast. I want to take it to you." 16:39 I mean, they tell their friends everything. 16:41 It's a little trivia like. Yeah, too much information. 16:42 Too much information. 16:43 Over the top. All that information. 16:46 But, you know, when you think what is there about God 16:47 that He doesn't know. 16:49 So sometimes when we talk to God, 16:50 not just about the big things, 16:52 I think we mentioned that a moment ago 16:53 but the small things. 16:54 "Lord, I have so many plans 16:57 which one of them today do You really want me to do? 16:59 Which one is gonna waste my time?" 17:00 And somebody pray that prayer. 17:02 We had a young lady we met just recently, 17:05 she was studying for an exam. 17:06 A young lady we met in Carbondale, 17:08 she is going for her, she is in med school, 17:10 she is becoming a doctor and on her exams, 17:14 she had so much to study 17:15 and she said, the Lord impressed her. 17:17 She said, "Lord, there is so much to study." 17:19 She prayed and asked God what should I leave out? 17:21 What should I--" 17:23 And He impressed her not to study a particular chapter. 17:25 He said, that's not gonna be on the test and it wasn't. 17:28 It wasn't. That's awesome. 17:29 And so those are those types of moments 17:31 where you ask God, "Am I wasting my time here, 17:34 where can I best apply myself?" 17:35 So one of the things I do on the daily basis, 17:40 "Lord, what you want me do today?" 17:41 And then sometimes I pray that prayer, 17:43 "Okay, Lord, send someone to me today 17:45 and at the end of the day we'll remember." 17:47 We just asked about that today and He does it. 17:51 Divine appointment. Divine appointments. 17:53 He knows our calendar. 17:54 We set our own but He really-- 17:56 the Bible talks about that in Acts 17 I think. 17:59 Acts 17:26, "Pre-appointed times." 18:02 God has a different calendar than we do. 18:03 Did you say divine? And so praise God. 18:05 So I saw the nutshell of that is I talk to Him 18:08 because I know He is there. 18:09 Amen. Amen. 18:10 So that's why you pray. 18:12 You know that God is there. I know it. 18:13 I love that quote but I had that written down here too. 18:16 "Prayer is the opening of the heart to God 18:17 as to a friend," that's a beautiful promise. 18:20 And you think if I talk to someone 18:23 that is just a stranger 18:25 or someone that is a casual acquaintance, 18:27 I might talk to them a few times, a little bit 18:29 but I wouldn't have long, heartfelt conversations. 18:32 Opening your heart, exactly. Right. 18:34 But if it's a friend, 18:35 you know, if it's someone that you really know, 18:36 someone that you love, you could talk for hours. 18:39 I remember when Greg and I were dating, 18:41 we were long distance, right, 18:42 and so I was in Massachusetts and he was here in Illinois. 18:45 It was tough. 18:46 We would talk for hours on the phone. 18:48 You know, hours just communication 18:50 and it wasn't like "Oh, I got to talk to Greg tonight." 18:53 You are excited, right, because he was my best friend. 18:56 Amen. And you love him. 18:57 So you just think with God, 18:59 wow, I want that relationship with God to that point 19:02 where I'm so in love with Jesus 19:04 like I can't wait to talk to Him. 19:06 You know, that's a great point. 19:08 So you mentioned relationship so, Jay, I'm looking to you. 19:10 So relationship, then how do you think 19:13 you gain a relationship with God? 19:15 By spending time and spending time in the Word. 19:19 I mean, the God we serve is a personal God 19:21 and which is why it's important to pray. 19:23 Because it's an opportunity for us to commune with God 19:26 and He is the creator of the universe. 19:29 You know, people would love 19:31 to talk to some of the "celebrities" in the world, 19:35 but why not talk to the person or God 19:39 who created the heavens and earth, you know. 19:43 Yeah, that's good. 19:45 So building a relationship with God, 19:47 you say, spending time in His word, 19:49 so that would be reading the Bible, 19:50 communication with Him. 19:51 So a lot of times the text is used what, 19:54 pray without ceasing. 19:55 So, okay, so does that mean 19:57 then I'm always on my knees in prayer? 20:00 I mean, I'm just asking the question, 20:02 what does that mean? 20:03 Pray without ceasing. 20:05 You know, we need to be in communion with God, 20:06 building a relationship, what do you guys think? 20:08 In the mind of prayer, you have to be in that 20:11 you and God to be in the mind of prayer, 20:14 you don't just kneeling all day. 20:16 It's not like that. 20:18 But you have to have your mind focus on God in everything, 20:21 in your decisions, in everything 20:24 and every aspect of life, "Lord, what shall I do?" 20:27 Even when I shop, I go and ask Lord, show me the sales. 20:32 Show me what to get and He does all the time. 20:34 But it's in everything of your life 20:37 to be in the constant prayer-- 20:39 Which is in communion with God. 20:41 Doesn't mean that you're on your knees all day along. 20:43 Little things. No, I'm driving, I'm praying. 20:45 Amen. I love driving to work. 20:47 It's a short drive. With your eyes open. 20:49 Yeah, exactly. 20:50 Oh, you probably have the longest, 20:52 well, actually between Greg-- 20:53 Jay has a long drive. 20:54 Or Jason. Thank you. Yeah. 20:56 Southern Illinois is a long drive. 20:58 My car doesn't even go to Walmart. 21:00 I get horrible gas mileage 21:01 'cause my engine is never warm by the time I get there. 21:03 I talk to the Lord in the car even though it's a short drive. 21:06 You know, because I agree with that 21:08 because I think about, you know, 21:09 in my relationship with Jill, 21:10 you know, we are husband and wife 21:12 and so, you know, throughout the day 21:13 she is on my mind 21:15 even though we may be not necessarily 21:16 always talking to each other, but she is there on my mind. 21:18 You know, okay, I know, oh, Jill probably like this 21:19 or I'll have to remember this to tell here that, 21:22 you know, things like that. 21:23 That's true. Now with God we can't. 21:24 Actually just give a silent prayer to Him 21:26 at anytime which is amazing 21:28 even like you said while driving or walking. 21:30 Another thing is being raised and I'm gonna go back 21:33 with the family context to my family worship, 21:35 there maybe some children watching this program. 21:38 Sometimes when a parent says to the child, 21:40 "Now you're gonna be going away this weekend, 21:42 maybe with pathfinders over the school trip 21:44 or whatever the case maybe 21:45 or maybe students all away at school and college 21:48 and they were raised 21:50 as one of my favorite pastor said, he says, 21:52 Pastor Brook said, 21:54 when he was going away to Oakwood, 21:55 his dad said, "I don't have a lot of money 21:57 but what I do have is a good name. 22:00 Honor my name." Wow. 22:02 So when he goes away, 22:03 he lives his constant life away from home, 22:07 away from his parents but the thought in his mind 22:10 "Honor his name." 22:12 That's powerful. 22:13 Every decision he makes, "Honor his name." 22:16 In your work, 22:18 don't cheat that is dishonoring of his name. 22:20 In your relationships don't become promiscuous 22:23 that dishonor his name. 22:25 In your dealings with one another, 22:26 be equitable that so that his name, 22:29 if anybody mentions your name, they will say he cheated me. 22:33 That's a dishonor. 22:34 So when we think of God's word, 22:36 when His word is in our minds, 22:37 I think that's what David meant when he said, 22:39 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, 22:41 that I might not sin against you." 22:42 Because you are constantly thinking, 22:45 "What would my father do in this situation? 22:47 What would he want me to do in this situation?" 22:49 So I think that a big part of the constant prayer 22:53 as you mentioned is stay in touch with 22:56 what my father's word says, 22:58 then it's stored there so we won't have to say, 23:01 "I wonder what he would do? 23:02 Maybe not, maybe, maybe not." 23:04 Because some people don't have that content that David said 23:07 I put it there so I won't sin, 23:09 so therefore the word is constantly saying to us, 23:13 "Son, don't do that. Son, this is the way. 23:16 Son, that's not true. Son, this is a good decision. 23:19 Son--" So that's what I think staying in touch with. 23:22 He is always speaking to us, so we are saying, 23:26 "Okay, Dad, I hear you. 23:27 Yes. Yes. 23:29 And that's a kind of prayer life that I like to have. 23:30 Like my wife says, when we're driving the car, 23:33 I remember going to very tense meeting with the, 23:37 you know, over different doctrinal beliefs 23:40 and I sent the Lord ahead of me. 23:41 Amen. 23:42 I said, "Father, this is not about me. 23:45 It's about Your honor. It's about Your name. 23:47 It's about Your truth. 23:48 Lord Jesus, send Your Holy Spirit." 23:50 And surely somebody drove past me they will say, 23:52 "Why is that guy waving his hands in the car?" 23:54 For two reasons he is from New York is one. 23:57 Secondly I was talking to God with such passion 24:00 and when I got there, 24:01 God had so moved way ahead of me 24:05 that when I got there the person 24:07 that I was gonna meet that had an adversarial attitude 24:08 the day before meet me with, I need to apologize to you. 24:13 I thought, well, that was fast. 24:16 So let me wind up by saying, 24:18 when God's word is in our minds, 24:20 we know what our father thinks and we could say, 24:22 "Thank you, Dad. Thank you, God. 24:24 I appreciate that. I know what to do." 24:26 And I think it's important to have that removal of self 24:29 and ask for God's will to be done 24:31 in each and every situation in your life 24:33 because His will, He knows the end from the beginning 24:36 so why would we, you know, we want things 24:39 and, you know, God is not a genie 24:41 so you can't just, "God, let me have that mansion. 24:44 Let me have that Mercedes. 24:45 Let me have this, can I have this, 24:47 give me, give me, give me. 24:48 You have to ask for His will to be done in your life 24:51 and when His will is done in your life 24:53 and you are walking in your divine purpose, 24:55 that's true happiness. 24:57 Absolutely. 24:58 And then it comes down to a lot of faith in God too. 25:00 Yes. 25:02 Okay, God I've asked Your will to be done in my life 25:04 and I've prayed and the decision that 25:07 or the direction God wants me to go 25:09 may not be quite what I wanted to do right, Jay? 25:12 Yes, and I think that's-- you said the word faith, 25:15 I think that's important too is when you're praying, 25:17 you should pray with faith and conviction 25:18 that, you know, when you got on your knee-- 25:22 before you even got on your knees, 25:24 God knew what you were gonna ask for 25:26 and He's already putting things in motion 25:28 but you have to believe that. 25:30 As you are praying, you should pray in such a way. 25:32 Yeah. 25:34 And it's conditional if my people, if and then, 25:37 if my people will humble themselves 25:39 and pray then I'll hear. 25:41 It's usually conditional. 25:43 A lot of things in the Bible is if and then, if and then, 25:46 if you love Me, keep My commandments. 25:48 If and then so that's how some-- 25:51 that's how I look at it some of-- 25:53 Amen. That's good. 25:54 Because there are conditions, right. 25:55 If we are thinking about that with prayer, 25:57 I was thinking when you mentioned that, Jay, 25:58 of the Bible promise in 1 John 5, 26:00 if you have your Bibles turn there. 26:02 Is that 14? 26:03 Fourteen, yep, you got it, Pastor. 26:04 Are you already there? I was just turning. 26:06 Where you there? I want now Greg to read it. 26:07 As Jay was mentioning I thought of that 26:09 in 1 John 5:14 now, 26:11 "This is the confidence that we have in him, 26:13 that if we ask any thing according to His will, 26:18 He hears us." 26:19 So that's what you were saying, Jay, 26:20 it's asking in accordance to His will. 26:23 To me when we pray, surrender is key. 26:26 Yes. It's connected with prayer. 26:28 You know, we can't just come and say, 26:30 "Okay, God I want this or this or whatever, 26:33 but we need to surrender. 26:34 God, not my will, not my way but what You want. 26:38 What is in accordance with Your will. 26:40 And like you mentioned, Pastor, 26:41 when we open up God's word, we learn what His will is. 26:43 That's right. 26:45 We learn what His will is inherit in the Word of God. 26:46 And there's people that are in sin, 26:48 all they have to do is say three words, 26:50 "Lord, save me." 26:52 Yes. 26:53 It's that simple and He will hear that prayer. 26:55 That's a very good point. 26:56 Lot of-- and the thing that I like to add 26:59 to verse 15, 27:00 "If we know he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know", 27:05 we know, if you notice that phrase, 27:07 we know, we know, if we know He hears us, 27:10 we know that's call for petition 27:12 that we have asked of Him." 27:13 And so when you ask according to God's will, 27:16 it's important-- you began early by saying, 27:19 "Lord, I need a Mercedes." 27:21 Well, you know-- 27:23 Which I really don't need though. 27:24 Exactly. Thank you, Jesus. 27:26 But let me put that in context. 27:27 Say if you were invited to an event 27:31 where your impression on the people that are there 27:34 was important for them to even listen to you. 27:36 You know, often times we don't think of ourselves 27:38 and I want to broaden the scope here, 27:40 we don't think of ourselves as 27:41 well, Ellen White points out 27:44 that pastors could reach other pastors 27:48 and the wealthy could reach the wealthy. 27:50 It's true. 27:51 And the affluent could reach the affluent. 27:53 And when you look at the Bible, 27:55 there were very many affluent men. 27:56 I mean, Abraham look how much he owned. 27:57 They were wealthy. 27:59 Job, David, Solomon, these were men of affluence 28:02 and wealth and great possessions. 28:03 So if you drove up to Solomon's house 28:07 in a broken down car and you said, 28:10 "I have come to give you wisdom from God." 28:12 He will say, "What God?" 28:16 And I only put that in the context 28:18 because when we were in Africa 28:19 not too long ago with Maranatha, 28:22 one of the church members had a prayer 28:23 that she has been praying for like ten years 28:25 and in the community they were meeting under a tree 28:29 with blue tarp and cardboard 28:31 and strings holding up the sides 28:33 and the people said, 28:35 "What kind of God could you serve? 28:36 Look at the way you are worshipping." 28:38 But when Maranatha went, 28:39 we built like 16 or 18 buildings. 28:42 People that were Adventist 28:44 not even connected to a church 28:45 or just in the community and the officials 28:47 they all wanted to identify with the God 28:50 who presented Himself as successful. 28:54 So there maybe some odd situation 28:56 where you are in the presence of dignitaries 29:00 and God might say, 29:01 "Hey, I'll let you rent them, 29:03 I'll get a Mercedes to take you there today 29:05 so you be received that way." 29:07 Not necessarily buy you one or give you one 29:09 but He might say, "You know what, 29:10 you don't need to drive up 29:12 to the White House in a whatever." 29:14 I don't want to label any car manufacturers 29:15 as it is sufficient. 29:16 But for this occasion 29:18 everybody is pulling up in a car that speaks. 29:20 I need to let people know My child is connected 29:24 to even higher royalty than anybody on earth. 29:26 So once in a while we will slip through, 29:29 but only in harmony with God's will. 29:30 That's the key. That is the key. 29:34 Yeah, so what do you, guys, then think 29:36 as far as you talking the conditions? 29:38 I don't want to be like the devil's advocate here. 29:39 So you're talking conditions on prayer. 29:41 So I think about someone at home may feel, 29:47 okay, you know, I'm a sinner, I'm a terrible person. 29:50 Those conditions of prayer, 29:52 God will only hear me if I do certain things 29:54 so what's the use of even trying. 29:56 You know, I-- you know, 29:58 God doesn't even hear the Bible talks about. 29:59 You know, there are certain conditions to prayer 30:01 to God hearing us. 30:03 So like I think about the thief on the cross. 30:07 It's a good one. 30:09 God heard his prayer. 30:10 Yes, He did. 30:11 And, Angie, as you mentioned earlier those three words. 30:14 Lord, save me. Lord, help me. 30:17 What was that sermon you had God's three points? 30:19 Three point plan for international security. 30:25 And what was it? 30:26 Lord, save me. The three point plan. 30:29 Lord, who does it. Me who needs it. 30:31 Save what I need. 30:33 Yeah. 30:34 Because there are conditions to prayer, right. 30:35 We'll agree there are conditions to our prayers 30:37 being answered and heard, all right. 30:39 But does God always hear a prayer? 30:42 Amen. Yes, He will. 30:44 Well, we're all sinners. He hears. 30:46 He always hears but there isn't always respond. 30:48 I was thinking of the publican. 30:50 Just kind of throwing this out here, just a little discussion. 30:52 And the Pharisee and the tax collector. 30:53 Remember that story? Yes. 30:55 That was in what Luke 18 and I think about that story 30:58 and the Pharisee was like the goody two shoes. 31:01 You know, he is the religious leader. 31:02 He had it all together. 31:04 He thought he was in one accord with God. 31:07 You know, he was really connected with God. 31:10 And so he comes to God and he says, 31:12 "God, I thank You. I'm not like other men. 31:15 I'm not like other men. 31:16 I'm doing well and I have it all together." 31:19 But the tax collector 31:20 what we would look at in today's society 31:22 what would that be like? 31:23 Someone-- Okay. IRS agent. 31:26 Yeah. 31:27 No offense if you're an IRS agent. 31:31 So he came before God, but he realized his need. 31:33 Yes, he did. 31:34 And he said, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." 31:38 The Bible says, he didn't even raised up his head, 31:40 right, for heaven. 31:42 He just kept it down. 31:43 "Be merciful to me." So to me that gives hope. 31:46 If you say, "God, I'm a sinner. 31:48 God, I want to be saved. 31:51 I want to be forgiven. 31:52 I want to pray 31:54 but I don't know if you can hear me." 31:56 God will always hear a genuine cry for help. 32:01 He will hear and He will answer. 32:03 So whatever you are dealing with tonight, 32:05 I don't know what you are going through, 32:06 what you're dealing with but God says, 32:08 "Just come before me and say, Lord, save me. 32:11 Be merciful to me a sinner." 32:13 And God always hears that type of prayer. 32:15 Yeah, absolutely. 32:16 Because I believe like as what pastor saying 32:17 what you are saying too. 32:19 God hears every prayer. 32:20 He hears every cry but He does-- 32:22 But there is a condition. 32:23 There is a huge condition. 32:25 So yeah, expound upon that, Pastor? 32:26 Proverbs 28:9 and I want to put that because sometimes-- 32:29 Proverbs 28:9. Okay. 32:30 Sometimes people might wonder about the roadblocks. 32:33 Yeah. Good ahead, okay. 32:34 There are roadblocks to prayer, 32:36 not prayers not being answered. 32:38 I like that roadblocks. 32:39 Let's just put that in the context of a child. 32:40 How many parents would listen to everything 32:42 their child asks for? 32:43 But when the child is obedient a parent would say, 32:47 "You know what, I trust him, I trust her. 32:50 I know that I could give this to him or her 32:52 without even concerning myself." 32:54 But if you have an obstinate, disobedient, 32:57 recalcitrant child that just doesn't care 32:59 what guidance the parent gives and they come and say, 33:03 "I need the car keys." 33:06 Well, I know what they say in my home. 33:07 Jay, you haven't been reading many verses 33:09 but read this one Proverbs 28:9. 33:11 28:9, "He that turneth away his ear 33:14 from hearing the law, 33:16 even his prayer shall be abomination." 33:18 Wow, even his prayer-- and there is a quotation here, 33:20 I want Angie to read from Christ Object Lessons 33:22 in reference to that verse. 33:24 Yeah, page 143 says, 33:26 "Those who bring their petitions to God, 33:29 claiming His promise while they do not comply 33:33 with the conditions, insult Jehovah. 33:37 They bring the name of Christ 33:39 as their authority 33:41 for the fulfillment of the promise, 33:44 but they do not those things 33:46 that would show faith in Christ and love for Him." 33:53 So they say, "I don't love you, 33:55 I just want your stuff." 33:57 Yeah, right. 33:58 He says, "Wait a minute, there are conditions." 33:59 So would we honor and I'm gonna use the word, 34:04 turns his ears from hearing the law, 34:05 it's like going over to London 34:08 and driving like I'm in America. 34:10 Oh. Yeah. 34:11 They are not gonna ride-- 34:12 I need a right hand-- 34:14 I need a left hand steering wheel. 34:16 We only have right hand steering wheel. 34:18 Well, I need a left hand steering wheel. 34:20 Oh, sir, we'll not rent you any cars 34:21 because you don't abide by the laws of our country. 34:25 God does have requirements and it's not, 34:29 it's not to make our lives difficult. 34:31 But how many of us who want somebody around us 34:33 that determines to do everything opposite to the law 34:36 and then all they want us to do 34:38 is comply with their wishes and their requests. 34:40 So the Lord says, if you turn your ear 34:42 from hearing My law, your prayers 34:44 and I don't want to use the word abominations, 34:46 your prayers are irritating to Me 34:48 because you don't want to hear Me. 34:49 And one of the conditions if we want-- 34:51 one writer says "If you want God to hear you 34:54 when you pray, let's hear Him when He speaks." 34:57 Amen. 34:58 Because you said, Pastor, 35:00 that He is speaking to us all the time. 35:01 All the time. 35:02 Yeah, and unfortunately I don't always tune in, 35:04 you know, to when God is talking to me. 35:05 A very good point, tuning in. 35:07 Fantastic. Amen. That's powerful. 35:10 Well, the other condition 35:11 I was just thinking of is forgiveness. 35:15 Oh, men. It's huge. 35:16 You think about that in John. 35:18 What does that say? Jesus says, if you forgive-- 35:20 I think it's John, let me look here. 35:21 Okay. 35:22 John, I'm looking at another text here. 35:24 You're looking at another one. 35:26 John-- 35:29 Matthew 6, I'm sorry Matthew 6. 35:32 Okay. 35:33 It's probably in John 2 but Matthew 6. 35:36 Let's see here. 35:38 Matthew 6:14, 15. 35:43 Yeah. 35:45 "If you forgive men their trespasses, 35:47 your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 35:50 But if you do not forgive men 35:52 their trespasses," or their sins 35:53 "neither will your Father forgive your sins." 35:57 That's a pretty serious condition. 35:58 But sometimes it's like 36:00 I want to hang on to that a while. 36:01 Hang in. Yeah. 36:02 I want to feel that that bitterness 36:04 or that-- whatever that-- 36:05 you know, Jay really wronged me over here 36:07 and he really didn't but-- 36:10 That's just kind of put me on the spot. 36:13 Jay didn't, Jay is a great guy. 36:15 He is a man of God but, you know, you could say, 36:17 "Somebody did that and they hurt me 36:19 and then I don't want to forgive them." 36:21 But then God says, "How can I forgive you?" 36:24 It's powerful. Yeah. 36:25 Also in the realm of service, 36:28 sometimes we are more content and I talked about this. 36:31 My wife and I have all kinds of conversations 36:33 and one of the ones that we talked about 36:36 was sometimes serving the Lord. 36:38 Sometimes we're more focused on serving God 36:42 than living in the right relationship with others. 36:46 That's good. 36:47 So we will say, "Look, if you make it to heaven 36:51 we will be friends, 36:52 but until then, I don't need to bother, 36:54 you don't bother me, I don't bother you. 36:55 You go that aisle, I go this aisle. 36:57 Happy Sabbath but don't bother me. 36:59 Yeah. 37:00 You know, in the Christian life there are some people 37:02 with this attitude that they don't want to reconcile 37:05 as you mentioned. 37:06 But Matthew 5:23, 24 someone read that. 37:09 I don't want to-- but this to me says, 37:11 the Lord says, "Okay, there are conditions to service." 37:15 And these conditions to service means, 37:18 "Okay, you are great preacher, you are great singer, 37:20 you have a lot of good gifts, 37:22 but hey, before you could make your gift acceptable to me, 37:26 you need to go fix things with you and your brother." 37:28 Who has that? Who want to read that? 37:29 That's a powerful text. 37:30 "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, 37:33 and there rememberest 37:35 that thy brother hath ought against thee, 37:38 leave there thy gift before the altar, 37:40 and go thy way, 37:42 first be reconciled to thy brother, 37:43 and then come and offer thy gift." 37:46 That gift maybe music. Yeah. 37:48 It maybe service of some kind. 37:50 It maybe a great talent or great gift. 37:52 The Lord says, "You got to fix these things." 37:54 Because, you know, sometimes in the very congregation 37:56 that we were ministering that's why, 37:58 praise the Lord, it's not true here. 37:59 Our communion services are very full 38:01 except when we're on the road and it comes at night time. 38:03 But our communion service is very well attended. 38:05 Well attended. 38:06 But what used to happen in New York when communion? 38:08 Everybody would run to different churches 38:11 when communion growing up. 38:13 The attendance would shrink. 38:14 Oh, yeah, it happened all the time 38:16 and they would just go to another church. 38:18 They didn't have communion. 38:20 Because they don't want to do this. 38:21 They don't want to get things right-- 38:22 They don't want to reconcile. They don't want to reconcile. 38:24 So they figured, if I don't hear it 38:26 I'm not washing you by the feet. 38:27 I'm not asking for no prep-- 38:29 you know, we say prepare your heart 38:30 communion next Sabbath. 38:31 We have a wonderful time here 38:33 but this is very important thing. 38:34 So don't be more focused on just doing God's work 38:38 and broken relationships. 38:40 That's another condition 38:41 I think of God answering prayer. 38:42 Fix things between you and your brother 38:44 and I can bless you. 38:45 And also be honest in prayer. 38:47 I mean, God already knows 38:48 that you're really not pulling anybody. 38:50 No, that's right. 38:52 You know, you have to be honest in prayer. 38:54 If you are upset, if there is something 38:55 that you are struggling with 38:58 or you are upset, take it to God. 39:00 But, man, don't fake it. 39:03 You know, let Him know. 39:05 You know, I'm upset, I don't just doing it respectful way. 39:08 You know, I don't want to-- 39:10 I remember as a kid, 39:11 you know, every now and then you would, 39:13 we get a spanking if you got out of line. 39:15 I don't want to God's spanking. 39:17 So you want to be respectful. 39:19 You want to be respectful when you are praying 39:21 but, you know, be honest with God. 39:25 If you are struggling with something, 39:26 be honest with Him and tell Him you need help 39:29 if, I mean, if anything take it to the Lord. 39:31 He is your friend. And you said confess. 39:34 Some people confess to a priest. 39:36 Yeah. Yes. 39:37 But it's important to confess to God, 39:41 not to a priest. 39:42 They can't forgive you of your sins, only God can. 39:46 Only if I'm wronged you, 39:48 should I confess my fault to you. 39:49 But in the sense of mediatory work 39:51 I know that's what Angie is talking about. 39:53 That's exactly what I'm talking about. 39:54 No man comes to the Father except through Jesus. 39:57 Jay, when you mentioned don't fake it 39:58 there's a saying I have these-- 40:00 my mind is too fast sometimes 40:02 but I write down cribs and quotes 40:03 and I just came up with it. 40:04 Crib and quote 40:06 "Don't fake it to the Lord in prayer, 40:08 take it to the Lord in prayer." 40:10 Amen. Yeah. 40:11 I'm gonna write that down, 40:12 I remember that in a sermon at some place but... 40:14 Yeah, you know, 40:15 because the Lord doesn't expect us to be perfect 40:17 for us to come to Him. 40:19 Like you were saying, Jay, now just be real with God 40:22 and say, "You know what, God, I have odd against my brother. 40:24 I'm mad, I'm upset but, Jesus, please help me." 40:28 Like you said, Angie, those words 40:30 "Lord, help me. 40:31 Help me to overcome this issue with my brother or sister 40:34 or any issue that you have in your life." 40:35 Because sometimes people say, "I just can't go to God 40:37 because I'm just not right so that's the way it is." 40:40 And that's what the devil wants you to think 40:41 because you will be lost forever. 40:43 If you would wait until you get perfect, 40:46 you'll never, you're not gonna get there. 40:49 So... 40:50 Yeah, so that's what devil wants to do 40:51 to keep us from communion with God. 40:53 Absolutely, just go to God, be real with Him 40:55 and just tell him how you feel 40:56 and how you want to do better but through strength. 40:58 I remember in church, there was a pastor 41:01 who preached a sermon and he was talking about 41:04 how sometimes you stray away from God. 41:07 You're going the opposite direction 41:09 and it's a gradual process. 41:11 So you start sending here. 41:13 You start compromising here, here, here, here 41:16 and by the time you know it, by the time you look up 41:19 you are, you know, this far from God 41:22 and the devil makes you think like, 41:24 oh, you're not good. 41:26 God doesn't want you 41:27 and it's too late for you to turn back. 41:30 But that's not the case. He wants us to come back. 41:33 So that's when-- 41:34 I mean, that's when you should 41:36 definitely be on your knees in prayer. 41:37 Amen. 41:39 You know, talking on the topic of prayer, 41:40 what has prayer meant in your lives personally? 41:43 Going actually to a personal level? 41:45 I know, time is quickly slipping away 41:47 but does anyone have anything 41:48 what prayer is meant personally to you? 41:50 The way prayer has impacted you or changed your life or? 41:54 Well, we have tons of stories. You want to go first up? 41:56 You go ahead. 41:58 You know, when we have faced and I think 42:01 that one of the reasons why the Lord allows storms 42:04 to come our way is to remind us 42:06 that only with Him can we handle the storms. 42:10 Yeah. 42:11 There's so many stories in the Bible where the Lord 42:13 could have prevented the circumstances 42:15 that confront His people, 42:17 some of the popular ones or the commons ones. 42:20 You know, Joseph being sold by his brothers, 42:25 all he went through 42:27 and the devil wanted to crush him but God-- 42:29 it took him many years to reconcile the situation, 42:31 but it came out for the good of his family. 42:34 The Hebrews, Daniel, the list goes on and on. 42:36 When Daniel prayed 42:38 and the devil prevented him 21 days 42:41 and the Lord came in a mighty way 42:44 through His angel and just broke that bond. 42:46 But I believe that 42:48 and I've seen prayer in our lives, 42:49 when we were at that wall, I use that word wall. 42:53 When you are at that wall-- let me use another word, 42:55 when you are at that intersection 42:57 and the human side of you is saying, 43:00 "You don't need this. 43:02 You don't deserve this. 43:04 And you were right 43:06 and you just do not need to be apologized. 43:07 Hold your ground, 43:10 they need to fix this." 43:11 That's the human side and the Lord says, 43:15 "Sometimes you got to be pruned to grow. 43:18 Yeah, true. 43:19 Sometimes you got to be humble to be exalted. 43:22 Sometimes you have to say, 43:23 you are sorry to win the relationship 43:25 and not the argument. 43:26 So I've learned, okay, Lord-- 43:28 Even in relationships. 43:29 Even in relationships. 43:31 We learn sometimes to say, 43:32 I apologize not because you are 100 percent wrong 43:35 but I've learned as a pastor, 43:37 if somebody comes to me to complain about 43:39 something I've done, although it's a balloon popper, 43:44 I had to have done something 43:45 that it make me even think that way. 43:47 Now I don't want to hurt you. 43:49 You know, you are special to the Lord. 43:52 So the Lord has taught me through prayer, 43:54 it's better to win relationships 43:57 than win arguments. 43:58 That's powerful. Amen. 44:00 When the person, 44:01 don't try to win the argument 'cause you lose-- 44:03 You lose person. 44:04 You might win the argument but the person is shot. 44:06 And don't forget what you did to me. 44:07 You know, can I put you on the spot, Jill? 44:08 Yeah. 44:10 On epiphany to me one day was when Jill here at 3ABN, 44:14 we don't think Jill and Greg have any problems. 44:16 Well, she popped our balloon one day and she said, 44:18 "You know, this week the Lord and I struggled 44:21 because it was somebody I just, 44:23 oh, struggling with forgiving somebody this week 44:25 and the Lord struggled with me a week and I got the victory." 44:31 Jill, and bother, guessed right. 44:33 Oh, yeah. 44:34 So they are just like us 44:36 and we hold you guys in high regard, 44:39 you know, but not that everyone of us-- 44:42 some of us New Yorkers are more vocal and, 44:44 you know, we kind of live our lives publicly. 44:46 But those of you who are more quiet and calm, 44:49 you still go through the very same thing. 44:51 We are all in mixes but some of us 44:53 and I thought, "Wow, so, Jill, you struggle too?" 44:56 Yes, I struggle too, and you got the victory. 44:58 It's all of us. And praise God 44:59 He wants to work in us. He wants to work in us. 45:00 What about you, Jay, anyway that prayer 45:02 has made an impact in your life? 45:04 Man, there are several ways. 45:05 I had been praying for a godly woman for along time. 45:08 My mother has been praying for me. 45:10 Then there has been people here 45:11 that have been praying for me. 45:13 And then God placed 45:14 Stephanie Nazzarella in my life. 45:17 I mean, we have worship every night. 45:19 We pray together. 45:20 You know, we talk all the time 45:22 like how you guys 'cause we were long distance too. 45:23 Yeah, you were. 45:25 But we talk all the time and all that. 45:27 There has been times where I've almost been taken out 45:32 due to, you know, complication like surgery 45:34 my appendix rupturing inside of me. 45:35 You mean, take it out as losing your life? 45:37 Yes. 45:38 And being misdiagnosed with that 45:40 and then, you know, I had Pastor Byrd 45:43 came and prayed with me in the hospital 45:45 and I prayed as well. 45:48 And so God spared me through that and on the ministry side, 45:51 when I got into ministry, 45:53 I had two other surgeries, you know. 45:56 So prayer has been key. 46:00 You know, I think about your mother's prayers 46:02 for you for many years, 46:04 you know, and how the Lord has worked in your life, Jason, 46:07 it's truly neat to see. 46:09 Amen, that sure is. Yeah. 46:11 You have personal testimony to share? 46:14 Well, you know, something that just hit me 46:15 recently was that this bird flu in our garage 46:19 and so I was in my garage and our garage doesn't have-- 46:23 I mean, it has a roof 46:24 but it's open all up through the rafter. 46:25 So this bird was flying up in the rafter. 46:27 So here I was in the garage, 46:29 chasing this bird around inside the garage, 46:31 it would not fly out the garage door. 46:33 It just kept flying up, you know, 46:34 stay stuck up in the roof. 46:37 And so I spent quite a bit of time 46:38 trying to chase this, 46:40 I won't say crazy bird but I mean, so anyway, 46:43 I did that and do you know I was there. 46:45 I was getting tired and I just like 46:47 now I stand on the garage floor 46:48 but it's like this bird is not gonna go out of this door. 46:51 And the crazy thing, it's not crazy came in my mind, 46:53 you know, you should pray this bird will go out this door. 46:56 And do you know, 46:57 I prayed so this is kind of weird 46:59 but "Lord, please help this bird to fly out the garage." 47:01 And do you know, within a few seconds 47:03 that bird went right out through the door. 47:07 It was a rebuke to me. 47:09 You know, why it was rebuke to me because I was like, 47:10 you know, God, here I was chasing this bird 47:12 a small little thing all over this garage 47:15 and in life there's all kinds of things that distracting. 47:18 I'm busy doing this, busy doing that 47:20 and God says, you know, all you got to do is just pray. 47:22 It's a simple little thing. 47:23 Just pray and He will take care of it. 47:25 So for me for this bird, I mean, the Lord see 47:27 the sparrows are falling to the ground 47:28 but it just rebuked to me that, 47:29 Greg, you need to take everything to God in prayer. 47:32 Like you were saying, Jay, 47:34 happy, sad, joy whatever it is problems, issues. 47:37 Have you, guys, ever prayed? 47:39 Like have you ever lost something 47:41 you've looked everywhere for it 47:43 and then you prayed for it for God to help you find it 47:47 and then all of a sudden it pops up? 47:49 I have. You find it after you prayed. 47:50 I've had that happen and I've also before I prayed 47:55 and I haven't found it either. 47:57 You know, and these are one of those things 47:58 where, you know, I don't know 47:59 you pray for God's will to be done 48:01 and I don't know if it's trust. 48:02 The Lord knew you need a new one. 48:03 Maybe that was it. 48:05 I don't know but I have had hope 48:06 where I prayed and I found it immediately after that. 48:08 Amen. It happened. 48:09 That happened to us. Really? 48:11 Yeah. 48:12 Matter of fact, there are so many stories 48:15 I could tell I just don't know which one to tell. 48:17 There are so many. But I know-- 48:19 Any one will be a blessing. Yeah. 48:21 I know in the night the Lord wakes me up 48:23 usually around three in the morning 48:25 and I start praying. 48:26 Especially Friday nights before he has his sermon. 48:29 I wake up and I'll just pray over him. 48:32 Sometimes I put my hand on him 48:34 he doesn't even know and I start praying 48:36 for the Lord to bless him, to guide him. 48:38 And as a wife this is something 48:40 I do every day is pray for my husband. 48:42 Amen. 48:43 Actually pray for him every day. 48:45 I'm humbled by that. 48:46 Oh, yeah. And it's important to do that. 48:48 And one particular time-- 48:52 speaking of cars, I needed a car so badly. 48:55 We only had one vehicle 48:58 and make a very long story short. 49:01 We went to the car dealership on a Sunday and-- 49:04 When they are closed. 49:05 When they were closed, yeah, 49:07 and I said, "John, we need a car 49:08 before General Conference 2005." 49:12 And we needed a SUV 49:14 and I-- I said, "Come John let's go pray on it." 49:16 And I took our hand and I put the hand on the car 49:19 and I put my hand on his and I prayed and said, 49:21 "Lord, please give us this car. 49:23 We need it before General Conference 2005." 49:28 And I said, "And Jesus" 49:30 I can't remember exactly what I prayed. 49:33 I remember what you said. What did I say? 49:35 You said, "Lord, I'm claiming this car in Jesus' name. 49:39 I don't know how we are gonna get it 49:42 but please, Lord, give it to us 49:44 before General Conference 2005." 49:47 And less than three weeks later somebody we never met 49:51 gave us the keys to that vehicle. 49:53 Brand new. Brand new. 49:54 The same color everything we prayed over. 49:58 And we remembered when we were on our way, 50:01 all of our family came to visit with us 50:03 and it was an eight passenger. 50:04 Her brother, her mother, her sister, 50:06 all of us are loaded in that vehicle 50:08 and I look at her in the driver seat 50:09 and this tears coming in her eyes. 50:11 She said, "We're on our way to GC 2005 50:13 and here we are in the vehicle of a lady we never met." 50:16 And the unfortunate side of that 50:17 the lady passed away a few months later 50:19 but she fulfilled her obligations in a beautiful way 50:21 and it was all because of by faith. 50:23 You know, God is not the God of small things. 50:26 So pray. 50:28 And big things, speaking of small things remember the pin? 50:30 Oh, yeah. Go quick. 50:32 You go ahead and tell it. 50:34 I was at PUC, Pacific Union College praying 50:36 and I like my tie to be pinned literally. 50:38 I don't buy tiepins but I was praying 50:40 and we went into girl's dorm and I said, 50:41 "Okay, Lord, I need a pin. 50:43 My tie is wagging, I can't stand wagging ties 50:46 when I'm preaching. 50:47 Nobody could find-- Oh, that's great. 50:49 Nobody could find a-- And that's a secret. 50:50 No one could find a pin in the girl's dorm 50:54 where we were staying. 50:56 Okay, Honey, this is gonna be the first Sabbath 50:57 I'm preaching with my tie wagging. 50:58 It's just uncomfortable. 51:00 We pull up to the university church 51:02 there Pacific Union College Church, 51:05 as I opened the door 51:06 on the ground right by my driver's door 51:08 is an un-rusted safety pin. 51:10 Oh, that's Jesus. Thank you, Lord. 51:12 It's neat, the little details. 51:13 And when they asked for prayer-- 51:15 when they ask for answered prayers 51:16 I said to one of the teachers 51:18 this kind of sounds weird 51:19 but let me tell you what happened. 51:20 So even the small things in life. 51:22 Isn't that a beautiful thing 51:23 I mean, God hears the prayers for birds. 51:24 You know, it saves their lives. 51:26 God hears the prayers, the needs for cars 51:28 and for tiepins, safety pins and for-- 51:32 Salvation. Salvation. 51:33 You know, whatever we pray for. 51:35 For girlfriends, for, you know. 51:37 I mean, just God hears all that. 51:39 I think my testimony 51:40 and then I know we need to get to prayer request 51:42 would be God is just leading me on this journey 51:45 to pray more for the people. 51:47 You know, not be so self-centered 51:49 in my prayers like, 51:50 okay, praying for my husband 51:52 or my family or my local community 51:54 or friends but the world, 51:56 reaching out for others. 51:58 The first I think of often is Psalms 2:8, it says, 52:01 "Ask of me," God is speaking "and I will give you 52:04 the heathen for your inheritance, 52:06 and the uttermost parts of the world 52:08 for your possession." 52:09 And I just think what if we get to heaven? 52:12 And someone is not there because I didn't pray for them. 52:16 Wow. 52:17 You know, I mean, that's powerful. 52:19 What if God is putting on each one of us? 52:21 You know, pray for lost people. 52:23 Pray for the neighbors and the community 52:25 and the girl at Walmart and, you know, 52:28 when you're pumping gas, the person in there 52:30 and when you are in the airplane, 52:32 the person you sit next to 52:33 and pray for other people so that's powerful. 52:36 And that's what we want to do right now 52:38 is lift up some of the prayer 52:39 needs that have come in here to 3ABN. 52:42 We each have some of these coming to pastoral department, 52:45 then they pass them on to us. 52:47 So, Jay, what request do you have? 52:50 Mine is from Tony. 52:51 Tony is struggling under the weight 52:52 of several severe trials. 52:56 I have here Frank has severe neuropathy in his feet 53:01 and he can hardly walk. 53:02 So you remember Frank in prayer too. 53:04 Yeah. 53:06 I have, Rick had shoulder replacement surgery 53:09 and he is asking for prayer for his recovery. 53:12 And I have Janice is praying for epileptic seizures, 53:18 pray for healing. 53:19 Absolutely. I have Tim. 53:21 His family are trying to get their lives together in Jesus 53:25 and in His will. 53:26 And Max and Ruby's Holmes life 53:30 has been greatly disturbed by a noisy neighbor. 53:33 The neighbor frequently has parties 53:36 with drinking and loud music. 53:37 Pray for the neighbor's salvation. 53:40 Wow. That's a real one. 53:43 Yeah, lot of prayer requests. 53:44 I know you have prayer request too at home 53:46 and as we pray here we have just a few minutes left here. 53:49 Lift up your prayer request to the Lord in prayer. 53:51 We know that He hears us and we know that He cares, 53:54 we know that He will answer according to His will. 53:57 So, Pastor, would you like to start with prayer? 53:59 We'll just do a short little prayer. 54:00 We mention these people in prayer. 54:02 Loving Father, these are your children. 54:04 Yes, thank you. We bring them before you. 54:05 The needs are very genuine. 54:08 These families are wanting to live in harmony 54:10 and know Your hand is upon them, Father. 54:12 Answer each of these prayers 54:15 that they may be drawn closer to You 54:17 and they may be delivered from those things 54:20 whether health or relationships 54:22 that hindered them. 54:24 And also we are praying for Janice 54:27 who is experiencing the seizures. 54:29 Lord, we pray for healing. 54:31 We pray that You put Your hand upon her body, Lord, 54:34 and help her so she won't have these seizers anymore. 54:38 So, Lord, you are the God that hears prayers. 54:40 You are the God that answers and we thank You for answering. 54:44 Thank you, Father. 54:45 Lord, we left Rick before You. 54:46 Thank You for bringing him to the surgery. 54:49 Thank You for the healing that You're working in his life 54:52 and, Lord, we ask for continued healing, 54:54 stream straight from your throne of grace 54:56 to reach down and to touch his shoulder, 54:58 to bring relief from that pain. 55:00 And, Lord, I just ask that 55:01 Your grace would be made sufficient 55:04 in his time of need right now. 55:06 And, Lord, we lift up each one of our 3ABN family at home. 55:09 You know the needs. 55:11 You know the burdens on their hearts. 55:12 You know their requests. 55:14 And, Father, we ask right now 55:16 that you would draw close to each one 55:18 and that you would hear and answer 55:20 each request according to Your will. 55:23 Amen. 55:25 Dear, heavenly Father, 55:26 we know that Tony is struggling with several, several trials. 55:31 He's gone through several trials. 55:32 We don't know what they are but we know that You do 55:34 and we know that 55:35 You have the solution for each thing 55:38 that he is suffering from. 55:39 We ask that Your will be done according while in his life, 55:44 in his name we pray, amen. 55:46 Father in heaven, Lord, we think of Frank 55:48 who has severe neuropathy in his feet. 55:51 He can hardly walk. 55:52 Lord, I know that it affects many things in his life 55:55 and so far I just pray that You be with Frank. 55:57 This world is full of many hurting people, 56:01 many lonely people, lot of sick. 56:05 Lord, we know that You hear the cry for help. 56:07 Lord, help him, could be in tremendous pain, 56:10 could be salvation for one self or it could be for family. 56:14 Thank You that we know by faith that You are here 56:17 and answer prayers according to Your will. 56:20 We're thankful that we have You 56:22 that we can turn to 24/7 we know that you hear us. 56:26 We know that there are people at home 56:28 that are lifting up their prayer request to you. 56:30 We thank You that we are one large family. 56:33 Father, we want to pray that we would all be faithful 56:36 and before You-- 56:37 yeah, faithful that we would all meet one day 56:39 on that sea of glass in heaven. 56:41 In Jesus name we pray, amen. 56:43 Amen. Amen. 56:45 Thank you all, for joining us for family worship. 56:47 Yeah. Time has gone by fast. 56:48 Very fast. Praise Lord. 56:50 That was a good one. Yeah. 56:51 Thank you so much, 56:53 Pastor John and Angie and Jason. 56:54 Yeah. 56:56 And thank you for joining us at home. 56:57 You know, it's always a blessing 56:58 again to join with you 57:00 at home there in your living room 57:02 or wherever you are at. 57:03 Remember that Jesus loves you. 57:05 Remember the topic of prayer this week. 57:07 We hope that you have a wonderful Sabbath. 57:08 You know the neat thing of prayer 57:10 is that we are talking to the Creator of the universe. 57:14 He is the one that formed each one of us. 57:16 We all have a special place on this earth and it's neat, 57:18 isn't it that we can pray for others. 57:21 So maybe you've got someone 57:22 that God has impressed upon your mind just now. 57:24 Remember to keep them in prayer 57:25 that's ways that we can participate. 57:27 Thank you for always lifting up the ministry of 3ABN. 57:30 May the Lord richly bless you. 57:32 Have a happy Sabbath and God bless. |
Revised 2016-02-25