WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.280 Dear Heavenly Father, we do just give you thanks. 00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:09.540 You are all we need and you continue to provide everything that we have and never could need. 00:00:10.140 --> 00:00:13.759 We thank you so much for all that you have given us in Jesus Christ. 00:00:13.939 --> 00:00:18.019 As we recall of his death and burial and resurrection this morning 00:00:18.019 --> 00:00:24.060 and just the fact that you have done everything to save us and to reconcile us to you today, Father. 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:27.460 And Father, we just thank you now as we open your word. 00:00:27.460 --> 00:00:33.420 We know that you desire to teach us and we just pray that as we look into your word 00:00:33.420 --> 00:00:36.700 and hear these words, Father, that you would use them to change us 00:00:36.700 --> 00:00:39.820 and use them to cause us to know you more. 00:00:40.020 --> 00:00:42.179 And we just pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:43.060 --> 00:00:44.120 And you may be seated. 00:00:48.900 --> 00:00:51.520 Those of you that don't know me, my name is Rick Aldridge. 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:54.120 I'm one of the elders here at Christ the King Church. 00:00:54.119 --> 00:00:59.280 And it's my privilege today to bring you a message in our continuing series on prayer. 00:01:00.219 --> 00:01:06.439 My message is not about a specific prayer from Scripture, but rather it's about prayer itself. 00:01:07.479 --> 00:01:10.599 The elders have made prayer an emphasis for our church 00:01:10.599 --> 00:01:13.459 and have stated a desire for us to be a praying church. 00:01:13.459 --> 00:01:16.439 I believe it's something we can always improve in. 00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:19.679 And I want to look at it today from that angle, 00:01:19.899 --> 00:01:24.699 but from more of an individual level and how we can improve our own prayer lives. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:27.659 So what do I mean when I say I want to pray better? 00:01:28.979 --> 00:01:32.019 Sometimes the answer to that is I just want to pray more. 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:36.259 I want to spend more time in prayer, be more consistent with my prayer time. 00:01:36.260 --> 00:01:41.160 But even sometimes when that's going good and my prayer life is consistent, 00:01:41.640 --> 00:01:44.800 I still lament the fact that sometimes it just feels like work. 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:49.359 And if I let my guard down for a moment, I can just lapse right into prayerlessness. 00:01:50.160 --> 00:01:55.180 My life is not always that of praying at all times or praying without ceasing, 00:01:55.420 --> 00:01:56.939 as Paul exhorts to do. 00:01:57.100 --> 00:01:58.680 And I want to be better about that. 00:02:00.080 --> 00:02:03.320 Another answer to that question could be just the content of my prayers. 00:02:03.319 --> 00:02:08.719 Sometimes there are way too much asking and too little communing with the Father. 00:02:09.219 --> 00:02:11.500 Sometimes these requests, they come so naturally, 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:15.060 but not always so much the thanksgiving, the praise and the confession. 00:02:16.039 --> 00:02:21.579 So I want my prayers to be full of those things as I commune with the Father in prayer. 00:02:22.379 --> 00:02:25.479 Also, I spend time praying with others, with my family, with friends. 00:02:25.579 --> 00:02:26.659 I pray aloud here at church. 00:02:27.240 --> 00:02:28.539 And I want to be better at that. 00:02:28.819 --> 00:02:29.900 I want to be a good example. 00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:33.819 I want to be an example to the church body, to my children. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:38.060 I want my prayers to encourage and bless those who are here, 00:02:38.259 --> 00:02:43.040 and to cause myself and them to be drawn towards God, to be conformed to his will. 00:02:43.500 --> 00:02:46.980 And I always want our prayers to be God-centered and not self-centered. 00:02:47.460 --> 00:02:49.740 So I always want to improve in that area. 00:02:49.740 --> 00:02:54.879 I don't want to be like the man who was on a ship and there was suddenly an emergency, 00:02:55.140 --> 00:02:58.300 and he'd come across the captain of the ship and he asked, 00:02:58.680 --> 00:02:59.939 is there anything I can do? 00:03:00.420 --> 00:03:03.000 And the captain goes, no, me and the crew have it all under control. 00:03:03.080 --> 00:03:04.000 Why don't you just pray? 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:06.100 And the man said, is it that bad? 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:09.280 He saw prayer as a last resort. 00:03:09.340 --> 00:03:10.719 I don't want that to be me either. 00:03:11.600 --> 00:03:13.260 When all else fails, try prayer. 00:03:13.259 --> 00:03:16.299 That's not the kind of prayer life we want. 00:03:16.899 --> 00:03:21.560 Sometimes we can be a little too dependent on ourselves and not dependent enough on God. 00:03:22.919 --> 00:03:26.819 And then sometimes in moments of weak faith, we wonder if our prayer matters. 00:03:27.539 --> 00:03:28.899 You guys ever feel like that? 00:03:28.979 --> 00:03:31.139 You wonder, does prayer actually do anything? 00:03:31.959 --> 00:03:33.239 Does prayer get results? 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:37.120 If you ask me to pray for you and I don't, are you worse off? 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:43.840 We may say yes to all these questions, but sometimes our actions betray what we really believe. 00:03:45.080 --> 00:03:47.599 Here's that same dilemma put a little more theologically. 00:03:48.740 --> 00:03:53.060 If God is sovereign, meaning that he sees all, knows all, and controls all, 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:54.920 which I believe the Bible clearly teaches, 00:03:55.780 --> 00:03:59.159 is our prayer merely telling him what he already knows? 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:02.520 Sometimes that can feel a little less than satisfying. 00:04:02.520 --> 00:04:09.200 Or put it another way, if God is sovereign and he decrees or ordains all that has ever been, 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:13.140 all that is or will come to pass, which I believe also the Bible teaches, 00:04:13.900 --> 00:04:16.879 what difference do our prayers make in that? 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:19.460 We can come to the conclusion, why pray? 00:04:20.400 --> 00:04:21.960 And so that's what I want to talk about today. 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:27.900 We have these faulty conclusions, if you will, that can lead us to avoid praying. 00:04:27.899 --> 00:04:33.179 And this can affect our prayer lives at times and sometimes can leave us prayerless. 00:04:33.719 --> 00:04:39.579 Or at best, prayer is just a joyless but dutiful time that we spend. 00:04:40.279 --> 00:04:41.560 So how do we avoid these two errors? 00:04:41.779 --> 00:04:46.519 How do we pray so that our prayer lives are joyful times of fellowship with our Creator? 00:04:48.060 --> 00:04:50.120 Well, it isn't by feeling more guilty or ashamed. 00:04:50.620 --> 00:04:53.319 I know that's not going to motivate any of us, 00:04:53.679 --> 00:04:56.159 just by thinking about how far we fall short. 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:57.780 But save time. 00:04:58.760 --> 00:05:02.160 We have compelling reasons that sometimes push us towards that. 00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:05.600 And we have a couple obvious reasons that we should pray. 00:05:06.260 --> 00:05:09.560 The first obvious reason is that God has commanded us to pray. 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:13.800 We see it numerous times in scriptures as he speaks through the prophets 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:18.460 to the nation of Israel, telling them to call on him, to seek him, to pray to him. 00:05:18.960 --> 00:05:20.360 He wants to hear from his people. 00:05:20.640 --> 00:05:21.420 This is obvious. 00:05:21.420 --> 00:05:25.740 There's also much evidence in the New Testament as well, 00:05:25.840 --> 00:05:27.660 in both the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. 00:05:28.300 --> 00:05:32.060 We've already looked at the model prayer that Jesus gave to his disciples, 00:05:32.300 --> 00:05:33.240 pray in this way. 00:05:33.240 --> 00:05:37.980 And we see it other times where he instructs them in prayer to be persistent, 00:05:38.540 --> 00:05:41.319 to be praying at all times. 00:05:41.579 --> 00:05:45.379 When he comes to the Garden of Gethsemane, he prays himself and he tells his disciples, 00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:48.579 pray that you will not fall into temptation. 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:51.480 And we see Paul's letters as well. 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:52.920 I've already mentioned a couple. 00:05:53.400 --> 00:05:57.460 In 1 Thessalonians 5.17, he tells the Thessalonians to pray without ceasing. 00:05:57.459 --> 00:05:59.539 In the Philippians, he says, 00:05:59.620 --> 00:06:02.919 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication. 00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:06.379 With thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 00:06:07.099 --> 00:06:09.939 He charges the Colossians in Colossians 4.2, 00:06:10.039 --> 00:06:12.839 Be devoted, devote yourselves to prayer. 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:16.079 And we looked in Ephesians in our recent series, 00:06:16.219 --> 00:06:20.019 he says, With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit. 00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:23.399 And with this in view, be on alert with all perseverance and petition 00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:26.139 for all the saints, and pray on my behalf. 00:06:26.139 --> 00:06:30.779 So Paul is very much encouraging us and telling us that we need to be praying. 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:32.519 And the point is clear. 00:06:32.659 --> 00:06:34.120 God has commanded us to pray. 00:06:34.579 --> 00:06:37.719 And our response to this command was, first and foremost, be that of obedience. 00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:42.899 But that, and oftentimes, that might be all that compels us to pray. 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:43.860 And that can be a struggle. 00:06:44.419 --> 00:06:47.240 Because we do see it more as just a duty. 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:50.199 We think, pray without ceasing, pray at all times. 00:06:50.979 --> 00:06:52.939 Certainly, Paul doesn't mean all times. 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:55.579 And never stopping, he can't mean that. 00:06:55.579 --> 00:06:59.459 And that's where we start to pile on the guilt on ourselves. 00:06:59.719 --> 00:07:01.439 If that's the only thing compelling us to pray, 00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:05.639 we're going to have those times where we just feel like this is too much. 00:07:05.740 --> 00:07:06.759 This is too much work. 00:07:07.539 --> 00:07:11.740 A second compelling reason that we should pray is also found there, 00:07:12.699 --> 00:07:14.459 and that it's modeled for us by Jesus. 00:07:14.459 --> 00:07:20.279 We see oftentimes, it speaks of Jesus slipping away into the wilderness to pray, 00:07:20.699 --> 00:07:22.779 or going off to pray by himself. 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:25.719 He's a consistent example of fervent prayer, 00:07:26.419 --> 00:07:28.359 and we see this in all the gospel accounts. 00:07:30.500 --> 00:07:32.779 In the Gospel of Mark, it talks about Jesus, 00:07:33.019 --> 00:07:34.859 early in the morning, while it was still dark, 00:07:35.299 --> 00:07:38.019 he rose and went out into a lonely place to pray. 00:07:38.019 --> 00:07:42.979 After feeding the 5,000, it says that Jesus went off by himself, 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:46.500 sent away the multitudes, and went to the mountains to pray by himself. 00:07:47.419 --> 00:07:49.939 Luke tells about Jesus spending all night in prayer, 00:07:50.039 --> 00:07:51.639 the night before he chose his disciples. 00:07:52.219 --> 00:07:54.779 And we see this over and over in the Scriptures. 00:07:55.459 --> 00:07:56.859 And ultimately, we've already mentioned, 00:07:57.359 --> 00:07:58.399 Ben mentioned today, 00:07:58.579 --> 00:08:01.519 is that we are supremely comforted by the fact that Jesus is still 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:05.259 interceding on our behalf before the Father continuously, 00:08:05.259 --> 00:08:07.539 according to Hebrews 7.25. 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:09.759 So there's still a lot of mystery here. 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:12.500 We have God the Son praying to God the Father, 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:15.060 and it's hard to understand, 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:17.860 but we can't escape the fact that Jesus and his humanity 00:08:17.860 --> 00:08:19.860 spent a lot of time praying, 00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:21.439 and required this time, 00:08:21.879 --> 00:08:24.939 and it should cause us who are called to be imitators of Christ, 00:08:25.039 --> 00:08:26.360 to walk as he walked, 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:31.500 to realize our lives should be characterized by that fervent prayer as well. 00:08:32.019 --> 00:08:34.860 We should be praying for ourselves and for those around us. 00:08:35.259 --> 00:08:37.360 But again, this often feels like a burden. 00:08:37.740 --> 00:08:41.379 If this is what Jesus needed to spend so much time in prayer, 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:42.659 how much more so do we? 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:45.919 And that can just, again, bear down on us. 00:08:46.039 --> 00:08:48.139 It's like, man, we just fall so far short. 00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:51.139 We've got more guilt, less joy, more shame. 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:56.279 So how do we begin to turn this duty into delight? 00:08:56.539 --> 00:08:57.919 I'll steal one of John Piper's phrases. 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:02.179 I think what's going to move us in that direction 00:09:02.179 --> 00:09:04.299 is understanding that our prayers do matter, 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:06.579 that they do accomplish something. 00:09:08.099 --> 00:09:11.079 This is not just something we do because God told us to, 00:09:11.419 --> 00:09:13.219 or that Jesus did it, 00:09:13.599 --> 00:09:16.839 but we understand that our prayers actually accomplish something. 00:09:17.259 --> 00:09:18.959 They are part of God's eternal plan. 00:09:19.299 --> 00:09:20.559 And I'm going to spend the next several minutes 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:22.279 just kind of talking about that 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:24.600 and showing you why your prayers matter. 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:28.139 I told you before that the Bible clearly teaches 00:09:28.139 --> 00:09:29.860 that God is sovereign, 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:33.299 that he controls and decrees all things that come to pass. 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:35.559 And you can feel the tension there. 00:09:36.199 --> 00:09:39.539 How can it be that God decides and declares what will happen, 00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:40.339 and at the same time, 00:09:40.379 --> 00:09:42.379 how can our prayers have a significant effect 00:09:42.379 --> 00:09:45.360 on the unfolding of his plan? 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:48.360 A.W. Pink, in his book, 00:09:48.580 --> 00:09:49.500 The Sovereignty of God, 00:09:50.220 --> 00:09:52.600 he explains the contradiction between these two truths 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:53.419 when he says, 00:09:54.200 --> 00:09:56.399 the same God who has decreed the end 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:58.659 has also decreed that his end 00:09:58.659 --> 00:10:01.180 shall be reached through his appointed means. 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:02.659 And one of these is prayer. 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:04.480 So what he's saying there 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:06.740 is that God, in his infinite wisdom, 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:08.500 he was pleased to ordain prayer 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:11.580 to be a means through which he accomplishes 00:10:11.580 --> 00:10:12.740 his good pleasure 00:10:12.740 --> 00:10:14.539 and in and through his creation. 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:16.519 Pink further writes here on this. 00:10:16.599 --> 00:10:16.860 He says, 00:10:17.399 --> 00:10:19.399 God has decreed that certain events 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:20.539 shall come to pass, 00:10:21.019 --> 00:10:23.019 but he has also decreed that these events 00:10:23.019 --> 00:10:24.819 shall come to pass through the means 00:10:24.819 --> 00:10:26.980 he has appointed for their accomplishment. 00:10:27.799 --> 00:10:29.959 God has elected certain ones to be saved, 00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:31.459 but he has also decreed 00:10:31.459 --> 00:10:33.019 that these ones shall be saved 00:10:33.019 --> 00:10:34.159 through the preaching of the gospel. 00:10:34.959 --> 00:10:37.159 The gospel, then, is one of those appointed means 00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:39.439 for working out the eternal counsel of the Lord, 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:41.079 and prayer is another. 00:10:41.740 --> 00:10:43.279 God has decreed the means 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:44.480 as well as the end 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:46.080 and among the means is prayer. 00:10:46.460 --> 00:10:47.800 So we see this is part of the way 00:10:47.800 --> 00:10:49.899 that God brings his plan about. 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:51.480 We see this relationship 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:53.240 between sovereignty, 00:10:53.560 --> 00:10:55.220 his sovereignty in our prayers, 00:10:55.460 --> 00:10:56.620 and we begin to see that 00:10:56.620 --> 00:10:59.080 this is a big plan that God has. 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:00.620 It's very comprehensive. 00:11:00.740 --> 00:11:02.159 It encompasses everything we do. 00:11:02.899 --> 00:11:03.620 Richard Pratt 00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:06.340 has a book called Pray With Your Eyes Open, 00:11:06.740 --> 00:11:08.200 and he says this about God's plan. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:10.800 God's plan is so comprehensive 00:11:10.800 --> 00:11:12.060 that it not only includes 00:11:12.060 --> 00:11:13.600 the final destinies of things, 00:11:13.800 --> 00:11:14.960 but also includes 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:17.060 the secondary creaturely processes 00:11:17.060 --> 00:11:18.340 that work together 00:11:18.340 --> 00:11:19.420 to accomplish these ends. 00:11:19.900 --> 00:11:20.460 For instance, 00:11:21.020 --> 00:11:23.060 God does not simply ordain light 00:11:23.060 --> 00:11:24.420 to shine on the earth each day. 00:11:24.980 --> 00:11:26.840 He also employs the sun, moon, 00:11:27.020 --> 00:11:27.460 the stars, 00:11:27.560 --> 00:11:28.560 and countless other things 00:11:28.560 --> 00:11:29.660 to accomplish that end. 00:11:30.400 --> 00:11:31.900 God does not merely determine 00:11:31.900 --> 00:11:33.020 that somebody will recover 00:11:33.020 --> 00:11:33.800 from a disease. 00:11:34.339 --> 00:11:36.099 He uses doctors and medicine 00:11:36.099 --> 00:11:37.439 and other things 00:11:37.439 --> 00:11:38.699 to accomplish this healing. 00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:41.079 He says as a playwright of history, 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:43.179 God did not simply write an ending 00:11:43.179 --> 00:11:44.199 for the book of time. 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:46.299 He wrote every word on every page 00:11:46.299 --> 00:11:47.639 so that all events 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:49.099 lead to the grand finale. 00:11:49.819 --> 00:11:50.659 So in other words, 00:11:50.740 --> 00:11:51.559 these all things 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:52.519 which God works out 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:54.199 according to the counsel of his will, 00:11:54.599 --> 00:11:56.000 which we saw in Ephesians 111, 00:11:56.079 --> 00:11:57.299 this is how he works out 00:11:57.299 --> 00:11:58.019 all these things. 00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:00.019 It also includes the means 00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:01.299 that he uses to bring 00:12:01.299 --> 00:12:03.199 about his ultimate ends. 00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:04.620 God uses his son 00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:05.699 to bring the light to the earth. 00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:06.899 He uses doctors 00:12:06.899 --> 00:12:08.139 to restore people to health. 00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:09.519 And he uses prayer 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:10.859 to bring about the many things 00:12:10.859 --> 00:12:12.439 that he has purposed 00:12:12.439 --> 00:12:13.620 in eternity past. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:15.240 And they will come across, 00:12:15.740 --> 00:12:16.439 they will come about 00:12:16.439 --> 00:12:18.559 as he answers the prayers of people. 00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:21.699 And we see this in our own lives. 00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:22.879 We use different means 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:24.039 to accomplish things. 00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:25.979 When we want to cross the street safely, 00:12:25.979 --> 00:12:27.099 we use the crosswalk. 00:12:27.219 --> 00:12:28.059 We look both ways 00:12:28.059 --> 00:12:30.299 before doing so. 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:32.339 If we want to provide for our family, 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:33.040 we work hard 00:12:33.040 --> 00:12:34.280 at our place of employment. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:35.300 So we have these means 00:12:35.300 --> 00:12:36.200 that God has given us. 00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:38.120 When you desire your family members 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:39.500 to turn to Christ for salvation, 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:40.940 you seek opportunities 00:12:40.940 --> 00:12:42.620 to proclaim the gospel for them. 00:12:43.780 --> 00:12:44.639 In the same way, 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:46.220 when you desire something to happen, 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:47.940 you pray to God about it, 00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:49.300 recognizing that prayer 00:12:49.300 --> 00:12:50.460 is one of the ways 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:51.460 that God brings about 00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:53.160 his purposes here on earth. 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:55.800 So we see that this is just part 00:12:55.800 --> 00:12:57.560 of how God has ordained things. 00:12:57.620 --> 00:12:58.700 And our prayers are actually 00:12:58.700 --> 00:13:00.320 a part of that plan. 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:02.220 And we see this in several examples 00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:02.860 in scripture. 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:03.980 If you have your Bibles, 00:13:04.060 --> 00:13:05.379 you can turn to Genesis 20. 00:13:06.760 --> 00:13:08.100 I'm not going to read through it, 00:13:08.160 --> 00:13:08.920 but just point out 00:13:08.920 --> 00:13:12.500 a couple of verses 00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:13.480 that are in there. 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:15.120 This is a section of scripture 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:16.020 where Abraham, 00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:20.680 in escaping a famine, 00:13:20.860 --> 00:13:23.120 he's going to the country of Gerar, 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:25.900 and that is where King Abimelech lives. 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:27.240 And remember, he goes, 00:13:27.340 --> 00:13:28.380 and he tells a lie 00:13:28.380 --> 00:13:29.000 when he gets there. 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:29.980 He tells Abimelech 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:32.000 that Sarah is his sister 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:33.360 because he doesn't want Abimelech 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.100 to kill him 00:13:34.100 --> 00:13:35.759 and take Sarah for himself. 00:13:37.340 --> 00:13:39.460 So Abimelech, King Abimelech, 00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:41.399 takes Sarah into his harem of wives. 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:43.559 And you see that in verse 2. 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:46.000 And in response, 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:48.279 God closes all the wombs 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:50.179 of the household of Abimelech 00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:51.519 and threatens the king 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:52.419 with further judgment 00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:54.259 if he does not restore Sarah 00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:54.759 to Abraham. 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:56.980 So he reveals this to the king 00:13:56.980 --> 00:14:00.080 and tells him that he has to 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:05.139 restore Sarah back to Abraham. 00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:07.539 But he also tells the king 00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:08.639 what his plan is. 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:09.779 And in verse 7, 00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:11.759 it says, 00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:12.259 Now then, 00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:13.639 return the man's wife, 00:14:13.819 --> 00:14:14.759 for he is a prophet, 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:16.659 so that he will pray for you 00:14:16.659 --> 00:14:17.740 and you shall live. 00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:19.620 But if you do not return her, 00:14:19.700 --> 00:14:21.019 know that you shall surely die, 00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:22.240 you and all who are yours. 00:14:22.680 --> 00:14:24.279 So God tells him that his plan 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:26.519 is to have Abraham pray for Abimelech 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:28.019 so that he can be healed 00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:29.220 and his household will be healed. 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:31.299 And we see that that's how God 00:14:31.299 --> 00:14:31.940 brings it about. 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:33.360 We go down to verse 17. 00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:35.519 And, 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:37.159 wrong chapter. 00:14:40.060 --> 00:14:40.720 There we go. 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:41.740 Verse 17, 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:42.779 it says, 00:14:43.080 --> 00:14:44.240 it comes about just as God 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:45.120 said it would. 00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:46.840 Abraham prayed to God 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:48.279 and God healed Abimelech 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:49.600 and also healed his wife 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:50.720 and female slaves 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:51.879 so that they bore children. 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:53.180 And we see that 00:14:53.180 --> 00:14:55.379 this was all part of God's plan. 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:56.840 That Abraham would pray. 00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:58.779 That God would answer that prayer. 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:00.600 And that it would come about 00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:01.000 in that way. 00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:02.240 This is all part of God's 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:04.039 ordained means 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:05.720 of bringing this about. 00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:08.379 We see this again. 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:10.379 Last week we looked at a passage 00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:11.379 in Jeremiah 29. 00:15:12.180 --> 00:15:13.480 And I'm just going to look at that real quick. 00:15:13.539 --> 00:15:14.919 If you want to turn there again. 00:15:15.180 --> 00:15:16.299 And you might be familiar, 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:18.060 Samir talked about this, 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:21.080 that Daniel saw this passage 00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:22.620 in the prophecies of Jeremiah. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:23.900 And he realized that 00:15:23.900 --> 00:15:25.139 that seven years was up. 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:27.440 And so he was excited. 00:15:28.560 --> 00:15:30.259 The exile is coming to an end. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:32.420 And in chapter 29, 00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:34.200 verse 11 through 14, 00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:36.600 same passage we looked at last week. 00:15:38.800 --> 00:15:39.020 God, 00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:41.320 in verse 10, 00:15:41.400 --> 00:15:42.379 he says that the seven years 00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:43.360 are completed for Babylon. 00:15:43.540 --> 00:15:44.180 I will visit you 00:15:44.180 --> 00:15:45.680 and I will fulfill my promise to you 00:15:45.680 --> 00:15:47.460 and bring you back to this place. 00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:48.080 And then in 11, 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:48.440 it says, 00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:50.120 For I know the plans I have for you, 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:50.860 declares the Lord, 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:53.379 plans for welfare and not for evil, 00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:55.340 to give you a future and a hope. 00:15:55.900 --> 00:15:57.259 Then you will call upon me 00:15:57.259 --> 00:15:58.700 and come and pray to me 00:15:58.700 --> 00:15:59.700 and I will hear you. 00:16:00.180 --> 00:16:01.560 You will seek me and find me 00:16:01.560 --> 00:16:02.340 and when you seek me 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:03.160 with all your heart, 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:04.320 I will be found by you, 00:16:04.400 --> 00:16:05.060 declares the Lord. 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.900 And I will restore your fortunes 00:16:06.900 --> 00:16:08.360 and gather you from all the nations 00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:09.259 and all the places 00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:10.600 where I have driven you, 00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:11.360 declares the Lord. 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:12.740 And I will bring you back 00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:13.280 to the place 00:16:13.280 --> 00:16:15.060 from which I set you into exile. 00:16:15.059 --> 00:16:17.000 So here again, 00:16:17.079 --> 00:16:18.099 we see God responding 00:16:18.099 --> 00:16:19.419 to the prayers of his people. 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:20.419 That's part of his plan 00:16:20.419 --> 00:16:21.799 is that the people would pray to him 00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:23.319 and he would respond. 00:16:23.699 --> 00:16:25.239 He's going to restore his people 00:16:25.239 --> 00:16:27.039 in response to their prayers. 00:16:27.319 --> 00:16:28.199 Those prayers aren't going to be 00:16:28.199 --> 00:16:29.779 an intrusion into God's plan, 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:31.779 but they're rather a big part 00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:32.859 of his eternal plan. 00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:35.319 They are both the means and the ends, 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:36.899 the prayers and the restoration. 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:39.199 These have all been ordained by him 00:16:39.199 --> 00:16:41.419 and will be brought to pass by God. 00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:45.159 So we see the prayers being a part of that. 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:46.019 So prayers then, 00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:47.879 they shouldn't be thought of 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:51.339 as attempts to alter God's eternal purposes. 00:16:52.339 --> 00:16:55.099 Again, in his book, Pratt writes, 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:57.860 trying to alter the eternal decrees of God 00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:59.219 through prayer is like trying 00:16:59.219 --> 00:17:00.759 to reach the moon on a trampoline. 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:02.039 It is impossible. 00:17:02.939 --> 00:17:05.259 Our petitions cannot interrupt God's plan 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:06.379 for the universe any more 00:17:06.379 --> 00:17:07.960 than a trampoline can break 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:09.119 the power of earth's gravity. 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:11.539 Instead, we should understand prayer 00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:13.679 to be one of the many secondary causes 00:17:13.679 --> 00:17:16.119 that God uses to fulfill his plan. 00:17:17.219 --> 00:17:18.739 So I think as we understand that, 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:19.739 as we see our plans, 00:17:20.139 --> 00:17:22.019 our prayers as being part of God's plan, 00:17:22.459 --> 00:17:24.299 as him responding to our prayers 00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:26.139 and even ordaining our prayers 00:17:26.139 --> 00:17:27.859 to be a part of his plan, 00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:29.039 I think we're getting somewhere. 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:31.339 We're starting to see that our prayers matter. 00:17:32.659 --> 00:17:35.639 Our praying is part of how God 00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:37.679 brings these things about. 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:39.519 They matter immensely to God. 00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:42.200 And we see even further 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:43.920 is that a big part of how he gets 00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:45.700 one of the most important things done, 00:17:46.380 --> 00:17:48.460 that of bringing glory to himself, 00:17:48.620 --> 00:17:51.100 is involved with us praying as well. 00:17:52.140 --> 00:17:54.299 I would say, in fact, 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:57.700 that prayer is even a primary means 00:17:57.700 --> 00:18:00.660 by which God is glorified in our lives. 00:18:01.140 --> 00:18:03.200 Prayer, like everything else in the Christian life, 00:18:03.620 --> 00:18:04.840 is first for God's glory, 00:18:04.839 --> 00:18:06.579 but then also for our benefit. 00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:08.259 And everything that God does, 00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:10.199 everything that he allows and ordains, 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:12.779 is in the ultimate sense for his glory. 00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:14.879 But we need to remember, 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:17.619 while it's true that God seeks his own glory, 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:19.699 we benefit when he is glorified. 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:23.639 It is to our great blessing that he's glorified. 00:18:23.639 --> 00:18:24.980 We pray to glorify him, 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:27.099 but then we receive the blessings from him. 00:18:27.659 --> 00:18:29.119 Jonathan Edwards said it this way. 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:30.519 He said, 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:32.059 With respect to God, 00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:34.559 prayer is but a sensible acknowledgement 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:36.819 of our dependence on him to his glory. 00:18:37.639 --> 00:18:39.679 As he has made all things for his own glory, 00:18:40.139 --> 00:18:41.500 so he will be glorified 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:43.139 and acknowledged by his creatures. 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:44.659 And as for that, 00:18:44.859 --> 00:18:46.279 he should require this of those 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:48.079 who should be subjects of his mercy. 00:18:48.739 --> 00:18:50.059 It is suitable acknowledgement 00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:52.659 of our dependence on the power and mercy of God 00:18:52.659 --> 00:18:54.139 for that which we need, 00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:56.699 but suitable honor paid to the great author 00:18:56.699 --> 00:18:58.000 and fountain of all good. 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.279 Then he says, 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:00.480 With respect to ourselves, 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:02.680 God requires prayer of us 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:05.319 because it tends to prepare us for its reception. 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:07.619 Fervent prayer, in many ways, 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.859 tends to prepare the heart. 00:19:09.619 --> 00:19:11.740 Hereby is excited a sense of our need, 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:14.059 whereby the mind is more prepared 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:15.720 to prize the mercy we seek. 00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:18.599 Our prayer to God may excite in us 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:20.559 a suitable sense and consideration 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:22.000 of our dependence on God 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.480 for the mercy we ask, 00:19:23.859 --> 00:19:25.599 and a suitable exercise of faith 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:26.539 in God's sufficiency 00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:28.359 so that we may be prepared 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:30.019 to glorify his name 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:31.440 when the mercy is received. 00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.220 So what he's saying 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:35.819 is that this glory comes in a variety of ways. 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:38.940 First, the prayer is just a simple declaration 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:40.659 of our dependence on God 00:19:40.659 --> 00:19:41.899 for his mercy and grace. 00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:43.940 And that brings glory to God 00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:45.220 as we recognize that 00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:47.740 and our mind apprehends that, 00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:49.539 that we are fully dependent on God 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.940 for this mercy and grace 00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:51.980 that we so greatly need. 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:54.579 But he also goes on to say 00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.559 that prayer is also a way 00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:56.860 that God prepares us, 00:19:57.360 --> 00:19:59.700 prepares us to see his glory more fully 00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:02.720 as we see him answer our prayers. 00:20:02.819 --> 00:20:05.259 And he teaches us about his providence 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:07.319 and his love as he answers our prayers. 00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:09.940 So if we are truly seeking what is best 00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:11.539 and believe that God is doing, 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.019 going to do what is best, 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:14.200 we are going to be looking 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:16.019 for the answer to that prayer. 00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:18.380 And as we perceive what God is doing, 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:20.420 our prayer becomes a powerful way 00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:21.900 that we understand God's will 00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:24.800 in our lives and in the world around us. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:26.759 And we even begin to have our hearts 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:28.180 aligned to his purpose. 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:29.860 And so this is a, again, 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:32.660 prayer is just such a big work 00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:34.800 that God is doing in our lives 00:20:34.800 --> 00:20:39.300 and in accordance with his eternal purposes. 00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:41.860 So we're going to look at one more passage 00:20:41.860 --> 00:20:43.160 that demonstrates a lot of this, 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:45.080 but I want to throw just one more little log 00:20:45.080 --> 00:20:47.640 on the fire to grow your desire to pray. 00:20:48.560 --> 00:20:50.340 I said last week, we pray to God 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:52.480 because he is able to answer our prayers. 00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:57.199 The sovereignty of God just ought to motivate us 00:20:57.199 --> 00:20:58.259 to pray more. 00:20:58.799 --> 00:21:00.079 Bingham Hunter says in his book, 00:21:00.159 --> 00:21:01.179 The God Who Is Here's, 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:03.279 prayer grows from the certainty 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:05.079 of God's omnipotence and sovereignty. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.759 If we put it this way, 00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:10.220 if God does not reign sovereignly over his creation 00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:11.959 and is not able to accomplish 00:21:11.959 --> 00:21:14.139 whatever he desires in and through it, 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:16.339 why bother asking him to do something 00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:17.119 that he can't deliver? 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:19.879 But we come to God because he can pray, 00:21:20.179 --> 00:21:22.039 because he can do these things. 00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:25.639 In our house, we've, at various times over the years, 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:28.059 had opportunities to pray with the kids 00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:30.279 about certain tragedies, 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:34.879 I think especially when the tsunami hit years ago. 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:37.139 Our kids were, they were smaller, 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:39.419 but some of them were old enough to understand 00:21:39.419 --> 00:21:40.199 that this, you know, 00:21:40.239 --> 00:21:42.639 there's a lot of bad things happening to people. 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:44.780 And one of the things they understood specifically 00:21:44.780 --> 00:21:46.060 that there was a lot of children 00:21:46.060 --> 00:21:47.500 that didn't have parents anymore. 00:21:48.520 --> 00:21:49.680 And so my kids, they were, 00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:52.780 they wanted to help these kids. 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:54.080 And the way they wanted to help them 00:21:54.080 --> 00:21:55.860 is have them all come to our house and live. 00:21:56.580 --> 00:21:58.620 And, you know, dad, you take care of them. 00:21:58.759 --> 00:22:00.000 You know, you be their dad. 00:22:00.060 --> 00:22:00.700 You be their mom. 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:03.300 And, you know, this is crazy 00:22:03.300 --> 00:22:04.800 because we can't do that. 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:07.539 You know, so the request is, 00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:09.819 this doesn't make little sense. 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:12.159 You know, I, much as I would like 00:22:12.159 --> 00:22:13.180 to do something like that, 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:14.339 I just don't have the ability 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.980 to do something like that. 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.680 But when the children of God 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.899 come before the throne of grace, 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:20.099 we come before a God 00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:23.440 that is able to accomplish whatever he pleases. 00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:25.059 We have that assurance from scripture 00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:27.099 and we see that over and over. 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:28.919 Nothing is too difficult for him. 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:31.099 And this ought to motivate us to pray. 00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:33.039 Hunter further writes, 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:34.839 to be worth praying to, 00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:36.259 God has, first of all, 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:39.019 got to have the power to do what we ask. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:39.819 And second, 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.799 he must have sovereignty over creation 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:43.079 to do what he wants to do. 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:45.000 So then we think, 00:22:45.139 --> 00:22:46.319 perhaps the question shouldn't be, 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:48.819 why, if God is sovereign, why pray? 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:51.180 But if God isn't sovereign, why pray? 00:22:51.619 --> 00:22:53.379 We kind of turn that question around. 00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:54.940 So we come to God, 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:56.119 presenting him our requests 00:22:56.119 --> 00:22:57.519 because he has both the authority 00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:59.700 and the ability to grant 00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:01.399 what we have requested in our prayers. 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:03.580 And we see example after example 00:23:03.580 --> 00:23:05.140 of this in scripture. 00:23:06.300 --> 00:23:08.240 Right back to the time 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:10.580 when the Israelites were in Egypt, 00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:12.180 they cry out to God 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:13.980 and he sends a deliverer. 00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:17.100 Moses intercedes on behalf of the people 00:23:17.100 --> 00:23:20.940 and God relents from destroying the Israelites. 00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:22.860 A great example is Elijah. 00:23:23.100 --> 00:23:25.540 He's up facing all the prophets of Baal 00:23:25.540 --> 00:23:27.300 and he prays to God 00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:28.819 and God sends the fire 00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:31.480 and shows he is the one true God. 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:33.659 The New Testament again, 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:35.319 we see Jesus pray 00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:37.240 and God immediately answering that, 00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:39.240 raising Lazarus from the dead 00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:40.960 in response to Jesus' prayer. 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:44.180 He busts Peter out of jail 00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:46.419 in response to the church gathering 00:23:46.419 --> 00:23:47.539 to pray for him. 00:23:47.919 --> 00:23:50.299 And we have this miraculous rescue 00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:53.519 as angels lead Peter from prison. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:56.099 And many of us could add to this list 00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:57.839 just personal testimonies 00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:01.379 of the way God has answered prayers for us. 00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:06.180 But lastly, I want to turn to 2 Corinthians 1, 00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:07.839 8 through 11. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:10.180 If you could turn there with me. 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:13.500 We're going to be seeing an example 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.579 of how Paul demonstrates 00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:17.680 that he believes that prayer matters. 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:25.799 2 Corinthians 1, 8. 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:30.160 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, 00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:32.380 of the affliction we experienced in Asia. 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:34.799 For we were so utterly burdened 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:35.600 beyond our strength 00:24:35.600 --> 00:24:37.080 that we despaired of life itself. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:39.700 Indeed, we felt that we had received 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.600 the sentence of death, 00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:42.620 but that was to make us rely 00:24:42.620 --> 00:24:43.440 not on ourselves, 00:24:43.600 --> 00:24:45.259 but on God who raises the dead. 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:48.099 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, 00:24:48.379 --> 00:24:49.400 and he will deliver us. 00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:52.079 On him we have set our hopes 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:53.319 that he will deliver us again. 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:55.779 You also must help us by prayer, 00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:58.180 so that many will give thanks on our behalf, 00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:59.839 for the blessing granted us 00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:01.079 through the prayers of many. 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:04.140 So we see there, verse 10, 00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:07.160 that's a strong statement that Paul has 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:09.980 of his confidence in God's sovereign control 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:10.879 over everything, 00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:12.079 over every evil power 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:14.039 that comes against him. 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:15.379 Paul is under attack. 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:17.740 In fact, he thinks he's going to die. 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.599 Men have attacked him. 00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:22.019 Spiritual forces of darkness 00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:22.859 have attacked him. 00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:24.700 Yet Paul hopes in God, 00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:27.480 and it's a solid biblical hope, 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:29.599 not just a wish that things will be better. 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:32.000 He says he will deliver us. 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:33.740 In him we have set our firm hope 00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:34.940 that he will deliver us. 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:37.799 Paul's saying no matter who opposes us, 00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:41.240 no matter how hopeless the occasion may look, 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:42.940 we know that God is in control. 00:25:43.660 --> 00:25:45.740 He can overcome any opposition. 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:48.240 There is no power in heaven or earth 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.380 that can stand against him, 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:51.339 and he is the one who knows 00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:52.259 the beginning from the end. 00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:54.720 I would say Paul strongly believes 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:56.559 Isaiah 46, 9 through 10, 00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:57.799 which states, 00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:59.119 For I am God, 00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:00.019 and there is no other. 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:01.180 I am God, 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:02.579 and there is no one like me, 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:04.480 declaring the end from the beginning, 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.759 and from ancient times 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:07.240 things which have not been done, 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.039 saying, 00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:09.460 My purpose will be established, 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.639 and I will accomplish 00:26:10.639 --> 00:26:11.899 all my good pleasure. 00:26:13.159 --> 00:26:14.319 We see God saying there, 00:26:14.379 --> 00:26:15.359 I will basically say, 00:26:15.419 --> 00:26:16.659 I will do all that I please. 00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:17.460 This is a statement 00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:20.500 that really defines God's power for us. 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:23.579 He is the one being in the universe 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:24.319 with all power, 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:26.460 and only God can say, 00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:28.059 I will do all that I please. 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:29.460 God is, 00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:32.319 He is making the decisions. 00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:33.640 He is not just some force, 00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:35.819 like maybe in Star Wars, 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:37.640 that we have bad guys and good guys 00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:38.980 trying to control this force 00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:42.160 for whatever side they are fighting for. 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:44.059 Instead, we have a God 00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:45.279 who has the power, 00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:47.619 and He uses it the way He sees fit, 00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.940 to do what He pleases. 00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:51.200 So if we pray to God 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:53.120 for something that doesn't please God, 00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:53.640 will He do it? 00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:54.460 No. 00:26:55.120 --> 00:26:56.180 Surely, surely not. 00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:57.019 He will not do 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:58.940 what He doesn't please. 00:26:59.039 --> 00:26:59.980 Remember the two errors 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:00.840 I mentioned earlier 00:27:00.840 --> 00:27:02.920 concerning God's sovereignty in prayer. 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:03.960 Here we see it. 00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:05.640 God does whatever He pleases. 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:08.580 God knows the beginning from the end. 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:11.620 So our prayers are just informing God, 00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:12.880 and at best can only change us. 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.940 That's not what Paul believes, 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:16.019 and we see that here 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:17.860 as we continue on. 00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:20.359 He's not going to let that statement stand. 00:27:20.899 --> 00:27:22.879 In verse 10, continuing again, 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:23.740 he says, 00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:26.240 he talks about God as being the one. 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:28.479 On Him we have set our hope 00:27:28.479 --> 00:27:30.319 and that He will deliver us. 00:27:31.139 --> 00:27:34.039 You also must help us by prayer 00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:37.219 so that many will give thanks on our behalf 00:27:37.219 --> 00:27:38.859 for the blessing granted us 00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:40.179 through the prayers of the many. 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.819 Paul says explicitly 00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:44.179 that God will deliver them 00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:48.120 as they join in working in prayer, 00:27:48.360 --> 00:27:49.299 for Him in prayer. 00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:51.620 He says that this blessing comes 00:27:51.620 --> 00:27:52.860 from the prayers of the many. 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:54.620 He's not just putting it all on God. 00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:55.820 He's seeing this part 00:27:55.820 --> 00:27:57.120 as part of the whole. 00:27:57.620 --> 00:27:58.680 Basically, Paul is saying 00:27:58.680 --> 00:27:59.600 prayer works. 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:01.720 Prayer is effective. 00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:02.920 Prayer gets results. 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.640 Prayer is powerful. 00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:06.560 We see this is what Paul believes, 00:28:06.620 --> 00:28:07.660 and this is what he's encouraging 00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:09.100 these believers to believe as well, 00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:09.880 that their prayers 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:11.820 are accomplishing God's purposes, 00:28:11.819 --> 00:28:14.039 that they are a part of what God is doing. 00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:16.679 So the sovereign God works through prayer, 00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:18.819 and Paul affirms this. 00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:19.119 He says, 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:20.599 He will deliver us 00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:23.859 as you join in working for us by prayer. 00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:26.700 Lastly, we also see in here, 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:27.819 again, 00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:30.419 that one of those main purposes of prayer 00:28:30.419 --> 00:28:31.919 worked out as God answers them. 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:35.139 He says there at the end, 00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:37.119 as you also join in helping us 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:37.839 through your prayers, 00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.799 so that thanks may be given 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:41.639 by many persons on our behalf, 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:43.319 for the favor bestowed on us 00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.179 through the prayers of the many. 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:47.619 So what is the result of this prayer? 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:50.179 Paul sees so that thanks 00:28:50.179 --> 00:28:51.659 may be given by many persons. 00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:52.960 He's not just seeing 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:56.099 that he's going to be delivered. 00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:56.919 I mean, he's in trouble. 00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:58.279 He wants to be delivered. 00:28:58.919 --> 00:29:00.319 We can understand that. 00:29:00.619 --> 00:29:01.639 And the Corinthians pray, 00:29:01.899 --> 00:29:02.939 and Paul will be delivered. 00:29:03.379 --> 00:29:04.319 And this is the blessing 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:05.399 that Paul is talking about. 00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:07.059 But that's not the end 00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:08.079 that Paul sees. 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:12.079 He also sees that this whole purpose of prayer, 00:29:12.179 --> 00:29:14.139 the whole purpose of everything that God does, 00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:16.439 is to show what God is like. 00:29:16.699 --> 00:29:18.579 He's going to bring glory to himself. 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:20.980 And these people are going to see God at work. 00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:23.319 They're going to see God answer the prayer 00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:24.339 to show what he's like 00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:25.559 to at least three groups here. 00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:27.059 To those who prayed, 00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:28.960 to those who received the deliverance, 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:30.220 and those who heard about it. 00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:32.000 And Paul says that these people 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:34.140 are going to give thanks to God, 00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:35.799 that he is able to answer prayer, 00:29:35.860 --> 00:29:37.620 and that he does answer prayer. 00:29:38.660 --> 00:29:39.579 And so here Paul says 00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:40.839 that this prayer results 00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:42.380 in thanksgiving to God. 00:29:43.120 --> 00:29:44.900 This, rather than Paul's deliverance, 00:29:45.120 --> 00:29:46.720 is the most important result 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:48.480 of the prayers of the Corinthians. 00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:50.819 So note this carefully. 00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:52.720 Paul is not primarily asking 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.960 for deliverance from peril. 00:29:54.860 --> 00:29:56.539 That's where we would normally focus. 00:29:56.539 --> 00:30:00.480 Now, we're under great affliction here. 00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:02.399 Please pray that we would deliver. 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:03.720 But that's be delivered. 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:04.839 But that's not Paul's focus. 00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:08.059 Paul's focus is always on the glory of God. 00:30:08.379 --> 00:30:10.799 That God would be seen more clearly 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:14.440 in a way that causes us to know him 00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:16.119 as the awesome creator 00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:18.200 and controller of all things. 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:20.819 And as we look at more of Paul's prayers, 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:22.399 we see these same priorities. 00:30:23.139 --> 00:30:24.119 Paul prays for others 00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:25.939 and even asks for prayers 00:30:25.939 --> 00:30:27.119 for himself at times. 00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:29.059 But the desired primary result 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:30.819 is that God would be glorified, 00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:32.819 that the gospel would be proclaimed. 00:30:34.719 --> 00:30:35.879 So does prayer work? 00:30:36.659 --> 00:30:37.919 We have to say it does. 00:30:38.459 --> 00:30:40.019 It definitely works. 00:30:40.139 --> 00:30:41.000 Prayer is effective. 00:30:41.479 --> 00:30:42.500 God uses prayer 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:44.859 to bring out his good and wise purposes 00:30:44.859 --> 00:30:46.159 for his glory. 00:30:47.079 --> 00:30:48.819 Prayer is the most effective means 00:30:48.819 --> 00:30:50.559 that we have to get what we need. 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.939 Not necessarily what we want, 00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:53.340 but to get what we need, 00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:54.740 it is the most effective way. 00:30:54.820 --> 00:30:56.680 It's to pray to God for it. 00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:57.340 We are weak. 00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:59.200 We don't always know what we need. 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.660 But through prayer, 00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.680 we can acknowledge that 00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:03.519 without his power, 00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:04.360 all our plans, 00:31:04.620 --> 00:31:05.279 all our efforts, 00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:07.259 all our organization, 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:08.299 all our programs 00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:09.660 will accomplish nothing 00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:10.960 of eternal significance. 00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:12.080 When we pray, 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:12.580 we are saying, 00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:13.220 we are weak 00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:14.120 and you are strong. 00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:16.259 We can do nothing apart from you, 00:31:16.360 --> 00:31:17.720 but you can do all things. 00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:18.920 Whatever we do, 00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:20.100 we want to do for your glory. 00:31:20.099 --> 00:31:21.519 And so make it obvious 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.679 that this work is from you. 00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:24.980 This would be the motivation 00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:26.299 behind all of our praying. 00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:28.659 So in closing today, 00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:29.639 I just want to urge you 00:31:29.639 --> 00:31:31.859 to consider your own prayer lives. 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:33.240 Do you pray with these 00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:34.099 biblical purposes? 00:31:35.319 --> 00:31:37.119 Do you pray in faith, 00:31:37.339 --> 00:31:39.219 believing that prayer changes things, 00:31:39.579 --> 00:31:40.359 that this is the way 00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:42.779 that God works in his creation? 00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:44.779 If you cannot say yes 00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:45.579 to these questions, 00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:47.419 your prayer life 00:31:47.419 --> 00:31:48.719 will just continue to limp along. 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.960 It will continue to be a struggle. 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.680 It will continue to just feel 00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:52.200 like a duty. 00:31:52.860 --> 00:31:54.019 And you will really start 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.519 your growth as a disciple. 00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:57.880 The key to seeing God 00:31:57.880 --> 00:31:58.839 at work in your life 00:31:58.839 --> 00:32:00.200 is the key to having 00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:02.240 that joyful prayer time. 00:32:05.120 --> 00:32:05.940 John Piper, 00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:07.700 in his book, 00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.500 Desiring God, 00:32:08.600 --> 00:32:09.039 says this. 00:32:09.120 --> 00:32:09.380 He says, 00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:11.160 unless I'm badly mistaken, 00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:12.680 the reason we don't have 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:13.799 a significant prayer life 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:15.519 is not because we don't want it. 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:17.539 It's because we don't plan it. 00:32:17.539 --> 00:32:18.779 And so oftentimes, 00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:20.379 we want these things, 00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:21.740 but we just don't know 00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:23.379 how to go about doing it 00:32:23.379 --> 00:32:23.920 or getting it. 00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:24.619 So today, 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.599 I want you to, 00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:26.740 even today, 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:28.440 rethink your priorities 00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:29.399 and how does prayer 00:32:29.399 --> 00:32:30.619 fit into that. 00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:31.639 I know as a church, 00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:31.899 again, 00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:32.980 we're trying to make an emphasis 00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:34.859 on being a praying church 00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:35.700 because we believe 00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:37.000 that's how God works 00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:38.299 in his creation 00:32:38.299 --> 00:32:39.159 and that's how he's going 00:32:39.159 --> 00:32:40.240 to work in this city 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:42.099 in response to the prayers 00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:43.099 of his people. 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:45.180 We don't want to be controlled 00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:46.920 by the busyness of life. 00:32:47.120 --> 00:32:47.420 We want to, 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:49.019 perhaps you need to make 00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:49.660 a new resolve, 00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:50.420 set a time, 00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:51.100 set a place, 00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:52.580 choose a portion of scripture 00:32:52.580 --> 00:32:53.299 to guide you. 00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:55.180 If you're at a loss, 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.700 go back to the model prayer 00:32:56.700 --> 00:32:58.220 in Matthew chapter 6 00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:59.019 where Jesus teaches 00:32:59.019 --> 00:33:00.080 his disciples to pray. 00:33:00.560 --> 00:33:01.080 Start there. 00:33:01.600 --> 00:33:02.000 If you don't know 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:03.000 how to get started beyond that, 00:33:03.080 --> 00:33:03.799 ask one of the elders 00:33:03.799 --> 00:33:04.480 to help you. 00:33:04.620 --> 00:33:05.759 There's plenty of ways 00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:06.920 we can help you get started 00:33:06.920 --> 00:33:08.400 and help you begin 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:09.820 to grow in that way. 00:33:10.820 --> 00:33:11.960 God wants you to pray. 00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:14.580 As much as you could possibly 00:33:14.580 --> 00:33:16.400 desire to be in his presence, 00:33:16.940 --> 00:33:18.340 his desire to be with you 00:33:18.340 --> 00:33:19.420 in prayer is greater. 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.300 We were created 00:33:21.300 --> 00:33:21.940 to communicate 00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:23.100 and fellowship with him 00:33:23.100 --> 00:33:24.080 and this happens 00:33:24.080 --> 00:33:24.820 through his word 00:33:24.820 --> 00:33:25.580 and through prayer. 00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:26.660 And so, 00:33:26.840 --> 00:33:27.560 let me pray for us 00:33:27.560 --> 00:33:28.779 as we close today. 00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:33.880 Dear Heavenly Father, 00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:35.940 we do just give you thanks 00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:36.900 for the, again, 00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:37.559 for the knowledge 00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:38.840 that you have revealed to us 00:33:38.840 --> 00:33:40.779 that you are sovereign, 00:33:41.059 --> 00:33:42.140 that you know all things, 00:33:42.820 --> 00:33:44.220 that you can do all things, 00:33:45.360 --> 00:33:48.059 that you control all things, 00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:48.320 Father, 00:33:48.420 --> 00:33:50.039 and help us to be comforted in this. 00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:51.320 But also, Father, 00:33:51.380 --> 00:33:52.160 help us this knowledge 00:33:52.160 --> 00:33:53.460 cause us to come to you 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.880 knowing that you have 00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:55.660 ordained prayer 00:33:55.660 --> 00:33:57.059 as the means 00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:58.059 by which you accomplish 00:33:58.059 --> 00:33:58.640 your plans. 00:33:58.860 --> 00:33:59.039 Father, 00:33:59.160 --> 00:34:00.880 it is just amazing 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:02.759 that you include us 00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:04.019 in this process 00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:04.900 of bringing about 00:34:04.900 --> 00:34:06.220 your eternal purposes. 00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:07.620 And Father, 00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:08.660 we just thank you 00:34:08.660 --> 00:34:11.220 that we can come before you 00:34:11.220 --> 00:34:12.340 in prayer, 00:34:13.180 --> 00:34:14.539 not just because 00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:15.539 we are commanded to 00:34:15.539 --> 00:34:16.400 and not just to follow 00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:17.240 Jesus' example, 00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:18.500 but knowing that 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:20.300 you desire to hear our prayers, 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.260 you desire to work 00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:22.019 through our prayers. 00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.740 And that's, 00:34:25.240 --> 00:34:26.519 this is the primary means 00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:27.980 by which you accomplish 00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:29.220 what we desire, 00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:30.460 to see you glorified 00:34:30.460 --> 00:34:32.240 and to see you made known 00:34:32.240 --> 00:34:34.240 to the people around us. 00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:35.599 Father, 00:34:35.660 --> 00:34:36.599 we pray that you would just, 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.280 again, 00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:38.380 glorify yourself today 00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:39.039 to us 00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:40.340 as we think back 00:34:40.340 --> 00:34:41.019 on the many ways 00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:42.880 that you have answered prayers 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:43.460 in our lives, 00:34:43.559 --> 00:34:44.420 have answered prayers 00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:46.720 to those around us 00:34:46.720 --> 00:34:47.800 in the scriptures. 00:34:48.240 --> 00:34:49.519 There's so many ways 00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:50.480 that we can see 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:51.680 that you have answered prayers. 00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:51.960 Father, 00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:52.579 help us to, 00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:54.840 to cause us to be, 00:34:54.920 --> 00:34:56.300 to be a motivation to us 00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:58.400 to pursue you in prayer. 00:34:59.139 --> 00:34:59.480 Father, 00:34:59.539 --> 00:34:59.960 that it would 00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:01.519 then become 00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:02.920 a joyful time 00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:04.000 as we spend time 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:05.099 with you 00:35:05.099 --> 00:35:06.639 in prayer 00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:07.320 and response 00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:08.119 to the word 00:35:08.119 --> 00:35:10.400 and just contemplating 00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:11.079 how much you, 00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:12.179 you do care for us 00:35:12.179 --> 00:35:13.280 and love us. 00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:13.960 Father, 00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:14.179 again, 00:35:14.219 --> 00:35:15.360 just pray blessings 00:35:15.360 --> 00:35:16.019 on these people 00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:16.840 as they consider us 00:35:16.840 --> 00:35:17.579 and we pray these things 00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:18.699 in Jesus' name. 00:35:19.079 --> 00:35:19.259 Amen.