Participants:
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW018020A
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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 01:10 Hello and welcome to another 3ABN Today Family Worship. 01:13 We are so glad that you are joining us 01:15 as you do each and every day but especially each Friday 01:18 for the special Friday sundown worships together. 01:22 It's a blessing to be able to spend time 01:24 as our family here at 3ABN but also with you. 01:27 I'm sure your week has been busy 01:28 as it seems like every week here at 3ABN 01:31 is busy in a good way, 01:33 and what a blessing to take a rest 01:36 and to be able to concentrate more on God. 01:38 And there's a special blessing I believe that God has promised 01:41 by keeping a Sabbath holy, so thank you for joining us. 01:43 What a blessing it is 01:44 to be able to spend time together 01:46 and we look forward to eternity 01:47 when we can be together in heaven. 01:49 And can you imagine having a Family Worship there 01:51 as all of God's people with Jesus leading out? 01:53 Amen. 01:55 Wow, what an incredible day that would be. 01:57 We have a special Family Worship, don't we? 01:59 Because we are talking about family at you at home 02:02 but we have some special family here with us today. 02:04 We do. I love Family Worship. 02:06 It's just the time when we can sit down, 02:08 open up God's Word. 02:10 We can share with you at home, 02:11 you are part of the 3ABN family. 02:13 And I know we hear from many of you 02:15 who say you turn on your television 02:17 and you sit down whether you are single or married, 02:20 whether you have kids, whether you are old or young, 02:23 join us for Family Worship, 02:24 and we just consider you a part of the 3ABN family, 02:27 and we have part of our 3ABN family here at the table 02:32 and we are so excited to introduce them. 02:34 Julia Outkina, our sister came all the way from Russia 02:38 for Family Worship, well, not exactly, 02:39 you came for other purposes, 02:41 but we are so glad to have you here, 02:42 you are executive director of 3ABN Russia. 02:44 Yeah. 02:46 It feels so good to be back 02:47 and as Danny says when he comes to Russia 02:50 that he has come to his second home. 02:52 This is how I feel coming to 3ABN. 02:54 I am coming home 02:56 to be together with my family in Christ. 02:58 Amen. And it's a worldwide family. 03:01 So yeah, praise the Lord 03:02 and praise the Lord for this program. 03:04 We have watched it and it's a favorite. 03:07 Yeah. Amen. 03:10 And then we have Brother Tim sitting next to you 03:12 and talking about Russia, we made the trip here, 03:16 last year to Russia 03:17 and what a powerful experience, wasn't it? 03:19 What a powerful experience to know the story, 03:22 as Danny shared the beginnings of 3ABN Russia. 03:27 Wow, just you talk about... It's emotional, isn't it? 03:30 It's like wow, what God has done. 03:31 It's amazing. 03:32 Yesterday, in Corporate Worship, 03:34 he again shared some of some of just, 03:36 a bit of highlight of that reminding us the powerful way 03:40 that God just made the whole thing happen. 03:42 Yeah. And so it's just a wonderful... 03:45 A miracle. Absolutely a miracle. 03:46 It's a testimony to His desire, 03:49 God's desire to make us like Him 03:54 and to give us the opportunity to follow Him. 03:57 So I'm delighted to see you 04:00 and my friends across the table. 04:04 You are right. 04:05 But I'm delighted to again be with you 04:08 celebrating this Sabbath and Family Worship. 04:12 I love it, really do, grateful, so thanks. 04:14 Amen. 04:16 And you are also the manager of 3ABN Praise too. 04:19 Yes, yes, you do a great job but thank you, Tim. 04:22 We appreciate your friendship 04:23 and mentorship and it's a blessing... 04:24 That's more important. We count you as a great friend. 04:26 And his great music. 04:27 Amen, yes. Yes, we can't forget that. 04:30 Worship time is good time. Music is part of worship. 04:33 We don't want to forget that. 04:34 In just a minute, we are going to sing a song 04:35 and Tim is going to play the piano, so let's do it. 04:37 All right. Who else do we have with us? 04:39 Yes, and on this side we have more 04:40 of our 3ABN Russia family. 04:41 We have Aleksei Britov. 04:43 He is the general manager of 3ABN Russia 04:45 and Vadim Trusyuk, 04:47 and he is the production manager 04:49 of 3ABN Russia, 04:50 and we had the privilege to spend some time 04:53 when we were in Russia, we spend some time there 04:54 with each one of you 04:56 and you were an incredible blessing 04:57 and we are so glad you are here. 05:03 It is also a great blessing for us 05:06 and great honor to be here together with you 05:09 and meet this Sabbath together. 05:12 Amen. 05:19 It is really amazing 05:21 that we are living on the other side of the planet 05:23 meet Sabbath there when we are there 05:26 and you meet Sabbath here and we always feel together 05:29 and we all feel united in Christ. 05:31 That's wonderful. Amen. 05:33 You know, I don't know what the language 05:34 of heaven would be but the Russian language 05:36 is a beautiful language, isn't it? 05:38 So I don't know, may be the language in heaven 05:39 would be Russian, I don't know. 05:41 So it's neat to hear the language here, isn't it? 05:43 That's just again a reminder of God's family. 05:46 People are celebrating Sabbath in Russia, the United States, 05:49 all parts of the world 05:50 and that's just a beautiful thing, 05:52 you know, and I think again we mentioned heaven earlier, 05:54 I can't wait for that. What is our topic today? 05:57 Tonight, we are talking about answered prayer. 05:59 That's right. 06:01 I don't know if you have ever encountered that, 06:02 maybe you have prayed and prayed for years and said, 06:05 I don't know why I am not getting an answer 06:07 or maybe not the answer that I wanted in my heart. 06:11 Maybe something you have a special burden tonight 06:13 and you want to be able 06:15 to give that to the Lord in prayer. 06:16 So we are just talking about prayer. 06:18 How we can go before our Father in heaven 06:20 and how He longs to hear and answer those prayers. 06:24 We'll be looking at scriptures, 06:26 we'll be sharing from our personal experiences 06:28 and testimonies. 06:30 So I'm excited about it. 06:31 Yeah, I'm too and we encourage you 06:33 to participate at home. 06:34 When we open up the scriptures, 06:35 take your Bible out, open up, join us. 06:37 It's not you watching us, we are together, okay? 06:40 So yeah, you write notes down, we are together as a family. 06:43 But talking about prayer, 06:45 we should open with prayer and then go to a song. 06:47 Sister Julia, do you mind open in prayer 06:49 as we open the Sabbath together? 06:51 Yeah, you want me to do it in Russian or in English? 06:53 Let's do it Russian. Okay, okay. 07:33 Amen. Amen, amen. 07:35 Thank you so much. Thank you very much. 07:36 Oh, yeah, for sure. 07:37 So while Tim is on his way going over to the piano, 07:40 we are going to be singing a song 07:42 that's in hymnal, it's in hymnal 07:44 and it's entitled "I must tell Jesus". 07:48 So join us here as we sing our song here. 07:50 "I must tell Jesus". 07:51 Let's sing the first and the second verse. 07:53 Yeah, let's do that in a chorus as well. 08:04 I must tell Jesus 08:08 All of my trials 08:13 I cannot bear these 08:17 Burdens alone 08:21 In my distress 08:24 He kindly will help me 08:30 He ever loves 08:33 And cares for His own 08:39 I must tell Jesus! 08:44 I must tell Jesus! 08:48 I cannot bear 08:51 My burdens alone 08:57 I must tell Jesus! 09:02 I must tell Jesus! 09:06 Jesus can help me 09:11 Jesus alone 09:15 I must tell Jesus 09:20 All of my troubles 09:25 He is a kind 09:28 Compassionate friend 09:34 If I but ask Him 09:38 He will deliver 09:43 Make of my troubles 09:48 Quickly an end 09:51 There's a chorus. 09:52 I must tell Jesus! 09:56 I must tell Jesus! 10:01 I cannot bear 10:04 My burdens alone 10:10 I must tell Jesus! 10:15 I must tell Jesus! 10:19 Jesus can help me 10:24 Jesus alone 10:30 Amen. 10:32 Well, that song fits, doesn't it? 10:33 Yeah. Tell Jesus everything. 10:35 Yes, yes. What a blessing. 10:37 And He is, I like to see, 10:38 He is a kind and compassionate friend. 10:42 I like that, He is our friend, 10:43 He is our God but He is also our friend, 10:46 and I tell you, that's a God that loves each one of us 10:49 and He knows what's best for each one of us. 10:51 So as we talk about answered prayer, 10:53 I think sometimes in my own life, 10:54 I want a prayer answered a particular way. 10:57 But God knows what's best for me 11:00 and I have to trust Him 11:01 that He is there looking out for my good. 11:04 You know there's another song that is one of favorites, 11:08 "What a friend we have in Jesus". 11:09 I love the line in it that says, 11:10 "Oh what peace we often forfeit, 11:13 O what needless pain we bear 11:15 all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer." 11:19 And so that's just again a reminder 11:21 of how much He cares for us and how urging it is for us 11:25 to take every need big and small to God. 11:28 He loves us and cares about everything in our lives. 11:31 That's right. 11:32 Don't you think it's interesting, 11:34 so many times I think I can pray about the big things. 11:37 You know, well, this is a big decision 11:39 that I am facing or this is something 11:40 that will be difficult, I need to take this to God. 11:43 But He wants me to take everything. 11:45 Even the small things, even things that we might say, 11:49 "Why are you asking God about that?" 11:51 But He wants everything 11:53 and just, I don't know, that's something I'm learning 11:56 as I come more into His presence 11:58 that He wants me to communicate and share everything with Him. 12:02 Absolutely. He wants us to be one with Him. 12:05 And if we're one, 12:06 then we talk to Him all the time, yeah. 12:09 That's good. 12:11 Yeah, that's absolutely a good point. 12:12 Yeah, very true. 12:14 It reminds me of a scripture 12:15 we'll use this as we kick off our study. 12:16 Philippians 4, if you want to turn in your Bibles there, 12:20 Philippians chapter 4, we'll read verses 6 and 7. 12:26 Philippians 4:6-7. 12:29 By the way, I should say 12:31 that the guys understand English a lot. 12:34 This is why I'm not translating for them. 12:36 They know what we are talking about 12:38 but of course, when they speak Russian, 12:40 then I'll translate it to English. 12:42 So they understand but as far as speaking, 12:45 they will speak Russian. 12:47 The Lord is blessing you with a gift of tongues. 12:51 Understanding as well. The gift of understanding. 12:52 Yeah. Right. 12:55 Who has that, Philippians 4:6-7? 13:00 Will you go for it, Tim? So sure. 13:01 I have the amplified version, 13:03 so it kind of expounds on it but I'll just read 6 and 7. 13:06 "Do not fret or have any anxiety 13:09 about anything, but in every circumstance 13:12 and in everything, by prayer and petition, 13:15 definite requests with thanksgiving 13:17 continue to make your wants known to God 13:20 and God's peace shall be yours that tranquil state of a soul 13:25 assured of its salvation through Christ," 13:27 moving on, "which transcends all understanding, 13:30 shall mount guard over your hearts 13:33 and minds in Christ Jesus." 13:34 So that's more complicated but it doesn't leave out, 13:38 it doesn't leave an ounce of doubt. 13:42 It makes sure and tells you don't fret over anything, 13:45 pray about everything. 13:47 And the peace, that's the great point 13:49 at the end that the peace, God's peace shall transcend... 13:54 Which transcends all understanding 13:56 shall guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. 13:59 I like how it is in the very beginning of verse 6 14:01 because mine says, be careful for nothing 14:02 but in everything by prayer and supplication. 14:04 How does it read in the amplified again? 14:06 It says, do not fret or have anxiety about anything. 14:09 We live in a day of anxiety... Oh, my, worry. 14:12 Yeah, it's just... 14:14 That's the biggest cause 14:15 of a lot of our physical problems, our health issues 14:18 because we fret and worry about things, 14:20 and it's easy to do 14:21 because there is a lot to worry about, you know, 14:24 we've bills and you know, 14:27 how things are gonna pan out in our jobs, 14:30 security, a lot of things 14:32 that are fretful opportunities but... 14:37 It's natural for us to fear all those things, 14:40 it's a natural condition 14:42 but God says don't blame your natural condition. 14:44 Right, supernatural. Be supernatural. 14:51 They love the part, the beginning 14:53 of the seventh text when it says, 14:55 God's peace which surpasses all understanding 15:00 which is beyond understanding. 15:04 Very often, according to our human consideration... 15:10 Go through so many conditions where we are nervous, 15:13 where we are worried... 15:17 Be not in a peaceful condition. Yes. 15:25 But when we open our desires to Him 15:28 and when we are one with Him... 15:32 Then God's peace fills our hearts. 15:37 His peace, shalom in Hebrew. 15:41 It's an amazing, 15:43 amazing state to be in. 15:53 And we wish that all our dear families, 15:56 the viewers fill this Sabbath Shalom, 16:00 this special peace 16:02 that the Lord gives to His people. 16:05 I think there's something that separates us 16:07 and gives us an opportunity to share with people 16:10 how do you, how are you going through this situation, 16:13 whatever it is, that you should be going crazy about 16:15 and be anxious and worried about, 16:18 and there is your opportunity to show Christ, 16:20 so that's what Christ would do for you 16:22 if you allow Him to be your peace. 16:24 Yes. Well said. 16:26 I love what you said, Aleksei, because I'm thinking 16:28 of these verses in the peace of God 16:31 when I come before Him, when I pray, 16:33 when I frighten off for anything, 16:36 but also we have the peace with the Sabbath peace, 16:39 so the Sabbath rest, 16:41 so there's actually a dual application almost 16:44 to have that rest in Jesus, 16:47 and it's not just the physical rest 16:51 but it's spiritual rest, it's spiritual. 16:53 That's incredible. 16:55 Yeah, protection. Yes. 16:57 Being in Him, being protected. Yeah. 16:59 I like the part going back to verse 6 again. 17:01 It says, "Be careful for nothing 17:03 but in everything by prayer and supplication, 17:06 with thanksgiving." 17:07 It's thanksgiving. 17:09 Yeah, that's important part, isn't it? 17:11 Why do you think thanksgiving or praise is important? 17:16 Just kind of throwing it out there. 17:17 Why is it important, Vadim, to have a great full heart? 17:21 Why would that be important? 17:28 Most often than not, 17:29 we'd be having our nature separated from Him, 17:33 our carnal nature, we just ask God always. 17:43 I notice it with myself 17:44 that how do I communicate with God, 17:47 I always ask, ask, ask. 18:00 And I have been training myself, 18:03 whatever need I feel 18:04 and whatever I want to ask God about, 18:07 I always want to say thank you first 18:10 and praise Him for something first. 18:13 This is what I have been training myself to do. 18:17 And when I started accentuating my attention on that... 18:27 I even started feeling shame for my previous experiences 18:32 when there were always requests, requests, 18:35 and blessing of gratitude never filled me before... 18:39 Well, it did but not on a constant basis. 18:41 Wow. 18:47 And gratitude is an opposing thing to anger, 18:52 to being unhappy, 18:54 to being across against something. 19:06 And this text shows me 19:07 that a heart that is filled with God's presence, 19:11 it is thankful, it is thankful to people, 19:14 it is thankful to God, it is thankful to everyone. 19:17 Amen. That's sweet, isn't it though? 19:20 That is. It's just is powerful. 19:22 It's a very pure understanding too 19:25 and I think that also when we... 19:28 I think that thanksgiving 19:29 is not only being grateful to God 19:32 but it's a huge reminder what are we thankful for? 19:35 Well, we are thankful for the things 19:37 that God has proven Himself for us in the past, 19:40 so it's building our faith to remind us not to be anxious 19:46 because He has proven Himself time and time again. 19:49 So it's a great bit of amazingness in that, yeah. 19:56 Just in those two verses, 19:57 you know, you were talking about praise, 19:59 if I can share a short personal testimony? 20:02 In my own experience, praise when I had learned 20:06 that could praise God 20:08 and I chose to do it even when it hurt, 20:11 when I didn't want to praise, 20:13 I found that that changed my emotions, 20:16 that changed my own heart. 20:19 I can remember one time Greg and I had been praying 20:22 about a certain situation and one of those things 20:25 maybe you dream about and you want to take place 20:28 and then the answer was no. 20:31 God's answer was no. 20:32 And I remember just running from the house 20:35 and going down the gravel road and just saying, "Why God?" 20:38 You know, I am just crying and "Why? 20:41 You know, Why is it a no? 20:42 I wanted yes." 20:44 And I was praying and asking, and praying in faith 20:48 and confession of sin, you know, "Why is it a no?" 20:53 And I remember going down the road 20:55 and God tapping me on the shoulder, 20:58 not literally, but I felt His presence 21:01 and He said, "Jill, my daughter, 21:03 count your blessings." 21:06 And I remember being mad 21:08 because I said "God, I want pity. 21:11 I am going through a hard time." 21:13 And you could say, "Poor Jill" but instead He wanted praise. 21:18 And I remember when I made that choice and I said, 21:21 "I don't understand why, 21:23 but I will choose to praise Him." 21:25 And in the midst of that, 21:26 I don't know why this is happening, 21:28 I don't know why the answer is no, 21:30 but I will accept and I will choose that. 21:32 And when I made that choice, God changed my heart... 21:39 adjusted the emotions in line with His will 21:42 and I was so thankful for that. 21:47 Yeah, I think with prayer, you know, 21:48 a lot of times like we talked about earlier, 21:50 we can expect a certain answer, you know, we... 21:53 But I think it's key that we pray according to God's will 21:57 or plan for our lives. 21:58 Yeah, I think it's important, you have a passion 22:02 that causes you to pray. 22:04 So you got passion leads you to prayer, 22:07 then you trust in God's providence, 22:10 which leads to His peace. 22:12 So it's just... 22:13 It's a great Say that again, passion? 22:16 Whatever passion you have that's leading you to prayer, 22:20 and then you trust in His providence 22:22 which leads to His peace, God's peace. 22:25 Amen. That's strong. 22:26 Yeah, it is. 22:28 We look at 1 John 5, it reminds me of that 22:29 when He said with asking according to His will. 22:33 1 John chapter 5, 22:36 verses 14 and 15, 22:40 it talks about asking 22:42 but according to His will. 22:45 1 John 5. 22:47 Fourteen and fifteen, I want to hear it out of Amplified again. 22:50 I got my New King James but I love that. 22:53 1 John 5:14-15, 22:56 "And this is the confidence which we have in Him. 23:00 We are sure that if we ask anything, 23:03 make any request according to His will, 23:05 in agreement with His own plan He listens to and hears us. 23:09 And if we know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, 23:13 we also know with settled and absolute knowledge 23:17 that we have the requests made of Him." 23:22 So how do we know if we are asking according to God's will? 23:26 'Cause this here says, 23:28 "If we ask anything according to His will, 23:30 He hears us and we know that we have the petitions 23:32 we've asked of Him." 23:34 So how do we know if it's God's will? 23:36 I have been thinking about that, I would say recently, 23:40 and I believe God's will is salvation of everyone. 23:44 And whatever happens in the life of any person, 23:48 it is a way towards salvation, 23:52 even if it is a way with a minus sign, 23:54 because some people go away from salvation 23:57 and it is still their way, 23:59 because on their way with a minus sign, 24:01 they will find out so many things 24:03 that they will want to turn in the right direction. 24:06 And so whatever happens, 24:12 we may know God's will. 24:14 It seems that we cannot know His will. 24:17 We just say, 24:18 "I want this if it is according to Your will, 24:20 may it be done. 24:22 If it's not then it's up to you." 24:25 But if we put it into the perspective of salvation, 24:29 then our prayers become of a different quality. 24:32 Because if it is my salvation, 24:35 if it is someone else's salvation, 24:37 then the selfishness of our prayers, 24:40 it just vanishes when you think in this perspective. 24:43 I have my own examples, you know, it's a... 24:46 I don't know if I want to share it or not 24:48 but I did a certain thing 24:50 and then I thought, 24:52 "Was it fair to that person that I did it?" 24:55 And then I think, "Oh, it's fine. 25:00 That's fine." 25:02 And then, I just had that thought. 25:03 This is when I started thinking about it. 25:05 Think about it in the perspective of salvation. 25:08 Is it good for his salvation? 25:10 Is it good for your salvation? 25:12 Is it good for your relationship with God? 25:14 And then, you know, 25:16 still my obstinate carnal nature, 25:20 it still kept telling me, 25:22 "Yes, you have done it right as you, just as you should." 25:27 And then, you know, all of a sudden 25:29 without any preliminary planning or anything, 25:34 I did the right thing towards that person, 25:36 and that was God's supernatural intervention. 25:39 He just made me do the right thing. 25:41 And at that time, I didn't have any more questions. 25:44 I just had peace and I was, you know, 25:46 I knew that that was the right thing. 25:48 You knew it was God's will. 25:50 Yeah, I knew it was God's will. 25:52 That's very powerful. 25:54 I wanted to add a couple of words. 25:58 When I listen to how 26:01 Jill got her no answer from God... 26:08 A long time ago, I heard this sermon 26:10 that got deep into my heart. 26:16 Where often people ask and God doesn't answer... 26:20 They think that God doesn't hear them. 26:31 But the preacher whom I listen to said, 26:35 "God answers always 26:38 and there are three kinds of answers that He gives. 26:44 The first kind of answer that all of us like 26:49 and prefer is yes." 26:51 All right. Very true. 26:57 "The second kind of answer which people often confuse 27:01 and think that God doesn't want to listen to them, 27:05 that He doesn't hear them for some reason, 27:07 this is His answer no. 27:15 And the third kind of answer which was very important for me 27:21 to learn about was no, not now." 27:26 Wait. Yeah, wait. 27:29 Yeah. Amen. 27:31 Yeah. 27:32 And that's the hardest one actually, 27:34 I'd rather hear yes or no than wait, right? 27:38 Because I can move on with a yes or no, 27:41 but with a wait I got to stand still. 27:44 And I don't like to stand still for anything. 27:47 I think patience is hard. 27:48 I mean it's hard for me as well. 27:50 And I think about, you know, the promise 27:51 that God gave to Abraham about his seed 27:54 filling the whole earth and nothing was happening 27:57 so he decided to kind of help answer, 28:00 you know, God's promise 28:02 and it didn't work out well at all. 28:03 And so it's hard. 28:04 I think sometimes it can be for years 28:06 actually that you have to wait 28:08 and it again comes to that trust again 28:10 and yeah, just putting your life in God's hands 28:13 and I am with you though, Tim, 28:14 that patience for me is a tough thing. 28:16 I can operate on a yes or no 28:17 but to like hang on for a little while, 28:19 I go, boy, I'm not sure, 28:21 what am I supposed to do? 28:22 But there is a peace in knowing wait. 28:25 If there's at least some hope that you are to wait 28:28 that something will happen, 28:30 either a yes or no down the road, 28:31 while you can say, "Okay, I'm gonna resolve," 28:34 'cause I think one of the most frustrating thing 28:35 about prayer is when you don't know 28:40 when to stop praying for something 28:42 even if the answer is, 28:43 even you don't know what the answer is solid 28:45 in your hands, a yes or no, if even, 28:50 because I have probably well got out 28:53 over the situation that He already 28:54 had probably given me the answer for 28:56 and I was just, you know, 28:58 in my not wanting to wait for the proof of the answer 29:03 because not always even if you get a yes or a no, 29:05 is it going to happen right then, so. 29:08 Very true. 29:10 But I am just impatient 29:11 but I love seeing a perspective. 29:13 The things that we pray about 29:17 I've just recently started really giving 29:18 to a lot of mission groups, 29:22 and I'll get literature from them 29:25 and they'll talk about what they want prayer for. 29:29 And there are things that I am thinking, "Seriously?" 29:31 And these are... 29:32 I mean, these are just things I take for granted every day. 29:35 And so I love how Jesus, you know, 29:40 who didn't have a place to lay His head, 29:43 whenever He is praying in the Lord's prayer, 29:48 there are not the little details that, you know, 29:50 they just ate daily bread, forgive us our debtors. 29:55 So the things that really matter, 30:01 we just need to, I think, 30:02 guard our hearts and get a bigger world view 30:06 of what prayer really mean. 30:08 And that doesn't mean again that nothing is too big 30:11 or too small for God, 30:13 but I think it's an opportunity 30:15 for us to see what is important. 30:17 That's right. 30:19 No, that's good. 30:20 I mean it's important to just be real with God, you know, 30:23 just share with Him my daily struggles 30:26 and I think you know, these will be my wants 30:28 or desires, share those with God. 30:30 But at the same time, I think there is that peace 30:31 that you have just known, okay, this is my request, 30:33 this is what I feel. 30:36 This is what I am praying for, 30:37 but then trust in God that He will take it. 30:39 Are you gonna say something, comment? 30:48 He believe, you said what he wanted. 30:51 Perfect. 30:58 I like that the 15th text says, we'll receive... 31:03 Or at least this is how the Russian Bible says that, 31:07 "We receive what we have asked for." 31:15 What do we most commonly ask for? 31:28 As well as Vadim, I started thinking 31:31 what is my main request? 31:33 What do I ask for most often? 31:41 And once I was very much moved by the text written 31:45 in the first epistle of John, the first chapter. 31:47 Could we read? Please. 31:49 So 1 John 1:9. 31:54 Yes. 31:56 We can quote that. 31:58 We love, that's a powerful verse. 32:00 Yes, it is. 32:01 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful 32:04 and just to forgive us of our sins 32:06 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 32:09 Amen. 32:13 If we confess our sins... 32:18 then He being faithful 32:20 and just will forgive us all sins. 32:27 And there have been days when I did my evening prayer 32:30 and I don't know what I need to confess about today. 32:36 It looks like nothing has happened to confess about. 32:42 Didn't break Sabbath 32:44 because it was Wednesday... 32:51 and so on and so forth. 33:00 And then I read in one book, "Ask in your prayer 33:04 that the Holy Spirit searches your heart." 33:06 Yes. 33:08 And just wait in the prayer state. 33:12 Don't get out of the prayer condition. 33:16 And when I started trying to do this... 33:20 Amazing things started happening. 33:30 Right during a prayer when I say, "Holy Spirit, 33:33 please open my heart to me and show me the sins 33:36 that I haven't confessed." 33:42 The events came back to my mind 33:46 that had happened in my life a lot of time ago 33:50 and I completely forgot about them. 33:52 Wow. 33:58 I would never remember about them 34:00 because nothing reminded me about them, no associations. 34:10 And then, I realized that it was an answer to my prayer 34:14 that the Holy Spirit was telling me 34:16 whom I had offended at a certain time. 34:26 And there were several times 34:27 that just stopping in the middle of my prayer, 34:32 when that impression comes upon me, 34:34 I would call a person whom I hadn't called for a long time 34:38 and starting apologizing and making it out. 34:45 And that person would be so much surprised saying, 34:49 "I've forgotten about this a long time ago. 34:51 Why are you remembering about it now?" 34:56 And I would say, 34:57 "The Holy Spirit has just reminded me about this." 34:59 Amen. Yeah, praise the Lord. 35:02 That's a beautiful testimony of answered prayer. 35:05 You are asking God 35:08 to reveal to you what's in your heart. 35:10 That's right. 35:11 And God shows, that's beautiful, Aleksei. 35:13 And that's a prayer that God's 35:15 I think always willing to answer and to show us 35:18 if we are willing to accept and see. 35:21 Tim, can you say something? 35:24 Again, I'm beating a dead horse. 35:29 She talked about the prayer, the salvation. 35:32 He is talking about the prayer, the conviction 35:34 or the confession of doing, you know, 35:37 what should I confess? 35:41 In an email, I love this, 35:43 Jill has sent an email to all of us 35:46 telling us what the topic was going to be. 35:50 And Julia's comment, 35:53 you are so brilliant, I love you. 35:56 And she says, "Well, that will be a great topic 35:59 because it is so practical. 36:02 It will make easier for us to participate." 36:05 Now who in the world, we wouldn't, whenever I... 36:08 She said, Jill says prayer, that's our topic. 36:11 I'm thinking, "Okay, 36:13 I'm going to start reading a book on prayer." 36:16 But it's just practical. 36:19 When it's that approach you take, 36:21 one of salvation and confession, 36:25 that sure, yeah, 36:27 and that's what makes prayer practical. 36:31 So thank you for again opening my eyes 36:34 and it happened when I was in Russia, 36:36 you know, to what is really important. 36:39 It's just... you know, I've got my mind 36:41 and my eyes set on too many other things 36:44 that when I pray, I've got to realize 36:47 what does God want me to pray about. 36:49 Yeah, it's a good point. Praise the Lord. 36:51 Yeah, it's true. 36:52 A lot of times we think about all these things that we want 36:53 or need and that kind of thing, but really 36:55 it's the salvation, the confession of sin. 36:56 I think about Psalm 51? Create in me a clean heart. 37:01 Yeah, and that's a prayer. Absolutely. 37:03 "Oh, God, and renew a right Spirit within me." 37:06 And that's a prayer that the answer always is yes. 37:10 The answer to that prayer is never wait. 37:13 It's never no. It is immediate. 37:16 When we ask for forgiveness, immediately He forgives us. 37:21 When we ask for conviction from the Holy Spirit, 37:24 or we ask for salvation for ourselves or others, 37:27 that is a yes, that is always a yes. 37:30 So if you get tired of hearing no all the time, 37:31 well, pray a prayer of salvation, 37:33 forgiveness and confession, you'll hear a yes. 37:35 Oh, yeah. That's good news. 37:37 All right. That's awesome. 37:39 Should we go to some answered prayers 37:41 Yes. we're talking about that? 37:42 I know Aleksei shared a beautiful one with that, 37:44 but any other answered prayers anyone want to share? 37:48 Any other? 37:51 Any personal experience 37:54 I don't know if my example will kind of, 37:59 you know, bring down the level of our discussion. 38:06 Okay. 38:09 When I was leaving home to go to 3ABN, 38:13 I am leaving my elderly mom behind there. 38:17 She is living with me 38:20 and many years ago, about 15 years ago, 38:23 I found a stray kitty outside. 38:26 And it was so cold, just minus 20 freezing 38:30 and someone threw her away and I took her home, 38:33 and she has been living with us and she... 38:36 We live in a big apartment house 38:37 on the top floor. 38:39 Most people live this way in Russia. 38:42 And she never goes out, she always is at home. 38:47 And for all these years, she had a certain way of... 38:51 I apologize, if you think that 38:53 it's a wrong topic you just tell me, 38:56 I'll not be offended. 38:57 So there is a certain way 38:59 that she has been going to the bathroom 39:01 all these years. 39:02 It was a box with pieces of paper. 39:04 Okay. 39:06 And then I said, it'll be too much work for mom you know, 39:09 to do because I do it several times a day changing it. 39:12 I thought, "Oh, it's too much work." 39:13 I should get to a more civilized way 39:18 which mankind has developed. 39:21 I thought I should go to the kitty's litter, 39:25 yeah, kitty litter. 39:27 So I bought that and big box for it 39:32 and so I would start to teach my kitty to use it 39:37 and she wouldn't. 39:38 She just wouldn't. 39:39 It was hard for her to switch after 15 years 39:42 of being used to something, 39:44 and I didn't know what to do. 39:47 I would take her, I would pat her. 39:49 I would put her into that box, I would stroke her. 39:52 I would scratch the surface with her paw. 39:56 And she still wouldn't. 39:58 And then this thought comes to me, 40:00 "Don't you think you may pray about it?" 40:03 And it was after several days, 40:05 I mean, I was torturing my kitty all the time. 40:07 Of course, she is a very decent kitty 40:10 and she does try not to do bad things 40:12 but she can sometimes and so... 40:16 And I just prayed, I said, "Lord, I apologize. 40:18 I didn't think about You. I don't know why. 40:20 I know that I should think about You any moment, 40:24 and I should consult You, 40:25 and I should be in communion with You 40:27 about any question. 40:29 I don't know why but... 40:30 " This is, like this is the bad part of our nature. 40:33 We all have a good part and a bad part. 40:35 "And this bad part, I don't know, 40:37 just didn't prompt me to talk to you about this," 40:40 and you know, immediately as I prayed about that, 40:42 my kitty went to the bathroom 40:45 and she did it so nicely and correctly and everything. 40:48 And I thought, praise the Lord. 40:50 And then, of course, kitty was not the main, like, 40:54 she was not my main occupation, I had other things 40:56 you know, to worry about, 40:58 and then I am just looking at her box and I think, 41:00 "Oh, she only did the small thing. 41:01 She didn't do the bad thing." 41:04 The main, the big thing. 41:05 And I apologize for this once again. 41:09 And I was like, "Oh, 41:10 she hasn't done it for days so poor kitty." 41:13 And I start the same thing all over again. 41:16 I start petting her, I start stroking her, 41:19 I start scratching that litter with her paw 41:24 and I am not remembering about God again. 41:27 See, this is our nature. 41:30 And so it went on for a while and I kept torturing my kitty 41:36 because I didn't want to do it with God. 41:39 I wanted to do it on my own. 41:42 And then, I just kind of had that thought in my mind, 41:47 "Don't you think that you can pray 41:50 for a big thing also? 41:52 Don't you realize that you should pray 41:54 for every little thing?" 41:58 Don't try to be, oh, don't go this natural route 42:03 of being independent from me. 42:05 Be dependent on me on every, every, every little thing. 42:08 Wow. 42:09 And so I prayed for that part of the kitty's life 42:16 and immediately you know, immediately 42:18 she went to the bathroom and she did the right thing 42:21 immediately. 42:23 And you know, this is... 42:26 It may sound as, I don't know, what kind of example, 42:31 not a very probably appropriate one, 42:34 but how can I forget it. 42:37 I cannot forget it. 42:39 It is so simple, it is so bright. 42:44 It just stands out, you know. 42:47 Don't you think that there are things 42:50 that God doesn't want to be involved in? 42:52 He wants to be. 42:54 And I wonder, and this thought is just coming to me. 42:57 Now, I wonder if you know, 42:59 God was telling the kitty what to do 43:01 just to bring me to my senses. 43:03 It is possible. How do we know? 43:05 That's true. 43:06 So yeah, and so, you know, it comes to me 43:09 and I am so thankful for this program 43:11 because when I was thinking about 43:13 what examples I could give, 43:14 I just came up with this one and I have been you know, 43:18 thinking about it long enough 43:20 so that it sticks better in my own mind that... 43:24 Amen. 43:25 Yeah, we should be with God in all the things, 43:27 in all the things, daily, hourly, 43:31 momentarily, just all the time. 43:33 "Don't do anything without me." 43:35 This is what He is saying. Well, that's powerful. 43:36 In everything. Yes. 43:38 Yeah, He says in everything, 43:39 with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving. 43:40 Let your request be made known. Exactly. 43:42 And the peace of God passes all understanding. 43:46 Which means leaving the cat back in Russia 43:49 and knowing that there won't be a mess 43:50 to clean up when you get home. 43:52 That's peace, right? 43:53 Yes, it is. I love it. 43:55 That's wonderful. You teared my eye. 44:00 I am on WhatsApp with mom daily 44:04 and she said that she misses me 44:07 and but she says, it's okay 44:10 and I ask her about the kitty and she says, 44:11 "Oh, your favorite kitty. 44:13 You think so much about your kitty." 44:14 But she says, 44:16 "Your kitty is doing the best job imaginable." 44:19 And my mom says because at first, 44:21 you know, having her own ways also, 44:23 she was against that new thing that I bought. 44:26 And she said, "Oh, I am enjoying it so much, 44:28 it is so easy, it is so helpful." 44:31 So she said, "You may be peaceful about it." 44:35 There you go. Wow. 44:37 Prayer answered is next. That's awesome. 44:39 Amen. That is incredible. 44:41 You know, I mean God cares about everything, 44:44 every detail of our life, 44:45 and what I like the most about that 44:47 is that God wants to be involved in my life. 44:50 God wants to be involved in your life, 44:52 every detail of your life. 44:54 No matter what you are going through, 44:56 whether it seems like a small thing 44:57 or a big thing, whatever it is, God wants to be involved. 45:01 And I think prayer is more than kneeling down. 45:03 That's an aspect of it. 45:04 And bowing my head and closing my eyes 45:06 and my hands is actually talking to God, 45:08 it's the communication with God 45:10 and I think that's neat, you know, just communicating, 45:12 you're talking about that with God, 45:13 that should be a daily habit. 45:15 Going, I'm here on the set, or outside, 45:17 we are in our offices, we are driving, 45:19 just talking to God. 45:20 Yes, that's key, that open communication. 45:24 Do you have any personal? Any other personal testimony? 45:31 I'll try to share briefly my answer to prayer. 45:33 All right. 45:36 When we found out what the subject of today's 45:38 talk will be, 45:41 we decided to think a little about it. 45:56 And to that talk, we came, 45:59 the three of us came to this idea 46:01 that we get the answers to our prayers all the time, 46:05 but we don't pay attention. 46:07 We just don't realize 46:08 that this has been done to us by God. 46:17 And I remember one answer to my prayer 46:20 that was so important to me and my family. 46:27 When my son was being born... 46:34 During the birth he got a trauma of his head. 46:46 And between the skin and the bone of his head, 46:51 a lot of liquid started accumulating 46:54 and not going. 47:05 It was such a horror to my whole family. 47:08 It was our first baby and we are all believers, 47:14 the whole family. 47:21 So from the very first days of his birth, 47:23 we were kneeling all the time, 47:26 during all the procedures that we were to go through, 47:32 just all the time we were on our knees. 47:50 There were so many miracles happening 47:52 during that process, 47:54 the minor ones and I cannot tell them 47:56 all within a short program, 47:58 but even the fact that the surgeon 48:02 was the most experienced person in the whole city 48:07 who was the head doctor of the department 48:10 that took place of such surgeries. 48:15 And we, my wife and I didn't share this with our parents 48:19 because we didn't want to worry them. 48:25 I'm sharing this in this circle, 48:28 just to show how important a prayer is 48:31 for my family and how it stands, you know, 48:36 obviously in our minds. 48:37 Amen. 48:41 Now we are two and a half years old 48:45 and the baby is just a wonderful boy. 48:50 Yeah, develops very well both physically and mentally. 48:55 I remember meeting him and your wife 48:57 when we were in Russia. 48:59 He is so cute. Yes, adore. 49:01 Yes, yes. That's right. 49:04 That's an incredible story. Jesus cares. 49:06 He does care. Truly does. 49:07 He truly does. 49:09 But He still, He wants to put us on our knees 49:11 because He could, you know, in the first place, 49:14 He could have provided that this doesn't happen, 49:17 that the baby is healthy and that's all. 49:19 Then, secondly, as soon as they stood on their knees, 49:23 He could have healed the baby and that's all immediately. 49:26 But no, He wanted for them to be on their knees 49:28 so that now Vadim remembers it so well, 49:31 he can share it with us, 49:33 he can share it with the viewers. 49:35 So it's a big testimony how much God is, like, 49:39 He wants to be a part of our life and the prayer, 49:43 constant prayer is our way of being connected to Him. 49:47 And when we are, the Bible says, 49:49 pray unceasingly. 49:51 How do you pray unceasingly? 49:53 But He just wants us to be in constant communion with Him. 49:57 We have plenty of opportunities actually to pray unceasingly, 50:00 if we realize how desperate we are and truly need God. 50:04 But I love that, you know, that he has this testimony, 50:09 how we overcome the enemy, is the word of our testimony. 50:12 Blood of the lamb, so that's great. 50:19 And it builds your faith. It does. 50:21 You know, just to see that. 50:23 Do you have an answered prayer, Tim, you want to share? 50:24 Well, I want you, if you don't mind 50:26 reading for me out of Matthew 7:7-11? 50:31 Matthew in? 7-11. 50:34 Matthew 7-11. This, I love this. 50:38 Sorry, didn't warn you earlier. 50:39 Ask and keep on asking. 50:40 Right, exactly. 50:42 Matthew 7:7, "Ask and it will be given to you." 50:45 And in the Greek, it's "ask and keep on asking 50:49 and it will be given to you, seek, 50:51 and keep on seeking and you will find. 50:55 Knock, and keep on knocking and it will be opened to you. 50:59 For everyone who asks receives, 51:01 and he who seeks, finds, and to him who knocks, 51:04 it will be opened. 51:06 Or what man is there among you who, 51:07 if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 51:10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 51:14 If you then being evil 51:16 know how to give good gifts to your children, 51:18 how much more will your Father who is in heaven 51:20 give good things to those who ask him? 51:23 And keep on asking. Yes, yes. 51:27 So you know, I know we... 51:30 Sometimes we ask for things or pray about things 51:32 and we look for confirmation as to, 51:35 you know, until the answer comes 51:37 or when we're praying for God's will about something. 51:40 So, yesterday, I went and looked at a house 51:45 in a nearby town 51:47 and so the address is 7/11. 51:55 So, you know, I'm thinking, this morning when I read this, 51:57 I opened it up it out and I'd see, okay, 51:59 Matthew 7:7-11, "Okay, wait a minute, what?" 52:02 This is my confirmation. 52:04 So you know that's how shallow I am. 52:06 But then, you know, it's just we all want to... 52:11 We're looking for, you know, 52:12 the ways and sometimes we give God, 52:16 "God this could be Your clue for me" you know. 52:18 So I just... 52:20 It's not an answer to prayer, 52:21 it's still a question to prayer. 52:23 But it's... But I think we're all... 52:26 We all hope and I certainly, you know, 52:29 in this, in my issue, in every issue 52:31 when I'm praying for something, 52:33 I don't want anything but God's perfect will. 52:36 Yes. But it's just funny. 52:39 I don't believe in coincidence but I think it's interesting 52:44 how God lets the little things that we find, 52:47 even when we are talking about 52:49 prayers for the kitty or anything, 52:51 it's the little things that He does, 52:54 He does care, all because 52:55 we do not carry everything to God in prayer. 52:59 And, you know, it is not shallow 53:01 because you put it into God's hands, you know, 53:05 you could find 7/11, 53:08 I mean you could find another association with 7/11, 53:11 but you found it in the Bible which, you know, 53:15 it tells to the whole universe 53:17 because the whole universe watches us how we are, 53:21 and it tells the whole universe 53:22 that you want to do it with God, 53:25 you don't want to do it by yourself. 53:27 Amen. 53:29 We think about the little things, you know, 53:31 that we may consider a little like the kitty cat, 53:33 well, it's still something that you know, 53:34 it means something to us in our personal life. 53:36 I think about your son, you know, that's huge. 53:39 Your son had been with the health issue, 53:41 and I think of, is it Isaiah 43 or 41 53:43 that talks about God going with us through the storm? 53:47 Isaiah 43. Isaiah 43. 53:49 Yeah, because I also think of Romans 8:28. 53:52 You know, we know that all things 53:53 work together for good. 53:55 I don't know how it's all going to work out. 53:56 I don't know the answers and the reasons 53:57 why we go through some of these challenges in life 54:00 and the struggles but it's all for our salvation. 54:03 We ultimately know that for a fact 54:06 that God will use that for good somehow, 54:08 and so our lives I believe as Christians 54:11 are not immune to storms. 54:13 It's just part of life. 54:15 But I think it's how we handle those storms, 54:17 how we communicate, trust God through those storms 54:20 that's just key and I think in my own life, 54:22 you know, we talked about having busy weeks 54:24 and you know just a little stresses 54:25 and it's just crazy when I think about the big things 54:27 in this earth that are going on and in lives, 54:30 personal things and I'm just like, 54:32 "God, why am I worrying about that?" 54:33 Just please help me. 54:36 Just and that's, my prayer is actually every day 54:39 and I sure struggle with this, 54:41 Lord, help me just to have the peace. 54:42 I know as I think about things in production, 54:44 different things like, oh, dear I get worried about this, 54:46 and I get worried about that but God says, 54:48 "Don't worry. I have it all taken care of." 54:50 So He's answering that prayer in my life 54:53 but it's a struggle of mine too to just cast it all on God 54:56 knowing that He cares for me. 54:58 But God is so good. 54:59 I think about the song Tim that I don't think 55:01 you didn't write that song "God is good" 55:03 but when you sit at the piano, sing that song, 55:07 you've ministered to me many times 55:08 with that God is good. 55:09 He is faithful. 55:11 And I love the part in it that talks about, 55:13 though I've had my share of hard times, 55:15 I wouldn't change him if I could. 55:17 The writer of that song actually her son, 55:21 died some way I'm not sure if it was self-inflicted 55:24 or not but anyway later on, 55:28 he shared with a friend who changed that to, 55:31 "Though have had my share of hard times, 55:36 I would probably change him if I could." 55:38 But I don't know, you know, because we go, 55:41 it's the hard times in life 55:42 that build us and make us, give us character, so. 55:47 And I love there's another song that says, 55:48 if it matters to me, it matters to God. 55:51 Isn't that incredible. 55:52 So it's just, just hold on, don't lose hope. 55:55 If you are praying for something that 55:56 you've not found an answer to, just keep on praying, hang on, 56:02 and keep believing, keep trusting in God 56:05 and don't fail Him, He won't fail you. 56:07 Draw near. 56:09 This is a perfect opportunity 56:10 for you to draw close to Him 56:12 and just rest in Him knowing He's got it controlled. 56:15 I mean how long has He been ruler of the world? 56:17 That's the beginning. 56:18 Right. Absolutely. 56:20 I can't believe that we got less than a minute left. 56:22 So we are going to have a short prayer 56:24 and then we will close. 56:25 Father, we just come before You 56:27 in the name of Jesus. 56:28 We just thank You that You are God of the universe, 56:31 and at the same time 56:32 You want to live within our heart, 56:34 that right now we ask for Your salvation, 56:37 we ask for Your grace, 56:38 we ask for Your anointing 56:40 for our brothers and sisters at home, 56:42 and we thank you in Jesus' name. 56:44 Amen. Thank you, Tim. Amen. 56:47 Thank you, Julia. Thank you Aleksei and Vadim. 56:51 And it's just been a privilege. 56:53 God wants to hear from each one of your hearts. 56:55 It is a privilege to have this Family Worship 56:58 with you at home. 57:00 Know that we encourage you to take everything, 57:03 everything that concerns you before the Lord in prayer. 57:06 He will change you and change your circumstances. 57:09 Bye, bye. |
Revised 2018-11-29