WEBVTT

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 I want to talk to you this morning about the need for convicted, confident, steadfast prayer wrestlers.

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 Wrestlers. That's why I said wrestlers.

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 Need for convicted, confident, steadfast prayer wrestlers, right?

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 I'm going to start with a quote from E.M. Bounds.

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 He says, this is not a praying age.

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 It is an age of great activity, of great movements,

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 but one in which the tendency is very strong to stress the seen and the material

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 and to neglect and discount the unseen and the spiritual.

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 Okay?

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 I can't stress enough the importance of prayer in the role of a church plant.

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 Okay?

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 I can't stress enough the importance of prayer as a role in the church plant.

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 Luke 10, verse 2.

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 Jesus said to his disciples, he said,

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 The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

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 Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

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 Okay?

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 A church plant, one of our goals is to win souls, is to go into an area, bring God's kingdom,

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 by seeing people converted to Jesus.

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 The Bible says the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

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 When you said yes to the church plant, you said, hey, I want to be one of those laborers.

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 I want to be a team of people that goes out into the harvest field.

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 But that statement that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, demands a specific action.

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 You think, well, it would demand that I be a laborer.

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 Yeah, it demands that you be a laborer.

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 But what is the response that he has?

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 He has a therefore there.

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 Whenever you see therefore, look what is before it to see what it's there for.

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 Okay?

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 The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

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 Therefore, pray earnestly.

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 Does the fact that there is a harvest that is plentiful and laborers that are not,

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 does that cause you to pray earnestly?

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 Are you praying earnestly for laborers, for us to be laborers who would go into the harvest field and reap a harvest?

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 Are you praying at all about it?

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 And if you are praying, are you praying earnestly?

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 Colossians 4.3, Paul says,

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 Pray also for us that God may open to us a door for the word to declare the mystery of Christ on account of which I am in prison.

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 As a church plant, we need to be praying into the work that God has us to do.

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 Praying that God would open doors for the word of God to be preached in such a way that people be saved.

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 Okay?

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 It's one thing to do the work of preaching the gospel.

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 That's just as important.

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 But we also need to realize this isn't just a physical act.

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 It's not just words being spoken.

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 There is a spiritual reality here.

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 And so we have to pray.

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 We have to pray that doors would be opened for the gospel.

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 In Acts 4.29-31, it says,

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 Now, Lord, look upon their threats.

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 This is the prayer they're praying.

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 Look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness.

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 While you stretch out your hand to heal,

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 and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

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 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken.

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 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

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 This should be our prayer as well.

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 Are we any less needy than the church in Acts 4?

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 I don't think we are, are we?

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 Do we need also to be filled with boldness?

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 Do we also need to be filled with the Spirit?

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 Grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness.

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 This should be our prayer as a church.

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 Okay?

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 We don't have no slick marketing campaign.

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 There's no social media campaign.

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 There's no slick sign.

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 There's no Holy Trinity of church planting with a bunch of dynamic speakers

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 and a slick children's program and a, you know, full band worship team of hired musicians.

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 We just have a ragtag group of people who love Jesus and who can be filled with the Spirit.

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 And who have prayer.

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 One of the greatest powerful weapons on the face of the planet.

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 I'm not talking about a nuclear weapon.

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 I'm talking about prayer.

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 I'm talking about prayer.

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 Grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness.

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 Is that your prayer?

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 Lord, grant us to speak your word with boldness.

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 It says, and when they had prayed, how did God, it says,

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 and while you stretch out your hand to heal and signs and wonders perform,

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 praying for power.

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 When they had prayed, it was shaken and they were all filled with the Spirit

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 and they continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

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 What does it say?

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 It says, God is faithful to answer prayer.

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 When you ask to speak the word with boldness, guess what he gives you?

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 He gives you his Holy Spirit so that you can speak the word with boldness.

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 He gives you his Holy Spirit so you can speak the word with boldness.

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 Are we trying to do church without a dependence on the Holy Spirit

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 to speak the word of God with boldness?

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 We cannot.

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 We must not.

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 We can't, you know, pray sometimes and not other times.

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 It has to be sustained.

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 There are many aspects of the work of planting a church,

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 but one of the most important has to be, it's got to be prayer.

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 Okay?

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 Got four points today that I want to hit on prayer.

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 Number one, we must possess a conviction of the necessity of prayer.

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 We must possess a conviction of the necessity of prayer.

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 When I said before, the harvest is plentiful, but the labors are few.

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 Therefore, pray earnestly.

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 What does the word earnest mean?

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 Dictionary definition is resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction.

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 When you think of prayer,

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 are you possessing sincere and intense conviction about prayer?

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 Or is it just something you do in a crisis?

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 Is it just something you do because there's a prayer meeting?

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 Is it just something that you do out of guilt?

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 Or are you earnest in prayer?

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 The Bible tells us to be earnest in prayer.

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 Earnestness in prayer is having sincere and intense conviction.

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 Do you have this about prayer?

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 Prayer is absolutely necessary.

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 You might say, why do I need to pray?

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 Well, let me give you two good reasons for it.

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 Number one, prayer is necessary because God is necessary.

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 That's good enough right there, right?

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 Do you need God?

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 Is God necessary?

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 Well, how do you apprehend all He is and all He has for us?

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 Prayer.

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 Prayer is necessary because God is necessary.

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 In Acts chapter 12, verse 5,

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 it says Peter was kept in prison,

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 but earnest prayer for Him was made to God by the church.

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 To God by the church.

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 That's prayer.

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 We're saying, God, we need you.

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 The church comes together and says, we need you.

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 We have vision to say, hey, we want to see people saved

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 in this area of town.

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 We left our church.

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 We were sent out of our church for a specific purpose,

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 and see God's kingdom in all of life together.

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 And that means seeing people get saved.

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 And so we preach the gospel.

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 We get our mission to people.

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 But let us not forget earnest prayer.

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 Earnest prayer for Him was made to God by the church.

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 It's earnest prayer for souls made to God by Christ's church.

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 It needs to be.

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 It needs to be.

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 Number two, prayer is necessary because God says so.

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 People don't like it when parents say,

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 when they ask, why do I have to do this?

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 And they say, because I said so.

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 Well, guess what?

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 When God says so, that's good enough reason.

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 You don't need another reason.

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 If God says so, that's all the reason you need.

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 God is God.

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 God is the authority.

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 And so when God says to do something,

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 we say, yes, sir.

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 When God says to do something, we say, yes, Lord.

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 When God says to do something, we say, yes, my king.

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 Well, then you might say, well,

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 isn't God going to do whatever He wants to do

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 because He is king and He is Lord and He is sovereign?

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 Isn't He just going to do whatever He wants to do anyways?

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 Well, let's look at what the Bible says.

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 James 4, verse 2.

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 Ready?

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 This is, you don't get much more simpler than this.

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 You don't have because you don't ask.

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 Why don't you have?

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 Because you don't ask.

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 Is prayer necessary?

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 Yes.

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 The last thing I would want to be on my tombstone

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 would be, here lies Josh Christopherson.

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 He did not have.

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 Why?

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 Because he didn't ask.

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 That'll be the only reason.

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 If I didn't have, it's because I didn't ask.

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 I want to be someone who's convicted,

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 who's sincere and intense conviction,

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 that I have to ask.

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 Because that's the way God set it up.

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 Wasn't God going to do it anyways?

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 No, He set it up to not do it.

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 Except through the prayers of the saints.

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 Now, He'll still get His prayers.

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 If He doesn't get it through you,

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 He'll get it for someone else.

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 But I don't want Him to get it through someone else.

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 I want Him to get it through me.

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 I want to be the guy who's praying.

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 I want to be the church that's praying.

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 Do you want to be that church?

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 Are we that church?

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 You don't have because you don't ask.

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 1 Samuel 12, 23 takes it up a notch.

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 He says,

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 He says,

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 He says,

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 He says,

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 He says,

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 If I cease to pray for you,

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 that would be a sin.

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 Do we ever regard prayerlessness as sin?

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 Do we ever regard failing to watch,

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 failing to be faithful in prayer

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 as an actual sin that needs to be repented of?

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 When's the last time we went to the Lord and said,

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 God, forgive me.

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 I have sinned,

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 for I have ceased to pray.

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 I have not prayed.

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 Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord

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 by ceasing to pray for you.

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 Do you see the language He's using there?

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 Far be it from me.

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 Is this something that's far from you,

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 or is it a little too close?

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 It's a little too close that we cease to pray for people.

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 He says,

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 Far be it from me.

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 Like, I don't want this even in the vicinity of me.

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 And we, as a church,

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 say,

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 we don't even want prayerlessness

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 to be even in the vicinity of Christ's church.

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 Can we have that conviction?

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 We must.

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 Who's going to lead in that?

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 Who's going to be an example in that?

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 Who's going to be faithful in that?

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 Matthew 7, 11,

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 If you then who are evil

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 know how to give good gifts to your children,

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 how much more will your Father,

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 who is in heaven,

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 give good things to who?

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 Those who ask Him.

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 Those who ask Him.

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 Those who ask Him.

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 Okay?

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 I'm going to give you two examples of,

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 I'm going to drill down on this a little bit more,

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 because I think sometimes we say,

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 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

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 Yeah, Josh, I know, I know.

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 I'm supposed to pray.

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 I get it.

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 I don't pray enough.

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 I get it.

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 I want to drill down a little bit more,

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 look at more scriptures.

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 I want to look at Elijah,

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 and I want to look at Daniel, okay?

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 On this first point of having a conviction

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 for the necessity of prayer.

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 Okay?

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 Elijah,

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 first example.

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 We're going to go to 1 Kings 18,

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 starting in verse 1.

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 This is the story of Elijah.

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 It says,

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 After a long time,

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 the word of the Lord

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 came to Elijah in the third year.

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 Go present yourself to Ahab.

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 I will send rain on the surface of the land.

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 Okay, did you hear that?

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 What did he say he was going to do?

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 He said,

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 I'm going to send rain

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 on the surface of the land.

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 So done deal, right?

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 I mean, God said it.

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 I don't need to do anything, right?

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 Didn't God say it?

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 Don't I just like sit back now

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 and watch the rain come?

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 Get out my umbrella,

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 sit outside,

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 start waiting for it?

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 Well, what does he do?

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 1 Kings 18,

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 later on,

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 41 to 45,

00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:44.579
 Elijah says to Ahab,

00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:45.799
 Go up and eat and drink,

00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:47.579
 for there is the sound of a rainstorm.

00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:50.299
 So Ahab went to eat and drink,

00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:53.779
 but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel.

00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:55.980
 He bent down on the ground

00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:57.840
 and put his face between his knees.

00:12:59.259 --> 00:13:01.259
 Is that just the way he likes to sit?

00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:03.720
 What is he doing?

00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:05.179
 He's praying.

00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:06.220
 How do we know that?

00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:07.700
 James 5 tells us.

00:13:08.580 --> 00:13:09.720
 James 5 tells us.

00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:10.860
 So he goes,

00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:12.919
 I thought God said.

00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:15.019
 I thought it says he's going to send rain

00:13:15.019 --> 00:13:15.819
 on the surface of the earth.

00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:18.840
 Why doesn't he just sit and wait for it?

00:13:19.980 --> 00:13:21.799
 No, he bends down onto the ground

00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:23.819
 and puts his face between his knees.

00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:25.000
 Then he said to his servant,

00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:26.240
 Go up and look toward the sea.

00:13:26.620 --> 00:13:27.220
 So he went up,

00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:27.759
 looked and said,

00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:28.340
 There's nothing.

00:13:28.340 --> 00:13:32.700
 Seven times Elijah said,

00:13:32.780 --> 00:13:33.200
 Go back.

00:13:34.019 --> 00:13:35.200
 So they're just repeating this.

00:13:35.280 --> 00:13:35.780
 He's praying.

00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:36.740
 Go back, check.

00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:37.460
 Nope, not yet.

00:13:37.540 --> 00:13:38.040
 No rain yet.

00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:38.300
 Okay.

00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:40.060
 On the seventh time he reported,

00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:42.080
 There's a cloud as small as a man's hand

00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:43.120
 coming up from the sea.

00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:44.519
 Then Elijah said,

00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:45.320
 Go and tell Ahab,

00:13:45.420 --> 00:13:46.780
 Get your chariot ready and go down

00:13:46.780 --> 00:13:48.500
 so the rain doesn't stop you.

00:13:49.040 --> 00:13:49.580
 In a little while,

00:13:49.660 --> 00:13:51.580
 the sky grew dark with clouds and wind

00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:53.100
 and there was a downtour.

00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:55.280
 So Ahab got in his chariot

00:13:55.280 --> 00:13:56.240
 and went to Jezreel.

00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:59.220
 James 5, 16 to 18,

00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:01.680
 the CSB gives us a little more insight into this.

00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:03.419
 I love it when the New Testament

00:14:03.419 --> 00:14:06.019
 gives a commentary on the old.

00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:08.340
 It's fun because you get to see something.

00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:11.399
 God is giving commentary on his own word,

00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:12.240
 which is pretty awesome.

00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:14.299
 So you don't have to try and figure it out.

00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:16.060
 Just what does God have to say about his word?

00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:17.720
 It's one of the best ways to interpret the word

00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:19.419
 is with the word.

00:14:19.700 --> 00:14:19.860
 Okay.

00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:22.700
 So James 5, verse 16 says,

00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:24.360
 The prayer of a righteous person

00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:27.160
 is very powerful in its effect.

00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:31.080
 Elijah was a human being as we are

00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:34.820
 and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain

00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:36.860
 and for three years and six months

00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:37.900
 it did not rain in the land.

00:14:38.280 --> 00:14:40.480
 Then he prayed again

00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:42.020
 and the sky gave rain

00:14:42.020 --> 00:14:43.600
 and the land produced its fruit.

00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:45.220
 So which is it?

00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:47.220
 If God said to do it,

00:14:47.780 --> 00:14:48.960
 isn't that all we need to do?

00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:50.640
 Or do we need to pray as well?

00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:52.559
 Well, what did Elijah do?

00:14:53.819 --> 00:14:54.600
 He prayed.

00:14:54.699 --> 00:14:55.819
 He heard the word of the Lord.

00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:57.120
 He heard what?

00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:59.199
 The revealed will of the Lord.

00:14:59.899 --> 00:15:00.319
 And he said,

00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.439
 Oh, that's God's will.

00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:04.299
 Whenever a Christian hears God's will,

00:15:04.699 --> 00:15:05.720
 knows God's will,

00:15:05.939 --> 00:15:07.480
 he now has a responsibility

00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:10.199
 to pray God's will.

00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:13.059
 And 1 John 5, verse 14 says,

00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:15.159
 If we ask anything according to his will,

00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:16.240
 he hears us.

00:15:16.299 --> 00:15:17.279
 And if he hears us,

00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:18.539
 then we have what we asked.

00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:21.759
 So this is the confidence we have in prayer.

00:15:21.839 --> 00:15:22.279
 That's what it says.

00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:23.579
 1 John 5, 14.

00:15:23.719 --> 00:15:24.899
 So that's what Elijah did.

00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:27.559
 He didn't take the God's will

00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:29.279
 to see something happen

00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:29.860
 as,

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.620
 Oh, it's time to,

00:15:30.819 --> 00:15:32.159
 it's Rancho Relaxo here.

00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:33.959
 I'm just going to wait for it to happen.

00:15:34.319 --> 00:15:36.579
 No, he took it as a call to prayer.

00:15:37.299 --> 00:15:37.919
 Do you?

00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:42.120
 You know that God led us to this church.

00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:44.299
 Are you just waiting for it to happen now?

00:15:44.299 --> 00:15:46.399
 Or do you take your involvement,

00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:47.719
 your call to this church

00:15:47.719 --> 00:15:48.659
 as a call to prayer?

00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:51.620
 God wants to raise up a church.

00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:52.759
 All right, I'm going to sit around

00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:53.679
 and wait for it to happen.

00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:54.439
 No!

00:15:54.939 --> 00:15:55.179
 Pray.

00:15:56.599 --> 00:15:57.519
 It's time to pray.

00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:58.419
 Just like Elijah.

00:15:58.759 --> 00:15:59.579
 Hey, it's going to rain.

00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:01.620
 Elijah prays seven times.

00:16:01.699 --> 00:16:02.359
 He keeps praying.

00:16:02.699 --> 00:16:03.639
 And then it downpours.

00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.919
 He was a man just like us,

00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.979
 says James 5.

00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.139
 Just like us.

00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:10.679
 But how did he pray?

00:16:10.839 --> 00:16:11.699
 He prayed earnestly.

00:16:11.700 --> 00:16:12.700
 What does it mean to be earnest?

00:16:12.800 --> 00:16:14.720
 To have sincere conviction.

00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:18.060
 Do you have sincere conviction in prayer?

00:16:19.780 --> 00:16:21.660
 Let's look at the second example with Daniel.

00:16:22.020 --> 00:16:22.200
 Okay?

00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:23.900
 Daniel chapter 9.

00:16:24.820 --> 00:16:25.900
 Starting in verse 1.

00:16:26.680 --> 00:16:27.620
 In the first year of Darius,

00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.320
 the son of,

00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:29.740
 oh boy,

00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:32.200
 the son of Ahasuerus.

00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:33.640
 Sounds like a dinosaur.

00:16:35.140 --> 00:16:36.440
 In the first year of Darius,

00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:37.759
 the son of Ahasuerus,

00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:39.240
 a Mede by birth,

00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:41.300
 who was made king over the Chaldean kingdom,

00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:43.000
 in the first year of his reign,

00:16:43.140 --> 00:16:43.700
 I, Daniel,

00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:45.080
 understood from the books,

00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.420
 according to the word of the Lord,

00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:47.680
 to the prophet Jeremiah.

00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:48.720
 Okay?

00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:49.900
 So he's reading Jeremiah.

00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:52.580
 And it says that the number of years

00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:54.180
 for the desolation of Jerusalem

00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:55.540
 would be 70.

00:16:56.680 --> 00:16:58.900
 So I turned my attention to the Lord God

00:16:58.900 --> 00:17:01.660
 to seek him by prayer and petitions

00:17:01.660 --> 00:17:02.800
 with fasting,

00:17:03.280 --> 00:17:03.860
 sackcloth,

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:04.680
 and ashes.

00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:06.340
 Same thing, right?

00:17:06.939 --> 00:17:07.539
 He's reading.

00:17:09.939 --> 00:17:11.119
 He's reading in Jeremiah.

00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:14.559
 And it's saying how long

00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:16.819
 the time of desolation would be.

00:17:16.879 --> 00:17:17.220
 And he says,

00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:18.839
 oh, it's 70 years.

00:17:19.919 --> 00:17:21.019
 So does Daniel,

00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:22.139
 you know,

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:24.000
 pop open a bottle of wine

00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:24.359
 and say,

00:17:24.459 --> 00:17:24.779
 hey,

00:17:25.179 --> 00:17:26.459
 the desolation's gonna end.

00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.119
 This is awesome.

00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:29.399
 And just chill out

00:17:29.399 --> 00:17:30.439
 and wait for it to come?

00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:32.080
 No.

00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.559
 Verse three says,

00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:36.440
 so I turned my attention

00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:37.440
 to the Lord God

00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:39.440
 to seek him by prayer,

00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:42.160
 petitions,

00:17:42.660 --> 00:17:44.500
 which is a specific kind of prayer

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:46.080
 where we're asking him for things,

00:17:46.620 --> 00:17:47.460
 with fasting,

00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:48.299
 sackcloth,

00:17:48.600 --> 00:17:49.259
 and ashes.

00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:50.900
 This is intense prayer.

00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:52.360
 Again,

00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:53.779
 why didn't he just wait for it to happen?

00:17:53.860 --> 00:17:55.000
 Isn't God just gonna do it?

00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:56.740
 It says in Jeremiah

00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.600
 he's gonna do it.

00:17:58.080 --> 00:17:58.940
 What does he do?

00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:00.299
 He prays.

00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.860
 He doesn't just wait for it.

00:18:03.100 --> 00:18:04.500
 He's actively involved

00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.960
 in seeing the will of the Lord

00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:06.779
 done through prayer.

00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:07.900
 The will of the Lord

00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:09.220
 is revealed in the word of God

00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:10.380
 to Daniel.

00:18:11.100 --> 00:18:11.779
 He hears,

00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:12.279
 oh,

00:18:12.340 --> 00:18:13.220
 this is God's will

00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:14.720
 and then knows immediately

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:15.860
 that my responsibility

00:18:15.860 --> 00:18:17.000
 as a Christian

00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:18.360
 when I hear that something

00:18:18.360 --> 00:18:19.100
 is God's will

00:18:19.100 --> 00:18:20.860
 is to now pray it into existence.

00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:23.580
 You might say,

00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:23.779
 well,

00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:25.200
 God doesn't need you to do that.

00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.000
 He doesn't,

00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:26.740
 but he chose to.

00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:28.340
 God doesn't need anything

00:18:28.340 --> 00:18:29.080
 from anybody.

00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:29.960
 He is totally

00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:30.879
 and fully

00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:32.039
 self-sufficient.

00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:33.399
 So what?

00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.419
 What does that have to do anything?

00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:35.980
 He can choose to involve people

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:36.899
 because he loves them.

00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.679
 Don't let this weird,

00:18:39.899 --> 00:18:40.319
 hyper

00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:42.759
 view of God's sovereignty

00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:43.779
 keep you from doing

00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.619
 your work in prayer.

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:48.019
 God has chosen

00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:50.679
 to execute his will

00:18:50.679 --> 00:18:51.159
 on the earth

00:18:51.159 --> 00:18:51.799
 through the prayers

00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:52.460
 of the saints.

00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:54.879
 He gives us his intent,

00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.460
 his will.

00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:56.880
 It's in his word.

00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:58.019
 We have a full book

00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:58.720
 of all the things

00:18:58.720 --> 00:18:59.660
 God wants to do

00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:01.160
 and it's our job then

00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:02.440
 to pray those things

00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:03.519
 and as a church

00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:04.680
 we need to be a praying church.

00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:05.940
 Okay?

00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.539
 Daniel chapter,

00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:09.519
 and if that wasn't enough,

00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:10.620
 we get a little picture

00:19:10.620 --> 00:19:11.180
 of what happened

00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:12.059
 when Daniel prayed, right?

00:19:12.100 --> 00:19:12.660
 Let's look at that.

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.360
 Daniel 10,

00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.380
 the next chapter,

00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.539
 verse 10 to 14,

00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:17.559
 suddenly a hand touched me

00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:18.400
 and set me shaking

00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:19.519
 on my hands and knees.

00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:20.660
 Okay?

00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:21.279
 He was fasting

00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:22.519
 and praying for 21 days.

00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:23.559
 He said to me,

00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:24.460
 Daniel, you are a man

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.339
 treasured by God.

00:19:25.659 --> 00:19:26.659
 An angel came to him.

00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:27.779
 You are a man

00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.579
 treasured by God.

00:19:28.679 --> 00:19:29.399
 Understand the words

00:19:29.399 --> 00:19:30.159
 I am saying to you.

00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:31.359
 Stand on your feet

00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:32.639
 for I have now been sent to you.

00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:34.200
 After he said this to me,

00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:35.000
 I stood trembling.

00:19:35.679 --> 00:19:36.639
 Don't be afraid, Daniel,

00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:37.339
 he said to me.

00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:39.559
 Listen to this.

00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:41.359
 For from the first day

00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:42.179
 that you purposed

00:19:42.179 --> 00:19:43.059
 to understand

00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:44.519
 and to humble yourself

00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:45.399
 before your God,

00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:46.700
 your prayers

00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:48.599
 were heard.

00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:51.200
 I have come because

00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:53.000
 of your prayers.

00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:54.160
 What a statement.

00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:55.759
 Isn't that amazing?

00:19:57.339 --> 00:19:58.220
 The angel came

00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:59.279
 because of his prayers.

00:20:00.380 --> 00:20:00.900
 But the prince

00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:02.059
 of the kingdom of Persia

00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:02.799
 opposed me

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.880
 for 21 days.

00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:05.119
 Then Michael,

00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:06.079
 one of the chief princes,

00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:06.880
 came to help me

00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:07.980
 after I had been left there

00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:09.380
 with the kings of Persia.

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.299
 Now I have come

00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:11.180
 to help you understand

00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:11.700
 what will happen

00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:12.160
 to your people

00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:12.859
 in the last days.

00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:14.160
 His prayers

00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:15.400
 were moving angels.

00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.079
 His prayers

00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:17.180
 were doing battle

00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:18.940
 in the supernatural.

00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:20.079
 Our battle is not

00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:21.000
 against flesh and blood,

00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:23.339
 but against powers

00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:23.980
 and principalities.

00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:24.720
 Here's an example

00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:25.539
 of that right there.

00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:27.740
 Daniel's prayers

00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:29.559
 were moving angels.

00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:31.420
 That should build

00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:32.000
 our faith.

00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.480
 The prayer

00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:34.900
 of a righteous man

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.880
 is powerful

00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:36.400
 and effective,

00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:37.400
 it said in James 5.

00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:38.960
 Okay?

00:20:39.140 --> 00:20:40.279
 So that first point,

00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:41.680
 we must have

00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.339
 a conviction

00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:43.299
 of the need

00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:44.900
 for prayer.

00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:46.900
 Number two,

00:20:47.320 --> 00:20:48.019
 we must wrestle

00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:48.500
 in prayer.

00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:49.920
 Okay?

00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:52.140
 We see this example

00:20:52.140 --> 00:20:53.340
 of Epaphras

00:20:53.340 --> 00:20:54.400
 in Colossians 4.

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.759
 In the CSB,

00:20:55.820 --> 00:20:56.720
 I love this language.

00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:57.980
 In the ESV,

00:20:58.060 --> 00:20:58.780
 it says struggled.

00:20:59.560 --> 00:21:00.720
 But in the CSB,

00:21:00.780 --> 00:21:01.680
 it says he's always

00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.960
 wrestling for you

00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:05.000
 in his prayers

00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:06.160
 so that you can

00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:06.759
 stand mature

00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:07.480
 and fully assured

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.340
 in everything God wills.

00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:09.900
 He is always wrestling

00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:11.320
 for you in your prayers.

00:21:11.580 --> 00:21:12.340
 Have you ever wrestled

00:21:12.340 --> 00:21:13.080
 with God in prayer?

00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:16.899
 When you think

00:21:16.899 --> 00:21:17.740
 of the word wrestling,

00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:20.419
 this isn't,

00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:21.519
 oh God,

00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:23.539
 thank you for this day

00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:25.519
 and I pray

00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:26.720
 that it would go good

00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.419
 and we'd have fun.

00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:27.819
 Amen.

00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:29.839
 Right?

00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:31.500
 That's not wrestling.

00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:32.539
 Have you ever seen

00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.359
 a wrestling match?

00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:35.439
 Just watched

00:21:35.439 --> 00:21:36.699
 the college

00:21:36.699 --> 00:21:38.519
 NCAA championships

00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:39.759
 last week.

00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:41.179
 Man,

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.539
 these guys are aggressive.

00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.720
 These guys are aggressive.

00:21:44.919 --> 00:21:45.679
 These are some of the best

00:21:45.679 --> 00:21:46.619
 wrestlers in the world.

00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:48.059
 Okay?

00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:51.259
 They don't just come up

00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:51.659
 in there and say,

00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:52.179
 oh, hey,

00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:52.819
 how's it going?

00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.240
 You know,

00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:55.099
 let's wrestle.

00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:56.319
 No,

00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.299
 they want to destroy

00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:58.099
 that other person.

00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.740
 They are there

00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.639
 to destroy them.

00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:01.099
 They are there

00:22:01.099 --> 00:22:02.159
 to conquer them,

00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:03.539
 to completely defeat them.

00:22:03.679 --> 00:22:04.619
 When you wrestle,

00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:05.599
 you are aggressive.

00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:08.019
 Epaphras was like this

00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:08.460
 in prayer.

00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:10.319
 He was wrestling

00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.079
 in prayer

00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:13.539
 for the church

00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:14.460
 in Colossae.

00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:15.620
 He was wrestling

00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:16.140
 for them.

00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.660
 Have you ever

00:22:17.660 --> 00:22:18.680
 wrestled in prayer

00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:21.140
 for Christ's church?

00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:22.860
 Now,

00:22:22.900 --> 00:22:23.500
 I know you've prayed.

00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:24.240
 I've heard you pray

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.200
 and I love when you pray.

00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:26.880
 I love hearing us

00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:27.680
 all pray together.

00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:28.779
 I know that you guys

00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:29.900
 pray outside of our

00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:30.380
 prayer meetings,

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.299
 but let me ask you

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:31.700
 a question.

00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:33.160
 Have you ever

00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:34.620
 wrestled with God

00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:35.940
 together for

00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:37.779
 Christ's church?

00:22:37.860 --> 00:22:38.480
 You're saying,

00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:40.420
 these things must happen.

00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:43.039
 These things have to happen.

00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.759
 What does that look like?

00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.180
 Genesis 32,

00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:48.220
 verse 26.

00:22:49.580 --> 00:22:49.980
 Jacob,

00:22:50.900 --> 00:22:51.620
 you know the story

00:22:51.620 --> 00:22:52.340
 where Jacob wrestled

00:22:52.340 --> 00:22:52.779
 with God?

00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:54.500
 He says,

00:22:54.600 --> 00:22:55.080
 let me go.

00:22:56.080 --> 00:22:57.100
 The angel of the Lord

00:22:57.100 --> 00:22:57.340
 was saying,

00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:57.819
 let me go

00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:58.759
 for the day is broken.

00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:00.039
 But Jacob said,

00:23:00.120 --> 00:23:01.259
 I will not let you go

00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.240
 unless you bless me.

00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:03.579
 And there he blessed him.

00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:04.460
 You know what

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:05.440
 wrestling looks like?

00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:07.240
 Losea 12,

00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:07.680
 3 says,

00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.619
 Jacob wrestled

00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:09.180
 with God.

00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:10.279
 You know what

00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.160
 wrestling looks like?

00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.519
 Wrestling looks like,

00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:13.980
 I will not let you go

00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.839
 until you bless me.

00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.200
 That's wrestling.

00:23:17.619 --> 00:23:17.839
 Like,

00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:19.180
 I will not let you go.

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:19.519
 God,

00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:20.900
 I will not let you go

00:23:20.900 --> 00:23:21.500
 until you bless

00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.119
 Christ's church.

00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:23.039
 God,

00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:24.599
 I want to apprehend you

00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.859
 and I'm not letting you go

00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:26.759
 until you bless

00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.319
 Christ's church

00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:28.200
 with souls.

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.740
 Until you raise her up

00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.700
 on a sure foundation.

00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:32.279
 Until you bring

00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:33.200
 lost people

00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:34.340
 in the darkness

00:23:34.340 --> 00:23:35.259
 into the light.

00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:37.100
 Do you rescue them

00:23:37.100 --> 00:23:37.640
 from darkness

00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:38.680
 and set them

00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:39.740
 on a sure foundation?

00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:43.080
 You pray like that.

00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.559
 Hebrews 10,

00:23:44.620 --> 00:23:45.819
 19 to 23 says,

00:23:45.900 --> 00:23:46.580
 therefore brothers,

00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:48.160
 since we have confidence

00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:49.559
 to enter the holy place

00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:51.019
 by the blood of Jesus,

00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:52.120
 by the new and living way

00:23:52.120 --> 00:23:53.080
 that he opened up for us

00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:53.759
 through the curtain

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:55.279
 that is through his flesh,

00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:55.799
 and since we have

00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.620
 a great priest

00:23:56.620 --> 00:23:58.319
 over the house of God,

00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.740
 let us draw near

00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:01.099
 with a true heart

00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:03.079
 in full assurance

00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:04.179
 of faith.

00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:05.240
 With our hearts

00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:05.939
 sprinkled clean

00:24:05.939 --> 00:24:07.299
 from an evil conscience

00:24:07.299 --> 00:24:08.339
 and our bodies

00:24:08.339 --> 00:24:09.439
 washed with pure water,

00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.599
 let us hold fast

00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:11.200
 the confession

00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:11.759
 of our hope

00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:13.159
 without wavering

00:24:13.159 --> 00:24:14.500
 for he who promised

00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:15.079
 is faithful.

00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.779
 Do you have full assurance

00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.740
 of faith when you pray?

00:24:18.679 --> 00:24:19.919
 Do you hold fast

00:24:19.919 --> 00:24:20.700
 the confession

00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.299
 of your hope

00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:22.939
 without wavering?

00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:24.480
 Why?

00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:25.620
 For he who promised

00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:26.200
 is faithful.

00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:27.840
 For he who promised

00:24:27.840 --> 00:24:28.460
 is faithful.

00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:29.519
 We can wrestle

00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:30.160
 with God in prayer

00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:30.740
 because we know

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.440
 he's faithful.

00:24:31.820 --> 00:24:32.900
 We know he is faithful

00:24:32.900 --> 00:24:34.380
 to answer those prayers.

00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:36.640
 What does hold fast mean?

00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:38.120
 Holding fast

00:24:38.120 --> 00:24:39.759
 means I will not

00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.480
 let you go.

00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:42.200
 I will not let you go

00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:42.900
 is what wrestling

00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:43.880
 and prayer looks like.

00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:45.740
 Holding fast.

00:24:46.120 --> 00:24:47.000
 You're holding fast

00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.740
 to who God is.

00:24:47.820 --> 00:24:48.460
 You're holding fast

00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:49.240
 to God himself.

00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:50.180
 You're saying

00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:51.680
 the one who promised

00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:52.279
 is faithful.

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.539
 God you said

00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:54.799
 you said

00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:55.379
 that the harvest

00:24:55.379 --> 00:24:55.879
 is plentiful

00:24:55.879 --> 00:24:56.379
 but the workers

00:24:56.379 --> 00:24:56.720
 are few

00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.960
 and that if we prayed

00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:59.539
 for workers

00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:01.039
 you'd bring them.

00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:02.139
 You said oh God

00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:04.519
 that if I draw near to you

00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:05.960
 you would draw near to me.

00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.180
 You said God

00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:08.160
 it's holding God

00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:08.799
 to his word.

00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.299
 Don't ever be afraid

00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:10.819
 to hold God

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:11.259
 to his word.

00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:12.059
 Don't ever be afraid

00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:13.180
 to be bold in prayer

00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:15.160
 without wavering

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:16.019
 and full assurance

00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:16.539
 of faith

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:17.680
 because he who promised

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.240
 is faithful.

00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:20.859
 But prayer

00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:22.939
 the way God

00:25:22.939 --> 00:25:24.439
 is described

00:25:24.439 --> 00:25:25.099
 in the scriptures

00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:25.579
 is prayer

00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.479
 that is wrestling

00:25:26.479 --> 00:25:27.359
 and it doesn't let go.

00:25:28.099 --> 00:25:29.000
 It doesn't let go.

00:25:29.959 --> 00:25:30.759
 Number three

00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:32.259
 we must be confident

00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:32.779
 in prayer.

00:25:33.939 --> 00:25:34.479
 James 1

00:25:34.479 --> 00:25:35.000
 5

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:35.759
 through 8

00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:35.979
 says

00:25:35.979 --> 00:25:36.399
 if any of you

00:25:36.399 --> 00:25:37.079
 lacks wisdom

00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:38.339
 what should you do?

00:25:38.899 --> 00:25:39.879
 Let him ask God.

00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:40.699
 Okay

00:25:40.699 --> 00:25:41.779
 same concept again.

00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:42.979
 Who gives generously

00:25:42.979 --> 00:25:44.119
 to all without reproach

00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:45.359
 and it will be given to him.

00:25:46.199 --> 00:25:46.439
 Again

00:25:46.439 --> 00:25:47.219
 there's a promise.

00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:49.500
 When you see these promises

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.100
 you say

00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:50.819
 alright

00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:52.460
 I can hold on to that one.

00:25:52.860 --> 00:25:53.279
 If any of you

00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:53.960
 lacks wisdom

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:55.000
 where do you go?

00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:56.100
 Let him ask God.

00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.400
 And then what's going to happen?

00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.440
 He gives generously

00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:59.559
 to all without reproach

00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:02.500
 and it will be given him.

00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:03.360
 Not it might

00:26:03.360 --> 00:26:04.500
 not hopefully it will

00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.680
 it will be given him.

00:26:05.860 --> 00:26:06.600
 You lack wisdom?

00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.799
 You know what the Bible says

00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:10.460
 he who wins souls is wise?

00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.819
 Are you winning souls?

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:13.539
 If you're not winning souls

00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.539
 you may lack wisdom.

00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.640
 If you lack wisdom

00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.200
 where do you go?

00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:16.860
 You go to God.

00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:17.919
 And if you go to God

00:26:17.919 --> 00:26:18.779
 and ask for wisdom

00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.719
 what does it say?

00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:22.519
 It will be given him.

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:23.959
 You believe that.

00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:26.000
 You believe that.

00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:26.979
 God

00:26:26.979 --> 00:26:27.779
 you promised.

00:26:28.219 --> 00:26:28.599
 You said

00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.699
 if I asked

00:26:29.699 --> 00:26:30.339
 for wisdom

00:26:30.339 --> 00:26:31.539
 it would be given to me.

00:26:31.679 --> 00:26:32.419
 I need wisdom

00:26:32.419 --> 00:26:33.240
 to win souls.

00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:34.859
 I pray that often.

00:26:34.959 --> 00:26:35.139
 I say

00:26:35.139 --> 00:26:36.179
 God give me the wisdom

00:26:36.179 --> 00:26:36.959
 to win souls.

00:26:37.219 --> 00:26:38.639
 I want to see souls saved.

00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:39.859
 You promised.

00:26:41.159 --> 00:26:42.119
 But when you ask

00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:43.219
 let him ask in faith

00:26:43.219 --> 00:26:43.959
 without doubting

00:26:43.959 --> 00:26:44.799
 for the one who doubts

00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.799
 is like a wave of the sea

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.379
 that is driven

00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:47.880
 and tossed by the wind.

00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:49.360
 That person

00:26:49.360 --> 00:26:50.140
 must not supposedly

00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:50.940
 receive anything

00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:51.580
 from the Lord.

00:26:52.040 --> 00:26:53.240
 He's a double-minded man

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:53.820
 and unstable

00:26:53.820 --> 00:26:54.720
 in all his ways.

00:26:55.520 --> 00:26:56.840
 We can't be double-minded.

00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:58.880
 God's not pleased.

00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.500
 Without faith

00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:00.140
 it's impossible

00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:01.060
 to please God.

00:27:02.340 --> 00:27:03.180
 Hebrews 11.6

00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:03.920
 says you must believe

00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.540
 that he exists

00:27:04.540 --> 00:27:05.920
 and that he's a rewarder.

00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:06.740
 Do you know

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.520
 that it does not

00:27:07.520 --> 00:27:08.120
 please God

00:27:08.120 --> 00:27:08.700
 to go to him

00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.280
 and not believe

00:27:09.280 --> 00:27:09.780
 that he's going to

00:27:09.780 --> 00:27:10.660
 give you a reward?

00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:12.700
 You know that's not pleasing?

00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:13.880
 But I prayed.

00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:14.440
 So what?

00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.340
 You didn't pray in faith

00:27:15.340 --> 00:27:16.200
 and without faith

00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:16.819
 it's impossible

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.559
 to please God.

00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.860
 You can't just believe

00:27:18.860 --> 00:27:19.319
 he exists.

00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.259
 You have to believe

00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:21.400
 that he rewards you.

00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:23.740
 Otherwise it's not pleasing.

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:27.720
 Romans 4.19-21

00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.259
 it says

00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:32.039
 this is about

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.500
 what we just

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.180
 we just read

00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:33.640
 with the kids

00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:34.080
 with Adam.

00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.360
 It says

00:27:35.360 --> 00:27:36.400
 he did not weaken

00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:37.180
 in faith

00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:38.259
 when he considered

00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:39.000
 his own body

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.720
 which was as good

00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:40.200
 as dead

00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:41.100
 since he was

00:27:41.100 --> 00:27:42.340
 about a hundred years old

00:27:42.340 --> 00:27:43.960
 or when he considered

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.519
 the barrenness

00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.340
 of Sarah's womb

00:27:45.340 --> 00:27:46.819
 no unbelief

00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:47.799
 made him waver

00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:49.080
 concerning the promise

00:27:49.080 --> 00:27:49.700
 of God

00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:51.640
 but he grew strong

00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:52.360
 in his faith

00:27:52.360 --> 00:27:53.680
 as he gave glory

00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.220
 to God

00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:55.319
 fully convinced

00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:56.160
 that God was able

00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:57.240
 to do what he had promised.

00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.140
 Oh my gosh

00:27:58.140 --> 00:27:58.779
 that's so good.

00:27:59.519 --> 00:27:59.700
 Right?

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:01.240
 No unbelief

00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:02.440
 made him waver

00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:03.740
 concerning the promise

00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.180
 of God.

00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.160
 This is wrestling

00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:06.240
 this is saying

00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:06.799
 listen

00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:07.900
 I am going to be

00:28:07.900 --> 00:28:08.620
 confident in prayer.

00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:09.620
 No unbelief

00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:10.140
 is going to make

00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:10.640
 me waver.

00:28:11.060 --> 00:28:11.900
 He said it

00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.560
 it's going to come

00:28:12.560 --> 00:28:12.980
 to pass.

00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:13.980
 His promise

00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:14.720
 is faithful

00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:15.800
 I am not going

00:28:15.800 --> 00:28:16.280
 to waver

00:28:16.280 --> 00:28:17.020
 in unbelief

00:28:17.020 --> 00:28:17.560
 concerning the

00:28:17.560 --> 00:28:18.280
 promise of God.

00:28:19.380 --> 00:28:19.780
 Actually

00:28:19.780 --> 00:28:20.320
 I'm going to grow

00:28:20.320 --> 00:28:21.220
 strong in my faith.

00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:22.120
 How?

00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:23.200
 As he gave glory

00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:23.520
 to God.

00:28:23.600 --> 00:28:24.220
 Why do we worship

00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:25.000
 God in song

00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:25.500
 every week?

00:28:26.780 --> 00:28:27.860
 Well the main reason

00:28:27.860 --> 00:28:28.600
 is because he's worthy

00:28:28.600 --> 00:28:29.020
 but you know

00:28:29.020 --> 00:28:29.740
 what else it does?

00:28:30.320 --> 00:28:31.320
 When we give glory

00:28:31.320 --> 00:28:31.700
 to God

00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:32.500
 we grow strong

00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.120
 in our faith.

00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.560
 We grow strong

00:28:34.560 --> 00:28:35.040
 in our faith

00:28:35.040 --> 00:28:35.640
 and we declare

00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:36.380
 who he is

00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:37.500
 and what he's done

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.280
 and we take

00:28:38.280 --> 00:28:38.960
 to the Lord's table

00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.460
 every week

00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:39.960
 and we declare

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:40.860
 who he is

00:28:40.860 --> 00:28:41.559
 and what he's done.

00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.579
 We put our identity

00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:43.140
 in the person

00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:43.940
 and the work of Jesus.

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:45.819
 We stand on it.

00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:47.240
 We declare it.

00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.579
 We boldly proclaim it.

00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:49.279
 We sing it.

00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:50.799
 We grow strong

00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:51.259
 in our faith

00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:52.380
 as we glorify God.

00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:54.220
 How convinced?

00:28:54.380 --> 00:28:55.019
 Fully convinced

00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:55.579
 that God

00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:56.759
 was able to do

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.559
 what he had promised.

00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.819
 Are you fully convinced?

00:28:58.819 --> 00:29:00.879
 Are we fully convinced

00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:01.379
 as a church

00:29:01.379 --> 00:29:01.759
 that God

00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.220
 is able

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:03.639
 to do

00:29:03.639 --> 00:29:04.480
 what he had promised?

00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:10.500
 Luke 7, 9-11

00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:10.839
 says,

00:29:10.939 --> 00:29:11.439
 Which one of you

00:29:11.439 --> 00:29:12.740
 if a son asks for bread

00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:13.700
 will give him a stone?

00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.299
 Or if he asks for a fish

00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:16.179
 will give him a serpent?

00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:18.039
 If then you are evil

00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.579
 and know how to give

00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.759
 good gifts to your children,

00:29:20.139 --> 00:29:20.700
 how much more

00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:21.259
 will your Father

00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:21.799
 who is in heaven

00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:22.599
 give good things

00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:23.819
 to those who ask him?

00:29:24.379 --> 00:29:25.039
 Luke 11,

00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:25.519
 Luke,

00:29:25.879 --> 00:29:26.419
 he says,

00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:26.860
 How much more

00:29:26.860 --> 00:29:27.160
 will he give

00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:27.900
 the Holy Spirit

00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.900
 to those who ask him?

00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:30.500
 Do you ever have

00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.100
 a hard time believing

00:29:31.100 --> 00:29:31.640
 that God wants

00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:32.440
 to give you a spirit?

00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:34.480
 Do you ever have

00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:35.140
 a hard time believing

00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:36.940
 that when you ask God

00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.720
 if he's really going

00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:38.600
 to give you a spirit,

00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.140
 that he's going to

00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:39.860
 pour out his spirit,

00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.320
 that he's going to

00:29:40.320 --> 00:29:41.180
 fill you with his spirit?

00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:43.120
 He says,

00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:45.060
 If a good father

00:29:45.060 --> 00:29:45.820
 gives good gifts

00:29:45.820 --> 00:29:46.440
 to his kids,

00:29:46.580 --> 00:29:47.360
 how much more

00:29:47.360 --> 00:29:48.039
 will God give

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:49.120
 the Holy Spirit

00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:50.380
 to those who ask?

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.640
 Why are we doubting this?

00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.400
 This is a promise

00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:54.220
 that we can hold on to.

00:29:54.300 --> 00:29:55.240
 We should always be

00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:56.120
 depending and praying

00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:56.899
 for God to be filling

00:29:56.899 --> 00:29:57.639
 us with the spirit.

00:29:58.199 --> 00:29:59.359
 We need his power.

00:30:00.459 --> 00:30:01.239
 If we're going to

00:30:01.239 --> 00:30:02.379
 be God's church,

00:30:02.459 --> 00:30:03.259
 we need his power.

00:30:03.899 --> 00:30:04.679
 Which means we need

00:30:04.679 --> 00:30:05.419
 his spirit.

00:30:06.219 --> 00:30:07.539
 And we should be confident

00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.279
 that that's a prayer

00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:09.099
 that God always

00:30:09.099 --> 00:30:10.019
 wants to answer.

00:30:11.679 --> 00:30:12.459
 Why would we

00:30:12.459 --> 00:30:13.479
 waver in unbelief

00:30:13.479 --> 00:30:14.279
 thinking that God

00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:15.219
 doesn't want to

00:30:15.219 --> 00:30:16.039
 fill us with his spirit?

00:30:16.379 --> 00:30:17.079
 That's one of the most

00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:17.919
 ridiculous things

00:30:17.919 --> 00:30:18.659
 to not believe.

00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:20.500
 Because you,

00:30:20.739 --> 00:30:21.199
 even though you're

00:30:21.199 --> 00:30:22.000
 not a good father,

00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:22.919
 you would give that.

00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.659
 So how much more

00:30:24.660 --> 00:30:25.279
 a God who's

00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:26.600
 the perfect father

00:30:26.600 --> 00:30:27.680
 give the Holy Spirit

00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:28.420
 to those who ask?

00:30:28.620 --> 00:30:29.259
 Give good gifts

00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:30.080
 to those who ask?

00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:31.440
 Think how foolish

00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:31.960
 that is.

00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:32.900
 If we wouldn't

00:30:32.900 --> 00:30:34.460
 even withhold that,

00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:35.259
 how much more

00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.400
 would God not withhold that?

00:30:37.800 --> 00:30:38.720
 That's the confidence

00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:39.360
 we have.

00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:41.200
 Because Matthew 6,

00:30:41.220 --> 00:30:41.560
 8 says,

00:30:41.660 --> 00:30:42.279
 your father knows

00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:42.700
 what you need

00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:43.620
 before you ask him.

00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.660
 He knows.

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.400
 He's a father.

00:30:47.600 --> 00:30:48.600
 That's why Romans 8

00:30:48.600 --> 00:30:48.800
 says,

00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:49.660
 if God is for us,

00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:50.860
 who can be against us?

00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:51.880
 If he did not

00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:52.779
 spare his own son

00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.420
 but gave him up

00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:53.879
 for us all,

00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:54.519
 how much more

00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:56.619
 will he not also

00:30:56.619 --> 00:30:57.559
 with him graciously

00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:58.819
 give us all things?

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:02.740
 Think of the greatest

00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:03.759
 thing that God gave.

00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:04.899
 If he gave you

00:31:04.899 --> 00:31:05.779
 something that great,

00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:07.180
 you could be confident

00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:08.019
 that he'd be willing

00:31:08.019 --> 00:31:09.119
 to give you less things.

00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:11.039
 Like if someone said,

00:31:11.139 --> 00:31:11.379
 hey,

00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:12.500
 you know what?

00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:13.619
 I want to gift you

00:31:13.619 --> 00:31:14.139
 my car.

00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.000
 Okay?

00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:17.079
 You'd say,

00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:17.299
 wow,

00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:18.279
 that's a huge blessing.

00:31:18.399 --> 00:31:19.220
 You just gave me a car.

00:31:19.799 --> 00:31:20.500
 That's amazing.

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:24.400
 And then you realized

00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:31.359
 that you brought

00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:32.019
 your diaper bag

00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:33.059
 but you forgot a diaper.

00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:36.359
 And do you think

00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:36.779
 it would be weird

00:31:36.779 --> 00:31:37.700
 to ask the person

00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:38.259
 who just gave you

00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.200
 their car for a diaper?

00:31:39.339 --> 00:31:39.920
 Do you think maybe,

00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:40.940
 I don't know if they're going

00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:41.019
 to,

00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:41.940
 they want to give it to me.

00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.440
 You think,

00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:43.640
 no,

00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.279
 of course they would.

00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.599
 But why do you think

00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:46.240
 that they would give you

00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:46.640
 a diaper?

00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:47.980
 Because they gave you

00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:48.400
 a car.

00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:50.540
 Do you understand

00:31:50.540 --> 00:31:50.980
 what I'm saying?

00:31:51.580 --> 00:31:52.480
 Like if God gave you

00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:52.940
 a son,

00:31:53.040 --> 00:31:54.040
 how much more will he give you

00:31:54.040 --> 00:31:55.019
 all the lesser things

00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:55.560
 than his son?

00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:56.820
 Is there anything

00:31:56.820 --> 00:31:57.620
 that's not lesser

00:31:57.620 --> 00:31:58.180
 than his son?

00:31:58.940 --> 00:31:59.780
 That's why he says,

00:31:59.860 --> 00:32:00.500
 how much more will he

00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:01.360
 graciously give you

00:32:01.360 --> 00:32:02.300
 all things?

00:32:02.340 --> 00:32:03.220
 Because all things

00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:04.240
 are less than the son.

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:06.380
 If he was,

00:32:06.540 --> 00:32:07.080
 if that,

00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:09.200
 the great gift

00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:10.000
 that he gives

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:11.060
 is a revealing

00:32:11.060 --> 00:32:11.759
 of his intent

00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:12.560
 to be generous.

00:32:13.540 --> 00:32:14.460
 If someone gives you

00:32:14.460 --> 00:32:14.900
 their car,

00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:15.640
 of course they're going

00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:16.680
 to give you a diaper.

00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:19.200
 If somebody gives you

00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:20.400
 his son,

00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:22.200
 of course he'll give you

00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:22.920
 all things.

00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:24.500
 Why do we doubt?

00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:26.600
 We need to be confident

00:32:26.600 --> 00:32:27.060
 in prayer.

00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.700
 Like 1 John 5,

00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.480
 14 says,

00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:30.380
 if he asks anything

00:32:30.380 --> 00:32:31.039
 according to his will,

00:32:31.100 --> 00:32:31.660
 he hears us,

00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.299
 and if he hears us,

00:32:32.360 --> 00:32:33.140
 we have what we ask.

00:32:33.400 --> 00:32:34.279
 This is the confidence

00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:35.720
 we have in prayer.

00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.460
 Which means we have

00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:37.880
 to understand

00:32:37.880 --> 00:32:38.759
 what the Lord's will is.

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.799
 Like Ephesians 5,

00:32:39.860 --> 00:32:40.680
 17 says,

00:32:40.860 --> 00:32:41.500
 do you know

00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.000
 what his will is?

00:32:42.060 --> 00:32:42.539
 That's why

00:32:42.539 --> 00:32:44.140
 sometimes when we

00:32:44.140 --> 00:32:44.580
 read the word,

00:32:44.660 --> 00:32:45.320
 we should be reading

00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:46.960
 it as our prayer manual.

00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:48.039
 It's like,

00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:49.720
 this is what I need

00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:50.099
 to pray.

00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:51.539
 This is what

00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:52.599
 God's will is.

00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:53.419
 You understand

00:32:53.419 --> 00:32:54.279
 what the Lord's will is.

00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:54.779
 You pray what

00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:55.460
 the Lord's will is.

00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.220
 He hears you,

00:32:56.359 --> 00:32:57.339
 and if he hears you,

00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:58.059
 then you have

00:32:58.059 --> 00:32:58.659
 what you asked.

00:33:00.179 --> 00:33:01.339
 This is why Epaphras,

00:33:01.379 --> 00:33:02.059
 when he was wrestling

00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:02.779
 in prayer for them,

00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:03.720
 you know what he was

00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:04.740
 wrestling in prayer for?

00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:05.799
 That they would stand

00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:07.119
 mature and fully assured

00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:08.399
 in all the will of God.

00:33:08.839 --> 00:33:10.119
 He's actually praying

00:33:10.119 --> 00:33:11.839
 in confidence

00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:12.759
 that they would be

00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:13.879
 assured in the will of God.

00:33:13.880 --> 00:33:14.640
 Why?

00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.060
 Well,

00:33:16.080 --> 00:33:16.480
 obviously,

00:33:16.620 --> 00:33:17.400
 if the will of God

00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:17.960
 is what gives you

00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:18.720
 confidence in prayer,

00:33:18.780 --> 00:33:19.260
 and he's praying

00:33:19.260 --> 00:33:19.860
 that they would stand

00:33:19.860 --> 00:33:20.520
 fully assured

00:33:20.520 --> 00:33:21.640
 in the will of God,

00:33:21.900 --> 00:33:22.720
 he's also praying

00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.280
 that they would be

00:33:23.280 --> 00:33:24.000
 people who would pray.

00:33:25.100 --> 00:33:25.800
 Because when you know

00:33:25.800 --> 00:33:26.340
 the will of God

00:33:26.340 --> 00:33:26.800
 and you're assured

00:33:26.800 --> 00:33:27.420
 of the will of God,

00:33:27.600 --> 00:33:28.080
 then you pray

00:33:28.080 --> 00:33:28.660
 the will of God,

00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:29.120
 and if you pray

00:33:29.120 --> 00:33:29.660
 the will of God,

00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:30.680
 then he hears

00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:31.300
 the will of God

00:33:31.300 --> 00:33:32.000
 and you have a chance.

00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:36.340
 Last point,

00:33:36.420 --> 00:33:36.940
 number four.

00:33:37.880 --> 00:33:38.360
 You must be

00:33:38.360 --> 00:33:39.460
 steadfast in prayer.

00:33:40.620 --> 00:33:41.220
 Colossians 4,

00:33:41.300 --> 00:33:41.900
 verse 2 says,

00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:44.400
 continue steadfastly

00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:45.320
 in prayer,

00:33:45.640 --> 00:33:46.880
 being watchful in it

00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:48.160
 with thanksgiving.

00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:50.340
 You know,

00:33:50.920 --> 00:33:52.700
 getting people to pray

00:33:52.700 --> 00:33:53.820
 in a prayer meeting,

00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:54.660
 that's one thing,

00:33:55.120 --> 00:33:55.620
 but you know

00:33:55.620 --> 00:33:56.519
 what's the hardest thing?

00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:57.519
 It's getting people

00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.700
 to pray continually

00:33:58.700 --> 00:33:59.880
 until they see the answer

00:33:59.880 --> 00:34:00.960
 for a long period of time.

00:34:04.560 --> 00:34:05.240
 It says,

00:34:05.340 --> 00:34:07.300
 continue in prayer.

00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:09.679
 Have you ever been guilty

00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:11.279
 of not continuing in prayer?

00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:13.440
 Maybe you started off great.

00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:14.619
 You know,

00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:15.699
 maybe we start off the year

00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:16.000
 and say,

00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:16.400
 oh man,

00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:17.900
 I'm praying for character,

00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:18.980
 I'm praying for order,

00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:20.000
 I'm praying for family.

00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:22.340
 The Spirit spoke this to us,

00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:22.860
 so we're praying

00:34:22.860 --> 00:34:23.920
 these things into existence.

00:34:24.679 --> 00:34:25.539
 But what are you doing

00:34:25.539 --> 00:34:26.880
 in November and December?

00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:27.719
 You still praying?

00:34:28.759 --> 00:34:29.739
 Are we still continuing?

00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:32.099
 Are we still steadfast in prayer?

00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:33.960
 Anyone can start,

00:34:34.059 --> 00:34:34.920
 but who can finish?

00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:36.539
 Who continues?

00:34:37.860 --> 00:34:39.180
 Hebrews 6, 11 to 12,

00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:39.400
 says,

00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:40.360
 we desire each one of you

00:34:40.360 --> 00:34:42.639
 to show the same earnestness

00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:44.579
 to have the full assurance

00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:45.880
 of hope until the end,

00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:48.480
 so that you may not be sluggish,

00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:50.400
 but imitators of those

00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:52.700
 who through faith and patience

00:34:52.700 --> 00:34:54.039
 inherit the promises.

00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:55.360
 Everybody wants to say,

00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.480
 oh, it's all about faith, man.

00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:57.360
 You know,

00:34:57.380 --> 00:34:57.860
 we have a,

00:34:57.940 --> 00:34:58.800
 I'm a faith preacher,

00:34:58.940 --> 00:34:59.920
 I'm in the faith movement.

00:35:00.420 --> 00:35:01.639
 Where's the patience movement?

00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:04.039
 Where's the patience preachers?

00:35:05.360 --> 00:35:05.700
 Hey man,

00:35:05.720 --> 00:35:06.639
 he's a faith preacher.

00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:07.440
 Oh yeah?

00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:08.599
 Is he a patience preacher?

00:35:10.740 --> 00:35:11.860
 I'm not impressed

00:35:11.860 --> 00:35:13.440
 by the people who have

00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:15.099
 a surge of faith

00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:15.680
 in the beginning.

00:35:16.260 --> 00:35:17.340
 Real faith continues.

00:35:17.940 --> 00:35:19.320
 Real faith perseveres.

00:35:19.659 --> 00:35:20.860
 Real faith keeps going.

00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:22.099
 Whoop-dee-doo.

00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:23.900
 You get hyped up emotionally

00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:24.720
 for a moment,

00:35:24.720 --> 00:35:25.519
 and you pray,

00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:26.500
 and you call that faith.

00:35:26.720 --> 00:35:28.079
 The Bible doesn't call that faith.

00:35:29.079 --> 00:35:30.639
 The Bible doesn't call that faith.

00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:34.339
 The faith that the Bible talks about

00:35:34.339 --> 00:35:36.199
 presses in and continues,

00:35:36.699 --> 00:35:37.480
 keeps believing.

00:35:38.460 --> 00:35:38.559
 Okay?

00:35:38.879 --> 00:35:39.759
 That's why Daniel said,

00:35:39.839 --> 00:35:40.259
 you know what it said

00:35:40.259 --> 00:35:41.440
 to Daniel in Daniel 6?

00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:42.960
 Three times a day,

00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:44.519
 he prayed and gave thanks

00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:45.299
 before his God.

00:35:45.739 --> 00:35:46.519
 And I love the verse,

00:35:46.699 --> 00:35:48.119
 and the statement right after it says,

00:35:48.279 --> 00:35:49.659
 as he had done previously.

00:35:50.219 --> 00:35:51.319
 This is what he did.

00:35:51.799 --> 00:35:52.940
 Three times a day.

00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:53.960
 Prayed.

00:35:54.139 --> 00:35:55.379
 As he had done previously.

00:35:55.660 --> 00:35:56.519
 This is what Daniel did.

00:35:56.579 --> 00:35:57.519
 He had a life of this.

00:35:58.760 --> 00:35:58.980
 Okay?

00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:01.760
 We don't need the flash of the pan.

00:36:02.619 --> 00:36:03.640
 Super charismatic.

00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:07.059
 Super emotional.

00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:08.780
 Pray, pray, pray, pray, pray.

00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.140
 We need the people

00:36:10.140 --> 00:36:10.940
 who are consistent

00:36:10.940 --> 00:36:11.780
 to keep praying,

00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:12.579
 and keep praying,

00:36:12.680 --> 00:36:13.300
 and keep praying.

00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:17.220
 This is what Jesus talks about

00:36:17.220 --> 00:36:19.019
 in his parable in Luke 11.

00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:19.740
 It says,

00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:20.800
 Jesus was praying

00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:21.740
 in a certain place.

00:36:22.300 --> 00:36:22.900
 When he had finished,

00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:24.160
 one of his disciples said to him,

00:36:24.180 --> 00:36:24.440
 Lord,

00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:24.539
 Lord,

00:36:25.139 --> 00:36:26.519
 teach us to pray.

00:36:27.200 --> 00:36:28.519
 As John taught his disciples.

00:36:29.159 --> 00:36:29.900
 And he said to them,

00:36:29.980 --> 00:36:30.599
 when you pray,

00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:30.780
 say,

00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:31.099
 Father,

00:36:31.200 --> 00:36:31.960
 hallowed be your name.

00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.200
 Kingdom come.

00:36:33.800 --> 00:36:34.440
 Give us each day

00:36:34.440 --> 00:36:35.179
 our daily bread.

00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:36.780
 Forgive us our sins.

00:36:37.360 --> 00:36:38.500
 We ourselves forgive everyone

00:36:38.500 --> 00:36:39.559
 who is indebted to us.

00:36:39.820 --> 00:36:41.360
 And lead us not into temptation.

00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:43.400
 And he said to them,

00:36:44.059 --> 00:36:44.920
 which of you

00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:46.200
 has a friend,

00:36:47.559 --> 00:36:50.220
 which of you

00:36:50.220 --> 00:36:50.940
 who has a friend

00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:52.000
 will go to him at midnight

00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:52.659
 and say to him,

00:36:52.740 --> 00:36:53.019
 friend,

00:36:53.019 --> 00:36:54.739
 lend me three loaves.

00:36:55.739 --> 00:36:56.280
 For a friend of mine

00:36:56.280 --> 00:36:57.239
 has arrived on a journey

00:36:57.239 --> 00:36:58.159
 and I have nothing

00:36:58.159 --> 00:36:59.019
 to set before him.

00:36:59.320 --> 00:37:00.059
 And he'll answer him

00:37:00.059 --> 00:37:00.579
 from within,

00:37:00.980 --> 00:37:02.119
 do not bother me.

00:37:02.920 --> 00:37:04.179
 The door is now shut

00:37:04.179 --> 00:37:04.679
 and my children

00:37:04.679 --> 00:37:05.619
 are with me in bed.

00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:06.980
 I cannot get up

00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:08.199
 and give you anything.

00:37:09.199 --> 00:37:10.280
 We can understand this, right?

00:37:10.360 --> 00:37:11.159
 If someone came over

00:37:11.159 --> 00:37:11.719
 at midnight

00:37:11.719 --> 00:37:12.079
 and said,

00:37:12.139 --> 00:37:12.360
 hey,

00:37:12.619 --> 00:37:14.119
 I got some guests coming.

00:37:14.519 --> 00:37:15.340
 I want to feed them.

00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:16.780
 Give me three loaves of bread.

00:37:17.159 --> 00:37:17.699
 He'd be like,

00:37:17.699 --> 00:37:19.439
 get out of here.

00:37:20.099 --> 00:37:21.159
 Go to bed, man.

00:37:21.739 --> 00:37:23.019
 It's midnight, right?

00:37:23.939 --> 00:37:25.579
 So we can relate to this story.

00:37:25.659 --> 00:37:25.859
 It's like,

00:37:25.899 --> 00:37:26.379
 of course.

00:37:26.819 --> 00:37:27.919
 Of course he would say that.

00:37:28.779 --> 00:37:30.119
 Jesus goes on in verse 8.

00:37:31.159 --> 00:37:31.399
 He says,

00:37:31.480 --> 00:37:31.919
 I tell you,

00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:33.079
 though he will not get up

00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:33.879
 and give him anything

00:37:33.879 --> 00:37:35.819
 because he is his friend,

00:37:37.419 --> 00:37:39.639
 yet because of his impudence,

00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:40.879
 he will rise

00:37:40.879 --> 00:37:41.379
 and give him

00:37:41.379 --> 00:37:42.299
 whatever he wants.

00:37:43.480 --> 00:37:43.679
 Okay,

00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:44.439
 we're going to look at that word

00:37:44.439 --> 00:37:45.039
 here in a second.

00:37:45.860 --> 00:37:46.300
 I tell you,

00:37:46.380 --> 00:37:47.460
 ask and it will be given to you,

00:37:47.659 --> 00:37:48.500
 seek and you will find,

00:37:48.820 --> 00:37:50.019
 knock and it will be opened to you.

00:37:50.460 --> 00:37:51.279
 For everyone who asks

00:37:51.279 --> 00:37:51.719
 receives

00:37:51.719 --> 00:37:52.920
 and the one who seeks finds

00:37:52.920 --> 00:37:53.699
 and the one who knocks

00:37:53.699 --> 00:37:54.279
 will be opened.

00:37:54.860 --> 00:37:55.719
 What father among you,

00:37:55.759 --> 00:37:56.800
 if his son asks for a fish,

00:37:56.860 --> 00:37:57.619
 will instead of a fish

00:37:57.619 --> 00:37:58.219
 give him a serpent?

00:37:59.159 --> 00:37:59.519
 How much,

00:37:59.599 --> 00:37:59.759
 you know,

00:37:59.800 --> 00:38:00.679
 we just went over this.

00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:01.519
 How much more will you give

00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:02.380
 the Holy Spirit to those that?

00:38:02.500 --> 00:38:03.039
 So he says,

00:38:04.539 --> 00:38:07.820
 he says,

00:38:08.059 --> 00:38:09.840
 he will not get up

00:38:09.840 --> 00:38:10.579
 and give him anything

00:38:10.579 --> 00:38:11.940
 because he is his friend,

00:38:11.940 --> 00:38:13.400
 but because of his impudence,

00:38:13.400 --> 00:38:15.019
 he will rise and give him

00:38:15.019 --> 00:38:15.800
 whatever he needs.

00:38:16.380 --> 00:38:17.519
 Let's look at what that,

00:38:17.660 --> 00:38:18.700
 what words are used

00:38:18.700 --> 00:38:20.119
 in different translations

00:38:20.119 --> 00:38:21.579
 for the word impudence.

00:38:22.340 --> 00:38:23.059
 NIV says,

00:38:23.539 --> 00:38:24.960
 shameless audacity.

00:38:26.420 --> 00:38:27.820
 The NLT says,

00:38:27.940 --> 00:38:29.320
 shameless persistence.

00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:32.660
 The New King James Version

00:38:32.660 --> 00:38:33.099
 says,

00:38:33.380 --> 00:38:33.900
 persistence.

00:38:34.599 --> 00:38:35.740
 The NASB says,

00:38:36.180 --> 00:38:37.059
 shamelessness.

00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:38.619
 The Amplified says,

00:38:38.740 --> 00:38:40.340
 persistence and boldness.

00:38:40.340 --> 00:38:41.940
 The CSB says,

00:38:42.059 --> 00:38:43.760
 shameless boldness.

00:38:44.160 --> 00:38:46.059
 You get in kind of a little picture

00:38:46.059 --> 00:38:47.940
 of what he means by impudence.

00:38:48.840 --> 00:38:49.539
 I know that's not a word

00:38:49.539 --> 00:38:50.200
 most of you use

00:38:50.200 --> 00:38:51.579
 in your vocabulary probably,

00:38:51.700 --> 00:38:52.760
 but these other words

00:38:52.760 --> 00:38:53.740
 give us a little insight.

00:38:54.240 --> 00:38:55.280
 Shameless audacity,

00:38:55.800 --> 00:38:56.800
 shameless persistence,

00:38:57.380 --> 00:38:57.900
 persistence,

00:38:58.340 --> 00:38:59.019
 shamelessness,

00:38:59.140 --> 00:39:00.400
 persistence and boldness,

00:39:00.840 --> 00:39:01.840
 shameless boldness.

00:39:03.900 --> 00:39:05.680
 Is this what your prayer life

00:39:05.680 --> 00:39:06.160
 looks like?

00:39:06.160 --> 00:39:08.160
 Is this what my prayer life

00:39:08.160 --> 00:39:08.620
 looks like?

00:39:08.619 --> 00:39:10.519
 Luke 11,

00:39:10.619 --> 00:39:11.279
 9 to 10,

00:39:11.839 --> 00:39:12.679
 the following verse

00:39:12.679 --> 00:39:13.480
 after he says,

00:39:13.599 --> 00:39:14.480
 uses this word.

00:39:15.199 --> 00:39:15.940
 In the Amplified,

00:39:16.079 --> 00:39:16.420
 he says,

00:39:16.480 --> 00:39:17.119
 so I say to you,

00:39:17.179 --> 00:39:19.659
 ask and keep on asking.

00:39:20.239 --> 00:39:21.380
 Then it shall be given to you.

00:39:21.819 --> 00:39:24.480
 Seek and keep on seeking

00:39:24.480 --> 00:39:25.940
 and you shall find.

00:39:26.079 --> 00:39:26.480
 Knock.

00:39:27.440 --> 00:39:28.380
 You guess what it's going to say?

00:39:29.019 --> 00:39:30.119
 Keep on knocking

00:39:30.119 --> 00:39:32.239
 and the door will be opened to you.

00:39:32.299 --> 00:39:33.339
 For everyone who asks

00:39:33.339 --> 00:39:35.940
 and keeps on asking,

00:39:36.159 --> 00:39:36.500
 receives.

00:39:36.500 --> 00:39:38.000
 And everyone who seeks

00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:39.820
 and keeps on seeking,

00:39:40.340 --> 00:39:40.639
 finds.

00:39:40.760 --> 00:39:41.519
 And him who knocks

00:39:41.519 --> 00:39:43.440
 and keeps on knocking,

00:39:44.059 --> 00:39:45.960
 the door shall be opened.

00:39:46.780 --> 00:39:47.719
 It's bringing out

00:39:47.719 --> 00:39:48.079
 that this,

00:39:48.360 --> 00:39:50.039
 the verb that's being used here

00:39:50.039 --> 00:39:51.500
 is an active verb.

00:39:51.619 --> 00:39:52.639
 It's a continual verb.

00:39:52.719 --> 00:39:53.980
 It's not a one and done thing.

00:39:53.980 --> 00:39:57.420
 This is why Paul would say

00:39:57.420 --> 00:39:58.159
 in Colossians 1,

00:39:58.159 --> 00:39:58.380
 9,

00:39:58.639 --> 00:40:00.380
 I have not ceased

00:40:00.380 --> 00:40:01.659
 praying for you.

00:40:02.719 --> 00:40:03.679
 Or Ephesians 1,

00:40:03.699 --> 00:40:04.079
 16,

00:40:04.199 --> 00:40:05.260
 I do not cease

00:40:05.260 --> 00:40:06.300
 to give thanks for you,

00:40:06.619 --> 00:40:07.760
 remember you my prayers.

00:40:08.199 --> 00:40:11.000
 Or to pray unceasingly.

00:40:11.579 --> 00:40:11.760
 Okay?

00:40:12.139 --> 00:40:13.099
 A lot of people say,

00:40:13.380 --> 00:40:13.579
 well,

00:40:13.659 --> 00:40:14.900
 that means you have to pray

00:40:14.900 --> 00:40:15.500
 all the time.

00:40:16.460 --> 00:40:16.840
 Maybe.

00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:17.960
 That could be

00:40:17.960 --> 00:40:18.880
 maybe what that means.

00:40:19.720 --> 00:40:20.920
 I would maybe throw out to you

00:40:20.920 --> 00:40:21.619
 that maybe what it means

00:40:21.619 --> 00:40:22.480
 is that you have to pray

00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:23.260
 and keep on praying

00:40:23.260 --> 00:40:24.160
 and you don't stop.

00:40:24.220 --> 00:40:24.940
 You don't give up.

00:40:26.099 --> 00:40:26.320
 Like,

00:40:26.380 --> 00:40:27.800
 you keep going.

00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:29.260
 You keep asking

00:40:29.260 --> 00:40:30.619
 until you see an answer.

00:40:31.400 --> 00:40:32.760
 You persevere in prayer,

00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:33.619
 steadfast in prayer.

00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:34.980
 And I think this is one of the

00:40:34.980 --> 00:40:36.300
 major missing things

00:40:36.300 --> 00:40:37.099
 in a lot of Christians

00:40:37.099 --> 00:40:39.119
 is the persistence in prayer.

00:40:40.240 --> 00:40:41.059
 We're not talking about

00:40:41.059 --> 00:40:41.700
 good starts.

00:40:41.820 --> 00:40:42.180
 We're talking about

00:40:42.180 --> 00:40:42.740
 good finishes.

00:40:43.360 --> 00:40:44.180
 We're not talking about

00:40:44.180 --> 00:40:44.840
 when you're a young,

00:40:44.900 --> 00:40:45.480
 zealous man.

00:40:45.559 --> 00:40:46.199
 We're talking about

00:40:46.199 --> 00:40:47.159
 when you're still doing it

00:40:47.159 --> 00:40:48.079
 when you're an old man

00:40:48.079 --> 00:40:49.039
 and you're tired

00:40:49.039 --> 00:40:50.519
 and you want to go home.

00:40:51.500 --> 00:40:52.539
 We're talking about

00:40:52.539 --> 00:40:54.340
 not just when everyone's hyped up

00:40:54.340 --> 00:40:55.500
 and there's thousands of people

00:40:55.500 --> 00:40:56.519
 praying together

00:40:56.519 --> 00:40:57.159
 and fasting together.

00:40:57.240 --> 00:40:57.699
 We're talking about

00:40:57.699 --> 00:40:58.460
 when nobody's praying

00:40:58.460 --> 00:40:59.139
 and you're in your room

00:40:59.139 --> 00:41:00.659
 and there's crust in your eyes

00:41:00.659 --> 00:41:01.579
 and drool in your mouth

00:41:01.579 --> 00:41:02.380
 and you really wish

00:41:02.380 --> 00:41:03.059
 you could just sleep

00:41:03.059 --> 00:41:03.760
 a little bit longer.

00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:05.619
 I'm talking about

00:41:05.619 --> 00:41:06.619
 when you've seen

00:41:06.619 --> 00:41:07.360
 over and over again

00:41:07.360 --> 00:41:07.960
 that it seems like

00:41:07.960 --> 00:41:08.800
 everything that you see

00:41:08.800 --> 00:41:09.840
 with your natural eyes

00:41:09.840 --> 00:41:11.219
 seems to go in contrary

00:41:11.219 --> 00:41:12.039
 to what you're praying

00:41:12.039 --> 00:41:13.460
 and seeing

00:41:13.460 --> 00:41:14.639
 with your spiritual eyes

00:41:14.639 --> 00:41:15.639
 and you don't let

00:41:15.639 --> 00:41:16.480
 that which is seen

00:41:16.480 --> 00:41:17.679
 dictate what is unseen

00:41:17.679 --> 00:41:18.839
 but you walk by

00:41:18.839 --> 00:41:19.440
 what is unseen

00:41:19.440 --> 00:41:20.440
 not by what is seen.

00:41:20.779 --> 00:41:21.579
 You walk by faith.

00:41:21.960 --> 00:41:22.559
 I'm talking about

00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:24.659
 continual persistent prayer.

00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:25.539
 Do we have it

00:41:25.539 --> 00:41:26.099
 at Christ Church?

00:41:27.259 --> 00:41:28.079
 Do we have persistence

00:41:28.079 --> 00:41:28.719
 in prayer

00:41:28.719 --> 00:41:30.119
 where we keep praying

00:41:30.119 --> 00:41:30.859
 and say God

00:41:30.859 --> 00:41:35.559
 establish this church.

00:41:36.679 --> 00:41:37.779
 Establish this church.

00:41:38.980 --> 00:41:39.679
 You might say

00:41:39.679 --> 00:41:40.079
 well yeah

00:41:40.079 --> 00:41:41.239
 that's what we're doing.

00:41:41.359 --> 00:41:42.179
 We're doing the work.

00:41:42.179 --> 00:41:44.099
 We come here

00:41:44.099 --> 00:41:45.419
 we meet weekly

00:41:45.419 --> 00:41:46.899
 we're trying to reach out

00:41:46.899 --> 00:41:47.739
 to unbelievers.

00:41:47.940 --> 00:41:48.399
 Praise God

00:41:48.399 --> 00:41:49.119
 for all that stuff

00:41:49.119 --> 00:41:49.719
 and we'll talk more

00:41:49.719 --> 00:41:50.559
 about that next week.

00:41:50.839 --> 00:41:51.299
 But listen

00:41:51.299 --> 00:41:53.179
 what we're doing

00:41:53.179 --> 00:41:53.879
 the work of prayer.

00:41:54.480 --> 00:41:55.219
 Don't neglect

00:41:55.219 --> 00:41:56.879
 the most important work.

00:41:57.460 --> 00:41:58.559
 The work that's done

00:41:58.559 --> 00:41:59.019
 in the spirit

00:41:59.019 --> 00:41:59.739
 to say God

00:41:59.739 --> 00:42:00.679
 we need you.

00:42:01.279 --> 00:42:02.299
 We can do all kinds

00:42:02.299 --> 00:42:02.639
 of things

00:42:02.639 --> 00:42:03.480
 but if we don't have God

00:42:03.480 --> 00:42:04.219
 we don't have anything.

00:42:05.559 --> 00:42:06.379
 We have a church

00:42:06.379 --> 00:42:07.099
 but we don't have God

00:42:07.099 --> 00:42:07.799
 we have nothing.

00:42:08.759 --> 00:42:09.799
 If we need God

00:42:09.799 --> 00:42:11.319
 so we need prayer.

00:42:11.320 --> 00:42:12.760
 We need prayer.

00:42:13.320 --> 00:42:14.600
 Lord establish this church.

00:42:15.000 --> 00:42:15.900
 Lord give us the wisdom

00:42:15.900 --> 00:42:16.559
 to win souls.

00:42:16.740 --> 00:42:17.720
 God anoint us

00:42:17.720 --> 00:42:18.300
 with your spirit

00:42:18.300 --> 00:42:19.019
 to speak your word

00:42:19.019 --> 00:42:19.700
 with boldness.

00:42:20.460 --> 00:42:21.600
 Let a harvest come in.

00:42:22.300 --> 00:42:23.059
 Pray for laborers

00:42:23.059 --> 00:42:23.620
 to raise up

00:42:23.620 --> 00:42:24.300
 who will labor

00:42:24.300 --> 00:42:25.500
 in the gospel

00:42:25.500 --> 00:42:26.180
 who will labor

00:42:26.180 --> 00:42:26.820
 in prayer

00:42:26.820 --> 00:42:27.780
 who will labor

00:42:27.780 --> 00:42:28.660
 in the work of the Lord.

00:42:29.059 --> 00:42:29.820
 And we keep praying.

00:42:30.180 --> 00:42:31.400
 And when God doesn't answer

00:42:31.400 --> 00:42:33.000
 do we give up?

00:42:33.059 --> 00:42:33.380
 No!

00:42:33.920 --> 00:42:34.760
 We keep praying.

00:42:35.240 --> 00:42:35.880
 And when we knock

00:42:35.880 --> 00:42:36.840
 and the door doesn't open

00:42:36.840 --> 00:42:37.700
 do we stop knocking?

00:42:37.820 --> 00:42:37.980
 No!

00:42:38.039 --> 00:42:38.720
 We keep knocking.

00:42:39.420 --> 00:42:40.160
 And when we seek

00:42:40.159 --> 00:42:40.799
 and it doesn't seem

00:42:40.799 --> 00:42:41.460
 like we're finding

00:42:41.460 --> 00:42:42.379
 do we stop seeking?

00:42:42.519 --> 00:42:42.639
 No!

00:42:42.699 --> 00:42:43.420
 We keep seeking.

00:42:44.839 --> 00:42:46.019
 Can we be as a people

00:42:46.019 --> 00:42:46.980
 marked by this?

00:42:47.699 --> 00:42:47.859
 Okay!

00:42:47.960 --> 00:42:48.379
 If we're going to be

00:42:48.379 --> 00:42:48.899
 a church plant

00:42:48.899 --> 00:42:49.440
 this is what we have to do.

00:42:49.519 --> 00:42:49.719
 Again,

00:42:50.019 --> 00:42:51.319
 the props are pulled out.

00:42:52.279 --> 00:42:52.379
 Like,

00:42:52.920 --> 00:42:53.359
 I don't know,

00:42:53.539 --> 00:42:54.319
 if you haven't noticed

00:42:54.319 --> 00:42:54.960
 there's not like

00:42:54.960 --> 00:42:55.739
 flocks of people

00:42:55.739 --> 00:42:57.879
 coming to gather with us.

00:42:58.239 --> 00:42:59.159
 They're not banging

00:42:59.159 --> 00:42:59.599
 down the door.

00:42:59.679 --> 00:43:00.319
 If the door got banged

00:43:00.319 --> 00:43:00.799
 down this morning

00:43:00.799 --> 00:43:01.500
 it's because we farted

00:43:01.500 --> 00:43:02.359
 in the wrong spots.

00:43:02.799 --> 00:43:02.940
 Right?

00:43:03.319 --> 00:43:04.039
 I don't even think

00:43:04.039 --> 00:43:04.619
 they realize

00:43:04.619 --> 00:43:05.119
 that we're meeting

00:43:05.119 --> 00:43:05.679
 as a church.

00:43:05.799 --> 00:43:05.980
 Right?

00:43:06.659 --> 00:43:06.920
 Okay?

00:43:07.519 --> 00:43:08.300
 We gotta pray.

00:43:09.019 --> 00:43:09.980
 We gotta pray.

00:43:10.740 --> 00:43:11.599
 We need to pray.

00:43:11.680 --> 00:43:12.340
 We must pray.

00:43:13.599 --> 00:43:14.559
 As a church plant

00:43:14.559 --> 00:43:15.360
 we need to be convicted

00:43:15.360 --> 00:43:16.200
 of the necessity

00:43:16.200 --> 00:43:16.800
 of prayer.

00:43:17.400 --> 00:43:18.099
 We need to be

00:43:18.099 --> 00:43:19.000
 wrestling in prayer.

00:43:19.360 --> 00:43:19.720
 We need to be

00:43:19.720 --> 00:43:20.680
 confident in prayer.

00:43:21.079 --> 00:43:21.500
 We need to be

00:43:21.500 --> 00:43:22.420
 steadfast in prayer.

00:43:22.559 --> 00:43:22.760
 Amen?

00:43:22.760 --> 00:43:22.920
 Amen.

00:43:23.539 --> 00:43:23.980
 Amen.

00:43:24.119 --> 00:43:24.599
 Let's stand.