WEBVTT 00:00:00.540 --> 00:00:06.620 Well, amen. I want to thank the choir, the combined adult and youth choirs for that wonderful song, 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:13.939 and that really should carry us forward as a church. God, we do believe. He can do the impossible. 00:00:14.580 --> 00:00:19.539 God can do whatever he wants with our church, and we are excited to see what that is in the future. 00:00:19.660 --> 00:00:24.940 Thanks, buddy. I might need that. Appreciate that. Brought me my Bible. Very good. Thank you, man. 00:00:24.940 --> 00:00:33.700 All right. We are going to take a turn from the last few months where we've been in the book of Ephesians, 00:00:33.900 --> 00:00:42.500 and I invite you to turn over to the gospel of Matthew. Matthew, if you would, chapter 6. 00:00:46.760 --> 00:00:52.900 Mentioned it a little bit at the end of the service last Sunday. I truly believe that God is leading our 00:00:52.899 --> 00:01:02.899 church into a season of prayer. That does not just represent a sermon series, though there will be 00:01:02.899 --> 00:01:09.039 sermon series themed on prayer, and we're beginning one today. But I truly believe that our church as a 00:01:09.039 --> 00:01:15.659 whole, individually and corporately together, is being called by God into an actual season 00:01:15.659 --> 00:01:24.700 where we need to commit ourselves personally and united as a church in the effort, the discipline of prayer. 00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:31.719 So I ask that you would go home and you would search your own heart, and then you would search your calendar 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:37.920 and try to find moments where you can literally schedule dedicated prayer time. 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:44.200 We're going to be talking about that more in the weeks to come and try to provide opportunities and 00:01:44.200 --> 00:01:51.700 pathways to do that, both individually and together as a church. But let's begin this season of prayer 00:01:51.700 --> 00:02:01.640 by diving into the pattern that God laid out for us to pray. So Matthew, chapter 6, 00:02:01.640 --> 00:02:10.099 we read about the Lord's prayer. This series, this first series in our season of prayer is called Talking 00:02:10.099 --> 00:02:17.740 with God. And we start off by talking about the Lord's prayer. Would you go ahead and advance me to the next 00:02:17.740 --> 00:02:25.520 slide? This thing isn't cooperating yet this morning. There we go. Thank you. A lot of it is done by the Bible 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:31.219 exposition commentary. And then over the next few weeks, we will be covering Matthew, chapter 6, 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:42.259 verses 5 through 15. Matthew 6, 5 through 15. Let me say this about the Lord's prayer. The Lord's 00:02:42.259 --> 00:02:48.919 prayer is less of a prescription and more of a pattern. You understand what we mean by that? 00:02:49.399 --> 00:02:55.839 It wasn't God so much saying, this is how you have to pray. And if you pray these words, then you'll get 00:02:55.839 --> 00:03:01.619 to God. That wasn't at all what he was saying. Instead, he was giving us a pattern by which we can pray. 00:03:02.279 --> 00:03:07.939 There we go. It advanced this time. So I think we got it working. Matthew 6, 5 through 8 is the first 00:03:07.939 --> 00:03:13.299 section of this passage that we'll cover this morning. And then we'll get into the Lord's, the 00:03:13.299 --> 00:03:19.439 actual content of the Lord's prayer next week. So let's begin in Matthew chapter 6, verse 5. If you're 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:24.079 able to join us in standing as we read the word of God, would you do that now? Matthew chapter 6 and 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:32.040 verse 5. Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in 00:03:32.040 --> 00:03:39.000 the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:47.259 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. 00:03:47.900 --> 00:03:56.180 And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. When you pray, don't babble like the Gentiles, 00:03:56.580 --> 00:04:03.360 since they imagine they'll be heard for their many words. Don't be like them, because your Father knows 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:10.080 the things you need before you ask Him. God, we know that you do know exactly what we need even 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:15.620 before we ask. We know that you've called us to pray, you've called us to communicate with you, 00:04:16.420 --> 00:04:24.420 just to talk with you, God. That is sometimes an intimidating thing. It's sometimes an uncertain 00:04:24.420 --> 00:04:31.040 thing. We thank you for your scriptures that enlighten how we can do that. I pray that you would speak to 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:35.740 us by your Holy Spirit in this moment. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. You may be seated. Thanks for 00:04:35.740 --> 00:04:44.820 standing. I want to draw your attention back to verse 5. Back to verse 5. Whenever you pray, Jesus is 00:04:44.820 --> 00:04:50.800 teaching us, don't be like the hypocrites. Well, who was He talking about? He was talking about the 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:58.020 Pharisees back in the day, the great religious leaders in the Jewish tradition. At that moment in time, 00:04:58.019 --> 00:05:02.819 the Pharisees kind of held the keys to the Jewish faith. 00:05:05.060 --> 00:05:13.299 And in public and in their synagogues or their types of churches, they would often pray loudly and 00:05:13.299 --> 00:05:21.779 proudly for everybody to hear. So Jesus is using them as a direct example of how not to pray. Now, 00:05:21.819 --> 00:05:26.299 don't raise your hand and don't shout out anybody's name, but have you ever seen somebody who prayed and it 00:05:26.300 --> 00:05:33.639 just seemed like they were doing it to get attention? I have. I really hope I haven't been that guy 00:05:33.639 --> 00:05:40.620 before, but we've all seen that kind of person probably. It's like, are you doing this sincerely? 00:05:40.740 --> 00:05:45.340 Are you really talking to God right now? Or are you just talking in front of others? Well, it's interesting 00:05:45.340 --> 00:05:52.340 because, well, you know what? It was working and now it's not. So would you mind taking me to the next slide? 00:05:52.339 --> 00:06:00.139 But Hippocrates, the word we get right here in Matthew 6 and verse 5, don't be like the hypocrites. 00:06:01.339 --> 00:06:07.159 Hippocrates is that Greek word there. And from that word, we get the idea of actor or stage player. 00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:14.399 Isn't that interesting? How many times when you and I prayed, do we feel like maybe 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:23.039 we're just acting? Maybe we're just playing on a stage. We're doing it. We're putting on a performance 00:06:23.039 --> 00:06:31.839 for the benefit of those around us. And we're not really, truly communicating with God out of 00:06:31.839 --> 00:06:40.839 dependence on God. So that is what Jesus is warning against. Look over in Luke 18, if you would. 00:06:40.839 --> 00:06:48.319 Luke chapter 18. I didn't put it on the screen. I figured we could just turn in our Bibles. 00:06:49.079 --> 00:06:56.299 Luke 18, verses 9 through 14. Just a couple of books over from Matthew. 00:06:59.099 --> 00:07:01.639 Luke chapter 18, beginning in verse 9. 00:07:03.239 --> 00:07:09.079 Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves, that they were righteous and looked 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:13.800 down on everyone else. Know anybody like that? Trust in yourself, that you're righteous and you 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:19.699 look down on everybody else? So he tells this story to make this point. Two men, verse 10, 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:26.539 went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector. Now pause for a minute. 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:33.579 Anybody know a famous tax collector in the Bible? Yeah, what do you think? Matthew, that's right. 00:07:33.579 --> 00:07:38.639 Matthew was a tax collector. Now that doesn't mean that this story is based on Matthew's life. 00:07:39.039 --> 00:07:44.839 However, we see from the life of Matthew, and we see from studying culture in that time, 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:51.319 tax collector was a hated position. Now you had the protection of the government. It was a powerful 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:57.539 position. You probably accumulated wealth. However, the everyday people hated you because you were 00:07:57.539 --> 00:08:02.419 collecting the taxes from them. And more than likely, you were crooked. More than likely, you were a 00:08:02.420 --> 00:08:08.439 dishonest person. So this was not a good guy, okay? So we've got a Pharisee, the pinnacle of the religious 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:14.939 world, and then we've got a tax collector, kind of the bottom of the non-religious world, right? 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:24.000 So two very distinct, different people. One a Pharisee, the other a tax collector, went up to the temple 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:31.759 to pray. Verse 11, the Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself. God, I thank you 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:41.580 that I'm not like these other people. Greedy, unrighteous, adulterers. And then he even says it, 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:46.679 right? You kind of knew who he was talking about, but then he says, or even like this tax collector 00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:56.639 over here. I fast twice a week. I give a tenth of everything I get. And I imagine he goes on and on 00:08:56.639 --> 00:09:04.199 and pontificates about how great he is in his prayer, talking to God, right? Verse 13, however, 00:09:05.319 --> 00:09:15.840 the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven, but kept striking his chest 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:28.120 and saying, God, have mercy on me, a sinner. I tell you, this one went down to his house justified 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:34.759 rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles 00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:41.900 himself will be exalted. You understand there's a difference here? One was putting on a show. He was a 00:09:41.899 --> 00:09:48.579 hypocrite, wasn't he? He was playing a part. He was a stage player in that moment. The other one 00:09:48.579 --> 00:09:56.299 knew the truth about himself. He had humbled himself before God, and he couldn't even lift 00:09:56.299 --> 00:10:02.699 his eyes to heaven. The only difference between those two men is one knew the truth about himself, 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:11.059 and the other one didn't. But they were both rotten to the core. But one had the faith to humble 00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:18.259 himself before God and cry out to God for mercy. Well, the Bible says he found mercy. He found 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:28.579 justification in that moment. So, Hippocrates, do you pray, when you pray, do you pray more as an actor? 00:10:28.959 --> 00:10:30.459 Are you acting? Are you playing a part? 00:10:30.460 --> 00:10:41.240 Or are you crying out like that tax collector did? Let's go back to verse 6. Matthew 6 and verse 6. 00:10:41.660 --> 00:10:48.160 When you pray, go into your private room. Shut your door. Pray to your Father who is in secret. So, 00:10:48.660 --> 00:10:55.360 prayer is personal. Prayer is personal. That's what we can glean from this. Now, this doesn't mean 00:10:55.360 --> 00:11:00.879 that the only time that it's appropriate to pray is when you're by yourself. If that were true, 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:04.580 then Jesus would have done wrong, and many others throughout the New Testament would have done 00:11:04.580 --> 00:11:10.039 wrong when they prayed in public, prayed in front of people. We see that time and time again. So, 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:16.080 it's not exclusively that you must pray in private, but prayer is a private thing. It's a personal thing. 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:23.980 We must understand that about prayer. Luke chapter 5, back in Luke again, but earlier in the book, 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:34.120 Luke chapter 5 and verse 16. Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness to pray. So, we see Jesus actually 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:42.640 modeling this. Jesus would often withdraw to deserted places or to the wilderness and pray. He would get 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:47.199 away. How many of you guys have watched The Chosen, either up here at church or maybe you've gone to 00:11:47.199 --> 00:11:50.819 the theater, you've watched it at home on one of the streaming apps? By the way, I can't recommend 00:11:50.819 --> 00:11:55.879 that show enough. Outstanding. Now, it is not a one-for-one account of the biblical narrative. 00:11:56.519 --> 00:12:03.100 They took artistic license and added on some things to the story. It is simply meant to portray 00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:09.759 the life of Jesus and his dealings with his disciples as it may have happened in accordance with the 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:17.659 scripture and then adding on some extra details and backstories and that kind of thing. And they 00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:24.919 make that clear. This is really meant to drive you to the text rather than see it as a replacement for 00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:30.639 the text. There is no replacement for the word of God. However, The Chosen did an excellent job in 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:38.639 portraying how often Jesus would just disappear. His disciples wouldn't know where he was. People might 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:43.779 come asking, where's your master? Where's your rabbi? And they wouldn't know where he was. He's off 00:12:43.779 --> 00:12:49.580 praying somewhere. And the Bible teaches us that Jesus often did that. Why? Because he needed to 00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:56.319 commune with his father. If the Son of God needed to commune with his father privately by himself, 00:12:56.539 --> 00:13:06.419 how much more do you think you and I need to? We're not God. We're not divine. All of our life source 00:13:06.419 --> 00:13:15.799 runs from him. We will be spiritually dead inside if we don't continually go back to that well of 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:25.319 talking to God. Prayer is a deeply personal thing. When it's not personal, it becomes impersonal. 00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:33.299 It becomes public. It becomes a religious right. It becomes a tradition that we feel like we should do, 00:13:33.299 --> 00:13:37.000 but it's not personally meaningful to us. 00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:43.539 So prayer is personal. Back in verse 1 of Matthew 6, 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:50.419 gives us some admonishment about that. Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others 00:13:50.419 --> 00:13:56.279 to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven. 00:13:56.279 --> 00:14:04.220 Why would you have no reward? Because you were not doing it for heavenly gain. You weren't doing it for God. 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:09.799 You were simply doing it for the approval of man, and you already got it. So that reward is done. 00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:13.399 There is no other reward left for you. 00:14:14.459 --> 00:14:17.039 So he says, be careful not to practice your righteousness. 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:24.099 And one of these chief ways would be prayer in front of others just to be seen by them. 00:14:24.199 --> 00:14:28.399 Now, should we live out a life of testimony and faith in God? Absolutely. 00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:34.939 We should. But that should never be the motivation is to gain praise from others. 00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:37.540 But to just be seen by them. 00:14:38.640 --> 00:14:40.180 Because prayer is a personal thing. 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:45.720 Then, I want to remind you of this. 00:14:45.820 --> 00:14:50.280 The heart of the one praying is more important than the style of the prayer. 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:52.860 We sang that song this morning, didn't we? Heart of worship. 00:14:53.640 --> 00:14:56.680 I was back there getting ready for baptism, but I thought I heard it playing out here. 00:14:57.100 --> 00:15:00.400 I'm coming back to the heart of worship because it's all about him. 00:15:00.520 --> 00:15:04.700 Listen, the heart of the one praying is more important than the style of the prayer. 00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:09.900 That tax collector, when he poured out his heart to God, he might not have gotten all the words right. 00:15:10.160 --> 00:15:17.160 He might have not gotten everything theologically and doctrinally straightened up and lined up just how it should be or how they would teach it in seminary. 00:15:17.920 --> 00:15:21.480 But his heart was in the right place, and God blessed it. 00:15:24.180 --> 00:15:30.060 Meanwhile, the Pharisee, who almost assuredly got everything in order as it should be theologically, 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:34.540 and according to the Old Testament that he had studied and knew practically by heart, 00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:39.759 he would have gotten all his ducks in a row, but his heart was so far from God. 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:44.539 Y'all, I'm afraid that that is a microcosm of our churches today, 00:15:44.939 --> 00:15:47.620 and we might not be exempt from that. 00:15:48.319 --> 00:15:53.439 It's that we have long-time Christians who can tell you everything about the Bible, 00:15:53.599 --> 00:15:54.659 everything about God, 00:15:54.659 --> 00:15:58.719 but their hearts are so far removed from God. 00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:06.179 The heart of the one praying is more important than the style of the prayer. 00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:09.059 Why is that? 00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:11.199 Because in God's kingdom, 00:16:11.839 --> 00:16:14.819 you look through these parables, 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:18.719 where Jesus says the kingdom of God is like this. 00:16:18.979 --> 00:16:20.519 A sower went out to sow seed. 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:22.319 A kingdom of God is like this. 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:25.939 The shepherd who left the 99 to go hunt down the one. 00:16:26.359 --> 00:16:27.659 Over and over again, 00:16:28.339 --> 00:16:29.559 in God's kingdom, 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:33.099 relationship is greater than rules. 00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:40.279 The word of God teaches us this life-changing, 00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:42.899 life-transforming difference 00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:45.740 between the Old Testament and the New Testament. 00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:46.700 Both are valuable. 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:48.620 Both reveal God to us. 00:16:49.800 --> 00:16:51.100 But something happened 00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:53.659 when Jesus died on the cross. 00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:56.420 The law died. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:58.240 God's law 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:00.220 was no longer 00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:02.440 controlling over us. 00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:04.820 The Bible says 00:17:04.820 --> 00:17:06.620 what the law could not do, 00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:07.960 Jesus did. 00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:10.660 The law could never bring us to God. 00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:13.900 So plug in all of your religious rules, 00:17:14.120 --> 00:17:15.740 all of your religious expectations, 00:17:16.120 --> 00:17:17.700 all the standards that you think 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:19.220 you and everybody else should meet. 00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:22.580 That will never bring you to God. 00:17:22.580 --> 00:17:24.759 A relationship with Jesus Christ 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:26.240 must bring you to God. 00:17:27.100 --> 00:17:29.320 It's when I get off sidetracked 00:17:29.320 --> 00:17:30.680 by all the rules 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:32.240 that Christianity and church 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.440 can start to implement 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:34.319 on everybody else. 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:36.420 That's when I get farther away from God. 00:17:36.620 --> 00:17:37.559 Now it might look like 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:38.460 I've got my act together. 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.599 It might look like 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:40.640 I'm doing really well, 00:17:40.859 --> 00:17:41.880 but I know inside 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:43.779 there's a passage in Scripture 00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:44.700 that literally says 00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:46.259 you're full of dead men's bones. 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:48.420 You look like you're alive 00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:49.660 and doing great on the outside, 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:51.160 and inside you're dead. 00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:55.620 And I know when I start getting like that. 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:57.960 And God's got to get back to me 00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:58.340 and say, 00:17:58.540 --> 00:17:59.540 it's about prayer. 00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:00.860 It's about me. 00:18:01.120 --> 00:18:02.860 It's about your relationship with me. 00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:04.580 It's about my love for you 00:18:04.580 --> 00:18:08.080 that I can see born in your heart, 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:09.519 and then you can show out 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:11.279 and shine out to others around you. 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:13.700 That is what will change your life, 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:15.019 your kid's life, 00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.060 your wife's life, 00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:17.060 your husband's life. 00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:21.339 That's what will do it every time. 00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:24.200 So relationship is far greater 00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:25.579 than the rules. 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:27.919 You might have been following Jesus' rules. 00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:29.179 You might have been following 00:18:29.179 --> 00:18:30.399 the rules of the Bible 00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:31.980 most of your life. 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:34.740 There's another one who did that. 00:18:35.179 --> 00:18:36.139 His name was Nicodemus. 00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:39.259 But he couldn't seem to figure out 00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:42.179 that Jesus was the answer, 00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:43.619 not the rules. 00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:47.000 Now, let's go to verse 7. 00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:50.339 When you pray, 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:52.579 don't babble like the Gentiles. 00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:53.440 What's he talking about? 00:18:53.879 --> 00:18:55.019 Well, there were these Gentiles 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:56.379 who would pray to their false gods. 00:18:56.659 --> 00:18:57.460 What's a Gentile? 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:59.059 Not a Jew, right? 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.279 Everybody who's not a Jew. 00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:02.179 So if there's any Jews in the room, 00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:04.559 the rest of us are Gentiles, all right? 00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:06.659 So often in that day, 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.859 you would have these Gentiles 00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:09.500 who are worshiping their false gods, 00:19:10.379 --> 00:19:12.059 and their MO, 00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:13.980 their modus operandi, 00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:16.319 is that they would just try to 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:18.619 use as many words as possible 00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:20.839 because the more they would pray, 00:19:20.939 --> 00:19:21.700 the more words, 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.759 the more flowery language 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.519 that they would use 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.399 when they pray, 00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:25.179 they would feel like 00:19:25.179 --> 00:19:26.960 their false gods were honored by that 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:28.639 and their lives would be blessed. 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:30.639 So this is a direct reference to that. 00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:32.000 Well, that still happens today, 00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:32.439 doesn't it? 00:19:33.179 --> 00:19:34.460 That still happens today. 00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:35.859 And they feel like 00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:36.919 as long as they were 00:19:36.919 --> 00:19:38.339 using a bunch of words 00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:39.779 and praying as much as they could 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.740 and as often as they could 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.379 to their gods, 00:19:41.379 --> 00:19:42.740 then their gods would give them 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.500 whatever they wanted. 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:46.140 Prayer does not work like that. 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:48.400 Now, I used to live in Nevada, 00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:49.660 and we literally had 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:51.000 slot machines everywhere, okay? 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:53.680 Now, we didn't in our house, okay? 00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:56.079 But everywhere you went, 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:57.500 I mean, you go to the gas station, 00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:59.019 there's a few slot machines 00:19:59.019 --> 00:19:59.779 right up there by the door. 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:00.900 You go to the grocery store, 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.519 they're right over there 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.299 by the checkout counter. 00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:03.740 I mean, everywhere you go, 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:04.880 there were slot machines 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:05.660 in the state of Nevada. 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:08.779 When God brought us back home to Texas, 00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:10.720 I was so grateful to go to 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:12.879 Brookshire's and not see a slot machine. 00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:13.980 So that was nice. 00:20:15.379 --> 00:20:17.099 Prayer is not a slot machine. 00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:19.619 I'm not going to ask for a show of hands 00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:20.660 of how many of you have played 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.779 a slot machine before, okay? 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:28.859 Look, if you go off and do that, 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.599 it's your business, 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:30.339 it's between you and God, 00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:30.839 that's fine. 00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:31.480 But listen, 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:34.240 prayer does not work like that. 00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:35.599 You don't just put something in 00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:37.299 and expect to get something out. 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:39.059 You don't just put in words 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:41.539 and get out answers, okay? 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:45.680 Prayer is a meaningful communication 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:47.839 with the God of the universe. 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:51.819 The God who knows so much more than you do. 00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:55.039 The God who knows so much more than we do. 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:57.740 We just bring our requests to Him 00:20:57.740 --> 00:21:00.899 and then we sit back in trust and faith, 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.619 believing He will act 00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:04.500 according to what He knows is best. 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:07.079 We might get what we ask for, 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:09.619 or we might get something totally different 00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:10.559 than what we ask for 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:12.539 because God knew that's what we needed. 00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:14.899 We might ask for the trial, 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:16.159 the struggle to be over, 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:19.200 and God might want to take us through it 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:19.819 a little bit more. 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:23.779 There might be all kinds of ways 00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:25.599 that God intends to answer your prayer, 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:27.440 but it will never be 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:29.399 like pulling a slot machine. 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:32.380 Okay, God, I need a new truck. 00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:33.460 Give me a new truck. 00:21:34.120 --> 00:21:35.180 I prayed for it. 00:21:36.380 --> 00:21:37.540 Prayer doesn't work like that. 00:21:38.780 --> 00:21:39.800 And then in verse 8, 00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:41.820 don't be like them. 00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:44.480 Your Father knows the things you need 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:46.540 before you ask Him. 00:21:47.060 --> 00:21:48.900 Prayer releases the pressure. 00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.160 How great is that? 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:52.840 Now, I will ask you to raise your hand on this one. 00:21:53.379 --> 00:21:54.480 How many of you felt pressure 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.639 at some point this last week? 00:21:56.179 --> 00:21:57.259 How many of you felt some pressure? 00:21:58.939 --> 00:22:00.199 For those of you who didn't, 00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:02.220 I need you to like talk to me after the service 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:04.119 because I felt a lot of pressure 00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:05.579 this last week at different moments. 00:22:06.199 --> 00:22:07.220 That is amazing. 00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:08.099 Y'all have cracked the code. 00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:12.059 Look, we are all under pressure, right? 00:22:12.159 --> 00:22:12.759 We are. 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.500 Some of you were like, 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:16.039 don't pressure me into raising my hand. 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:17.159 I feel pressure right now. 00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:21.840 Prayer releases the pressure. 00:22:22.040 --> 00:22:23.600 It's not up to you. 00:22:24.060 --> 00:22:25.259 It's up to God. 00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:27.540 It is simply up to you 00:22:27.540 --> 00:22:29.340 to take it to God. 00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:31.420 Because the good news is 00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:33.160 God already knows what you need 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:33.900 before you ask. 00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:36.779 He knows the solution 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:38.720 before you bring Him the problem. 00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:41.740 But He still wants you 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:43.259 to bring Him the problem. 00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:45.920 What kind of a relationship would I have 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:47.500 with my two little boys down here 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:50.640 if I just met all their needs 00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:53.440 and never wanted them to ask me for anything? 00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:57.920 How one-sided of a relationship would that be? 00:23:00.340 --> 00:23:02.000 Why are you asking me for this? 00:23:03.080 --> 00:23:04.340 Like, I don't do enough for you? 00:23:05.060 --> 00:23:07.080 Of course I want them to ask me for things. 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:11.320 Now, I'm not always going to give them 00:23:11.320 --> 00:23:12.080 what they ask for. 00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:15.880 You want nacho cheese Doritos for breakfast? 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:17.300 No, you can't have that. 00:23:18.300 --> 00:23:19.660 I mean, it sounds good to me too. 00:23:19.840 --> 00:23:20.340 But no. 00:23:23.340 --> 00:23:24.880 So I'm going to give them 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:27.160 what I know they should have 00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:28.480 and would be best for them, 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:30.720 but I still want them to come 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:32.300 keep asking me for things. 00:23:32.860 --> 00:23:34.120 You want donuts this morning? 00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:35.519 No, we're not going to go get donuts. 00:23:37.120 --> 00:23:39.920 However, on Beau's birthday, 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.600 which is today, 00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:42.699 we did go get donuts. 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:46.559 It's the chocolate bar. 00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:47.199 That's his thing. 00:23:49.679 --> 00:23:51.519 But prayer releases the pressure. 00:23:51.719 --> 00:23:53.859 You don't have to ask just the right thing. 00:23:53.959 --> 00:23:56.319 You don't have to say just the right thing. 00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:56.959 Now look, 00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:58.980 if you ask amiss, 00:23:59.059 --> 00:24:00.299 if you ask the wrong way, 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:01.419 if you ask incorrectly, 00:24:02.899 --> 00:24:04.679 God's not going to just give you that. 00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:06.259 Remember, prayer's not a slot machine. 00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:07.839 You don't just put in coins 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:09.019 and get out reward. 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:12.160 Just because you ask for it 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.059 doesn't mean that God's, 00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:14.579 oh, you shouldn't have asked for that. 00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:15.180 Here it comes. 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.819 How many of you guys have seen 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:20.740 the whole genie thing 00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:22.559 where you get three wishes, right? 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:24.919 And if you say it the wrong way, 00:24:25.379 --> 00:24:25.740 you know, 00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:30.639 I want a million bucks. 00:24:31.679 --> 00:24:36.119 So you get a million deer bucks. 00:24:37.159 --> 00:24:38.539 I should have specified 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.619 what kind of bucks you wanted. 00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:43.700 God knows what we need. 00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:44.960 He knows what we're asking for. 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:45.700 He knows our heart. 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:47.359 He knows us better than we know ourselves. 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:49.639 And he knows his will for us. 00:24:50.179 --> 00:24:51.759 He knows where he wants to take us. 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:53.299 So that's the good news. 00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:55.140 Prayer releases the pressure. 00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:58.400 God, I'm giving this to you. 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:02.279 Now, James 4.3, 00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:04.599 you ask and you don't receive 00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:06.279 because you ask with wrong motives 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:08.779 so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:10.480 There is this aspect of it. 00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:13.359 If you're asking not out of a motive 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:14.279 to please God, 00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:17.039 not out of a motive to walk in God's will, 00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:19.700 not out of a motive to recognize 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:21.400 that you might have been going the wrong way 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:22.400 and you want to course correct 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:23.800 and you want to get back on 00:25:23.800 --> 00:25:26.180 the following Jesus path, right? 00:25:26.300 --> 00:25:27.540 If that's not the motive, 00:25:28.540 --> 00:25:31.600 then you don't receive what you're asking for 00:25:31.600 --> 00:25:33.860 because you're asking out of wrong motives. 00:25:34.620 --> 00:25:36.759 God, I want you to make me succeed at work 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:39.860 so I can take the dream vacation 00:25:39.860 --> 00:25:40.580 that I always wanted 00:25:40.580 --> 00:25:41.940 and I can spend all my time 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.740 and energy and money 00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:44.440 on myself and my pleasures. 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:46.799 Well, God may not provide that for you. 00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:50.080 But you say, God, I really need a raise at work 00:25:50.080 --> 00:25:52.279 because the things that we could do 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:53.059 with that extra money, 00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:55.340 increase our giving to your work at the church 00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:57.519 and increase what we do for other people 00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:00.380 that don't have what they need. 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:04.240 God, I want you to take any additional income 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:06.840 that I receive and do what you want with it. 00:26:06.839 --> 00:26:10.399 Maybe God will do that for you. 00:26:11.179 --> 00:26:12.019 That's up to Him. 00:26:13.419 --> 00:26:15.619 But prayer releases the pressure 00:26:15.619 --> 00:26:18.720 if your motivations are in line with God. 00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:21.240 Ephesians 3 and verse 20. 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:23.220 We just finished our study of Ephesians, 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:24.480 but back in the middle of the book, 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.639 verse 20 of chapter 3, 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:28.439 all glory to God 00:26:28.439 --> 00:26:31.359 who is able through His mighty power 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.759 at work within us 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:34.819 to accomplish infinitely more 00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:37.400 than we might ask or think. 00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:40.420 You don't always have to ask for the right thing. 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:42.299 I've heard people say, 00:26:42.379 --> 00:26:43.379 I'm not very good at praying. 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.119 What does that mean? 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:46.180 Who's good at praying? 00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:50.019 If you pray sincerely, 00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:52.180 you're good at praying. 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.259 I'm talking to God. 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:55.819 There's no expectations or standard 00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.759 that you have to meet. 00:26:57.140 --> 00:26:59.379 He can accomplish so much more 00:26:59.379 --> 00:27:02.180 than you could ever ask or think. 00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:04.400 By the way, 00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:06.059 if there's any teenagers hanging in here, 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.480 they're missing you in the back right now, 00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:08.480 so y'all need to slip out 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:10.519 if there's any that haven't done that yet. 00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:14.619 Finally, 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:21.119 I might need you to take me to the next one. 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:22.299 It's not working again. 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:24.379 Y'all, we're going to get this thing figured out, all right? 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:27.140 Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:30.559 God's sovereignty does not change our need to pray. 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:31.799 Have you ever thought this before? 00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:33.480 Well, if God is sovereign 00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:35.259 and God knows everything that's going to happen, 00:27:35.919 --> 00:27:38.680 then how does my prayer change things? 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:41.419 Anybody ever thought that? 00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:45.899 Can my prayer change God's will or God's mind? 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.960 Does it make any difference at all? 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:50.099 Let me remind you, 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:53.139 God's sovereignty does not change our need to pray. 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:56.000 God still wants you to ask, 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:59.660 even though He already knows the outcome. 00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:03.640 That's just like when we put our faith in Jesus for salvation. 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:07.000 The Bible teaches that God knows all the ones 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:08.640 who are going to turn to Him 00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:11.480 and repent of their sin and be saved. 00:28:11.859 --> 00:28:13.960 He already knows who's going to do that. 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:18.559 But He goes ahead and wants us to make that decision. 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:21.519 He calls us to do that. 00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:23.299 He draws us to Himself. 00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.879 And it's the same thing, 00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:25.839 it's the same principle 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:28.460 as we continue through our life with Him in prayer. 00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:31.440 God already knows what's going to happen, 00:28:31.859 --> 00:28:34.139 but just like a good father with His children, 00:28:34.419 --> 00:28:36.359 He wants that child to go ahead and ask, 00:28:36.619 --> 00:28:38.200 am I going to supply your needs? 00:28:38.399 --> 00:28:39.359 Absolutely I will. 00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:42.519 Am I going to supply your needs whether you ask or not? 00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:44.920 Yes, because I love you and I care for you. 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:47.099 But I want you to go ahead and ask. 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:49.400 If you don't ask, 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:52.000 then you don't receive my full blessings 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:54.119 of that relationship. 00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:54.680 Do you understand? 00:28:55.139 --> 00:28:58.400 It's not God dangling blessings out in front of you. 00:28:58.639 --> 00:29:00.639 You better pray more so you can get these. 00:29:00.639 --> 00:29:02.879 It's having that relationship with Him 00:29:02.879 --> 00:29:05.599 that comes from constant communication. 00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:08.420 If you and your wife never talk, 00:29:08.619 --> 00:29:10.900 you probably don't have a thriving relationship, right? 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:13.160 You might have learned how to coexist with each other, 00:29:13.320 --> 00:29:15.900 but you probably don't have a thriving relationship. 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:20.160 And it's the same way with God. 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:22.280 If we don't talk to Him, 00:29:23.780 --> 00:29:26.259 then we're just familiar with who He is. 00:29:26.840 --> 00:29:27.940 We might have filled our heads 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:30.480 with a lot of facts about Him and information, 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:35.340 but we don't personally get to call Him friend 00:29:35.340 --> 00:29:40.000 or personally get to call Him our dear close father 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:42.220 because we don't have that kind of relationship with Him. 00:29:42.819 --> 00:29:43.880 But that's not His fault. 00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:45.200 He wants it. 00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:48.519 He wrote a love letter to you right here, 00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:49.700 and He said, 00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:50.259 talk to me, 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.039 pray, 00:29:51.619 --> 00:29:52.440 talk with me, 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.559 communicate with me. 00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:55.819 So, 00:29:56.380 --> 00:29:58.240 He can accomplish so much more 00:29:58.240 --> 00:30:01.059 than you or I could ever ask or think. 00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.539 I want to leave you with this quote. 00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:05.899 Prayer is not about changing God, 00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:10.039 but it's being willing to let God change us. 00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:12.920 Prayer is not about changing God. 00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:13.619 Man, 00:30:13.659 --> 00:30:14.599 God's never going to change, 00:30:14.639 --> 00:30:15.779 and I thank God for that. 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:21.680 But prayer is being willing to let God change me. 00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:22.960 It's taking it to Him. 00:30:23.619 --> 00:30:23.799 Saying, 00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:24.000 God, 00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:24.799 I need you to work here. 00:30:25.159 --> 00:30:25.819 I need you to work. 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:27.980 Prayer drives us to God 00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:30.640 through a cycle of depending on Him 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:32.339 and being grateful for Him. 00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:34.200 Dependence and gratitude 00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:36.140 over and over again. 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:38.160 It's not just asking Him for things 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:40.500 and waiting for them to show up at your door 00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.559 like an Amazon package. 00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:43.759 That's not what prayer is. 00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:47.240 Prayer is a cycle of dependence on God 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.299 for everything. 00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:49.620 Emotional dependence, 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:50.860 material dependence, 00:30:51.380 --> 00:30:52.220 spiritual dependence, 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:53.120 mental dependence, 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.440 dependence for your health. 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:57.500 In every way, 00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:58.240 holistically, 00:30:58.420 --> 00:30:59.320 across the board, 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:02.100 we become dependent on God 00:31:02.100 --> 00:31:04.480 because He will always supply. 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:06.140 He will always be there. 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:08.440 And then we get to send Him 00:31:08.440 --> 00:31:09.360 all the gratitude 00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:10.680 that comes from that. 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:12.120 And then the last slide, 00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:12.559 if you would, 00:31:12.840 --> 00:31:13.559 what's our takeaway? 00:31:14.360 --> 00:31:15.460 Am I praying more 00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:17.100 for show 00:31:17.100 --> 00:31:20.200 or from personal dependence on God? 00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:21.200 That's our takeaway today. 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:23.320 Am I praying more for show 00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:26.879 or from personal dependence on God? 00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:30.279 Would you bow your heads with me? 00:31:30.639 --> 00:31:32.379 Can we ask that question right now? 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:35.939 Maybe don't close up the Bible 00:31:35.939 --> 00:31:36.939 and put everything away 00:31:36.939 --> 00:31:37.740 right in this moment, 00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:40.059 but just for about 60 seconds or so, 00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:42.460 just a moment of quietness, 00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:45.179 a moment of silence 00:31:45.179 --> 00:31:47.220 and stillness 00:31:47.220 --> 00:31:48.900 that says, 00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:49.259 God, 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:51.440 do I talk with you 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:53.620 more for the benefit 00:31:53.620 --> 00:31:54.720 of those around me 00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:59.220 or from personal dependence on you? 00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:03.360 There's a song that says, 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:04.360 Lord, I need you. 00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:06.339 Oh, I need you. 00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:08.660 Every hour, I need you. 00:32:09.600 --> 00:32:11.120 You're my one defense. 00:32:11.779 --> 00:32:13.019 You're my righteousness. 00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.680 Oh, God, 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:15.960 how I need you. 00:32:17.600 --> 00:32:18.900 There's another song that says, 00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:20.640 every hour, I need thee. 00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:23.319 Oh, bless me now, 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.140 my Savior, 00:32:25.339 --> 00:32:26.240 I come to thee. 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:28.860 God desires us to come to him 00:32:28.860 --> 00:32:31.240 time and time again 00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:32.100 throughout the day. 00:32:32.680 --> 00:32:33.839 Never hang up the phone 00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:36.500 with our willing, 00:32:37.140 --> 00:32:38.059 always available, 00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:40.640 Lord Jesus Christ. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.920 God, I ask that you would 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:45.480 work in each heart this morning. 00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:46.860 God, I ask that you would 00:32:46.860 --> 00:32:47.319 to do more than to do more. 00:32:47.319 --> 00:32:49.240 May the takeaway from today 00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:52.380 be that so many in this room 00:32:52.380 --> 00:32:54.819 go home and carve out more time 00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:57.680 to talk with you. 00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:59.460 There's nothing the devil 00:32:59.460 --> 00:33:00.360 wants to do more 00:33:00.360 --> 00:33:02.460 than to distract us 00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:04.839 from our lifeline of prayer. 00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:08.439 There's nothing that our flesh 00:33:08.439 --> 00:33:09.919 resists more 00:33:09.919 --> 00:33:13.759 than the access to the Holy Spirit 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.419 that we get 00:33:14.419 --> 00:33:16.480 when we pray. 00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:18.699 I pray that you'd 00:33:18.699 --> 00:33:19.339 convict each heart. 00:33:20.939 --> 00:33:22.399 And it's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:33:22.679 --> 00:33:22.980 Amen. 00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:23.079 Amen.