WEBVTT 00:00:00.540 --> 00:00:06.040 Well, amen. I want to thank the choir, the combined adult and youth choirs for that wonderful 00:00:06.040 --> 00:00:13.320 song, and that really should carry us forward as a church. God, we do believe. He can do 00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:18.219 the impossible. God can do whatever he wants with our church, and we are excited to see 00:00:18.219 --> 00:00:22.219 what that is in the future. Thanks, buddy. I might need that. Appreciate that. Brought 00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:30.500 me by Bible. Very good. Thank you, man. All right. We are going to take a turn from the 00:00:30.500 --> 00:00:35.640 last few months where we've been in the book of Ephesians, and I invite you to turn over 00:00:35.640 --> 00:00:48.280 to the gospel of Matthew. Matthew, if you would, chapter 6. Mentioned it a little bit at the 00:00:48.280 --> 00:00:54.740 end of the service last Sunday, I truly believe that God is leading our church into a season 00:00:54.740 --> 00:01:03.640 of prayer. That does not just represent a sermon series, though there will be sermon series 00:01:03.640 --> 00:01:09.299 themed on prayer, and we're beginning one today. But I truly believe that our church as a whole, 00:01:09.960 --> 00:01:16.799 individually and corporately together, is being called by God into an actual season where we 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:24.700 need to commit ourselves personally and united as a church in the effort, the discipline of prayer. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:31.200 So I ask that you would go home and you would search your own heart, and then you would search 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:37.920 your calendar, and try to find moments where you can literally schedule dedicated prayer time. 00:01:39.299 --> 00:01:43.920 We're going to be talking about that more in the weeks to come, and try to provide opportunities 00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:51.219 and pathways to do that, both individually and together as a church. But let's begin this season 00:01:51.219 --> 00:02:01.640 of prayer by diving into the pattern that God laid out for us to pray. So Matthew, chapter 6, 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:08.960 we read about the Lord's Prayer. This series, this first series in our season of prayer, 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:16.580 is called Talking with God. And we start off by talking about the Lord's Prayer. Would you go 00:02:16.580 --> 00:02:21.920 ahead and advance me to the next slide? This thing isn't cooperating yet this morning. There we go, 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:28.939 thank you. A lot of it is done by the Bible exposition commentary, and then over the next few weeks, 00:02:28.939 --> 00:02:40.800 we will be covering Matthew, chapter 6, verses 5 through 15. Matthew 6, 5 through 15. Let me say this 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:47.639 about the Lord's Prayer. The Lord's Prayer is less of a prescription and more of a pattern. You 00:02:47.639 --> 00:02:53.840 understand what we mean by that? It wasn't God so much saying, this is how you have to pray, and if you 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:59.099 pray these words, then you'll get to God. That wasn't at all what he was saying. Instead, he was giving 00:02:59.099 --> 00:03:04.819 us a pattern by which we can pray. There we go. It advanced this time, so I think we got it working. 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:10.780 Matthew 6, 5 through 8, is the first section of this passage that we'll cover this morning, 00:03:11.580 --> 00:03:16.780 and then we'll get into the actual content of the Lord's Prayer next week. So let's begin 00:03:16.780 --> 00:03:21.580 in Matthew, chapter 6, verse 5. If you're able to join us in standing as we read the Word of God, 00:03:21.580 --> 00:03:28.740 would you do that now? Matthew chapter 6, and verse 5. Whenever you pray, you must not be like the 00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:34.740 hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen 00:03:34.740 --> 00:03:43.060 by people. Truly, I tell you, they have their reward. But when you pray, go into your private room, 00:03:43.980 --> 00:03:50.260 shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret 00:03:50.259 --> 00:03:58.159 will reward you. When you pray, don't babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they'll be heard 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:05.519 for their many words. Don't be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you 00:04:05.519 --> 00:04:12.919 ask Him. God, we know that you do know exactly what we need even before we ask. We know that you've 00:04:12.919 --> 00:04:17.800 called us to pray. You've called us to communicate with you, just to talk with you, God. 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:26.699 That is sometimes an intimidating thing. It's sometimes an uncertain thing. We thank you for 00:04:26.699 --> 00:04:32.079 your scriptures that enlighten how we can do that. I pray that you would speak to us by your Holy Spirit 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:36.060 in this moment. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. You may be seated. Thanks for standing. 00:04:36.060 --> 00:04:45.480 I want to draw your attention back to verse 5. Back to verse 5. Whenever you pray, Jesus is teaching us, 00:04:46.040 --> 00:04:51.399 don't be like the hypocrites. Well, who was He talking about? He was talking about the Pharisees 00:04:51.399 --> 00:04:58.019 back in the day, the great religious leaders in the Jewish tradition. At that moment in time, 00:04:58.019 --> 00:05:07.779 the Pharisees kind of held the keys to the Jewish faith. And in public and in their synagogues or 00:05:07.779 --> 00:05:15.019 their types of churches, they would often pray loudly and proudly for everybody to hear. 00:05:16.060 --> 00:05:23.000 So Jesus is using them as a direct example of how not to pray. Now, don't raise your hand and don't 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:27.180 shout out anybody's name, but have you ever seen somebody who prayed and it just seemed like they were 00:05:27.180 --> 00:05:36.180 doing it to get attention? I have. I really hope I haven't been that guy before, but we've all seen 00:05:36.180 --> 00:05:41.660 that kind of person probably. It's like, are you doing this sincerely? Are you really talking to God 00:05:41.660 --> 00:05:48.620 right now? Or are you just talking in front of others? Well, it's interesting because, well, you know 00:05:48.620 --> 00:05:53.579 what? It was working and now it's not. So would you mind taking me to the next slide? Hippocrates, 00:05:53.579 --> 00:06:02.219 the word we get right here in Matthew 6 and verse 5, don't be like the hypocrites. Hippocrates is that 00:06:02.219 --> 00:06:08.919 Greek word there. And from that word, we get the idea of actor or stage player. Isn't that interesting? 00:06:09.959 --> 00:06:19.279 How many times when you and I prayed, do we feel like maybe we're just acting? Maybe we're just playing 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:25.979 on a stage. We're doing it. We're putting on a performance for the benefit of those around us. 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:32.739 And we're not really, truly communicating with God out of dependence on God. 00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:43.000 So that is what Jesus is warning against. Look over in Luke 18, if you would. Luke chapter 18. 00:06:45.060 --> 00:06:51.780 I didn't put it on the screen. I figured we could just turn in our Bibles. Luke 18, verses 9 through 14. 00:06:54.360 --> 00:06:56.300 Just a couple of books over from Matthew. 00:06:56.300 --> 00:07:01.660 Luke chapter 18, beginning in verse 9. 00:07:03.340 --> 00:07:06.400 Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves, 00:07:07.259 --> 00:07:11.220 that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else. Know anybody like that? 00:07:11.860 --> 00:07:14.800 Trusted in yourself that you're righteous and you look down on everybody else? 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:18.259 So he tells this story to make this point. 00:07:18.420 --> 00:07:21.379 Two men, verse 10, went up to the temple to pray. 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:25.000 One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector. 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:29.319 Now pause for a minute. Anybody know a famous tax collector in the Bible? 00:07:30.819 --> 00:07:33.579 Yeah, what do you think? Matthew, that's right. 00:07:34.500 --> 00:07:38.620 Matthew was a tax collector. Now that doesn't mean that this story is based on Matthew's life. 00:07:39.100 --> 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 --> 00:07:47.740 tax collector was a hated position. 00:07:48.680 --> 00:07:50.300 Now you had the protection of the government. 00:07:50.519 --> 00:07:51.800 It was a powerful position. 00:07:51.800 --> 00:07:53.860 You probably accumulated wealth. 00:07:53.980 --> 00:07:58.740 However, the everyday people hated you because you were collecting the taxes from them. 00:07:58.980 --> 00:08:00.520 And more than likely, you were crooked. 00:08:01.259 --> 00:08:03.199 More than likely, you were a dishonest person. 00:08:03.840 --> 00:08:05.379 So this was not a good guy, okay? 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:09.300 So we've got a Pharisee, the pinnacle of the religious world, 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:11.000 and then we've got a tax collector, 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:14.939 kind of the bottom of the non-religious world, right? 00:08:14.939 --> 00:08:20.319 So two very distinct, different people. 00:08:21.420 --> 00:08:25.079 One a Pharisee, the other a tax collector, went up to the temple to pray. 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:29.699 Verse 11, the Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself. 00:08:29.860 --> 00:08:33.580 God, I thank you that I'm not like these other people. 00:08:34.860 --> 00:08:38.639 Greedy, unrighteous, adulterers. 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:42.080 And then he even says it, right? 00:08:42.460 --> 00:08:44.519 You kind of knew who he was talking about, but then he says, 00:08:45.059 --> 00:08:47.159 or even like this tax collector over here. 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:51.419 I fast twice a week. 00:08:51.559 --> 00:08:53.319 I give a tenth of everything I get. 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:58.600 And I imagine he goes on and on and pontificates about how great he is 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:01.379 in his prayer, talking to God, right? 00:09:01.379 --> 00:09:08.860 Verse 13, however, the tax collector, standing far off, 00:09:09.980 --> 00:09:12.759 would not even raise his eyes to heaven, 00:09:13.340 --> 00:09:17.419 but kept striking his chest and saying, 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:20.960 God, have mercy on me, a sinner. 00:09:22.899 --> 00:09:28.139 I tell you, this one went down to his house justified, 00:09:28.700 --> 00:09:29.899 rather than the other, 00:09:29.899 --> 00:09:33.059 because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:36.519 but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. 00:09:37.459 --> 00:09:39.220 You understand there's a difference here? 00:09:39.579 --> 00:09:40.939 One was putting on a show. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:42.620 He was a hypocrite, wasn't he? 00:09:43.220 --> 00:09:44.360 He was playing a part. 00:09:45.299 --> 00:09:46.899 He was a stage player in that moment. 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:51.600 The other one knew the truth about himself. 00:09:52.620 --> 00:09:54.720 He had humbled himself before God, 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:57.899 and he couldn't even lift his eyes to heaven. 00:09:57.899 --> 00:10:00.600 The only difference between those two men 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:02.720 is one knew the truth about himself, 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:03.620 and the other one didn't. 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:06.759 But they were both rotten to the core. 00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:12.139 But one had the faith to humble himself before God 00:10:12.139 --> 00:10:14.399 and cry out to God for mercy. 00:10:15.539 --> 00:10:17.079 Well, the Bible says he found mercy. 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:20.439 He found justification in that moment. 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:25.220 So, Hippocrates, do you pray? 00:10:25.320 --> 00:10:28.560 When you pray, do you pray more as an actor? 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:29.600 Are you acting? 00:10:29.720 --> 00:10:30.460 Are you playing a part? 00:10:33.400 --> 00:10:37.800 Or are you crying out like that tax collector did? 00:10:38.180 --> 00:10:39.480 Let's go back to verse 6. 00:10:39.900 --> 00:10:41.200 Matthew 6 and verse 6. 00:10:41.560 --> 00:10:44.160 When you pray, go into your private room. 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:45.440 Shut your door. 00:10:45.880 --> 00:10:47.860 Pray to your father who is in secret. 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:49.899 So, prayer is personal. 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:52.159 Prayer is personal. 00:10:52.500 --> 00:10:53.879 That's what we can glean from this. 00:10:54.300 --> 00:10:56.879 Now, this doesn't mean that the only time 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:58.399 that it's appropriate to pray 00:10:58.399 --> 00:10:59.680 is when you're by yourself. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:02.320 If that were true, then Jesus would have done wrong, 00:11:02.680 --> 00:11:04.139 and many others throughout the New Testament 00:11:04.139 --> 00:11:04.840 would have done wrong 00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:05.960 when they prayed in public, 00:11:06.460 --> 00:11:07.399 prayed in front of people. 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:09.399 We see that time and time again. 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:12.500 So, it's not exclusively that you must pray in private, 00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:14.620 but prayer is a private thing. 00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:16.080 It's a personal thing. 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:18.320 We must understand that about prayer. 00:11:20.259 --> 00:11:21.620 Luke chapter 5. 00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:23.980 Back in Luke again, but earlier in the book. 00:11:24.100 --> 00:11:25.879 Luke chapter 5 and verse 16. 00:11:27.980 --> 00:11:31.960 Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness to pray. 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:35.320 So, we see Jesus actually modeling this. 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:40.139 Jesus would often withdraw to deserted places 00:11:40.139 --> 00:11:42.139 or to the wilderness and pray. 00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:42.879 He would get away. 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:44.480 How many of you guys have watched The Chosen? 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:46.179 Either up here at church, 00:11:46.259 --> 00:11:47.500 or maybe you've gone to the theater, 00:11:47.620 --> 00:11:49.379 you've watched it at home on one of the streaming apps. 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:51.539 By the way, I can't recommend that show enough. 00:11:51.960 --> 00:11:52.360 Outstanding. 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:54.720 Now, it is not a one-for-one account 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:55.879 of the biblical narrative. 00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:57.919 They took artistic license 00:11:57.919 --> 00:12:00.740 and added on some things to the story. 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:05.120 It is simply meant to portray the life of Jesus 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:06.639 and his dealings with his disciples 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:08.639 as it may have happened 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:10.039 in accordance with the scripture, 00:12:10.039 --> 00:12:14.899 and then adding on some extra details 00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:17.059 and backstories and that kind of thing. 00:12:17.059 --> 00:12:18.740 And they make that clear. 00:12:18.959 --> 00:12:21.519 This is really meant to drive you to the text 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:25.279 rather than see it as a replacement for the text. 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:27.339 There is no replacement for the word of God. 00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:30.399 However, The Chosen did an excellent job 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:34.240 in portraying how often Jesus would just disappear. 00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:37.659 His disciples wouldn't know where he was. 00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:39.299 People might come asking, 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:40.659 where's your master? 00:12:40.779 --> 00:12:41.600 Where's your rabbi? 00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:43.339 And they wouldn't know where he was. 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:44.500 He's off praying somewhere. 00:12:45.699 --> 00:12:48.120 And the Bible teaches us that Jesus often did that. 00:12:48.219 --> 00:12:48.379 Why? 00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:50.480 Because he needed to commune with his father. 00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:54.279 If the son of God needed to commune with his father 00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:56.319 privately by himself, 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:58.620 how much more do you think you and I need to? 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:01.620 We're not God. 00:13:02.179 --> 00:13:03.319 We're not divine. 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:07.620 All of our life source runs from him. 00:13:08.760 --> 00:13:11.840 We will be spiritually dead inside 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:15.120 if we don't continually go back to that well 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:16.740 of talking to God. 00:13:17.020 --> 00:13:19.740 Prayer is a deeply personal thing. 00:13:20.540 --> 00:13:22.360 When it's not personal, 00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:25.300 it becomes impersonal. 00:13:25.780 --> 00:13:27.340 It becomes public. 00:13:27.800 --> 00:13:29.980 It becomes a religious right. 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:33.300 It becomes a tradition that we feel like we should do. 00:13:34.460 --> 00:13:36.980 But it's not personally meaningful to us. 00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:41.180 So prayer is personal. 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:43.539 Back in verse 1 of Matthew 6, 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:46.220 it gives us some admonishment about that. 00:13:46.340 --> 00:13:49.100 Be careful not to practice your righteousness 00:13:49.100 --> 00:13:52.279 in front of others to be seen by them. 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:56.279 Otherwise, you have no reward with your father in heaven. 00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:58.319 Why would you have no reward? 00:13:59.819 --> 00:14:02.360 Because you were not doing it for heavenly gain. 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:04.220 You weren't doing it for God. 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:06.819 You were simply doing it for the approval of man 00:14:06.819 --> 00:14:08.079 and you already got it. 00:14:08.319 --> 00:14:09.799 So that reward is done. 00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:13.419 There is no other reward left for you. 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:14.959 So he says, 00:14:15.100 --> 00:14:17.039 be careful not to practice your righteousness. 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:19.819 And one of these chief ways would be prayer 00:14:19.819 --> 00:14:24.079 in front of others just to be seen by them. 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:26.940 Now, should we live out a life of testimony 00:14:26.940 --> 00:14:27.960 and faith in God? 00:14:28.040 --> 00:14:28.400 Absolutely. 00:14:29.160 --> 00:14:29.680 We should. 00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:32.259 But that should never be the motivation 00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:34.940 is to gain praise from others 00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:37.540 or to just be seen by them 00:14:37.540 --> 00:14:40.200 because prayer is a personal thing. 00:14:41.700 --> 00:14:41.960 Then, 00:14:43.160 --> 00:14:45.720 I want to remind you of this. 00:14:45.820 --> 00:14:47.180 The heart of the one praying 00:14:47.180 --> 00:14:50.300 is more important than the style of the prayer. 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:52.220 We sang that song this morning, didn't we? 00:14:52.280 --> 00:14:52.879 Heart of worship. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:55.340 I was back there getting ready for baptism, 00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.679 but I thought I heard it playing out here. 00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:58.720 I'm coming back to the heart of worship 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:00.399 because it's all about him. 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:00.980 Listen, 00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:02.600 the heart of the one praying 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:04.700 is more important than the style of the prayer. 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:05.980 That tax collector, 00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:08.059 when he poured out his heart to God, 00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:09.899 he might not have gotten all the words right. 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:11.740 He might have not gotten everything 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:14.039 theologically and doctrinally straightened up 00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:15.679 and lined up just how it should be 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:17.159 or how they would teach it in seminary. 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:20.259 But his heart was in the right place 00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:21.539 and God blessed it. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:24.519 Meanwhile, 00:15:25.219 --> 00:15:26.100 the Pharisee, 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:28.600 who almost assuredly got everything in order 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:30.059 as it should be theologically 00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:32.219 and according to the Old Testament 00:15:32.219 --> 00:15:33.059 that he had studied 00:15:33.059 --> 00:15:34.539 and knew practically by heart, 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:36.980 he would have gotten all his ducks in a row, 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:39.800 but his heart was so far from God. 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:41.460 Y'all, 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:43.560 I'm afraid that that is a microcosm 00:15:43.560 --> 00:15:44.539 of our churches today 00:15:44.539 --> 00:15:47.620 and we might not be exempt from that. 00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:50.379 It's that we have long-time Christians 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:52.200 who can tell you everything 00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:53.440 about the Bible, 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:54.659 everything about God, 00:15:54.659 --> 00:15:56.159 but their hearts 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:57.819 are so far removed 00:15:57.819 --> 00:15:58.719 from God. 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:02.459 The heart of the one praying 00:16:02.459 --> 00:16:03.819 is more important 00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:06.179 than the style of the prayer. 00:16:08.059 --> 00:16:09.059 Why is that? 00:16:09.719 --> 00:16:11.199 Because in God's kingdom, 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:14.819 you look through these parables 00:16:14.819 --> 00:16:16.219 where Jesus says 00:16:16.219 --> 00:16:18.720 the kingdom of God is like this. 00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:20.539 A sower went out to sow seed. 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:22.319 A kingdom of God is like this. 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:24.600 It's the shepherd who left the 99 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:25.940 to go hunt down the one. 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:27.660 Over and over again, 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:29.560 in God's kingdom, 00:16:29.920 --> 00:16:33.100 relationship is greater than rules. 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:38.000 The word of God teaches us 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:40.280 this life-changing, 00:16:40.800 --> 00:16:42.900 life-transforming difference 00:16:42.900 --> 00:16:45.020 between the Old Testament 00:16:45.020 --> 00:16:45.740 and the New Testament. 00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:46.700 Both are valuable. 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:48.600 Both reveal God to us. 00:16:49.800 --> 00:16:51.120 But something happened 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:53.659 when Jesus died on the cross. 00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:56.419 The law died. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:58.259 God's law 00:16:58.259 --> 00:17:00.200 was no longer 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:02.440 controlling over us. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:04.819 The Bible says 00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:06.619 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 --> 00:17:12.519 So plug in 00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.900 all of your religious rules, 00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:15.740 all of your religious expectations, 00:17:16.119 --> 00:17:17.019 all the standards 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.700 that you think 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:19.220 you and everybody else should meet. 00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:22.579 That will never bring you to God. 00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:24.759 A relationship with Jesus Christ 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:26.240 must bring you to God. 00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:29.319 It's when I get off sidetracked 00:17:29.319 --> 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. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:36.440 That's when I get farther away from God. 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:37.559 Now it might look like 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:38.480 I've got my act together. 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.600 It might look like 00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:40.640 I'm doing really well, 00:17:40.860 --> 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. 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:48.420 You look like you're alive 00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:49.660 and doing great on the outside 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:51.160 and inside you're dead. 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.839 And I know 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:55.619 when I start getting like that. 00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:57.940 And God's got to get back to me 00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:58.339 and say 00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:59.559 it's about prayer. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:00.879 It's about me. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:02.859 It's about your relationship with me. 00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:04.579 It's about my love for you 00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:05.460 that I can 00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:08.079 see born in your heart 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:09.519 and then you can show out 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.279 and shine out 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:11.299 to others around you. 00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:13.059 That is what will change 00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:13.700 your life, 00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:15.059 your kid's life, 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.079 your wife's life, 00:18:16.159 --> 00:18:17.079 your husband's life. 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:19.779 That's what will do it 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:21.339 every time. 00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:22.940 So relationship 00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:24.180 is far greater 00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.579 than the rules. 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:26.619 You might have been 00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:27.919 following Jesus' rules. 00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:29.180 You might have been following 00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:30.399 the rules of the Bible 00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:31.980 most of your life. 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:34.099 There's another one 00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:34.740 who did that. 00:18:35.159 --> 00:18:36.139 His name was Nicodemus. 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:38.539 But he couldn't seem 00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:39.240 to figure out 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:42.180 that Jesus was the answer, 00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:43.640 not the rules. 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.039 Now, 00:18:46.220 --> 00:18:47.019 let's go to verse 7. 00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:50.339 When you pray, 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:51.599 don't babble 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:52.579 like the Gentiles. 00:18:52.620 --> 00:18:53.440 What's he talking about? 00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:54.079 Well, 00:18:54.120 --> 00:18:55.019 there were these Gentiles 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:55.480 who would pray 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:56.359 to their false god. 00:18:56.660 --> 00:18:57.460 What's a Gentile? 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:59.059 Not a Jew, right? 00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:00.279 Everybody who's not a Jew. 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:00.940 So, 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:01.680 if there's any Jews 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.180 in the room, 00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:03.259 the rest of us 00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:03.940 are Gentiles, 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.440 alright? 00:19:05.059 --> 00:19:05.460 So, 00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:06.660 often in that day, 00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.140 you would have 00:19:07.140 --> 00:19:07.859 these Gentiles 00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:08.599 who are worshiping 00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:09.500 their false gods 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:12.699 and their MO, 00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:13.980 their modus operandi 00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:15.579 is that they would 00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:16.899 just try to use 00:19:16.899 --> 00:19:17.919 as many words 00:19:17.919 --> 00:19:18.619 as possible 00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:20.019 because the more 00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:20.839 they would pray, 00:19:20.939 --> 00:19:21.699 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 --> 00:19:26.019 their false gods 00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:26.980 were honored by that 00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:28.039 and their lives 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:28.639 would be blessed. 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:29.279 So, 00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:30.240 this is a direct reference 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:30.639 to that. 00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:30.879 Well, 00:19:30.959 --> 00:19:32.000 that still happens today, 00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:32.439 doesn't it? 00:19:33.199 --> 00:19:34.459 That still happens today. 00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:35.859 And they feel like 00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:36.939 as long as they were 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.340 using a bunch of words 00:19:38.340 --> 00:19:38.820 and praying 00:19:38.820 --> 00:19:39.779 as much as they could 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.740 and as often as they could 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.380 to their gods, 00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.200 then their gods 00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:42.740 would give them 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.480 whatever they wanted. 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:45.460 Prayer does not 00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:46.140 work like that. 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:47.460 Now, 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.400 I used to live in Nevada 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:49.380 and we literally 00:19:49.380 --> 00:19:50.160 had slot machines 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:50.559 everywhere, 00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.019 okay? 00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:52.259 Now, 00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:52.700 we didn't 00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.360 in our house, 00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:53.680 okay? 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:53.920 But, 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:56.100 but everywhere you went, 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:56.519 I mean, 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:57.500 you go to the gas station, 00:19:57.580 --> 00:19:58.039 there's a slot, 00:19:58.160 --> 00:19:59.039 a few slot machines 00:19:59.039 --> 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 --> 00:20:02.660 I mean, 00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:03.740 everywhere you go, 00:20:04.100 --> 00:20:04.880 there were slot machines 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:05.660 in the state of Nevada. 00:20:07.060 --> 00:20:08.000 When God brought us 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:08.780 back home to Texas, 00:20:09.140 --> 00:20:09.960 I was so grateful 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:11.960 to go to Brookshire's 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:12.880 and not see a slot machine. 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.380 So, 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:13.980 that was nice. 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:16.340 Prayer is not 00:20:16.340 --> 00:20:17.100 a slot machine. 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:18.800 I'm not going to ask 00:20:18.800 --> 00:20:19.620 for a show of hands 00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:20.360 of how many of you 00:20:20.360 --> 00:20:21.200 have played a slot machine 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:21.480 before, 00:20:21.600 --> 00:20:21.780 okay? 00:20:27.340 --> 00:20:27.660 Look, 00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:28.320 if you go off 00:20:28.320 --> 00:20:28.860 and do that, 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.620 it's your business 00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:30.340 between you and God, 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:30.840 that's fine. 00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:31.480 But listen, 00:20:32.020 --> 00:20:33.540 prayer does not 00:20:33.540 --> 00:20:34.240 work like that. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:34.740 You don't just 00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.599 put something in 00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:36.779 and expect to get 00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.299 something out. 00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:38.579 You don't just put in 00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:39.960 words and get out 00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:40.559 answers, 00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:41.539 okay? 00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:44.539 Prayer is a meaningful 00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:45.680 communication 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:46.980 with the God 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:47.839 of the universe. 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:49.640 The God 00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:50.859 who knows so much 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:51.839 more than you do. 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:53.279 The God 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:54.220 who knows so much 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.039 more than we do. 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:56.500 We just bring 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.740 our requests to Him 00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:59.380 and then we sit back 00:20:59.380 --> 00:21:00.140 in trust 00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:00.880 and faith 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:02.620 believing He will act 00:21:02.620 --> 00:21:03.279 according to what 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.500 He knows is best. 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:06.180 We might get 00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:07.079 what we ask for 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:08.139 or we might get 00:21:08.139 --> 00:21:09.259 something totally 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:09.940 different than what 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:10.559 we ask for 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.579 because God knew 00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:12.539 that's what we needed. 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:14.399 We might ask for 00:21:14.399 --> 00:21:14.899 the trial, 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:15.420 the struggle, 00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:16.160 to be over 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:18.000 and God might 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:18.920 want to take us 00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:19.420 through it a little 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:19.839 bit more. 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:22.519 There might be 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.779 all kinds of ways 00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:24.539 that God intends 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:25.599 to answer your prayer 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:27.420 but it will never be 00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:29.119 like pulling a slot 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:29.420 machine. 00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:31.539 Okay God, 00:21:31.600 --> 00:21:32.380 I need a new truck. 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:33.440 Give me a new truck. 00:21:34.320 --> 00:21:35.200 I prayed for it. 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:37.120 Prayer doesn't work 00:21:37.120 --> 00:21:37.539 like that. 00:21:39.019 --> 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 --> 00:21:43.000 Your Father knows 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.480 the things you need 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:46.539 before you ask Him. 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:48.120 Prayer releases 00:21:48.120 --> 00:21:48.900 the pressure. 00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.160 How great is that? 00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:51.840 Now I will ask you 00:21:51.840 --> 00:21:52.340 to raise your hand 00:21:52.340 --> 00:21:52.840 on this one. 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:53.920 How many of you 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:54.480 felt pressure 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.019 at some point 00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:55.660 this last week? 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:56.840 How many felt 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.259 some pressure? 00:21:58.939 --> 00:21:59.740 For those of you 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.199 who didn't, 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:01.099 I need you to like 00:22:01.099 --> 00:22:01.559 talk to me 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.220 after the service 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:03.480 because I felt 00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:04.119 a lot of pressure 00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:04.819 this last week 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.579 at different moments. 00:22:06.179 --> 00:22:07.220 That is amazing. 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:07.759 Y'all have cracked 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.099 the code. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.199 Look, 00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:10.939 we are all 00:22:10.939 --> 00:22:11.679 under pressure, 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.059 right? 00:22:12.159 --> 00:22:12.759 We are. 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.259 Some of you 00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:14.500 were like, 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:15.240 don't pressure me 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:16.039 into raising my hand. 00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:16.619 I feel pressure 00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:17.139 right now. 00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:21.059 Prayer releases 00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:21.819 the pressure. 00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:23.599 It's not up to you. 00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:25.259 It's up to God. 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:27.539 It is simply up to you 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:29.339 to take it to God 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:31.420 because the good news is 00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:32.720 God already knows 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.160 what you need 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:33.900 before you ask. 00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:36.779 He knows the solution 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:38.200 before you bring Him 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:38.720 the problem. 00:22:39.619 --> 00:22:41.740 But He still wants you 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:42.599 to bring Him 00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:43.240 the problem. 00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:45.180 What kind of a relationship 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:45.920 would I have 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:47.039 with my two little boys 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:47.500 down here 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:49.579 if I just met 00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:50.640 all their needs 00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:52.240 and never wanted them 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:53.440 to ask me for anything? 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:56.460 How one-sided 00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:57.240 of a relationship 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:57.920 would that be? 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:01.539 Why are you asking me 00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:02.000 for this? 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:03.420 Like, 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:03.980 I don't do enough 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.340 for you? 00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:05.860 Of course I want them 00:23:05.860 --> 00:23:07.080 to ask me for things. 00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:08.940 Now, 00:23:09.120 --> 00:23:10.600 I'm not always 00:23:10.600 --> 00:23:11.320 going to give them 00:23:11.320 --> 00:23:12.080 what they ask for. 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.900 You want nacho cheese 00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:15.860 Doritos for breakfast? 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.259 No, 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:17.299 you can't have that. 00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:18.620 I mean, 00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:19.660 it sounds good to me too, 00:23:19.820 --> 00:23:20.340 but no. 00:23:20.340 --> 00:23:20.400 No. 00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:21.580 So, 00:23:23.820 --> 00:23:24.880 I'm going to give them 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:25.740 what I know 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:27.160 they should have 00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:27.900 and would be best 00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.480 for them, 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:30.100 but I still want them 00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:31.880 to come keep asking me 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:32.300 for things. 00:23:32.860 --> 00:23:33.600 You want donuts 00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:34.120 this morning? 00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:34.400 No, 00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:34.820 we're not going 00:23:34.820 --> 00:23:35.500 to go get donuts. 00:23:37.080 --> 00:23:37.519 However, 00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:39.920 on Bo's birthday, 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.600 which is today, 00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:42.700 we did go get donuts. 00:23:45.540 --> 00:23:46.560 It's a chocolate bar. 00:23:46.620 --> 00:23:47.180 That's his thing. 00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:47.780 Thanks. 00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:50.980 But prayer releases 00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.519 the pressure. 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.779 You don't have to ask 00:23:52.779 --> 00:23:53.859 just the right thing. 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:55.240 You don't have to say 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:56.319 just the right thing. 00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:56.740 Now, 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:56.960 look, 00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:58.960 if you ask amiss, 00:23:59.059 --> 00:24:00.299 if you ask the wrong way, 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:01.420 if you ask incorrectly, 00:24:02.899 --> 00:24:03.859 God's not going to 00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:04.680 just give you that. 00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:05.039 Remember, 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:06.259 prayer's not a slot machine. 00:24:06.399 --> 00:24:07.839 You don't just put in coins 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:09.019 and get out reward. 00:24:10.759 --> 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 --> 00:24:13.259 oh, 00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:14.579 you shouldn't have asked for that. 00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:15.180 Here it comes. 00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:16.220 How many of you guys 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:20.740 have seen the whole genie thing 00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:22.120 where you get three wishes, 00:24:22.320 --> 00:24:22.560 right? 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.940 And if you say it the wrong way, 00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:25.740 you know, 00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:30.620 I want a million bucks. 00:24:31.900 --> 00:24:36.120 So you get a million deer bucks. 00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:38.559 I should have specified 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.619 what kind of bucks you wanted. 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:43.699 God knows what we need. 00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:44.959 He knows what we're asking for. 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:45.699 He knows our heart. 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.459 He knows us better 00:24:46.459 --> 00:24:47.359 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. 00:24:52.399 --> 00:24:53.279 So that's the good news. 00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:55.119 Prayer releases the pressure. 00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:56.599 God, 00:24:56.739 --> 00:24:58.379 I'm giving this to you. 00:24:58.380 --> 00:24:59.780 Now, 00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:02.280 James 4, 3, 00:25:03.100 --> 00:25:04.600 you ask and you don't receive 00:25:04.600 --> 00:25:06.280 because you ask with wrong motives 00:25:06.280 --> 00:25:07.840 so that you may spend it 00:25:07.840 --> 00:25:08.780 on your pleasures. 00:25:09.020 --> 00:25:10.500 There is this aspect of it. 00:25:11.060 --> 00:25:12.120 If you're asking 00:25:12.120 --> 00:25:13.380 not out of a motive 00:25:13.380 --> 00:25:14.300 to please God, 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:15.580 not out of a motive 00:25:15.580 --> 00:25:17.040 to walk in God's will, 00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:18.480 not out of a motive 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.700 to recognize 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:20.580 that you might have been 00:25:20.580 --> 00:25:21.400 going the wrong way 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:22.400 and you want to course correct 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:23.400 and you want to get back 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:25.860 on the following Jesus path, 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.200 right? 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:27.519 If that's not the motive, 00:25:28.380 --> 00:25:30.340 then you don't receive 00:25:30.340 --> 00:25:31.600 what you're asking for 00:25:31.600 --> 00:25:32.539 because you're asking 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:33.860 out of wrong motives. 00:25:34.620 --> 00:25:34.900 God, 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.759 I want you to make me 00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:36.759 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 --> 00:25:43.759 on myself 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.440 and my pleasures. 00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:44.880 Well, 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:46.799 God may not provide that for you. 00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:48.279 But you say, 00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:48.600 God, 00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:50.080 I really need a raise at work 00:25:50.080 --> 00:25:51.759 because the things 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:52.279 that we could do 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:53.059 with that extra money 00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:53.960 increase our giving 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:55.360 to your work at the church 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:56.759 and increase what we do 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.519 for other people 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:59.619 that don't have 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.379 what they need. 00:26:01.459 --> 00:26:01.859 God, 00:26:01.919 --> 00:26:02.759 I want you to take 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:04.240 any additional income 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.459 that I receive 00:26:05.459 --> 00:26:06.859 and do what you want with it. 00:26:09.059 --> 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 --> 00:26:14.839 But prayer releases 00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.619 the pressure 00:26:15.619 --> 00:26:16.859 if your motivations 00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:18.719 are in line with God. 00:26:19.919 --> 00:26:21.240 Ephesians 3 and verse 20. 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:22.279 We just finished 00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:23.219 our study of Ephesians 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:24.039 but back in the middle 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:24.480 of the book, 00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:26.640 verse 20 of chapter 3, 00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:28.440 all glory to God 00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:29.680 who is able 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:31.360 through His mighty power 00:26:31.360 --> 00:26:32.759 at work within us 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.660 to accomplish 00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:34.819 infinitely more 00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:36.380 than we might ask 00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:37.400 or think. 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:39.700 You don't always have to ask 00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:40.420 for the right thing. 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.299 I've heard people say, 00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:43.380 I'm not very good at praying. 00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:44.120 What does that mean? 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:46.180 Who's good at praying? 00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.839 If you pray 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:50.019 sincerely, 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:52.180 you're good at praying. 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.259 I'm talking to God. 00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:55.180 There's no expectations 00:26:55.180 --> 00:26:55.819 or standard 00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.759 that you have to meet. 00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:58.000 He can accomplish 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:59.379 so much more 00:26:59.379 --> 00:27:00.799 than you could ever ask 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:02.220 or think. 00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:04.400 By the way, 00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:05.359 if there's any teenagers 00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:06.079 hanging in here, 00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:06.819 they're missing you 00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:07.480 in the back right now 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.480 so y'all need to slip out 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:08.960 if there's any 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:10.519 that haven't done that yet. 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:14.619 Finally, 00:27:14.619 --> 00:27:20.259 I might need you 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:21.119 to take me to the next one. 00:27:21.199 --> 00:27:22.319 It's not working again. 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:22.919 Y'all, 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.339 we're going to get 00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:24.099 this thing figured out, 00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:24.379 all right? 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:26.459 Sometimes it does, 00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:27.139 sometimes it doesn't. 00:27:27.679 --> 00:27:28.439 God's sovereignty 00:27:28.439 --> 00:27:29.739 does not change 00:27:29.739 --> 00:27:30.559 our need to pray. 00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:31.319 Have you ever thought 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:31.799 this before? 00:27:32.399 --> 00:27:32.619 Well, 00:27:32.659 --> 00:27:33.479 if God is sovereign 00:27:33.479 --> 00:27:34.539 and God knows everything 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.259 that's going to happen, 00:27:35.939 --> 00:27:37.799 then how does my prayer 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.659 change things? 00:27:40.419 --> 00:27:41.399 Anybody ever thought that? 00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:43.019 Can my prayer 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:45.139 change God's will 00:27:45.139 --> 00:27:45.920 or God's mind? 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.599 Does it make any difference 00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:47.980 at all? 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:50.099 Let me remind you, 00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:50.960 God's sovereignty 00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:52.019 does not change 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:53.139 our need to pray. 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:55.180 God still wants you 00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:56.000 to ask 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.940 even though 00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:58.920 He already knows 00:27:58.920 --> 00:27:59.639 the outcome. 00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:01.639 That's just like 00:28:01.639 --> 00:28:02.440 when we put our faith 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:03.639 in Jesus for salvation. 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:05.259 The Bible teaches 00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:06.099 that God knows 00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:07.019 all the ones 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.740 who are going 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.639 to turn to Him 00:28:08.639 --> 00:28:10.299 and repent of their sin 00:28:10.299 --> 00:28:11.480 and be saved. 00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.720 He already knows 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.400 who's going 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:13.960 to do that. 00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:16.059 But He goes ahead 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:17.120 and wants us 00:28:17.120 --> 00:28:18.559 to make that decision. 00:28:19.860 --> 00:28:20.960 He calls us 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.519 to do that. 00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:22.819 He draws us 00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:23.299 to Himself. 00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.880 And it's the same thing, 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:25.839 it's the same principle 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:27.039 as we continue 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:27.680 through our life 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:28.460 with Him in prayer. 00:28:29.100 --> 00:28:30.120 God already knows 00:28:30.120 --> 00:28:31.440 what's going to happen, 00:28:31.900 --> 00:28:32.680 but just like 00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.339 a good father 00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:34.140 with His children, 00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:35.380 He wants that child 00:28:35.380 --> 00:28:35.839 to go ahead 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:36.360 and ask, 00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:37.220 am I going 00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:38.200 to supply your needs? 00:28:38.360 --> 00:28:39.360 Absolutely I will. 00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:40.339 Am I going 00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:41.279 to supply your needs 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:42.139 whether you ask 00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:42.519 or not? 00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:43.200 Yes, 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:44.099 because I love you 00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:44.920 and I care for you. 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.139 But I want you 00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:47.099 to go ahead and ask. 00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:49.399 If you don't ask, 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:50.920 then you don't receive 00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:52.019 my full blessings 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:54.119 of that relationship. 00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:54.680 Do you understand? 00:28:55.139 --> 00:28:56.059 It's not God 00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:57.619 holding dangling blessings 00:28:57.619 --> 00:28:58.399 out in front of you. 00:28:58.660 --> 00:28:59.639 You better pray more 00:28:59.639 --> 00:29:00.639 so you can get these. 00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:02.319 It's having that relationship 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:02.879 with Him 00:29:02.879 --> 00:29:04.200 that comes 00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:05.579 from constant communication. 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:07.819 If you and your wife 00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:08.440 never talk, 00:29:08.639 --> 00:29:09.539 you probably don't have 00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:10.559 a thriving relationship, 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:10.899 right? 00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:11.920 You might have learned 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:12.500 how to coexist 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.159 with each other, 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:14.279 but you probably 00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:14.579 don't have 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:15.859 a thriving relationship. 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:19.799 And it's the same way 00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:20.159 with God. 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:22.279 If we don't talk to Him, 00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:25.399 then we're just familiar 00:29:25.399 --> 00:29:26.259 with who He is. 00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.539 We might have filled 00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:27.940 our heads 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:28.740 with a lot of facts 00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.220 about Him 00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:30.480 and information, 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:32.639 but we don't personally 00:29:32.639 --> 00:29:35.339 get to call Him friend 00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:37.519 or personally get to call Him 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:40.000 our dear close father 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:41.099 because we don't have 00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:41.879 that kind of relationship 00:29:41.879 --> 00:29:42.220 with Him. 00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:43.879 But that's not His fault. 00:29:44.379 --> 00:29:45.199 He wants it. 00:29:46.099 --> 00:29:46.980 He wrote a love letter 00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:48.519 to you right here 00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:49.699 and He said, 00:29:49.939 --> 00:29:50.279 talk to me, 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.039 pray, 00:29:51.619 --> 00:29:52.439 talk with me, 00:29:52.699 --> 00:29:53.579 communicate with me 00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:57.419 so He can accomplish 00:29:57.419 --> 00:29:58.259 so much more 00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:59.359 than you or I 00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:00.279 could ever ask 00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:01.059 or think. 00:30:01.439 --> 00:30:01.980 I want to leave you 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:02.539 with this quote. 00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:05.099 Prayer is not about 00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:05.899 changing God, 00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:07.740 but it's being willing 00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:10.039 to let God change us. 00:30:11.159 --> 00:30:12.200 Prayer is not about 00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:12.920 changing God. 00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:14.079 Man, God's never 00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:14.599 going to change 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:15.779 and I thank God for that. 00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:19.659 But prayer is being willing 00:30:19.659 --> 00:30:21.680 to let God change me. 00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.960 It's taking it to Him. 00:30:23.619 --> 00:30:24.000 Saying, 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 --> 00:30:29.139 through a cycle 00:30:29.139 --> 00:30:30.639 of depending on Him 00:30:30.639 --> 00:30:32.319 and being grateful for Him. 00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:34.200 Dependence and gratitude 00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:36.159 over and over again. 00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:37.700 It's not just asking Him 00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:38.159 for things 00:30:38.159 --> 00:30:38.940 and waiting for them 00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:40.500 to show up at your door 00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.559 like an Amazon package. 00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:43.759 That's not what prayer is. 00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.539 Prayer is a cycle 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:47.240 of dependence on God 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.299 for everything. 00:30:48.639 --> 00:30:49.619 Emotional dependence, 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:50.859 material dependence, 00:30:51.379 --> 00:30:52.240 spiritual dependence, 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:53.119 mental dependence, 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.420 dependence for your health. 00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:57.519 In every way, 00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:58.259 holistically, 00:30:58.420 --> 00:30:59.319 across the board, 00:30:59.319 --> 00:31:01.099 we become dependent 00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:02.099 on God 00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:04.480 because He will always supply. 00:31:04.939 --> 00:31:06.139 He will always be there. 00:31:06.939 --> 00:31:08.439 And then we get to send Him 00:31:08.439 --> 00:31:09.359 all the gratitude 00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:10.679 that comes from that. 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:12.119 And then the last slide, 00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:12.559 if you would, 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.559 what's our takeaway? 00:31:14.379 --> 00:31:15.460 Am I praying more 00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:17.099 for show 00:31:17.099 --> 00:31:19.659 or from personal dependence 00:31:19.659 --> 00:31:20.200 on God? 00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:21.200 That's our takeaway today. 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:22.599 Am I praying more 00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:23.319 for show 00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:25.379 or from personal dependence 00:31:25.379 --> 00:31:26.879 on God? 00:31:28.879 --> 00:31:30.279 Would you bow your heads with me? 00:31:30.639 --> 00:31:31.799 Can we ask that question 00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:32.379 right now? 00:31:34.339 --> 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, 00:31:40.679 --> 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 --> 00:31:48.899 that says, 00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:49.259 God, 00:31:49.980 --> 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 --> 00:31:58.280 or from personal dependence 00:31:58.280 --> 00:31:59.220 on you? 00:32:02.060 --> 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 --> 00:32:06.340 Oh, I need you. 00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:07.800 Every hour, 00:32:08.060 --> 00:32:08.640 I need you. 00:32:09.560 --> 00:32:11.120 You're my one defense. 00:32:11.780 --> 00:32:13.019 You're my righteousness. 00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.680 Oh, God, 00:32:15.040 --> 00:32:15.960 how I need you. 00:32:17.580 --> 00:32:18.560 There's another song 00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:18.899 that says, 00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:19.819 every hour, 00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:20.639 I need thee. 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:23.319 Oh, bless me now, 00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:25.139 my Savior, 00:32:25.339 --> 00:32:26.240 I come to thee. 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:28.039 God desires us 00:32:28.039 --> 00:32:28.859 to come to him 00:32:28.859 --> 00:32:31.240 time and time again 00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:32.099 throughout the day. 00:32:32.579 --> 00:32:33.839 Never hang up the phone 00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:36.500 with our willing, 00:32:37.139 --> 00:32:38.059 always available, 00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:40.659 Lord Jesus Christ. 00:32:42.639 --> 00:32:43.919 God, I ask that you would 00:32:43.919 --> 00:32:44.919 work in each heart 00:32:44.919 --> 00:32:45.480 this morning. 00:32:46.379 --> 00:32:47.379 Draw us to yourself. 00:32:47.380 --> 00:32:48.340 May the takeaway 00:32:48.340 --> 00:32:49.240 from today 00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:51.520 be that so many 00:32:51.520 --> 00:32:52.380 in this room 00:32:52.380 --> 00:32:53.280 go home 00:32:53.280 --> 00:32:54.140 and carve out 00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:54.820 more time 00:32:54.820 --> 00:32:57.680 to talk with you. 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:59.060 There's nothing 00:32:59.060 --> 00:32:59.740 the devil wants 00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:00.360 to do more 00:33:00.360 --> 00:33:02.460 than to distract us 00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:03.860 from our lifeline 00:33:03.860 --> 00:33:04.840 of prayer. 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:07.580 There's nothing 00:33:07.580 --> 00:33:08.440 that our flesh 00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:09.940 resists more 00:33:09.940 --> 00:33:12.820 than the access 00:33:12.820 --> 00:33:13.760 to the Holy Spirit 00:33:13.760 --> 00:33:14.440 that we get 00:33:14.440 --> 00:33:16.500 when we pray. 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.340 I pray 00:33:18.340 --> 00:33:18.700 that you'd 00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:19.380 convict each heart 00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:22.039 and it's in Jesus' name 00:33:22.039 --> 00:33:22.400 we pray. 00:33:22.700 --> 00:33:22.980 Amen. 00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:23.080 Amen. 00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:53.059 Thank you.