I want to spend my life
00:00:02.00\00:00:07.94
Mending broken people
00:00:07.97\00:00:12.91
I want to spend my life
00:00:12.94\00:00:19.18
Removing pain
00:00:19.21\00:00:24.22
Lord, let my words
00:00:24.25\00:00:30.36
Heal a heart that hurts
00:00:30.39\00:00:35.00
I want to spend my life
00:00:35.03\00:00:40.70
Mending broken people
00:00:40.74\00:00:46.24
I want to spend my life
00:00:46.27\00:00:51.71
Mending broken people
00:00:51.75\00:00:56.48
Happy Sabbath.
00:01:09.90\00:01:11.23
This is a wonderful
time that we've got together.
00:01:11.27\00:01:13.44
And, man, I'm with
some of my good buds.
00:01:13.47\00:01:15.10
You'll notice that, probably,
00:01:15.14\00:01:16.47
I'm the only ones
who got gray hair,
00:01:16.50\00:01:17.84
but there is a couple
of us that are graying.
00:01:17.87\00:01:21.64
But anyway, the
others are young.
00:01:21.68\00:01:24.78
And I just want to introduce
because this is Sabbath time.
00:01:24.81\00:01:28.88
And this is a time whenever...
00:01:28.92\00:01:32.15
That we can take
that deep breath and relax
00:01:32.19\00:01:34.22
because I know
each one of us work hard
00:01:34.26\00:01:37.13
during the week.
00:01:37.16\00:01:38.49
You know, so this is
a special, special time.
00:01:38.53\00:01:41.06
And you'll notice that
there is no girls with us
00:01:41.10\00:01:43.23
because this is what
they call "guys Sabbath out."
00:01:43.26\00:01:48.67
And before I introduce,
before we go any further,
00:01:48.70\00:01:51.77
I'm just so
pleased with the topic
00:01:51.81\00:01:55.51
that we have this evening.
00:01:55.54\00:01:57.48
And this evening, pray boldly
before His throne of grace.
00:01:57.51\00:02:02.72
Boy, that sounds
like that's simple to do,
00:02:02.75\00:02:05.45
but that is what it's all about,
00:02:05.49\00:02:08.09
to be totally empty
yourself and go to the Lord,
00:02:08.12\00:02:11.79
and then present, and
then it goes up to heaven.
00:02:11.83\00:02:15.20
Amen.
00:02:15.23\00:02:16.56
With that heavenly incense...
00:02:16.60\00:02:18.23
Amen.
00:02:18.27\00:02:19.60
And then Jesus is
there to sit and massage it.
00:02:19.63\00:02:24.91
And then and interpret
whatever it's supposed to
00:02:24.94\00:02:27.61
and how it's supposed to work,
00:02:27.64\00:02:29.31
and then we are
supposed to believe.
00:02:29.34\00:02:31.35
But we are not going
into all of that right now.
00:02:31.38\00:02:33.65
We got Gary.
00:02:33.68\00:02:35.02
What department
do you work in, Gary?
00:02:35.05\00:02:37.19
Post-production
video editor here at 3ABN.
00:02:37.22\00:02:40.12
And you have been
here what, two years?
00:02:40.16\00:02:41.99
Almost two years. Two years.
00:02:42.02\00:02:43.36
It's just absolutely
amazing. You got a family?
00:02:43.39\00:02:46.53
I do have a large family.
You do have a large family.
00:02:46.56\00:02:50.53
You know, but
anyway, we just love Gary.
00:02:50.57\00:02:52.57
Don? Yes, sir.
00:02:52.60\00:02:53.94
Tell us about Don.
00:02:53.97\00:02:55.30
I just recently
moved up to pastoral,
00:02:55.34\00:02:56.94
what, back in
October, last year.
00:02:56.97\00:02:59.07
And it's just
been such a blessing
00:02:59.11\00:03:00.61
to get hear our
callers and to pray with them.
00:03:00.64\00:03:03.24
And I also do
Bible work here locally,
00:03:03.28\00:03:05.91
and just other
things that we get
00:03:05.95\00:03:07.85
into addiction
recovery, and into prison even.
00:03:07.88\00:03:10.95
So where the Lord
sends is where I go.
00:03:10.99\00:03:13.66
Amen.
00:03:13.69\00:03:15.02
And I know that
Don's plate's full.
00:03:15.06\00:03:17.53
Luis, talk about
full plates. Amen.
00:03:17.56\00:03:21.76
Yes. Tell us about
Luis. Boy, I'm so glad.
00:03:21.80\00:03:24.67
I can't believe, it
has been almost three years
00:03:24.70\00:03:27.54
that I've been here.
00:03:27.57\00:03:28.90
And by far, this is probably
the best time that I have,
00:03:28.94\00:03:32.94
you know, being with you
guys, receiving the Sabbath,
00:03:32.97\00:03:36.78
and just diving into the Word.
00:03:36.81\00:03:40.68
I work in the
programming department,
00:03:40.72\00:03:42.35
and it's a stressful job.
00:03:42.38\00:03:46.05
Well, it's a stressful
job, especially right now
00:03:46.09\00:03:48.06
because going high def
that means everything changes.
00:03:48.09\00:03:51.29
I mean, boy, we are
putting on big-boy pants now.
00:03:51.33\00:03:53.26
That's right.
00:03:53.29\00:03:54.63
I mean, this thing,
00:03:54.66\00:03:56.00
so there's lots
of changes going on.
00:03:56.03\00:03:57.77
And so, you know, just, kind of,
00:03:57.80\00:03:59.13
see yourself coming sometimes.
00:03:59.17\00:04:01.10
That's right.
00:04:01.14\00:04:02.47
But I just want you to know
00:04:02.50\00:04:03.84
that you are
doing a fantastic job.
00:04:03.87\00:04:05.21
Oh, God is good.
Isn't He? Amen. Amen.
00:04:05.24\00:04:07.44
And with that, whenever
we are doing this business
00:04:07.48\00:04:10.55
and everything,
thanks for breaking down,
00:04:10.58\00:04:13.25
thanks for how does this fit...
00:04:13.28\00:04:15.32
So needless to say, we
have to have an engineer.
00:04:15.35\00:04:18.25
All right. Uh-oh, we have Eric.
00:04:18.29\00:04:21.09
Eric, tell us about Eric.
00:04:21.12\00:04:22.46
Well, I've been
here with my wife
00:04:22.49\00:04:24.46
for going on four years.
00:04:24.49\00:04:26.46
I work in broadcast engineering,
00:04:26.49\00:04:28.40
and part of my job, like JD,
00:04:28.43\00:04:30.10
you said, is to
keep everything running.
00:04:30.13\00:04:32.10
Keep us on the air,
keep our customers happy,
00:04:32.13\00:04:34.90
and our customers are you.
00:04:34.94\00:04:37.24
Amen. Amen.
00:04:37.27\00:04:39.14
And then we
have Jason over here.
00:04:39.17\00:04:41.44
And I guess
that he's probably...
00:04:41.48\00:04:43.28
Are you the
youngest at the table?
00:04:43.31\00:04:45.45
Maybe? Maybe? I think so.
00:04:45.48\00:04:47.68
I might be. I might be.
00:04:47.72\00:04:49.28
Okay. Yeah.
00:04:49.32\00:04:50.65
I'm at an age where I
can't tell age anymore.
00:04:50.69\00:04:52.35
So I don't want to...
00:04:52.39\00:04:53.72
Okay.
00:04:53.76\00:04:55.09
And I know that
you with Dare to Dream.
00:04:55.12\00:04:56.46
What all do you do?
00:04:56.49\00:04:57.83
Well, you know, we
all wear multiple hats,
00:04:57.86\00:04:59.33
which some of it
involves office work,
00:04:59.36\00:05:01.60
prison ministry,
producing programs,
00:05:01.63\00:05:03.87
being on programs, and
whatever else is needed.
00:05:03.90\00:05:06.37
Amen. Yeah.
00:05:06.40\00:05:07.94
And I know that you
carryout healthy appetite
00:05:07.97\00:05:10.01
with you at all times too.
00:05:10.04\00:05:11.37
All times.
00:05:11.41\00:05:12.74
I've got to share a meal or two.
00:05:12.77\00:05:16.44
I thought I could eat a
lot, but anyway, but here again,
00:05:16.48\00:05:20.45
now let's go back
to the serious side
00:05:20.48\00:05:23.62
'cause we're going to
go into this pray boldly
00:05:23.65\00:05:26.09
before the throne of grace.
00:05:26.12\00:05:27.46
But before we do,
00:05:27.49\00:05:28.86
I know that
there's times in our life
00:05:28.89\00:05:31.26
whenever, we know
that Jesus is with us,
00:05:31.29\00:05:34.26
but then there is another time,
00:05:34.30\00:05:36.46
and we're going to
share this right now
00:05:36.50\00:05:38.93
just when I need Him most.
00:05:38.97\00:05:41.37
So we're going to
attempt to sing this in harmony,
00:05:41.40\00:05:48.04
and for you
00:05:48.08\00:05:49.41
it's in the
Seventh-day Adventist hymnal.
00:05:49.44\00:05:51.95
It's page 512.
00:05:51.98\00:05:53.72
And you can sing along with us
00:05:53.75\00:05:55.08
'cause it's going to be
00:05:55.12\00:05:56.45
at the bottom
part of the screen.
00:05:56.48\00:05:59.02
But before we start the music,
00:05:59.05\00:06:00.79
and we are so blessed to
have Alex Toris with us today,
00:06:00.82\00:06:03.53
there's going to be...
00:06:03.56\00:06:04.89
He works in accounting,
00:06:04.93\00:06:06.26
and he is going to be graciously
00:06:06.29\00:06:08.76
leading us through this.
00:06:08.80\00:06:10.43
But before we start, Luis,
00:06:10.47\00:06:11.90
why don't you
open prayer with us?
00:06:11.93\00:06:14.40
Our loving Father,
we thank You so much
00:06:14.44\00:06:17.54
that You gave us opportunities,
00:06:17.57\00:06:19.07
Lord, to come
together to worship You,
00:06:19.11\00:06:21.54
to give You all the
honor, and all the power,
00:06:21.58\00:06:24.08
that we come,
00:06:24.11\00:06:25.45
Lord, to a message so important
that prayer has victory,
00:06:25.48\00:06:29.35
and prayer has strength,
00:06:29.38\00:06:31.12
and prayer can change your life.
00:06:31.15\00:06:34.49
And as we are
praying at this moment,
00:06:34.52\00:06:36.12
Lord, we want to make sure
that we give You all the power
00:06:36.16\00:06:40.16
and all the glory
00:06:40.20\00:06:41.66
'cause we're in
awe of You, Lord.
00:06:41.70\00:06:44.00
We ask that Your Holy
Spirit be poured upon us here,
00:06:44.03\00:06:46.84
and we pour it upon our
viewers and our listeners, Lord,
00:06:46.87\00:06:50.11
that they may find this hour,
00:06:50.14\00:06:54.64
an hour that
will change completely
00:06:54.68\00:06:57.91
who they were and
start a new walk with You.
00:06:57.95\00:07:01.38
We ask these things only
in the precious name of Jesus.
00:07:01.42\00:07:04.82
Amen. Amen.
00:07:04.85\00:07:07.39
And I thank that we've agreed
that we're going to sing verses
00:07:07.42\00:07:10.33
1, 2, and 4.
00:07:10.36\00:07:13.33
1, 2, and 4.
00:07:13.36\00:07:15.06
And, Alex, if you
will kindly get us started.
00:07:15.10\00:07:17.80
Just when I need
Him, Jesus is near
00:07:43.16\00:07:49.10
Just when I
falter, just when I fear
00:07:49.13\00:07:55.40
Ready to help me, ready to cheer
00:07:55.44\00:08:01.24
Just when I need Him most
00:08:01.28\00:08:06.61
Just when I need Him most
00:08:06.65\00:08:10.65
Just when I need Him most
00:08:10.69\00:08:14.56
Jesus is near to
comfort and cheer
00:08:14.59\00:08:19.16
Just when I need Him most
00:08:19.19\00:08:23.87
Just when I need
Him, Jesus is true
00:08:23.90\00:08:30.11
Never forsaking
all the way through
00:08:30.14\00:08:36.34
Giving for
burdens pleasures anew
00:08:36.38\00:08:42.28
Just when I need Him most
00:08:42.32\00:08:47.69
Just when I need Him most
00:08:47.72\00:08:51.69
Just when I need Him most
00:08:51.73\00:08:55.70
Jesus is near to
comfort and cheer
00:08:55.73\00:09:00.17
Just when I need Him most
00:09:00.20\00:09:04.97
Just when I need
Him, He is my all
00:09:05.01\00:09:11.35
Answering when upon Him I call
00:09:11.38\00:09:17.42
Tenderly watching
lest I should fall
00:09:17.45\00:09:23.43
Just when I need Him most
00:09:23.46\00:09:28.80
Just when I need Him most
00:09:28.83\00:09:32.87
Just when I need Him most
00:09:32.90\00:09:36.91
Jesus is near to
comfort and cheer
00:09:36.94\00:09:41.54
Just when I need Him most
00:09:41.58\00:09:46.88
Amen.
00:09:46.92\00:09:48.25
Wow. Wow. Wow.
Just as I need Him.
00:09:48.28\00:09:50.59
Wow, I love that. Amen.
00:09:50.62\00:09:52.49
You know, wow.
00:09:52.52\00:09:54.46
I mean, I know
nothing about music,
00:09:54.49\00:09:56.16
but I thought we
sounded pretty good.
00:09:56.19\00:10:00.00
I want to read
this affirmation dealing
00:10:00.03\00:10:01.93
with pray boldly
before the throne of grace.
00:10:01.96\00:10:04.83
This is coming from law of
affirmations from scripture,
00:10:04.87\00:10:07.20
and it's number 103.
00:10:07.24\00:10:09.30
But this is kind of...
00:10:09.34\00:10:11.67
We are going to
build this platform
00:10:11.71\00:10:14.18
around this right here
that I'm getting ready to read.
00:10:14.21\00:10:17.11
And then we're
going to all contribute
00:10:17.15\00:10:20.68
and fill in the gaps, okay?
00:10:20.72\00:10:22.98
Amen.
00:10:23.02\00:10:24.35
I come boldly before
God's throne of grace
00:10:24.39\00:10:27.26
to obtain mercy and
help in the time of need.
00:10:27.29\00:10:30.13
Thank you, Jesus.
00:10:30.16\00:10:31.53
Because I obey His
commands, do what He pleases,
00:10:31.56\00:10:35.60
do what pleases Him
as with unselfish motives
00:10:35.63\00:10:39.57
and in agreement with His will,
00:10:39.60\00:10:41.97
His ears are
attentive to my prayers.
00:10:42.00\00:10:45.37
I have this confidence
in approaching my holy
00:10:45.41\00:10:48.11
and righteous Father
that He hears my prayers,
00:10:48.14\00:10:52.28
and by His love,
power, and faithfulness,
00:10:52.31\00:10:56.35
I have what I ask of Him
in the authority of Jesus name
00:10:56.38\00:11:00.32
according to His will.
00:11:00.36\00:11:02.09
Amen. Wow.
00:11:02.12\00:11:03.99
That's where
we're going with this.
00:11:04.03\00:11:06.80
I mean, our responsibility
00:11:06.83\00:11:10.37
and having the
confidence in His gift to us.
00:11:10.40\00:11:15.04
Don, why don't
you kick this off?
00:11:15.07\00:11:16.74
Sure.
00:11:16.77\00:11:18.31
You turn open your
Bibles to Hebrews 4:15, 16.
00:11:18.34\00:11:23.04
I'll be reading from
the New King James version.
00:11:23.08\00:11:25.65
I really love this actually.
00:11:25.68\00:11:27.02
I want to start in
verse 14, actually.
00:11:27.05\00:11:28.38
It's just too good.
I have to start in 14.
00:11:28.42\00:11:30.62
So it says in there,
00:11:30.65\00:11:31.99
"Seeing then that we
have a great High Priest
00:11:32.02\00:11:35.22
who has passed
through the heavens,
00:11:35.26\00:11:37.59
Jesus the Son of God,
00:11:37.63\00:11:38.96
let us hold fast our confession.
00:11:38.99\00:11:41.43
For we do not have a High Priest
00:11:41.46\00:11:43.10
who cannot
sympathize with our weaknesses,"
00:11:43.13\00:11:45.20
that's a big word,
00:11:45.23\00:11:46.57
"but was in all points tempted
as we are, yet without sin."
00:11:46.60\00:11:49.84
Praise God.
00:11:49.87\00:11:51.21
"Let us therefore come
boldly," it's that word,
00:11:51.24\00:11:54.58
"to the throne of grace
00:11:54.61\00:11:55.94
that we may obtain
mercy and find grace
00:11:55.98\00:11:58.31
to help in time of need."
00:11:58.35\00:12:00.45
I was really
resonating on this word boldly
00:12:00.48\00:12:03.39
and actually, I knew we talked
00:12:03.42\00:12:04.85
about this a
little bit earlier, JD.
00:12:04.89\00:12:06.22
But I did look this
up in the concordance,
00:12:06.25\00:12:08.79
and it's a Greek term.
00:12:08.82\00:12:10.16
Of course, it's parresia.
00:12:10.19\00:12:14.33
And I really like
00:12:14.36\00:12:15.70
that word broke down to it says
00:12:15.73\00:12:17.07
that this
boldly means frankness,
00:12:17.10\00:12:19.47
bluntness, being blunt.
00:12:19.50\00:12:21.67
You think you
could be blunt with God.
00:12:21.70\00:12:23.17
Blunt, publicity,
00:12:23.20\00:12:24.71
or also
assurance, or confidence,
00:12:24.74\00:12:26.88
you mentioned the
word confidence earlier,
00:12:26.91\00:12:28.28
openly, and plainly.
00:12:28.31\00:12:29.64
So I thought about
00:12:29.68\00:12:31.01
that the idea
of being confident.
00:12:31.05\00:12:32.78
And I asked the question,
actually, myself today,
00:12:32.81\00:12:34.98
I said, "On whose merits
are we able to come boldly
00:12:35.02\00:12:38.05
into the throne of grace?"
00:12:38.09\00:12:39.45
Wow. Whose merits?
00:12:39.49\00:12:41.22
And when I thought about that...
00:12:41.26\00:12:43.16
We kind of mentioned that
00:12:43.19\00:12:44.53
but there is
another wonderful scripture,
00:12:44.56\00:12:45.89
it's in Revelation 8:3.
00:12:45.93\00:12:48.56
If you want to turn there...
00:12:48.60\00:12:50.83
I don't know this
is a deep word picture.
00:12:50.87\00:12:52.70
Of course, Revelation,
00:12:52.73\00:12:54.07
you know, it's a lot
of symbolic language.
00:12:54.10\00:12:56.00
But on Revelation 8:3
00:12:56.04\00:12:57.37
it has a
beautiful picture for us,
00:12:57.41\00:12:59.41
and especially in the last days,
00:12:59.44\00:13:01.91
it's a picture
of this angel here.
00:13:01.94\00:13:03.85
It's says in verse
3, "Then another angel,
00:13:03.88\00:13:06.28
having a golden censer,
came and stood at the altar.
00:13:06.31\00:13:08.95
He was given much incense,"
00:13:08.98\00:13:11.05
who is able to
stand before the alter,
00:13:11.09\00:13:14.32
it's Jesus, "that
he should offer it
00:13:14.36\00:13:16.93
with the prayers
of all the saints
00:13:16.96\00:13:18.49
upon the golden altar
which was before the throne."
00:13:18.53\00:13:22.06
So now we can see
this picture of Jesus,
00:13:22.10\00:13:23.97
as you mentioned earlier,
taking His nail-pierced hands
00:13:24.00\00:13:26.33
before the Father and said,
00:13:26.37\00:13:27.80
"I suffered and died
on the cross for these.
00:13:27.84\00:13:30.24
I can now mingle
my prayers with these,
00:13:30.27\00:13:33.34
my saint's prayers."
00:13:33.38\00:13:34.71
Amen. And that's
a beautiful picture.
00:13:34.74\00:13:36.08
When I shared it on
Prayer Line, people are like,
00:13:36.11\00:13:37.85
"Wow, what is that scripture?
00:13:37.88\00:13:39.41
I want to write that
down. That's powerful."
00:13:39.45\00:13:41.65
But to see that Jesus
wants to mingle His prayers
00:13:41.68\00:13:44.02
with our prayers
00:13:44.05\00:13:45.42
as our efficient
heeding High Priest,
00:13:45.45\00:13:46.86
and I really liked
00:13:46.89\00:13:48.22
what He said too and
His affirmation says,
00:13:48.26\00:13:49.99
"Ask with an unselfish motives."
00:13:50.03\00:13:53.06
I hear a lot of people sometimes
00:13:53.09\00:13:54.43
when they pray,
00:13:54.46\00:13:55.80
it's very give me,
give me this, give me that,
00:13:55.83\00:13:57.60
it's not unselfish.
00:13:57.63\00:13:58.97
And we need to realize,
00:13:59.00\00:14:00.34
we are talking
to the Almighty God.
00:14:00.37\00:14:01.87
Amen.
00:14:01.90\00:14:03.24
And how is it that
we can come before Him
00:14:03.27\00:14:05.37
unless we are
unselfish in our motives.
00:14:05.41\00:14:07.28
So I really thought on that.
00:14:07.31\00:14:08.68
And another one I
really liked was Psalm 18.
00:14:08.71\00:14:12.15
Psalm 18:6.
00:14:12.18\00:14:15.08
And when I share this
00:14:15.12\00:14:16.62
with people calling
the Prayer Line, it just...
00:14:16.65\00:14:19.69
You can hear just
voices melt. They just melt.
00:14:19.72\00:14:24.03
And like, "I've
never heard that before."
00:14:24.06\00:14:26.26
18:6 is a beautiful scripture.
00:14:26.29\00:14:29.03
And actually all
of 18, I really enjoy.
00:14:29.06\00:14:30.43
But 18:6 says, "In my distress,"
00:14:30.47\00:14:32.93
how many of us have distress?
00:14:32.97\00:14:35.87
"In my distress, I
called upon the Lord,
00:14:35.90\00:14:37.81
and cried out,"
00:14:37.84\00:14:39.17
of course, prayer, "
and I cried out to my God.
00:14:39.21\00:14:41.41
He heard my
voice from His temple,
00:14:41.44\00:14:43.88
and my cry came before
Him, even to His ears."
00:14:43.91\00:14:47.52
Wow, I can't even
picture where is this temple,
00:14:47.55\00:14:49.85
I know, obviously,
00:14:49.88\00:14:51.22
we are supposed to
be the temple of Lord.
00:14:51.25\00:14:52.59
But in the heavenly
places, where is this temple?
00:14:52.62\00:14:56.36
And He hears our voices,
even the faintest person.
00:14:56.39\00:14:59.63
You know, the
faintest person who cries out.
00:14:59.66\00:15:01.30
And just to share
quick testimony of this cry,
00:15:01.33\00:15:05.67
we did a thing last year,
00:15:05.70\00:15:07.04
it was during the solar eclipse.
00:15:07.07\00:15:09.17
And we wanted to get
these Hacksaw Ridge books
00:15:09.20\00:15:11.27
in the people's hands.
00:15:11.31\00:15:12.64
And of course, a big name...
00:15:12.67\00:15:15.34
a gentleman by the
name of Ozzy Osbourne
00:15:15.38\00:15:16.78
is coming to perform.
00:15:16.81\00:15:18.31
And the Lord had
opened up a miraculous door
00:15:18.35\00:15:20.78
but one of my biggest
prayers, I said, "Lord,"
00:15:20.82\00:15:22.58
And I was being really
honest and blunt with the Lord.
00:15:22.62\00:15:24.99
I'm like, "Lord, I really
want to get every book in a car.
00:15:25.02\00:15:28.96
I want every car
come in here have a book."
00:15:28.99\00:15:31.39
And so my wife she...
00:15:31.43\00:15:33.23
Once we set up our booth there,
00:15:33.26\00:15:35.16
she went over to the
00:15:35.20\00:15:36.53
where they took all
the tickets to park.
00:15:36.56\00:15:38.57
And she asked
the lady, she said,
00:15:38.60\00:15:39.93
"Hey, you know, do you mind
00:15:39.97\00:15:41.30
if we set a table out
to give these books out?"
00:15:41.34\00:15:43.47
And the lady says...
00:15:43.51\00:15:45.24
Well, probably, I
should back up a bit.
00:15:45.27\00:15:47.48
The gentleman who
let us in, he said,
00:15:47.51\00:15:49.04
"If you give your books
and you slowdown our traffic,
00:15:49.08\00:15:51.51
you are kicked out of here.
00:15:51.55\00:15:52.88
We can't have you
slowing down traffic.
00:15:52.91\00:15:54.25
So if you do that,
you are kicked out."
00:15:54.28\00:15:55.62
So I'm like, "Oh, man, I
want to give these books.
00:15:55.65\00:15:57.85
I want to give them in the cars.
00:15:57.89\00:15:59.22
I want to give
them in the cars."
00:15:59.25\00:16:00.59
And so then as Janelle,
again, she mentioned like,
00:16:00.62\00:16:02.02
she was "Hey, you
know, we want set up a table,
00:16:02.06\00:16:03.39
I'll tell you
what I'm going to do,
00:16:03.43\00:16:05.13
you give us the books,
and we'll give them for you."
00:16:05.16\00:16:08.16
I'm like, "Are you kidding me?"
00:16:08.20\00:16:10.03
So everybody got
a book in the car,
00:16:10.07\00:16:12.27
and we got to go home and sleep
00:16:12.30\00:16:13.64
while people are
giving our books.
00:16:13.67\00:16:15.00
Amen. Amen.
00:16:15.04\00:16:16.84
So there is so
much power in prayer,
00:16:16.87\00:16:18.87
and just like you
said that honesty like,
00:16:18.91\00:16:20.54
"Look, I want to do this, Lord,"
00:16:20.58\00:16:22.21
and He'll open the door.
00:16:22.24\00:16:24.01
I think that's a
really powerful thought.
00:16:24.05\00:16:25.78
So I just wanted to share that.
00:16:25.81\00:16:27.15
And I guess, again,
that word there it says,
00:16:27.18\00:16:30.35
"We do not have a High
Priest who cannot sympathize
00:16:30.39\00:16:33.29
with our weaknesses
00:16:33.32\00:16:34.66
but was in all points tempted
as we are, yet without sin."
00:16:34.69\00:16:37.96
We are all tempted on
a minute-to-minute basis.
00:16:37.99\00:16:40.63
And Jesus knows full well
what we are going through.
00:16:40.66\00:16:42.66
He suffered it just like
what we are going through.
00:16:42.70\00:16:45.13
So He can relate.
I really like that.
00:16:45.17\00:16:47.74
Amen. He is a relatable God.
00:16:47.77\00:16:49.97
You know, I
really love it, so...
00:16:50.01\00:16:51.54
You know what, He is relatable
and He is also approachable.
00:16:51.57\00:16:54.74
That's right.
00:16:54.78\00:16:56.11
That's what our God,
00:16:56.14\00:16:57.48
you know, I mean,
He is not going to turn
00:16:57.51\00:16:59.45
His back on any one.
00:16:59.48\00:17:01.42
He says, "Come unto me
that are weary and heavy-laden,
00:17:01.45\00:17:05.19
and I will give you rest."
00:17:05.22\00:17:07.36
Amen. Amen.
00:17:07.39\00:17:08.89
Luis, I know that you've got
some fantastic scriptures here.
00:17:08.92\00:17:12.89
Well, it's interesting.
00:17:12.93\00:17:14.26
I was just as he was reading,
and he used the word boldness.
00:17:14.30\00:17:17.40
I'm going back to the
verse which says that,
00:17:17.43\00:17:19.27
"If you have the
faith of a mustard seed,
00:17:19.30\00:17:21.00
you can ask the
mountain to move."
00:17:21.04\00:17:22.84
So it's like to go
from weakness to boldness,
00:17:22.87\00:17:26.98
all you need is the
faith of a mustard seed.
00:17:27.01\00:17:30.21
But that faith of a mustard seed
00:17:30.25\00:17:32.25
sometimes is a mountain for
us, you know, as individuals.
00:17:32.28\00:17:35.38
And if you look at the
verses that you have given me,
00:17:35.42\00:17:37.89
1 John 3: 21-22, and it says,
00:17:37.92\00:17:41.32
"Dear friend, if our
hearts do not condemn us,
00:17:41.36\00:17:46.73
we have confidence
before God and receive from Him
00:17:46.76\00:17:52.20
anything we ask
00:17:52.23\00:17:53.74
because we obey His command
and do what pleases Him."
00:17:53.77\00:17:59.41
You know, it's interesting,
00:17:59.44\00:18:00.78
the first thing
that we need to do
00:18:00.81\00:18:02.14
is to go boldly is to understand
00:18:02.18\00:18:05.68
where we are in the
connection with God.
00:18:05.71\00:18:07.95
It's to understand
that we need to be assured.
00:18:07.98\00:18:11.72
And this brought me to a verse
00:18:11.75\00:18:13.39
that is found in Luke 22.
00:18:13.42\00:18:18.76
And I have two verses
that you had given me,
00:18:18.79\00:18:20.53
but I think this
one will, kind of,
00:18:20.56\00:18:22.23
fit in between the two of us.
00:18:22.26\00:18:24.30
And this is with the
struggles that we have daily.
00:18:24.33\00:18:26.94
And as you can see in Luke 22,
00:18:26.97\00:18:31.81
I'll read verse 31,
00:18:31.84\00:18:34.31
"And the Lord said,
'Simon, Simon, behold,
00:18:34.34\00:18:37.71
Satan has desired to
have you, that he may,"' What?
00:18:37.75\00:18:43.45
"'He may sift you as wheat."'
00:18:43.49\00:18:46.42
You see, the one thing
00:18:46.45\00:18:47.79
that we forget
sometimes is at that the enemy
00:18:47.82\00:18:50.83
is constantly wanting
to make that mustard seed
00:18:50.86\00:18:55.16
an absolute
mountain into our lives.
00:18:55.20\00:18:58.10
You know, that's the one
aspect that is happening.
00:18:58.13\00:19:00.84
But this says here,
"If you are faithful
00:19:00.87\00:19:03.44
and if you
follow the commandments,
00:19:03.47\00:19:04.97
you can boldly come
to the throne of God."
00:19:05.01\00:19:07.58
But see, this is
what Christ told him.
00:19:07.61\00:19:10.75
It says, "But I
have prayed for thee,"
00:19:10.78\00:19:14.92
and it says, "that
thy faith fail not,"
00:19:14.95\00:19:18.72
and it says, "and
when thou art converted,
00:19:18.75\00:19:21.96
strengthen, thy brethren."
00:19:21.99\00:19:24.29
You see, the first thing
we need to be is converted.
00:19:24.33\00:19:27.30
The first thing is to
00:19:27.33\00:19:28.66
that we need to
be is to understand
00:19:28.70\00:19:30.03
what God is
asking for us, you know?
00:19:30.07\00:19:32.80
And this is
Christ that's saying,
00:19:32.83\00:19:34.77
"Hey, wait a minute,
you don't understand.
00:19:34.80\00:19:37.74
The enemy is
coming to Me to tell Me,
00:19:37.77\00:19:40.24
'No, I want you to
give one of your disciples.
00:19:40.28\00:19:42.81
I'm going to
tear up everything.'"
00:19:42.84\00:19:44.55
But Christ said,
"No, I'm praying for you.
00:19:44.58\00:19:47.68
I'm going to the Father.
00:19:47.72\00:19:49.05
I'm interceding to
the Father for you."
00:19:49.08\00:19:52.15
And the only thing that
is required of us is what?
00:19:52.19\00:19:55.36
What that verse was
saying, "Just obey My commands."
00:19:55.39\00:19:58.89
Now we got to 1 John 5:14.
00:19:58.93\00:20:03.67
"This is the
confidence that we have in Him,
00:20:03.70\00:20:06.87
that, if we ask anything
00:20:06.90\00:20:09.30
according to His
will, He hears us."
00:20:09.34\00:20:13.17
Now this is an interesting verse
00:20:13.21\00:20:16.91
because in it, it
says, it's good news.
00:20:16.95\00:20:19.58
God's going to do
everything we ask Him to do.
00:20:19.61\00:20:23.52
You know, and we
can go boldly to God.
00:20:23.55\00:20:25.75
We can call Him into His
throne and if we ask God,
00:20:25.79\00:20:28.39
"God I want to..."
00:20:28.42\00:20:29.96
And you put
whatever in that blank.
00:20:29.99\00:20:32.99
But then we have to
go back to that verse,
00:20:33.03\00:20:34.60
it says according to whose will?
00:20:34.63\00:20:36.26
His will. Oh, no.
00:20:36.30\00:20:39.53
Oh, no.
00:20:39.57\00:20:41.10
It's according to God's will.
00:20:45.07\00:20:47.14
But now if we look at the text
that we read before in Luke,
00:20:47.18\00:20:52.41
why is it important that we
ask according to God's will?
00:20:52.45\00:20:56.52
It's because the enemy
00:20:56.55\00:20:57.89
is constantly
putting selfish thoughts
00:20:57.92\00:21:00.29
and selfish things and
is constantly filling us
00:21:00.32\00:21:03.22
with things that
are, oh, you know...
00:21:03.26\00:21:07.40
And I want to go
just a little bit
00:21:07.43\00:21:09.20
about what's happening.
00:21:09.23\00:21:10.57
I want to go to Acts.
00:21:10.60\00:21:12.90
And this is what
could happen to you
00:21:12.93\00:21:14.44
if you don't follow
the teachings of God.
00:21:14.47\00:21:17.87
Now I'll give you a
little bit of a pretext.
00:21:17.91\00:21:19.97
We're going to go to Acts 8.
00:21:20.01\00:21:23.51
And we're going to
start with verse 18.
00:21:23.55\00:21:26.21
I'll give you a
little bit about...
00:21:26.25\00:21:27.72
This is with Simon,
00:21:27.75\00:21:30.25
he was kind of
like a witch doctor
00:21:30.29\00:21:32.59
or sorcerer in that
area, and then he found Philip
00:21:32.62\00:21:35.12
and then he said, "Oh, wow.
00:21:35.16\00:21:36.83
He's got better
magic than I have.
00:21:36.86\00:21:39.29
I want to follow him to see
00:21:39.33\00:21:42.30
what magic he has so I
can have it for myself."
00:21:42.33\00:21:46.03
So he got baptized...
00:21:46.07\00:21:47.77
Just to tell you a
little bit, he got baptized
00:21:47.80\00:21:49.87
and then he went on
and started following,
00:21:49.90\00:21:52.91
but to what end?
00:21:52.94\00:21:55.18
He was doing everything
00:21:55.21\00:21:56.54
that we're
doing, he was thinking,
00:21:56.58\00:21:57.91
but in his heart...
00:21:57.95\00:21:59.28
Guess what it was in his heart.
00:21:59.31\00:22:00.65
Now we go to verse 18
and check what that is.
00:22:00.68\00:22:02.02
And it says, "And
when Simon saw that
00:22:02.05\00:22:05.19
through laying of
the apostles' hands,
00:22:05.22\00:22:08.56
the Holy Ghost was given,
00:22:08.59\00:22:11.59
he offered them money."
00:22:11.63\00:22:15.06
You see, he
thought it could be bought.
00:22:15.10\00:22:17.27
And I think many
of us misinterpret
00:22:17.30\00:22:19.80
some of these verses,
00:22:19.83\00:22:21.17
and we think that
God can be bought.
00:22:21.20\00:22:23.10
We think that God can be
just our genie in a bottle,
00:22:23.14\00:22:26.84
and we can just come to Bible
00:22:26.88\00:22:29.14
and stroke it a
couple of a times,
00:22:29.18\00:22:30.51
"Oh, please, God.
00:22:30.55\00:22:31.88
Oh, please, God."
00:22:31.91\00:22:33.25
And keep on following
00:22:33.28\00:22:34.62
what the enemy wants in our life
00:22:34.65\00:22:36.08
and keep our life of
destruction without...
00:22:36.12\00:22:39.15
This is what a lot
of people are saying,
00:22:39.19\00:22:40.69
"Oh, the laws are
nailed to the cross."
00:22:40.72\00:22:42.69
Sure, they are
nailed to the cross
00:22:42.72\00:22:44.13
because it says here,
00:22:44.16\00:22:45.59
"Unless you
follow My commandment...
00:22:45.63\00:22:48.90
It's when you
follow My commandment
00:22:48.93\00:22:50.93
that you are going to be..."
00:22:50.97\00:22:52.73
God is going to
be pleased with you,
00:22:52.77\00:22:54.14
and you're going to
be pleased with Him,
00:22:54.17\00:22:55.50
and you are going do His...
00:22:55.54\00:22:56.87
So basically
what most people say,
00:22:56.91\00:22:58.41
"Don't worry
about the commandments,
00:22:58.44\00:22:59.77
just rub the Bible three times,
and the genie will come up,
00:22:59.81\00:23:02.71
and he will bless you."
00:23:02.74\00:23:06.51
That is what a lot of
individuals think that
00:23:06.55\00:23:09.48
because they have
the money, the influence,
00:23:09.52\00:23:12.29
the power that
they can just use it
00:23:12.32\00:23:15.59
for their own
benefits and not to use it
00:23:15.62\00:23:17.63
for what God has
given us the power for.
00:23:17.66\00:23:20.26
We can go boldly to God
00:23:20.30\00:23:21.73
and God is going
to make miracles.
00:23:21.76\00:23:23.57
Please read that chapter.
00:23:23.60\00:23:25.53
Read Acts 8,
00:23:25.57\00:23:26.94
and you'll see all the miracles,
00:23:26.97\00:23:28.60
the casting demons,
and all of these things.
00:23:28.64\00:23:31.47
But how was it done?
00:23:31.51\00:23:33.48
If you read on, it talks about,
00:23:33.51\00:23:35.44
it's because we
have died to self,
00:23:35.48\00:23:37.55
and we've given
God all the power.
00:23:37.58\00:23:39.88
And that's where
it's all the beauty.
00:23:39.91\00:23:41.88
Prayer is the most
powerful connection
00:23:41.92\00:23:44.89
that you have to God.
00:23:44.92\00:23:46.25
But the only way
00:23:46.29\00:23:47.62
that that connection
comes is when you empty self
00:23:47.66\00:23:50.16
and you allow the
Spirit to talk through you.
00:23:50.19\00:23:51.59
Amen.
00:23:51.63\00:23:52.96
You know, to me, you know...
00:23:52.99\00:23:56.10
The irony here
is that if I can sit
00:23:56.13\00:24:00.30
and rub my Bible three
times and then I get my gift...
00:24:00.34\00:24:04.84
Right.
00:24:04.87\00:24:06.21
What happens if I
don't get my gift,
00:24:06.24\00:24:08.11
then we go up here,
00:24:08.14\00:24:09.48
"Dear friends, if our
heart does not condemn us,
00:24:09.51\00:24:11.01
we have confidence."
00:24:11.05\00:24:12.38
All of a sudden, I
don't have confidence there.
00:24:12.41\00:24:14.75
So what I'm looking for...
00:24:14.78\00:24:17.25
I'm looking for a
relationship with God
00:24:17.29\00:24:20.26
so I understand that
it's according His will.
00:24:20.29\00:24:26.43
Now it's my understanding
00:24:26.46\00:24:27.80
that He has my eternal
interest in marital times.
00:24:27.83\00:24:30.90
So if I'm allowing
Him to be in charge,
00:24:30.93\00:24:33.70
now I do have peace
00:24:33.74\00:24:35.47
because it makes no difference
if it didn't work out,
00:24:35.50\00:24:39.74
"Thank you, Jesus
00:24:39.77\00:24:41.21
because that wasn't the
plan that You had for my life."
00:24:41.24\00:24:44.45
So there is it where it gets...
00:24:44.48\00:24:45.88
If our hearts do not condemn us,
00:24:45.91\00:24:48.18
we have confidence.
00:24:48.22\00:24:49.55
Well, I mean, that's
important to play by the rules.
00:24:49.58\00:24:53.62
Say if we got a football game
00:24:53.66\00:24:55.02
and I show up in
a basketball outfit,
00:24:55.06\00:24:58.19
I'm a little confused.
00:24:58.23\00:25:00.86
So now it's hard
to have confidence.
00:25:00.90\00:25:03.87
So, you know, that's the
gift that He is giving us
00:25:03.90\00:25:07.34
and that's what this is
all about right here, you know.
00:25:07.37\00:25:10.11
How many times
have you asked God
00:25:10.14\00:25:11.77
for something and
you were so grateful
00:25:11.81\00:25:13.34
that God didn't
answer that prayer
00:25:13.38\00:25:15.01
because what He gave
you was so much greater.
00:25:15.04\00:25:16.81
Amen.
00:25:16.85\00:25:18.18
You know, there
is countless times
00:25:18.21\00:25:19.55
in my young life
that I have asked God,
00:25:19.58\00:25:21.48
and I've begged,
"Lord, I need this.
00:25:21.52\00:25:24.25
I want this so desperately."
00:25:24.29\00:25:25.79
And God sent me
totally to a different...
00:25:25.82\00:25:29.32
To the opposite way
to what I was asking.
00:25:29.36\00:25:32.36
And then I said,
"Oh, my God, my God,
00:25:32.39\00:25:34.90
when am I going to learn?
00:25:34.93\00:25:36.56
When am I going to
learn that Your ways
00:25:36.60\00:25:38.27
are much better than my
ways, to ask for Your will?"
00:25:38.30\00:25:41.74
And I'm sure
00:25:41.77\00:25:43.10
that there is somebody out here,
00:25:43.14\00:25:44.47
you know, that's
looking for more peace.
00:25:44.51\00:25:47.68
And they get the
peace in learning
00:25:47.71\00:25:50.75
what the rules are
00:25:50.78\00:25:52.61
for an eternal life that's...
00:25:52.65\00:25:57.79
Anything else that you
want to contribute along this
00:25:57.82\00:25:59.59
or we're just getting started?
00:25:59.62\00:26:00.96
We're just getting started.
00:26:00.99\00:26:02.32
That's what...
00:26:02.36\00:26:03.69
I like what Luis said.
00:26:03.73\00:26:06.03
Sometimes there is a detour
00:26:06.06\00:26:08.23
because the bridge is collapsed.
00:26:08.26\00:26:09.60
Oh, man.
00:26:09.63\00:26:10.97
And we complain
because there's a detour,
00:26:11.00\00:26:12.73
so it's going to
take weeks, or days,
00:26:12.77\00:26:15.34
or years longer than we
want to get where we want to go.
00:26:15.37\00:26:18.84
But God is saying,
"The bridge is collapsed,
00:26:18.87\00:26:22.18
and that's not the
way you want to go."
00:26:22.21\00:26:24.11
And it's, kind of, interesting,
you know, the perception.
00:26:24.15\00:26:27.12
They are working
on a bridge right up
00:26:27.15\00:26:28.48
the road between
here and West Frankfort.
00:26:28.52\00:26:30.85
And I was talking to somebody
this morning says, "Oh, yeah.
00:26:30.89\00:26:34.42
I got stuck there,
00:26:34.46\00:26:36.42
and I had to wait,
and I had to wait."
00:26:36.46\00:26:39.13
And somebody
else dropped by and,
00:26:39.16\00:26:40.50
"You know, I got that
bridge that you're saying.
00:26:40.53\00:26:42.06
Man, the time, just like
that and we got through."
00:26:42.10\00:26:44.93
So I mean, we are looking...
00:26:44.97\00:26:46.30
Yes, different
sort of eyes here.
00:26:46.33\00:26:47.67
Yeah, Gary.
00:26:47.70\00:26:49.04
Well, I got a
quote that actually
00:26:49.07\00:26:50.41
fits right in here.
00:26:50.44\00:26:51.77
It's taken from
the devotional book
00:26:51.81\00:26:53.14
To Be Like Jesus.
00:26:53.17\00:26:54.51
It says, "Be not discouraged
if your prayers do not seem
00:26:54.54\00:26:56.51
to obtain an immediate answer.
00:26:56.54\00:26:58.45
The Lord sees that prayer
00:26:58.48\00:26:59.81
is often mixed with earthliness.
00:26:59.85\00:27:01.48
People pray for that
00:27:01.52\00:27:02.85
which will gratify
their selfish desires,
00:27:02.88\00:27:04.65
and the Lord does not fulfill
their requests in the way
00:27:04.69\00:27:06.99
which they expect.
00:27:07.02\00:27:08.39
He takes them
through tests and trials,
00:27:08.42\00:27:10.36
He brings them
through humiliations
00:27:10.39\00:27:12.03
until they see more clearly
what their necessities are.
00:27:12.06\00:27:16.16
He does not give to
His children those things
00:27:16.20\00:27:18.67
which will gratify
a debased appetite,
00:27:18.70\00:27:20.77
and which will prove
an injury to human agents,
00:27:20.80\00:27:22.80
and make them a dishonor to God.
00:27:22.84\00:27:24.67
He does not give men and women
00:27:24.71\00:27:26.74
that which will
gratify their ambition and work
00:27:26.78\00:27:29.68
simply for self-exaltation.
00:27:29.71\00:27:31.61
When we come to God,
we must be submissive
00:27:31.65\00:27:33.98
and contrite of heart
subordinating everything
00:27:34.02\00:27:36.58
to His sacred will."
00:27:36.62\00:27:37.95
Amen.
00:27:37.99\00:27:39.32
I was just going to, kind of,
00:27:39.35\00:27:40.69
bounce off of what
you just said, Eric.
00:27:40.72\00:27:42.06
Sometimes they have
me as a call porter,
00:27:42.09\00:27:43.56
I didn't have GPS like
all the other guys have,
00:27:43.59\00:27:45.26
so I did all
these maps and stuffs.
00:27:45.29\00:27:46.63
So I'm mapping all my routes.
00:27:46.66\00:27:48.00
I'm supposed to
get to this place
00:27:48.03\00:27:49.36
called Angel Road.
00:27:49.40\00:27:50.73
So I'm going down the road
00:27:50.77\00:27:52.10
and all of a
sudden I see detour.
00:27:52.13\00:27:53.47
It's a road I'm
supposed to take and I'm like,
00:27:53.50\00:27:54.84
"I don't have a map for this.
00:27:54.87\00:27:56.20
Where do I go now,
Lord? This isn't cool."
00:27:56.24\00:27:57.57
So I turned, I go around.
I know I got to go south.
00:27:57.61\00:27:59.81
So I'm like I tried
to take that detour.
00:27:59.84\00:28:01.81
I'm like, "Are you kidding me?"
00:28:01.84\00:28:03.38
So I'm like, "How am I
going to get here, Lord?"
00:28:03.41\00:28:04.75
So I finally
take this other road,
00:28:04.78\00:28:06.25
and I go turn down,
00:28:06.28\00:28:07.62
and get down to
this end, it T's out.
00:28:07.65\00:28:08.98
And He says, "Look up."
00:28:09.02\00:28:10.35
I looked up, Angel
Road. "How did I get here?"
00:28:10.39\00:28:14.42
And right in the
corner right is right
00:28:14.46\00:28:15.79
where the house I had to go.
00:28:15.82\00:28:17.16
I was like, "Are you kidding me?
00:28:17.19\00:28:18.53
How did I even get here?" Amen.
00:28:18.56\00:28:21.03
So don't complain.
Amen. The mysteries of life.
00:28:21.06\00:28:23.73
And that fits right into what...
00:28:23.77\00:28:25.63
Because many times we
are asking and what happens?
00:28:25.67\00:28:29.44
Well, let's take a
look at James 4:2, 3.
00:28:29.47\00:28:33.54
I'm going to read it first
from the Amplified Version.
00:28:33.58\00:28:37.75
"You do not have
because you do not ask God
00:28:37.78\00:28:41.15
or you do ask God for
them and yet fail to receive
00:28:41.18\00:28:45.02
because you asked
with wrong purpose
00:28:45.05\00:28:47.32
and evil selfish motives."
00:28:47.36\00:28:49.46
Wow.
00:28:49.49\00:28:50.83
Now the New King James
version, I'll read that.
00:28:50.86\00:28:55.83
"You lust and do not have.
00:28:55.86\00:28:57.57
You murder and
covet and cannot obtain.
00:28:57.60\00:28:59.80
You fight and war,
yet you do not have
00:28:59.83\00:29:02.44
because you do not ask.
00:29:02.47\00:29:04.11
You ask and do not
receive because you ask amiss
00:29:04.14\00:29:08.24
that you may spend
it on your pleasures."
00:29:08.28\00:29:11.08
Yes.
00:29:11.11\00:29:12.45
I've got some other verses
00:29:12.48\00:29:14.05
that as I was
looking at this verse
00:29:14.08\00:29:16.08
that I looked up
00:29:16.12\00:29:17.45
and I want to
share with you guys.
00:29:17.49\00:29:18.82
If you'd go to Psalm 84:11,
00:29:18.85\00:29:24.93
there's some really,
00:29:24.96\00:29:27.10
really good verses here.
00:29:27.13\00:29:30.57
"For the Lord God
is a sun and shield.
00:29:30.60\00:29:33.77
The Lord will
give grace and glory.
00:29:33.80\00:29:36.00
No good thing will He withhold
from those who walk uprightly."
00:29:36.04\00:29:40.38
Okay, so no good thing
will He withhold from those
00:29:40.41\00:29:43.24
who walk uprightly, right?
00:29:43.28\00:29:45.41
Let's go to Romans
00:29:45.45\00:29:48.75
8:32.
00:29:48.78\00:29:54.22
I know the time is short, so...
00:29:54.26\00:29:56.09
We're going good.
00:29:56.12\00:29:57.49
So we're going
through these here.
00:29:57.53\00:29:58.96
Let's see,
00:29:58.99\00:30:00.93
Romans 8:32.
00:30:00.96\00:30:07.34
Let's see, "He who did not spare
00:30:07.37\00:30:09.80
His own Son
00:30:09.84\00:30:11.17
but delivered Him up for us all,
00:30:11.21\00:30:13.07
how shall He not with Him
00:30:13.11\00:30:14.88
also freely give us all things?"
00:30:14.91\00:30:17.88
Right? Now keep
all that in mind.
00:30:17.91\00:30:19.81
Let's go to Matthew...
00:30:19.85\00:30:22.48
So we're going to walk
through the Word today, fellas.
00:30:22.52\00:30:24.55
We're going to
go through the Word.
00:30:24.59\00:30:25.92
Let's go to Matthew 7:7-12.
00:30:25.95\00:30:31.83
Okay, "Ask, and it
will be given to you.
00:30:31.86\00:30:35.00
Seek, and you will find.
00:30:35.03\00:30:36.80
Knock, and it
will be opened to you.
00:30:36.83\00:30:38.50
For everyone who asks receives,
and he who seeks finds,
00:30:38.53\00:30:42.44
and to him who
knocks, it will be opened.
00:30:42.47\00:30:46.04
Or what man is there among you
who, if his son asks for bread,
00:30:46.07\00:30:50.28
will give him a stone?
00:30:50.31\00:30:51.88
Or if he asks for a fish,
will he give him a serpent?
00:30:51.91\00:30:55.42
If you then, being evil,
00:30:55.45\00:30:57.19
know how to give good
gifts to your children,
00:30:57.22\00:30:59.85
how much more will your Father
00:30:59.89\00:31:01.52
who is in
heaven give good things
00:31:01.56\00:31:03.49
to those who ask Him.
00:31:03.53\00:31:05.46
Therefore, whatever
you want men to do to you,
00:31:05.49\00:31:09.00
do also to them,
00:31:09.03\00:31:10.37
this is the Law
and the Prophets."
00:31:10.40\00:31:12.33
And then when you
think about John 3:16,
00:31:12.37\00:31:14.90
"For God so loved the world,
00:31:14.94\00:31:16.27
that He gave His
only begotten Son,
00:31:16.30\00:31:17.71
that whosoever believeth in Him
00:31:17.74\00:31:19.14
shall not perish but
have everlasting life."
00:31:19.17\00:31:22.44
If we go to the Lord
00:31:22.48\00:31:24.35
with, you know, an honest heart
00:31:24.38\00:31:26.82
and ask for His will to be done,
00:31:26.85\00:31:29.75
when we are in line in
accordance to His will,
00:31:29.78\00:31:33.22
He's not going to
withhold anything good from us.
00:31:33.25\00:31:36.39
And we shouldn't want anything
that's outside of His will
00:31:36.42\00:31:38.79
because I'd
rather go with someone
00:31:38.83\00:31:41.70
who sees the end
from the beginning
00:31:41.73\00:31:43.73
than my finite
mind which sees...
00:31:43.77\00:31:46.50
I can't see tomorrow, you know?
00:31:46.53\00:31:48.27
So I'd rather Him order my steps
00:31:48.30\00:31:52.64
and be a light to my path.
00:31:52.67\00:31:54.98
Amen. Amen.
00:31:55.01\00:31:56.34
And that's where
that confidence comes in,
00:31:56.38\00:31:57.95
you know, I mean,
it keeps going back
00:31:57.98\00:32:00.42
to that confidence which...
00:32:00.45\00:32:03.02
as I was looking up,
you know, we were talking
00:32:03.05\00:32:04.92
about this
earlier on definitions.
00:32:04.95\00:32:06.76
Confidence is
00:32:06.79\00:32:08.12
as we're approaching
God boldly, He is saying,
00:32:08.16\00:32:11.56
"Hey, you can come to Me freely,
00:32:11.59\00:32:14.53
and you can
come to Me fearlessly
00:32:14.56\00:32:17.27
with confidence."
00:32:17.30\00:32:19.17
And so it's
making it perfectly...
00:32:19.20\00:32:21.80
I was wondering
where it was going to go
00:32:21.84\00:32:23.17
with this with the Amplified,
you know, "You do not have
00:32:23.20\00:32:25.61
because you do not ask God."
00:32:25.64\00:32:27.41
Well, the reason...
00:32:27.44\00:32:30.01
He loves us so much.
00:32:30.05\00:32:33.52
"There is a snare out there, JD.
00:32:33.55\00:32:36.32
And I love you so much,
00:32:36.35\00:32:38.05
I don't want you to get
your foot caught on that snare
00:32:38.09\00:32:40.12
because that
could bring infection."
00:32:40.16\00:32:42.62
And so He deviates
around, and I'm pounding,
00:32:42.66\00:32:46.09
I'm pounding
because I didn't get...
00:32:46.13\00:32:48.36
and I actually...
00:32:48.40\00:32:51.07
This is just, kind
of, common sense stuff
00:32:51.10\00:32:52.50
if you can just sit
00:32:52.53\00:32:53.87
and break it down
a little bit and...
00:32:53.90\00:32:56.57
It's, kind of, like a
slap in the face to God
00:32:56.60\00:32:59.51
when you're just
trying to take things
00:32:59.54\00:33:01.24
into your own hands
and do it your own ways.
00:33:01.28\00:33:03.91
He's sitting there
like, "Why didn't you ask Me?
00:33:03.95\00:33:07.85
You know, I love you.
00:33:07.88\00:33:09.22
Why didn't come to Me,
your Father, and ask Me?"
00:33:09.25\00:33:12.92
Sometimes as men,
00:33:12.95\00:33:14.29
we want to be in
the driver's seat,
00:33:14.32\00:33:16.16
but God says,
00:33:16.19\00:33:17.53
"I'm a better
driver than you are."
00:33:17.56\00:33:19.03
And it takes us
a few car crashes
00:33:19.06\00:33:22.23
before we come to the reality
00:33:22.26\00:33:23.60
that He is indeed
the better driver,
00:33:23.63\00:33:25.93
and then we give it over to Him,
00:33:25.97\00:33:27.30
and we sit as a passenger,
and the rides are lot softer
00:33:27.34\00:33:30.77
and a lot more
glorious at that point.
00:33:30.81\00:33:33.58
Amen.
00:33:33.61\00:33:35.34
You know, I get the pleasure
00:33:35.38\00:33:36.81
of going every week
to prison ministries
00:33:36.85\00:33:39.25
and as I'm talking
to these individuals,
00:33:39.28\00:33:41.45
and they are
bringing their traditions
00:33:41.48\00:33:43.65
and their
things, and they just...
00:33:43.69\00:33:45.15
They don't want to break,
00:33:45.19\00:33:46.52
you know, they
are at that point,
00:33:46.55\00:33:47.89
they say, "You know this...
00:33:47.92\00:33:49.26
I've got a good hold to
this, I don't want to...
00:33:49.29\00:33:51.39
I hear, I'm listening to you,
00:33:51.43\00:33:53.60
I think you are
starting to make sense,
00:33:53.63\00:33:55.56
but I don't know, I'm
sure of what I'm doing."
00:33:55.60\00:33:59.40
And when I look at,
00:33:59.43\00:34:00.77
you know, we were
talking about gray hairs
00:34:00.80\00:34:02.70
and each one of
those I'm remembering back,
00:34:02.74\00:34:05.61
the places that
where God has led me.
00:34:05.64\00:34:10.58
And every time
00:34:10.61\00:34:13.52
that I get into
my poverty stage,
00:34:13.55\00:34:17.95
you know, God has to remind me,
00:34:17.99\00:34:20.59
"Listen to what
I've done for you.
00:34:20.62\00:34:22.26
Look at...
00:34:22.29\00:34:23.63
Go back to your
journal, go back and read
00:34:23.66\00:34:26.26
the wonderful things
00:34:26.29\00:34:27.63
that I've been able to do
in your life and understand
00:34:27.66\00:34:30.73
that I've never left
you nor have I forsaken you.
00:34:30.77\00:34:34.30
And I'm not going to start now."
00:34:34.34\00:34:36.47
So those are the things
that we need to go back to.
00:34:36.50\00:34:38.84
When you're...
00:34:38.87\00:34:40.21
You can come boldly
00:34:40.24\00:34:41.58
to the throne of
God, the only way...
00:34:41.61\00:34:42.94
Let me preference that,
00:34:42.98\00:34:44.55
the only way that you
can come boldly to the Christ
00:34:44.58\00:34:46.88
is through the
filling of the Holy Spirit.
00:34:46.92\00:34:48.68
And it's only the Holy Spirit,
00:34:48.72\00:34:50.05
the one that goes boldly forward
00:34:50.09\00:34:52.65
and puts the words
that you need to use.
00:34:52.69\00:34:55.16
But many people
think, "Oh, I can do it."
00:34:55.19\00:34:56.93
No, you can't.
00:34:56.96\00:34:58.29
You have to first...
00:34:58.33\00:34:59.66
what the verse was
saying, "Follow My will,
00:34:59.69\00:35:02.13
and then it's the Spirit
that's going to be speaking
00:35:02.16\00:35:04.07
through you
00:35:04.10\00:35:05.43
because the Spirit knows
best what I want of you."
00:35:05.47\00:35:10.27
And then that's when
00:35:10.31\00:35:11.64
you can just sit back and relax.
00:35:11.67\00:35:13.38
'Cause you have
no power of your own.
00:35:13.41\00:35:14.74
Yeah, none of you.
00:35:14.78\00:35:16.11
Well, I mean, I'll
tell you, those were...
00:35:16.14\00:35:18.25
A lot of people
skipped school that day.
00:35:18.28\00:35:21.95
They think they can do anything
00:35:21.98\00:35:23.39
but without Christ
you can do nothing.
00:35:23.42\00:35:26.05
You may get down the road
00:35:26.09\00:35:27.76
a little farther
than someone else,
00:35:27.79\00:35:29.19
but you're always going
to get caught in that snare
00:35:29.22\00:35:31.36
or that wall of
resistance is going to pop you.
00:35:31.39\00:35:35.63
And, you know, you are going
to have to make some decisions
00:35:35.66\00:35:37.57
some place if you want
00:35:37.60\00:35:38.93
that confidence, you know, so...
00:35:38.97\00:35:41.77
Speaking on
confidence, I've a...
00:35:41.80\00:35:43.47
It's a short quote. I
saw it Review and Herald.
00:35:43.51\00:35:45.81
I really like sharing
this with our callers too.
00:35:45.84\00:35:47.94
It says, "By your
fervent prayers of faith,
00:35:47.98\00:35:50.45
you can move the arm
that moves the world."
00:35:50.48\00:35:53.21
Wow.
00:35:53.25\00:35:54.58
Put that one in your
mind for just a little bit.
00:35:54.62\00:35:58.12
Wow. Wow. Wow.
00:35:58.15\00:35:59.49
Yeah, that's the
world. That's the universe.
00:35:59.52\00:36:03.02
Eric, does God see
everything and know everything?
00:36:03.06\00:36:07.20
I mean, do we have
some proof of that?
00:36:07.23\00:36:09.43
Absolutely. Absolutely.
00:36:09.46\00:36:11.37
One of the common things
00:36:11.40\00:36:12.73
that I'm hearing
at this table here
00:36:12.77\00:36:14.64
is that you can
pray boldly before God,
00:36:14.67\00:36:18.17
but you have to be
obedient at the same time.
00:36:18.21\00:36:21.14
That's right.
00:36:21.18\00:36:22.51
In our 1 Peter 3:12
00:36:22.54\00:36:27.08
emphasizes that,
if we can go there.
00:36:27.12\00:36:30.95
"The eyes of the Lord
are upon the righteous,
00:36:30.99\00:36:34.69
and His ears are
attentive to their prayers.
00:36:34.72\00:36:37.63
But the face of the
Lord is against those
00:36:37.66\00:36:41.40
who practice evil."
00:36:41.43\00:36:44.20
The big question
here is righteousness.
00:36:44.23\00:36:46.67
How can I be righteous?
00:36:46.70\00:36:50.11
Let me give a quick testimony.
00:36:50.14\00:36:53.01
Before I was a Christian,
00:36:53.04\00:36:54.68
I was, well, I
would consider a searcher.
00:36:54.71\00:36:56.64
I was looking.
00:36:56.68\00:36:58.48
And the Lord
impressed upon my mind.
00:36:58.51\00:37:03.42
He said, "Make a list,
00:37:03.45\00:37:07.32
and on this list put
down all of the things
00:37:07.36\00:37:11.83
that you had problems with
00:37:11.86\00:37:13.70
since the
beginning of your life."
00:37:13.73\00:37:16.10
He said, "It doesn't matter
00:37:16.13\00:37:17.47
how long it takes
you to make this list,
00:37:17.50\00:37:18.83
but make this list."
00:37:18.87\00:37:20.84
And it took a couple of days.
00:37:20.87\00:37:22.20
I made this list,
and then column two,
00:37:22.24\00:37:25.57
He said, "Next to
each item in this list,
00:37:25.61\00:37:31.08
write down what law you broke."
00:37:31.11\00:37:34.65
And it took a couple days.
00:37:34.68\00:37:36.45
But when I was done,
I looked at the list,
00:37:36.48\00:37:39.02
and I saw that
99% of the problems
00:37:39.05\00:37:41.69
that I had was
related to a law that I broke.
00:37:41.72\00:37:47.10
And I said to myself,
00:37:47.13\00:37:48.46
I had an
epiphany at that moment,
00:37:48.50\00:37:49.83
and this is really what
played a large role in changing
00:37:49.86\00:37:52.23
in my thought process.
00:37:52.27\00:37:54.47
If I keep God's law,
00:37:54.50\00:37:56.94
I won't have all these problems.
00:37:56.97\00:38:00.51
And from that point on, I said,
00:38:00.54\00:38:02.64
"I need to focus on the Word
and start keeping that law."
00:38:02.68\00:38:07.08
What Christ said to...
00:38:07.12\00:38:08.58
If you remember the
lady caught in adultery,
00:38:08.62\00:38:14.29
He said, "I don't condemn you.
00:38:14.32\00:38:16.86
Go and sin no more."
00:38:16.89\00:38:19.19
And then He said the same thing
00:38:19.23\00:38:20.56
to the cripple that He healed.
00:38:20.60\00:38:25.10
He said, "Go and sin no more."
00:38:25.13\00:38:29.64
Now why did He say that?
00:38:29.67\00:38:31.54
And it comes to my
mind that He said that
00:38:31.57\00:38:33.68
because we're like
buckets, we're like containers,
00:38:33.71\00:38:37.88
and we are full of filthy water.
00:38:37.91\00:38:40.92
And the Lord's saying,
00:38:40.95\00:38:42.65
"I'm going to put
a hole in this bucket
00:38:42.68\00:38:44.65
and drain out the filthy water.
00:38:44.69\00:38:47.66
And then I'm going to
fill you with the new water,
00:38:47.69\00:38:49.32
the fresh water.
00:38:49.36\00:38:51.69
But before I can do that,
00:38:51.73\00:38:53.43
you have to stop
pouring filthy water
00:38:53.46\00:38:54.90
on the top of the bucket.
00:38:54.93\00:38:57.03
As long as you're
pouring filthy water on the top
00:38:57.07\00:38:58.70
of the bucket,
I can't help you."
00:38:58.73\00:39:02.20
And a lot of us, especially,
00:39:02.24\00:39:04.37
myself when I was
in my younger days,
00:39:04.41\00:39:06.47
I didn't want to
leave that sin behind.
00:39:06.51\00:39:08.98
I wanted God
than I wanted the sin.
00:39:09.01\00:39:11.51
And you can't do that.
00:39:11.55\00:39:13.35
So what this is emphasizing here
00:39:13.38\00:39:14.95
is that it is saying,
00:39:14.98\00:39:16.32
"But the face of the
Lord is against those
00:39:16.35\00:39:18.72
who practice evil."
00:39:18.75\00:39:20.62
So they pray boldly,
00:39:20.66\00:39:22.99
don't practice
evil at the same time.
00:39:23.02\00:39:24.43
I had a friend,
and he'd said to me,
00:39:24.46\00:39:26.09
"I don't believe in God."
00:39:26.13\00:39:27.46
And I said, "Why not?"
00:39:27.50\00:39:28.83
He said, "'Cause
He doesn't answer
00:39:28.86\00:39:30.20
any of my prayers."
00:39:30.23\00:39:31.57
And I said, "Wait a minute,
you're living with this lady
00:39:31.60\00:39:35.57
that you
shouldn't be living with,
00:39:35.60\00:39:37.37
you are going to these clubs
that you shouldn't be going to,
00:39:37.41\00:39:40.38
you're drinking these drinks
that you shouldn't be drinking,
00:39:40.41\00:39:42.81
but you're praying to the
Lord and you want answers?
00:39:42.84\00:39:46.75
You're listening to yourself,
00:39:46.78\00:39:48.82
and you are
listening to the enemy
00:39:48.85\00:39:50.19
more than you are
listening to the Lord,
00:39:50.22\00:39:51.55
but you want the Lord
to answer your prayers."
00:39:51.59\00:39:53.19
He is filling that
bucket full of filthy water
00:39:53.22\00:39:56.22
when God's trying to
fill it with clean water.
00:39:56.26\00:39:58.59
Amen.
00:39:58.63\00:39:59.96
So to close out,
I'd have to say that
00:40:00.00\00:40:02.90
to each one of us
to Jason, and to JD,
00:40:02.93\00:40:07.04
and Luis, and to
Donald, and to Gary,
00:40:07.07\00:40:11.57
God is saying, "Now
that I've healed you,
00:40:11.61\00:40:17.45
go and sin no more."
00:40:17.48\00:40:19.25
Oh, amen. Amen.
00:40:19.28\00:40:22.45
Aptly put.
00:40:22.48\00:40:25.32
You know, I'm kind
of piggybacking off
00:40:25.35\00:40:26.99
of what you said,
00:40:27.02\00:40:28.66
you know, and I
found in 2 Chronicles 16:9.
00:40:28.69\00:40:31.79
And I absolutely love this.
And I have used it for years.
00:40:31.83\00:40:34.30
And I think that I, kind of,
00:40:34.33\00:40:35.66
concentrated more on
the A part and that says,
00:40:35.70\00:40:39.23
"For the eyes of Lord run to
00:40:39.27\00:40:41.00
and fro
throughout the whole earth,"
00:40:41.04\00:40:43.77
I was like, "Wow, wait.
00:40:43.81\00:40:45.27
So in other
words, He is everywhere."
00:40:45.31\00:40:47.94
Yes, He is everywhere.
00:40:47.98\00:40:49.48
But I really didn't
concentrate on the second part.
00:40:49.51\00:40:52.11
I just assumed that
as the Lord, you know...
00:40:52.15\00:40:57.02
I guess it, kind of, reminded me
00:40:57.05\00:40:58.39
a little bit of my mother.
00:40:58.42\00:40:59.95
But when I was growing up,
"Jimmy, why did you know that?"
00:40:59.99\00:41:03.19
"How did you know that?"
00:41:03.22\00:41:05.46
You know, I mean, wow.
00:41:05.49\00:41:08.20
I mean, she...
00:41:08.23\00:41:09.56
And I think most
mothers have that gift,
00:41:09.60\00:41:12.27
you know, that
they are always there.
00:41:12.30\00:41:14.57
But then the B part, A part,
"For the eyes of Lord run to
00:41:14.60\00:41:18.87
and fro
throughout the whole earth,"
00:41:18.91\00:41:22.38
the B part, "to
show Himself strong
00:41:22.41\00:41:25.01
on behalf of those
whose heart is loyal to Him."
00:41:25.05\00:41:28.08
Here again, as it should
be, it doesn't make any sense,
00:41:28.12\00:41:32.12
"For the eyes of Lord run to
00:41:32.15\00:41:33.49
and fro
throughout the whole earth,
00:41:33.52\00:41:34.86
to show Himself strong
on behalf of everybody."
00:41:34.89\00:41:37.99
I mean, there's got to be...
00:41:38.03\00:41:39.83
God is a covenant-making,
covenant-keeping God.
00:41:39.86\00:41:44.20
Amen.
00:41:44.23\00:41:45.93
Now His love is
unconditional. "I love you, JD.
00:41:45.97\00:41:51.11
I love you. I love you."
00:41:51.14\00:41:52.74
But there is got to
be some type of rules
00:41:52.77\00:41:55.11
or regulations in
here or something.
00:41:55.14\00:41:58.41
There's no
prodigal son, I mean...
00:41:58.45\00:42:01.45
So His covenant promises
00:42:01.48\00:42:03.92
our condition upon
our covenant loyalty.
00:42:03.95\00:42:08.86
So we've got to do our part,
00:42:08.89\00:42:10.86
I think it's called
cooperation, is it not?
00:42:10.89\00:42:13.06
I think it's called cooperation.
00:42:13.09\00:42:14.73
And that's the reason,
00:42:14.76\00:42:16.10
it's so important that we
know what outfit to show up in.
00:42:16.13\00:42:21.30
And this tells us the
outfit. These are the rules.
00:42:21.34\00:42:25.47
And they are not
slapping on your hand rules.
00:42:25.51\00:42:28.11
I mean, we're sitting here...
00:42:28.14\00:42:29.48
This is common
sense stuff. That's right.
00:42:29.51\00:42:31.48
And a very serious topic
00:42:31.51\00:42:34.95
and that is that
we want our request
00:42:34.98\00:42:37.85
to go directly to
the throne of grace
00:42:37.89\00:42:41.22
because we know if we
can get that far up, wow,
00:42:41.26\00:42:44.93
thank you because we're
working within His will.
00:42:44.96\00:42:47.20
Amen.
00:42:47.23\00:42:48.56
And we can expect good results,
00:42:48.60\00:42:51.53
which should put
joy in our heart.
00:42:51.57\00:42:53.74
So, anyway,
00:42:53.77\00:42:57.11
the eyes of the
Lord running to and fro,
00:42:57.14\00:43:01.71
and He is there to assist
us, He is there to empower us,
00:43:01.74\00:43:05.75
He is there to
infuse His strength into us
00:43:05.78\00:43:08.48
to be able to accomplish
00:43:08.52\00:43:09.85
what the plan that
He has for our life.
00:43:09.88\00:43:12.05
I have a little popup
that comes up on my phone
00:43:12.09\00:43:14.96
probably a
couple of times a week.
00:43:14.99\00:43:16.89
And the popup says,
00:43:16.93\00:43:18.86
"Obedience is the
highest form of worship."
00:43:18.89\00:43:21.43
Oh, amen.
00:43:21.46\00:43:22.80
So who you obey in a world
00:43:22.83\00:43:24.93
full of lots of
different spirits,
00:43:24.97\00:43:27.80
the one you obey is
showing who you are loyal to,
00:43:27.84\00:43:30.87
where your allegiance lies.
00:43:30.91\00:43:33.04
And if you are not
loyal and obedient to God,
00:43:33.07\00:43:35.54
how can He answer your prayers?
00:43:35.58\00:43:37.18
Yeah.
00:43:37.21\00:43:38.55
I was thinking to...
00:43:38.58\00:43:39.91
We talked about
earlier that we're converted.
00:43:39.95\00:43:41.78
That's a powerful
word to plug in there.
00:43:41.82\00:43:43.32
And when you are
really convert it,
00:43:43.35\00:43:44.69
and Peter, you know,
you see that obviously,
00:43:44.72\00:43:47.26
Jesus was there in
the courts and stuff,
00:43:47.29\00:43:48.79
and Peter is like,
"I don't know the man.
00:43:48.82\00:43:50.16
I don't know who He
is. I don't know Him."
00:43:50.19\00:43:51.76
Deny Him.
00:43:51.79\00:43:53.13
How many times
that we denied Lord?
00:43:53.16\00:43:54.96
But then at the end,
you see, like Jesus said,
00:43:55.00\00:43:57.77
"I'm praying for you, Peter."
00:43:57.80\00:43:59.13
And then later on.
00:43:59.17\00:44:00.50
we see in Acts of
course, Peter just,
00:44:00.54\00:44:02.90
he gets it, he's converted.
00:44:02.94\00:44:04.27
And Christ is
waiting for all of us
00:44:04.31\00:44:06.27
to give us our
converted hearts to Him,
00:44:06.31\00:44:08.58
and He'll answer those prayers.
00:44:08.61\00:44:09.94
You know, one of the cool things
00:44:09.98\00:44:11.31
about prayer as we're
talking about praying boldly,
00:44:11.35\00:44:13.38
here is a quick quote.
00:44:13.42\00:44:15.62
This is from Steps to Christ.
00:44:15.65\00:44:18.39
And it's entitled
prayer brings us up to Him.
00:44:18.42\00:44:21.46
"In order to have
spiritual life and energy,
00:44:21.49\00:44:23.89
we must have
actual intercourse,"
00:44:23.93\00:44:25.79
and that word intercourse
00:44:25.83\00:44:27.16
in this context
means association,
00:44:27.20\00:44:29.43
"with our heavenly Father.
00:44:29.46\00:44:30.80
In order to commune with God,
we must have something to say
00:44:30.83\00:44:33.74
to Him
concerning our actual life.
00:44:33.77\00:44:36.91
Prayer is the
opening of the heart
00:44:36.94\00:44:38.67
to God as to a friend.
00:44:38.71\00:44:40.28
Not that it is necessary
in order to make known to God
00:44:40.31\00:44:43.81
what we are but in order
to enable us to receive Him.
00:44:43.85\00:44:49.48
Prayer does not
bring God down to us,
00:44:49.52\00:44:52.72
but brings us up to Him."
00:44:52.75\00:44:55.96
That's deep.
00:44:55.99\00:44:57.33
You just hit a point
00:44:57.36\00:44:58.69
that is so important.
00:44:58.73\00:45:00.20
Look, I hate saying this.
00:45:03.26\00:45:05.33
I come from a communist country.
00:45:05.37\00:45:08.00
You know, and I never
understood this concept,
00:45:08.04\00:45:11.57
why is it that they always
want to bring the rich down
00:45:11.61\00:45:15.44
to the poor man's level?
00:45:15.48\00:45:16.81
I mean, that's
the concept of it,
00:45:16.85\00:45:18.28
take from the rich
and give to the poor.
00:45:18.31\00:45:20.78
And never is take from the
poor and help him become rich.
00:45:20.82\00:45:26.65
And the point that you just hit,
00:45:26.69\00:45:28.22
most of us want
to bring God down,
00:45:28.26\00:45:30.79
most of us want us
God for things to help us,
00:45:30.83\00:45:33.83
most of us wants the...
00:45:33.86\00:45:35.20
"Lord God, help me here."
00:45:35.23\00:45:36.56
And God's going to say,
00:45:36.60\00:45:37.93
"No, I'm going
to help you there.
00:45:37.97\00:45:39.30
I want to elevate you
00:45:39.33\00:45:40.67
to the point where you can come,
00:45:40.70\00:45:42.04
and you can boldly see
the power that I have."
00:45:42.07\00:45:44.47
And we're all so used to...
00:45:44.51\00:45:46.31
Our little, you know, we
pray for somebody to get healed,
00:45:46.34\00:45:49.98
we've been praying lately
for a young boy to get healed.
00:45:50.01\00:45:52.38
And what we're hearing
00:45:52.41\00:45:53.75
amazing
recoveries are happening.
00:45:53.78\00:45:55.62
And God is powerful
to be able to do that.
00:45:55.65\00:45:57.62
But God wants to...
00:45:57.65\00:45:58.99
"I want to use you
to take demons away,
00:45:59.02\00:46:01.69
to do all these different,
to be able take the Word..."
00:46:01.72\00:46:04.83
But we want just to
stay, we're happy here.
00:46:04.86\00:46:07.53
And what that's saying,
00:46:07.56\00:46:08.90
"No, don't limit
Me to what you see.
00:46:08.93\00:46:13.47
Relieve Me and have
that resolved to understand
00:46:13.50\00:46:17.31
that I want to do
greater things for you.
00:46:17.34\00:46:20.14
Come to my level.
00:46:20.18\00:46:21.51
I'm giving you the full power
of the celestial power for you
00:46:21.54\00:46:25.58
to be able to come boldly
00:46:25.61\00:46:27.25
and to be able
to tell the enemy,
00:46:27.28\00:46:28.68
'Enough is
enough, this is enough,
00:46:28.72\00:46:31.02
you're done with whatever.'"
00:46:31.05\00:46:32.89
The Job experience
can come to the point
00:46:32.92\00:46:34.76
where you can say how many of us
00:46:34.79\00:46:36.52
would like God to
say, "Look at My son, Luis,
00:46:36.56\00:46:38.76
look at My son, you know..."
00:46:38.79\00:46:40.63
And we forget that
Job had that boldness
00:46:40.66\00:46:45.03
but at the end
the enemy broke them.
00:46:45.07\00:46:47.04
And what God is
trying to tell us
00:46:47.07\00:46:48.77
and what that
quote is saying is,
00:46:48.80\00:46:52.74
"Test Me, see what
I'm capable of doing
00:46:52.77\00:46:57.18
but first you must be obedient."
00:46:57.21\00:46:59.78
You see, many people feel
00:46:59.81\00:47:01.15
that the laws are just
a hindrance and it says,
00:47:01.18\00:47:04.19
"Try not educating a dog,
00:47:04.22\00:47:06.55
try not teaching the dog
that it cannot cross a street
00:47:06.59\00:47:09.46
and see what a
good person you were
00:47:09.49\00:47:11.89
when that dog was hit by a car."
00:47:11.93\00:47:13.70
But if you train him well,
00:47:13.73\00:47:15.26
then he's going
to have a long life.
00:47:15.30\00:47:17.63
That's what laws are,
00:47:17.67\00:47:19.00
that dog is not
being obedient to you
00:47:19.03\00:47:21.14
because he loves you,
he's being obedient to you
00:47:21.17\00:47:23.44
because you know best
and God has given you.
00:47:23.47\00:47:25.47
And that could keep him safe.
00:47:25.51\00:47:26.88
And that's the same
thing that happens to us.
00:47:26.91\00:47:28.84
We are not
following the commandments
00:47:28.88\00:47:30.35
because we love God,
00:47:30.38\00:47:31.71
we're following the commandments
00:47:31.75\00:47:33.08
because God puts it in us,
and while we are doing through,
00:47:33.11\00:47:36.22
that's when all the blessings
00:47:36.25\00:47:37.59
and all the great things happen.
00:47:37.62\00:47:38.95
You know what you are saying?
00:47:38.99\00:47:40.32
You're saying that we're praying
00:47:40.36\00:47:41.69
for the crumbs
under the table...
00:47:41.72\00:47:43.06
Oh, my goodness.
00:47:43.09\00:47:44.43
When God's inviting us
00:47:44.46\00:47:45.79
to the buffet on
the top of the table.
00:47:45.83\00:47:47.40
And when you think about
that that's pretty profound.
00:47:47.43\00:47:49.43
Amen. Yeah.
00:47:49.46\00:47:50.97
Yeah. Yeah.
00:47:51.00\00:47:52.33
And not only that,
00:47:52.37\00:47:53.70
it leads into the
scripture I have John 16:23, 24.
00:47:53.74\00:47:58.51
"In that day you
won't ask Me anything.
00:47:58.54\00:48:01.01
I assure you
00:48:01.04\00:48:02.38
that the Father will give
you whatever you ask in My name.
00:48:02.41\00:48:05.31
Up to now you have
asked nothing in My name.
00:48:05.35\00:48:07.35
Ask, and you will receive
00:48:07.38\00:48:08.72
so that your joy
will be complete."
00:48:08.75\00:48:11.85
So basically what
God is saying to us
00:48:11.89\00:48:13.72
is He's making us a
co-signer on His account.
00:48:13.76\00:48:16.86
Amen.
00:48:16.89\00:48:18.36
He's given us a credit card
00:48:18.39\00:48:20.20
in His name to
use in this world.
00:48:20.23\00:48:23.30
Amen.
00:48:23.33\00:48:25.00
And you don't give...
00:48:25.03\00:48:26.67
If you have children and
you have a obedient child
00:48:26.70\00:48:28.84
and disobedient child,
00:48:28.87\00:48:30.47
you don't give
the disobedient child
00:48:30.51\00:48:31.84
your credit card,
00:48:31.87\00:48:33.21
and tell him to go to
store and get the things
00:48:33.24\00:48:34.81
that the family needs,
00:48:34.84\00:48:36.21
you give it to
the obedient child
00:48:36.24\00:48:37.98
'cause you know
the obedient child
00:48:38.01\00:48:39.35
is going to go
and get those things
00:48:39.38\00:48:40.92
that the family needs
00:48:40.95\00:48:42.72
that will provide for everybody.
00:48:42.75\00:48:45.35
And so that's
what God is giving us.
00:48:45.39\00:48:47.39
And I looked up the word "ask"
and in the Greek it's aiteo,
00:48:47.42\00:48:52.16
I think that's right,
and it's the beg, call,
00:48:52.19\00:48:55.06
or crave, desire, require.
00:48:55.10\00:48:56.50
So when we bring our
desires and requests to God,
00:48:56.53\00:49:02.64
then He gives.
00:49:02.67\00:49:04.01
And the Greek word is didomi,
00:49:04.04\00:49:07.28
and it's to give over
00:49:07.31\00:49:10.78
to one's care or entrust.
00:49:10.81\00:49:14.28
So what God gives us
is the power to do good
00:49:14.32\00:49:18.42
in the world and not
to use it on ourself.
00:49:18.45\00:49:21.09
And so there's conditions.
00:49:21.12\00:49:22.46
What is conditions for...
00:49:22.49\00:49:25.09
Or what is the
principle for being able
00:49:25.13\00:49:27.43
to receive this power?
00:49:27.46\00:49:29.16
Look at...
00:49:29.20\00:49:30.53
And we read it one
actually is Matthew 7:7-11.
00:49:30.57\00:49:34.10
The condition is that
00:49:34.14\00:49:37.07
as a parent gives
the child good things,
00:49:37.11\00:49:40.64
the Father is going to
give us much more things.
00:49:40.68\00:49:43.51
That's the principle.
00:49:43.55\00:49:47.05
The condition is that
00:49:47.08\00:49:48.82
we have to be in God's will like
00:49:48.85\00:49:51.15
we've been discussing,
00:49:51.19\00:49:52.52
obeying the
commandments, and such.
00:49:52.55\00:49:56.12
And I came across
some really good quotes.
00:49:56.16\00:49:58.49
This is out of the devotional
as well, To Be Like Jesus.
00:49:58.53\00:50:01.56
And the privilege we
have to pray in His name
00:50:01.60\00:50:03.90
that the power
00:50:03.93\00:50:05.27
that we're given
to pray in His name...
00:50:05.30\00:50:07.50
It says here,
00:50:07.54\00:50:08.87
"We have an
advocate at the throne of God
00:50:08.90\00:50:10.97
which is encircled
by the bow of promise,
00:50:11.01\00:50:13.58
and we are invited
to present our petitions
00:50:13.61\00:50:15.88
in the name of
Christ before the Father.
00:50:15.91\00:50:18.35
Jesus says, "Ask
what ye will in My name,
00:50:18.38\00:50:20.22
and it shall be done unto you.
00:50:20.25\00:50:21.95
In presenting My name,
00:50:21.98\00:50:23.35
you bear witness
that you belong to Me
00:50:23.39\00:50:26.05
and that you are
My sons and daughters,
00:50:26.09\00:50:27.69
and the Father will
treat you as His own,
00:50:27.72\00:50:29.76
and love you as He loveth Me.'"
00:50:29.79\00:50:31.83
So as we make our
petitions in His name,
00:50:31.86\00:50:34.86
we show that we love Jesus.
00:50:34.90\00:50:36.40
And that's the
next thing, it says,
00:50:36.43\00:50:38.40
"Express to My Father the fact
that My name is dear to you,
00:50:38.43\00:50:43.51
that you respect and love Me,
and you may ask what you will.
00:50:43.54\00:50:47.01
He will pardon
your transgressions
00:50:47.04\00:50:48.68
and adopt you
into His royal family,
00:50:48.71\00:50:51.11
make you a child of God,
00:50:51.15\00:50:52.48
a joint heir with
His only-begotten Son."
00:50:52.51\00:50:56.15
You know, I used to
think the text is Psalms...
00:50:56.18\00:50:59.59
What is it, Psalms 37:4 says,
00:50:59.62\00:51:01.39
"Delight thyself
also in the Lord,
00:51:01.42\00:51:02.76
and He shall give you
00:51:02.79\00:51:04.13
the desires of
your thine heart."
00:51:04.16\00:51:05.59
I used to think that, you know,
00:51:05.63\00:51:07.06
"Well, God's going to
give me the things that I want,
00:51:07.10\00:51:10.00
you know, I see it, I
want it, He said that,
00:51:10.03\00:51:11.77
'You know, ask in
My name, pray for it,
00:51:11.80\00:51:13.34
and I'll give it to you.'"
00:51:13.37\00:51:14.70
But really what
He is saying there
00:51:14.74\00:51:16.94
is that He is
going to give us desires
00:51:16.97\00:51:19.94
in our heart that are holy
00:51:19.97\00:51:22.34
so that now we can
use that credit card
00:51:22.38\00:51:24.11
He gives us not to go to,
00:51:24.15\00:51:25.88
you know, the bar or the
places that we shouldn't go,
00:51:25.91\00:51:29.22
but we're going to
use that credit card
00:51:29.25\00:51:30.69
to bless others,
00:51:30.72\00:51:32.32
to bring those
things to God's people
00:51:32.35\00:51:35.39
that are needful for them.
00:51:35.42\00:51:37.13
And that's why He gives us
the power to pray in His name,
00:51:37.16\00:51:39.53
and that's the
condition is that we pray
00:51:39.56\00:51:41.46
for those things that
are good for our fellowmen,
00:51:41.50\00:51:44.67
and we're going to want to
00:51:44.70\00:51:46.03
'cause He gives us
those desires in our heart.
00:51:46.07\00:51:48.27
Kind of what you
are touching on there
00:51:48.30\00:51:49.64
is like one of
the commandments says,
00:51:49.67\00:51:51.01
you know, "Don't take
the Lord's name in vain."
00:51:51.04\00:51:53.34
It goes a lot further
than what people think,
00:51:53.38\00:51:54.71
it's not just using, you
know, whatever expressions,
00:51:54.74\00:51:56.64
but we're talking about
His character, who He is.
00:51:56.68\00:51:59.61
And you kind of
hit on it a little bit,
00:51:59.65\00:52:00.98
you know, like Christ.
00:52:01.02\00:52:02.35
You know, we're
representing Christ.
00:52:02.38\00:52:03.72
Absolutely.
00:52:03.75\00:52:05.09
And the thing that you
said with credit cards,
00:52:05.12\00:52:06.45
like you're representing Christ
every time you use that card.
00:52:06.49\00:52:07.96
Absolutely.
00:52:07.99\00:52:09.32
And you touched on the altar
of incense in the beginning,
00:52:09.36\00:52:11.99
we started this at
the alter of incense,
00:52:12.03\00:52:13.56
and often people think
00:52:13.60\00:52:15.36
that the incense
represents the prayer,
00:52:15.40\00:52:17.10
but it doesn't incense
00:52:17.13\00:52:18.47
actually is the
merit of Christ mixed
00:52:18.50\00:52:20.87
with our prayers
00:52:20.90\00:52:22.24
because our prayers
are earthly, our prayers...
00:52:22.27\00:52:24.64
We don't even know what to pray.
00:52:24.67\00:52:26.37
And so Christ
mixes His righteousness
00:52:26.41\00:52:28.48
with our prayer and
presents it to the Father.
00:52:28.51\00:52:31.11
And then whatever
we ask, we receive.
00:52:31.15\00:52:34.55
Yes. Yes.
00:52:34.58\00:52:35.92
As adopted sons
and daughters of God.
00:52:35.95\00:52:37.52
Amen. Amen.
00:52:37.55\00:52:38.92
I'm going to read this over,
00:52:38.95\00:52:40.99
and when
something jumps out at you,
00:52:41.02\00:52:45.29
we're going to finish
up, we got probably, oh,
00:52:45.33\00:52:47.03
I don't know, four
minutes something like that.
00:52:47.06\00:52:49.53
But I just...
00:52:49.56\00:52:51.80
We're going to massage
this a little bit further.
00:52:51.83\00:52:54.14
"I come boldly
before God's throne of grace
00:52:54.17\00:52:56.81
to obtain mercy and
help in the time of need."
00:52:56.84\00:53:00.38
What does that mean to somebody?
00:53:00.41\00:53:01.88
It means to me, and
I've said this before,
00:53:01.91\00:53:04.31
and I'll probably
say it a thousand times.
00:53:04.35\00:53:07.35
I do believe that
the mother's prayer,
00:53:07.38\00:53:10.62
even a father's prayer
is the most powerful prayer
00:53:10.65\00:53:13.32
in the universe.
00:53:13.36\00:53:15.06
And I would guess, I'm
going to go out on a limb,
00:53:15.09\00:53:17.26
and I would guess that
each one of us had parents
00:53:17.29\00:53:19.96
that prayed for us.
00:53:20.00\00:53:22.06
When I see the things
that happened in my life
00:53:22.10\00:53:24.03
that directed me
along the right path,
00:53:24.07\00:53:27.40
sometimes I listened
and sometimes I didn't,
00:53:27.44\00:53:29.27
but God was persistent.
00:53:29.30\00:53:31.01
When I see the
life-changing miracles
00:53:31.04\00:53:32.51
that saved my life,
00:53:32.54\00:53:33.88
when I see all these
events before I was a Christian
00:53:33.91\00:53:36.85
and later on finding out
00:53:36.88\00:53:38.21
that my mother
prayed desperately for me,
00:53:38.25\00:53:40.88
she came boldly to God.
00:53:40.92\00:53:42.98
She was obedient.
00:53:43.02\00:53:45.19
Obedience on the
righteousness. Amen.
00:53:45.22\00:53:47.52
And God answered her prayers.
00:53:47.56\00:53:49.72
We talked about this morning,
a friend of me and myself,
00:53:49.76\00:53:51.86
we were out on a
boat one time on a lake,
00:53:51.89\00:53:54.20
and we were out there.
00:53:54.23\00:53:57.37
One of the guys was on the boat,
00:53:57.40\00:53:58.73
he was actually
smoking cigarettes,
00:53:58.77\00:54:00.10
well, little that we know,
00:54:00.14\00:54:01.47
thankfully he
didn't at that time
00:54:01.50\00:54:02.84
'cause we looked at the bottom,
but we thought it was water.
00:54:02.87\00:54:04.91
But we smelled
something, "What is that smell?
00:54:04.94\00:54:06.61
It's gasoline."
00:54:06.64\00:54:08.54
Whole bottom of the boat
00:54:08.58\00:54:09.91
was full about two
inches of gasoline.
00:54:09.94\00:54:12.71
How easily that
could have blown up
00:54:12.75\00:54:14.82
with that cigarette.
00:54:14.85\00:54:16.18
So, yeah, God is merciful
and helping in time of needs.
00:54:16.22\00:54:19.35
You know, JD, what this
means to me is right now
00:54:19.39\00:54:22.82
the attacks of the enemy.
00:54:22.86\00:54:25.16
Many of the
times, people see us,
00:54:25.19\00:54:27.70
you know, here and they
think, "Oh, they are in heaven,
00:54:27.73\00:54:30.93
you know, they are in paradise."
00:54:30.97\00:54:33.54
But the enemy is
attacking us more,
00:54:33.57\00:54:36.14
and more, and more everyday,
00:54:36.17\00:54:37.51
and this is with
the time that it helps
00:54:37.54\00:54:39.37
if you come boldly
to the throne of God,
00:54:39.41\00:54:41.48
God's going to be able give you
00:54:41.51\00:54:42.94
that power to be
able to tell the enemy,
00:54:42.98\00:54:46.41
"I choose God,
no matter who I am,
00:54:46.45\00:54:50.85
I am filthy rag that's
what the Bible tells me,
00:54:50.89\00:54:52.95
don't tell me how
bad I am, I know that,
00:54:52.99\00:54:54.82
my Bible have told me.
00:54:54.86\00:54:56.19
I'm going to tell
you how good my God is,
00:54:56.22\00:54:58.19
and He is the one
that's reflected in me."
00:54:58.23\00:55:00.43
So that's what this tells
me that when you come boldly
00:55:00.46\00:55:04.57
with God's throne,
00:55:04.60\00:55:06.00
God's going to
help you in those times
00:55:06.03\00:55:08.04
when you're battling,
00:55:08.07\00:55:09.47
when your battle is
not with flesh and blood,
00:55:09.50\00:55:12.31
with principalities.
00:55:12.34\00:55:13.68
And that to me is
what gives me that peace.
00:55:13.71\00:55:16.71
And, you know, just
the definition of grace,
00:55:16.75\00:55:20.68
divine assistance.
00:55:20.72\00:55:22.08
Amen. Boy, enough said there.
00:55:22.12\00:55:24.12
If this divinely given to me,
00:55:24.15\00:55:27.46
well, then the Red Sea
could be parted, you know?
00:55:27.49\00:55:30.96
so...
00:55:30.99\00:55:34.76
Quick here "Because
I obey His commands,"
00:55:34.80\00:55:37.97
there's a lot
of people have a...
00:55:38.00\00:55:39.33
We just got to me,
00:55:39.37\00:55:40.70
it's got negative
connotation of obey.
00:55:40.74\00:55:42.94
Who can unwrap that
real quick, a minute?
00:55:42.97\00:55:46.88
Obey 'cause, you
know, some people think,
00:55:46.91\00:55:49.58
"Well, that's a demand."
00:55:49.61\00:55:52.11
"Oh, Jesus, if you love
me, keep my commandments."
00:55:52.15\00:55:54.45
It's a love relationship.
You can't obey without love.
00:55:54.48\00:55:58.72
And a lot of churches will try
to split love and commandments
00:55:58.75\00:56:02.92
and law from each other.
00:56:02.96\00:56:04.96
But the Bible says that
because there is an increase
00:56:04.99\00:56:07.60
in lawlessness in the last days,
00:56:07.63\00:56:09.53
the love of many will wax cold.
00:56:09.56\00:56:11.40
So you cannot uncouple
love and law, when lawlessness,
00:56:11.43\00:56:14.74
when people disobey
man's law or God's law,
00:56:14.77\00:56:18.61
then it creates
an affect in others
00:56:18.64\00:56:20.71
so that there is less love.
00:56:20.74\00:56:22.31
So if there is no
keeping of God's law,
00:56:22.34\00:56:25.61
there's not going to
be love for each other
00:56:25.65\00:56:26.98
'cause love is
fulfilling of the law.
00:56:27.02\00:56:28.55
"It's he that says he loves Me
00:56:28.58\00:56:30.15
and does not keep My
commandments is a liar
00:56:30.19\00:56:32.55
and the truth is not in him."
00:56:32.59\00:56:34.36
And the law is Christ character.
00:56:34.39\00:56:36.26
So that's all it is.
00:56:36.29\00:56:37.63
So basically the only
thing is if you talk about law
00:56:37.66\00:56:40.76
and you're fulfilling the law,
00:56:40.80\00:56:42.26
you are then become Christ-like.
00:56:42.30\00:56:45.47
And the reason why we have it is
00:56:45.50\00:56:46.94
because He loves us,
00:56:46.97\00:56:48.80
and it's for our
protection as well.
00:56:48.84\00:56:51.87
So what you're
saying is that for people
00:56:51.91\00:56:54.41
that are out
there in no man's land
00:56:54.44\00:56:56.88
to get on their knees and say,
00:56:56.91\00:56:58.68
"I don't even really
know what to ask for,
00:56:58.71\00:57:00.48
but I'm turning it
to over to You, Lord.
00:57:00.52\00:57:02.22
Because you are the
almighty, You are the creator,
00:57:02.25\00:57:04.99
and You can make
something out of nothing."
00:57:05.02\00:57:07.32
Amen. Amen.
00:57:07.36\00:57:08.79
Listen, this has
been really good.
00:57:08.82\00:57:10.36
I just love each one of y'all,
00:57:10.39\00:57:12.16
and wish that we
could do this more often.
00:57:12.19\00:57:14.46
But I want to thank
you for being with us,
00:57:14.50\00:57:17.87
just know how much we
love you, and we thank you.
00:57:17.90\00:57:20.54
Thank you for support to 3ABN.
00:57:20.57\00:57:22.80
And I just ask
in the name of Jesus
00:57:22.84\00:57:24.84
that you have a happy Sabbath
00:57:24.87\00:57:26.98
and that God continues
to be with you day, night,
00:57:27.01\00:57:30.41
with your family,
00:57:30.45\00:57:31.78
with all that you
put your hands to.
00:57:31.81\00:57:34.32
God bless you. Amen.
00:57:34.35\00:57:35.98