WEBVTT 00:00:00.620 --> 00:00:14.179 Okay. Apologies. Somebody, the guy before me spoke too long in the first session, so 15 minutes last time in the seminars. 00:00:15.080 --> 00:00:17.780 I apologize for the guys next door. I've put them in it as well. 00:00:19.780 --> 00:00:26.620 Okay, good. Let me pray because that's probably a good thing to do today before we dive into the next bit. 00:00:26.620 --> 00:00:35.939 Okay. Father, here we are again. We are just before you. 00:00:35.939 --> 00:00:54.740 We are so, so, so, so thankful for your love for us, the sacrifice of your son, the invitation to eternal life, the experience of regeneration and transformation by the power of your spirit. 00:00:54.740 --> 00:01:10.840 And as we've come and just believed you and just taken you at your word and just said yes to your gracious, merciful offer of salvation and reconciliation. 00:01:10.840 --> 00:01:23.540 So thank you, Lord. We're here because of you today. We are who we are because you are who you are and because of what you've done in our lives. 00:01:23.540 --> 00:01:31.200 And so we come to you just again, knowing that there's, there's just so many ways that we have to grow, so many things we have to learn. 00:01:32.840 --> 00:01:39.280 So, so much distance still to travel in the time that we have in this life. 00:01:39.340 --> 00:01:49.460 And we pray that somehow this, this day together in this short time just now in your word would be profitable and bear fruit in our lives for your glory. 00:01:49.459 --> 00:01:49.879 Amen. 00:01:51.879 --> 00:01:52.640 Okay, good. 00:01:55.079 --> 00:01:58.419 This is, so this is, this is, this is seminar. 00:01:59.879 --> 00:02:03.199 And, and seminars are supposed to be, you know, kind of work related. 00:02:03.339 --> 00:02:09.799 I kind of had a wee peek at the breakdown of what you're going to get in the other seminar, which is probably truly seminar, 00:02:09.939 --> 00:02:13.039 because I think they've got some interaction and they've got some prayer time. 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:17.919 And I'm not going to have any of that because there's too much I want to say. 00:02:18.659 --> 00:02:21.079 But I do just want this to be seminar like. 00:02:21.399 --> 00:02:24.079 Okay, that doesn't mean pretend it's a seminar when it's not really a seminar. 00:02:24.819 --> 00:02:30.639 But it would be good if, if, if you do want to raise a hand or you do want to ask a question or you do want to make a statement or whatever. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:33.039 Let's, let's try that. 00:02:33.079 --> 00:02:35.159 Okay, so, so I'm just going to take you through some stuff. 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:40.259 It's going to be maybe a little bit more personal for, for, for, for me and my life. 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:42.379 But we've all have lives. 00:02:42.500 --> 00:02:43.519 So it's not just me and my life. 00:02:43.579 --> 00:02:45.079 It's, it's, it's us and our lives. 00:02:45.379 --> 00:02:50.759 And so if there's something that, that kind of sparks something off for you and you want to make a comment or whatever, 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:53.539 just, you know, pop your hand out or shout out or whatever. 00:02:53.620 --> 00:02:54.599 And so that'll be the seminar. 00:02:55.419 --> 00:02:58.620 Okay, we'll, we'll kind of approach it that way and we'll see how it goes. 00:02:58.620 --> 00:03:06.200 The title for this bit then now is a prayer, the prayer life of a disciple. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:20.620 And I would probably say more, more personally that, that for me, in my case, it's probably better to say the struggling prayer life of a disciple. 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:21.000 Okay. 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:22.580 So that's my title. 00:03:23.200 --> 00:03:25.920 I'm not saying we're all struggling in our prayer lives. 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:26.359 Yeah. 00:03:28.079 --> 00:03:39.799 I'm not saying you're struggling in your prayer life, but I just want to be brutally honest and, and, and, and, you know, confess to you that, that, and, and, and I don't know. 00:03:39.859 --> 00:03:41.500 I don't know what pastors are supposed to be. 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:46.939 You know, I, I don't know necessarily that every single pastor is a champion prayer. 00:03:46.939 --> 00:03:52.900 I would imagine that most of us, um, other than Graham, no, I'm kidding. 00:03:53.599 --> 00:04:04.520 Most of us probably would just, you know, have to confess that, that, that we, we, we probably, it's probably as much of a struggle for, for us as it is for anybody. 00:04:04.979 --> 00:04:07.479 Um, it's, it's something we're totally in together. 00:04:07.579 --> 00:04:11.759 My, my confession, confession is that I am not a strong prayer. 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:17.360 I'm not, and I told Graham, you know, when we met and we had a coffee and I said, are you sure? 00:04:17.899 --> 00:04:24.879 It's probably, maybe there's other guys that could do a far better job and they really are strong prayers. 00:04:25.719 --> 00:04:31.740 Um, and there's a lot, and some people are, I'm not saying every Christian's a rotten prayer. 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:34.240 I don't think that's the case. 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:42.160 I think, I think some of you, and you've maybe been on the road longer than I have, or you've learned faster than probably. 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:43.420 I'm sure that's the case. 00:04:43.500 --> 00:04:46.180 You've learned faster than, than I have. 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:49.079 And, and I don't think the church is just full of weak prayers. 00:04:49.980 --> 00:05:00.620 I think there are some people who, who are just, you know, they're walking a road that, that is, is more of what God is calling them to. 00:05:00.620 --> 00:05:05.220 And, and, and, and, and their prayer life is, is, is strong. 00:05:05.579 --> 00:05:07.120 You look back through church history. 00:05:07.220 --> 00:05:19.819 There are, I don't think the church has been completely littered with strong prayers, but we know people, George Mueller and others who, who have been very, very faithful in their prayer lives. 00:05:19.819 --> 00:05:24.120 John Wesley and, and, and people like that who, who have championed prayer. 00:05:24.920 --> 00:05:27.780 And, and my confession is that that's my desire. 00:05:27.779 --> 00:05:34.099 My heart is that I would champion prayer at some point before I leave this world. 00:05:34.819 --> 00:05:39.059 But, but I, I don't feel as though I'm championing, championing prayer. 00:05:39.339 --> 00:05:40.899 It's like an Everest for me. 00:05:41.039 --> 00:05:42.599 It's like I'm a hill walker. 00:05:43.339 --> 00:05:46.239 And one day I hope to climb Everest. 00:05:46.939 --> 00:05:47.419 Okay. 00:05:47.699 --> 00:05:53.679 So, so that's a bit of my confession when it comes to, to prayer. 00:05:53.680 --> 00:06:04.199 And, and, and, and I'm just reflecting back on, on the main session when, when I think of maybe why I struggle so much is because I think I'm very, very prone to self-reliance. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:06.100 And, and I'm sure you are too. 00:06:06.180 --> 00:06:10.220 I'm sure at some level we're all prone to, to the self-life. 00:06:10.460 --> 00:06:12.519 The Bible says so much about that. 00:06:12.519 --> 00:06:21.419 And so much of our, of our, our church community folks, so much of our time together should be working to resolve that problem. 00:06:22.620 --> 00:06:26.959 We shouldn't be, we shouldn't be encouraged more to self in church. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:30.079 We, we, we should be in, what does Hebrews 10 say? 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:36.259 Consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking your own assembling together as is the habit of some, 00:06:36.259 --> 00:06:40.159 but encouraging one another all the more because the day is drawing near. 00:06:40.259 --> 00:06:41.300 We don't have forever. 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:50.740 And so part of, a big part, I think of church life should be encouraging one another in, in, in, in, in leaving self. 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:56.039 And, and I guess as I say that, I know the whole theme today is if we're going to be doing that, we should be encouraging one another to pray. 00:06:56.159 --> 00:06:57.719 We should be encouraging one another. 00:06:57.779 --> 00:07:05.500 If you have a prayer meeting to go, to make whatever sacrifices you need to make to go, to be there. 00:07:05.500 --> 00:07:06.579 It's important. 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:12.100 It's a place where the church is helping us in this area. 00:07:12.699 --> 00:07:19.800 When we, when we, we say once a month or once a quarter or once a week or whatever, we're going to gather together as a church and pray, go. 00:07:21.139 --> 00:07:28.540 That's the church helping you to deal with this issue of being less self and more God dependent. 00:07:28.939 --> 00:07:32.680 I think a massive default setting for us is, is self. 00:07:32.680 --> 00:07:37.800 And, and I, and I, and I think that, that, that's borne out again by experience, isn't it? 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:52.280 Why is it that the prayer meeting, by and large, not in every church, but by and large, why is it that the prayer meeting is one of the most poorly attended meetings in church life? 00:07:52.279 --> 00:07:59.659 I mean, I, I, I, I know philosophically and theologically why, but in my heart, I don't get it. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:02.079 I don't get it. 00:08:02.139 --> 00:08:03.959 We have two services at Corubbers. 00:08:04.259 --> 00:08:07.659 And I don't think it's two services because people need to come and listen to me or anything. 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:12.799 I think we, you know, the Lord just, I will build the church, Lord, and it's just all sovereignly up to him. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:18.280 But we have two services on a Sunday morning because, because we couldn't get everybody into one room. 00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:23.259 And they're coming and, and they're listening to me expound scripture. 00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:37.600 And, and, and, and on a Tuesday night when we pray, we have to meet in the small room upstairs because otherwise we're embarrassed by the, the, the, the space and the lack of, when, when, when, when, when they're coming to pray to be with God. 00:08:37.680 --> 00:08:39.120 I mean, what's, what is that all about? 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:41.379 What is that all about? 00:08:42.820 --> 00:08:45.120 I'm, I'm, I'm struck by those things. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:49.200 Why is it that when I ask people about their prayer lives, they go all quiet? 00:08:50.060 --> 00:08:51.080 Why is that folks? 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:54.679 Come on, come on, think about it. 00:08:55.620 --> 00:08:58.080 I think it's because by and large, we're all in the same boat. 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:04.000 I started telling you a little bit about my testimony in the, in the first session. 00:09:04.700 --> 00:09:08.879 Um, and, and, and, and I know that I can't say the persistent, 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:12.259 prayer has probably ever been, um, a huge strength of mine. 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:15.720 Um, it has been a constant challenge. 00:09:16.139 --> 00:09:17.919 It has been a constant challenge. 00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:25.960 Just, just the whole discipline of prayer for me is, is, is, is, is, is, is hard work. 00:09:26.059 --> 00:09:27.399 I'm going to talk about this in a minute. 00:09:27.399 --> 00:09:32.699 Um, and, and some of you might be just looking at me and just saying, Sutton, man, you've got so much to learn. 00:09:32.779 --> 00:09:33.500 And I know I do. 00:09:34.899 --> 00:09:38.199 So many ways to just grow in my intimacy with Christ. 00:09:38.459 --> 00:09:52.960 So that, so, so, so, so my, my dream, my dream is that, um, I will get to a place where, where, where the intimacy of my relationship with God is such that, that, that, that I can't help. 00:09:52.960 --> 00:10:01.460 But pray, uh, you know, I, I, I, there's a first Thessalonians 517, just, just, just continually without ceasing. 00:10:02.540 --> 00:10:03.879 Just pray with God. 00:10:03.940 --> 00:10:07.960 But my testimony is that that hasn't happened naturally for me. 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:10.800 It's not happened naturally. 00:10:11.540 --> 00:10:18.920 And so my testimony is that there's been a number of times over the course of my walk with the Lord now that God has stepped in. 00:10:20.340 --> 00:10:29.139 He, he, he loves me enough to not leave, leave me just paddling in the shallows, um, of prayer. 00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:40.980 And there's been a couple of times where he has, um, stepped into my life, um, and, and, um, and, and, and made a difference and, and drawn me closer. 00:10:41.720 --> 00:10:44.679 Um, I'm under the impression that God loves us. 00:10:44.819 --> 00:10:48.080 I think that's fairly true to say, isn't it? 00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:49.500 God loves us. 00:10:50.179 --> 00:10:56.080 Um, and the work that he started in us to conform us to the image of Christ and to draw us near, he's going to finish. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:58.000 He's going to finish. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:02.139 And my read of scripture is that he kind of throws that line out to us. 00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:02.899 Come with me. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:04.700 Come with me. 00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:07.080 Come to me, all you who are weary, weary and heavy laden. 00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:08.600 He gives us these invitations. 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:13.879 By and large, you know, I do have a thick head and often a hard heart. 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:21.779 And so I don't know that I often take the invitations as often as I, as I should when they're thrown out to me. 00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:34.039 And so God loves me enough to then step into my life, um, to make the difference, particularly with my, my prayer life. 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:45.839 Um, I, I think communion with God in prayer and dependence on God in prayer are two of the things that he is going to work out in our lives, whether we like it or not. 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:46.540 Is that fair? 00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:48.920 Communion with him. 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:52.180 And dependence on him. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:53.800 Both of those happen in prayer. 00:11:54.740 --> 00:12:04.300 I think my read of the Bible is that, that as children of God, he loves us enough that he is going to take us there whether we like it or not. 00:12:04.299 --> 00:12:06.259 Um, and now we can come willingly. 00:12:07.819 --> 00:12:08.299 Okay. 00:12:08.459 --> 00:12:13.339 We can come willingly or we can be dragged in kicking and screaming. 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:22.679 And some of my experience, um, has been that I have been dragged in kicking and, and screaming. 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:30.879 And, and he's done this with me, um, really in, in, in, in two main crises of my life. 00:12:31.719 --> 00:12:32.879 Um, the Lord. 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:46.379 And, and, and, and I guess part of what I want to do here is, is, is, is open up a dialogue, a discussion, or, or, or, or, or have some considerations, um, around this whole idea of dependency again. 00:12:46.700 --> 00:12:47.100 Okay. 00:12:47.100 --> 00:12:50.080 And, and, and, and, and how that works, um, with prayer. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:57.480 Um, but also at the same time, try to encourage you, um, as I think I've been encouraged. 00:12:58.120 --> 00:13:01.779 Um, it's taken a while for me for it to get through to me, but I think I've been encouraged. 00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:16.199 I've been encouraged that, um, particularly the, the most difficult periods of my life have been the times when God has gone deepest in my heart and, and made the most radical changes in my life. 00:13:16.339 --> 00:13:17.120 Would that be fair? 00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:18.860 Can you, can you relate to that? 00:13:18.939 --> 00:13:21.279 It hasn't been the easy times. 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:23.779 I enjoy the easy times. 00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:26.879 I, I, I, you know, I like the ease. 00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:28.559 I like when the sun is shining. 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:29.220 Don't you? 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:39.000 I like when the sun is, I like when life is, is, is, is, you know, um, is, is, is peaceful and, and, and the waters are not rough. 00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:39.860 I like that. 00:13:39.959 --> 00:13:40.539 We all do. 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:43.059 We all like to be comfortable. 00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:46.039 Well, with the trouble with that is that we're sinners. 00:13:47.099 --> 00:13:49.199 That's the trouble in heaven. 00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:56.719 I don't think being comfortable or, or, or, or, or, or enjoying the environment is going to be a problem because there'll be no sin. 00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:58.860 It is a problem now because we're sinners. 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:06.879 And what happens is, um, we tend to want to make, uh, the, the, the, the, the path of least resistance, the norm. 00:14:07.540 --> 00:14:12.080 And, and that's not the best for us as sinners because God has to eradicate that sin from our life. 00:14:12.420 --> 00:14:14.480 He has to draw us into a relationship with him. 00:14:14.540 --> 00:14:16.800 Is that, am I, am I making any sense in here? 00:14:16.899 --> 00:14:22.800 It's just, I think that's, that's the path of what I see in the lives of disciples in the word of God. 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:33.799 Um, and for me, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the two biggest crises that I've faced has been a nervous breakdown 15 years ago, particularly my breakdown experience. 00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:35.799 And I'm going to get to the scripture, by the way. 00:14:35.819 --> 00:14:35.959 Okay. 00:14:35.959 --> 00:14:41.419 I just want to share a little bit of, um, um, personal testimony before we get into the word. 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:45.859 But, um, particularly this, this, whatever it was, I don't know what a breakdown is. 00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:49.240 I've just had one, you know, I don't know how to describe it. 00:14:49.699 --> 00:14:52.039 People say, you know, just, it was a burnout. 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:53.240 It was a burnout experience. 00:14:53.959 --> 00:14:55.279 It was exhaustion. 00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:56.339 It was breakdown. 00:14:56.500 --> 00:15:04.659 I don't, the, the terms even now as I've, as I've, you know, I never had a book on my shelf about breakdown or anxiety or anything. 00:15:04.659 --> 00:15:08.259 Now, like half of my library is full of this stuff. 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:09.339 Same with eating disorders. 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:12.699 And, you know, it's just, you, you learn by experience by, don't you? 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:16.599 You know, you may know nothing about a certain event and then it happens to you. 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:18.299 And so I don't know what this was. 00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:24.139 I just know what it felt like and what happened and, and, you know, just how, how dark it was. 00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:34.740 My, my experience was, was mainly an anxiety based kind of panic attacks, um, a, a, a, a period of acute anxiety for about six weeks. 00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:36.419 Um, the bottom just fell. 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:37.180 I couldn't do anything. 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:37.980 I couldn't talk. 00:15:38.060 --> 00:15:38.740 I couldn't relate. 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:45.279 I couldn't, um, I, I sat virtually for six weeks when it all began. 00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:51.560 I sat on my sofa and the only thing I could do because I, I, I needed God. 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:55.039 I had become desperate. 00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:59.500 And when I say desperate, I mean, I, I can't, I don't know how else to put it. 00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:09.699 I just was, I had never been so desperate for the presence of God and the reality of God in my life than I was, um, in those six weeks. 00:16:10.199 --> 00:16:11.359 And I, I woke up. 00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:14.539 The moment I woke up, I had this profound anxiety. 00:16:15.119 --> 00:16:19.579 I, I, I wanted to run, but there was nowhere to go because anywhere I went, I took my head with me. 00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:21.420 So I couldn't go, I couldn't go up in the hills. 00:16:21.540 --> 00:16:21.900 I couldn't go. 00:16:22.020 --> 00:16:30.080 I just, I sat on my couch and I was so desperate for God that all I could do was sit there and hug my Bible. 00:16:30.580 --> 00:16:32.480 It just sounds so pathetic, doesn't it? 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:38.300 I sat and I just hugged my Bible because tangibly this was the closest thing. 00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:40.320 I knew God was in this. 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:41.600 You know what I mean? 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:42.580 I knew this was his. 00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:48.879 And I, I, I hugged my Bible for, for virtually eight hours a day for probably six weeks. 00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:54.960 Um, and I prayed, I prayed. 00:16:55.080 --> 00:17:01.060 I, I, that's all I did was, I had never prayed for six hours before in my life. 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:02.259 I'd never prayed for six hours. 00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:14.220 I don't know if I, I could keep my focus for six minutes, but, but God had, had taken, had brought me to a place where I, where literally I felt I had nothing to stand on. 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:17.980 My, my, every, all my foundations of everything just fell away. 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:22.779 Any confidence I ever had, any ability I felt I had, just everything was gone. 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:24.779 I was, I was literally a nervous wreck. 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:26.759 And maybe that's why they call it a nervous breakdown. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:28.940 I just, I was a nervous wreck. 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:33.620 And I prayed constantly. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:39.039 So much so, and I've been a pastor for 12 years, but I prayed so much so. 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:41.600 But it was that profound for me. 00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:45.900 And I remember just thinking, something has happened between me and God here. 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:49.100 Maybe I haven't just gotten saved, and I don't think I did. 00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:55.699 But something happened where God pushed a button in my life that had to do with my dependence on him. 00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:57.659 And everything changed. 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:01.119 Everything changed. 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:05.059 And I would sit there and pray and pray and pray and pray. 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:11.659 And I wound up just getting a book and started diarying and going up the hills and sitting for days and just talking to the Lord. 00:18:11.959 --> 00:18:12.179 Something. 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:16.439 I shared this with a guy who's one of our missionaries who was home recently struggling with cancer. 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:22.960 And I just shared with him just how it seems to be through the most difficult experience of our lives that God draws us near. 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:26.240 Or goes deep in his transforming work in our lives. 00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:30.000 And his question to me was, what happened as you got better? 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:34.920 Oh, what happened as you got better? 00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:36.660 You know what's happened as I've gotten better? 00:18:37.580 --> 00:18:39.380 I've begun to struggle again with prayer. 00:18:40.420 --> 00:18:43.259 Now, take that as you will. 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:45.940 I'm not asking the Lord for another nervous breakdown. 00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:46.700 Believe you me. 00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:49.680 I think there's been some permanent changes. 00:18:50.620 --> 00:19:01.059 But the curve somehow seems to go that, you know, as your, I don't know, as your situation deteriorates as far as it seems. 00:19:01.660 --> 00:19:03.279 Your dependence on God grows. 00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:06.480 And maybe there's, he said, well, maybe there's a point where it meets in the middle. 00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:09.160 Where you have just enough balance of struggle. 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:11.200 No, seriously. 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:17.200 You have just enough balance of struggle in your life where you have to depend on God. 00:19:17.820 --> 00:19:18.600 Think about that. 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:20.120 Because we all want to be comfortable. 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.500 We all want to be at ease. 00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:23.660 And I just don't think that's how it works. 00:19:24.560 --> 00:19:25.980 I just don't think that's how it works. 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:29.319 And for me, and I'll give you some practical stuff in a minute. 00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:39.399 And for me, there have been loads and loads of different things that have developed from these experiences of my life. 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:43.820 1 Peter 4.10 became precious to me. 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:46.200 And it says, let him who serves. 00:19:46.660 --> 00:19:48.600 Because I wasn't sure I'd ever go back into the ministry. 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:51.320 But my wife was behind me there. 00:19:51.340 --> 00:19:52.840 And I think the Lord was behind my wife. 00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:55.380 And kind of pushed me back in. 00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:58.060 Because I was saying to her, she's an occupational therapist. 00:19:58.180 --> 00:20:02.259 And I was saying to her, well, sweetheart, I think it's time for you to start working full time. 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:06.259 And I think she said, you're going back into the ministry. 00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:07.680 We're going to get you there. 00:20:08.940 --> 00:20:10.359 And I have. 00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:13.299 But as I've come back, there's been loads and loads of changes. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:16.680 And 1 Peter 4.10 has been a precious verse to me that says, 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:25.220 Let him who serves do so as with the strength which God supplies. 00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:27.220 That's dependence. 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:34.100 Let him who serves do so as with the strength which God supplies. 00:20:34.299 --> 00:20:36.660 I pray that verse over my life every day now. 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:39.519 I start every single morning praying with that verse. 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:41.880 And then working my way through my day. 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:49.519 And I bring every appointment, every journey, every phone call, every bit of sermon. 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:51.039 I bring the whole day before him. 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:53.620 And I say, Lord, supply me with strength for this. 00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:55.079 Supply me with strength for this. 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:56.559 Supply me with strength for this. 00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:59.619 Because how do you serve as with the strength which God supplies? 00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:01.299 Is there a switch you flip? 00:21:02.419 --> 00:21:04.319 Do you go and say, oh, there's the strength switch. 00:21:04.399 --> 00:21:05.399 I haven't flipped it today yet. 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.339 Okay, now I have it. 00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:07.559 How do you serve? 00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:11.279 How do you live as with the strength which God supplies? 00:21:12.659 --> 00:21:14.139 I think you have to know you need it. 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:16.500 And I think you have to go to him and ask him for it. 00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:18.019 Independence. 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:22.419 And then you have to trust that having asked him for it, he'll give it to you. 00:21:23.419 --> 00:21:24.759 And you'll live with it. 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.079 And you'll have it. 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:26.519 I don't know. 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:31.519 I'm happy to hear any other perspectives on living with the strength of God that you might have. 00:21:32.659 --> 00:21:33.799 Turn with me to Luke 18. 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:36.220 Just in the few minutes that we have. 00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:41.099 This is the passage for the seminar. 00:21:41.439 --> 00:21:42.059 Luke 18. 00:21:42.639 --> 00:21:45.740 And we're not going to look at the whole passage like we did last time. 00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:48.259 I just want to pull one little bit of it out here. 00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:50.500 I'll read it for you. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:52.460 But it's only one little bit that I want to look at. 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.579 Luke 18. 00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:59.240 Now Jesus was telling his disciples a parable or the people who were there with him. 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:09.380 A parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart. 00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:11.380 Now that's the bit I'm going to come back to. 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:14.040 So just think about that. 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:16.000 Jesus is telling this parable. 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:19.900 And he's giving us the reason up front why he's telling the parable. 00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:23.480 He's telling the parable because people need to pray. 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:26.960 And they need to not lose heart in praying. 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:30.539 In other words, this whole discipline of prayer. 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:37.440 There seems to be a possibility or a propensity or whatever for children of God to lose heart. 00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:38.620 To grow weary. 00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:40.339 To get tired. 00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:42.279 To not persevere. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:45.420 In their prayer lives. 00:22:46.860 --> 00:22:51.819 So he tells them this parable about this city where there's a judge. 00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:55.480 Who doesn't fear God. 00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:56.799 Doesn't respect man. 00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:58.599 There's a widow who's in the city. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:00.819 And she keeps coming to the judge. 00:23:01.159 --> 00:23:03.939 Saying give me legal protection from my opponent. 00:23:04.899 --> 00:23:06.559 For a while he was unwilling. 00:23:06.939 --> 00:23:08.179 But afterward he said to himself. 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:10.639 Even though I don't fear God or respect man. 00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:12.799 Yet because this widow bothers me. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.539 She's so persistent. 00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:18.139 I'm not bothered with her. 00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:21.539 But she's bothering me. 00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:25.000 Because she's so persistent. 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:25.980 Because she's so persistent. 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:29.460 I don't want to give her what she wants. 00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.759 But because she's so persistent. 00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:32.200 I will give her legal protection. 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:35.339 Otherwise by continually coming to me. 00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.740 She'll wear me out. 00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:37.980 Okay. 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:40.859 Here's a judge who doesn't really care about this woman. 00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:42.980 Who is limited in his capacity. 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:45.480 Because he can be worn out. 00:23:47.439 --> 00:23:47.700 Alright. 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.380 Remember that. 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:49.539 Because there's a contrast. 00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:50.240 A big contrast. 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:51.960 That Jesus is going to bring out here. 00:23:52.860 --> 00:23:53.380 The Lord said. 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:57.720 Hear what the unrighteous judge said. 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:00.019 Hear what he says. 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:00.559 About. 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.140 I don't. 00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:02.400 I'm not bothered with this woman. 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:03.420 I don't really want to. 00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:05.640 I'm unwilling to give her what she wants. 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:07.500 But she's bothering me. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:10.440 And there's a possibility she's going to wear me out. 00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:11.759 So I'm going to give her what she wants. 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:12.799 Hear what he says. 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.399 Now. 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:17.480 Will not God. 00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:19.259 Bring about justice. 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:20.379 For his elect. 00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.819 Who cry to him day and night. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.859 Will he delay long over them. 00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:26.079 I tell you. 00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:28.220 He will bring about justice. 00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:29.339 For them quickly. 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.579 However. 00:24:32.659 --> 00:24:34.240 When the son of man. 00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:35.399 Comes. 00:24:36.899 --> 00:24:38.919 Will he find faith. 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.359 On the earth. 00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:42.799 Or. 00:24:43.699 --> 00:24:44.740 As I like to say. 00:24:44.899 --> 00:24:45.459 In the sudden. 00:24:45.899 --> 00:24:46.799 Uninspired version. 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:48.979 When the son of man. 00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:49.719 Comes. 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:51.819 Will he find people. 00:24:51.979 --> 00:24:52.740 At the prayer meeting. 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:57.559 So he ties in. 00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.619 Both in what we looked at. 00:24:58.699 --> 00:24:59.099 In Mark. 00:24:59.339 --> 00:24:59.659 Nine. 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.179 And here. 00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.599 You see how he ties in. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:03.179 This whole idea. 00:25:03.179 --> 00:25:03.859 Of need. 00:25:04.619 --> 00:25:05.099 Dependence. 00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.019 And faith. 00:25:06.919 --> 00:25:07.899 What did Jesus say. 00:25:08.479 --> 00:25:08.679 To. 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.779 To the whole crowd. 00:25:09.899 --> 00:25:10.339 To the disciples. 00:25:10.359 --> 00:25:11.399 To the man. 00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:12.339 Who brought the son. 00:25:13.379 --> 00:25:13.879 What did he say. 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:14.459 Oh. 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.519 What kind of generation. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.099 Oh. 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:19.319 Unbelieving generation. 00:25:19.479 --> 00:25:19.779 See how it. 00:25:21.479 --> 00:25:22.899 This whole faith. 00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:24.079 Thing. 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:24.759 Is big. 00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:25.199 Isn't it. 00:25:25.919 --> 00:25:26.339 Isn't it. 00:25:26.939 --> 00:25:27.859 We're saved by what. 00:25:28.679 --> 00:25:29.379 Grace through. 00:25:30.159 --> 00:25:30.559 Faith. 00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:32.159 This faith thing is big. 00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:33.099 Isn't it. 00:25:33.159 --> 00:25:33.839 Faith's big in the. 00:25:34.179 --> 00:25:34.899 Christian life. 00:25:34.979 --> 00:25:35.799 Faith's big in the bible. 00:25:35.899 --> 00:25:36.240 Isn't it. 00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.659 Faith's a big thing. 00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:39.379 This faith thing is big. 00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:40.320 But it. 00:25:40.380 --> 00:25:40.700 It. 00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:40.840 It. 00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:40.920 It. 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.060 It. 00:25:41.280 --> 00:25:42.540 Baffles me to no end. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.560 Doesn't it. 00:25:45.040 --> 00:25:45.860 It baffles me. 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:47.080 When I step back. 00:25:47.300 --> 00:25:48.320 I've been a Christian for 30. 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:50.560 Seven years. 00:25:50.620 --> 00:25:51.160 38 years. 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:51.800 38 years. 00:25:52.280 --> 00:25:53.100 When I step. 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:53.960 And I've been living. 00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:54.460 You know. 00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:55.120 And going to church. 00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:55.820 And reading my bible. 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.040 And. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.700 Struggling with prayer. 00:25:57.840 --> 00:25:58.640 And talking to God. 00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:59.080 And I've had. 00:25:59.320 --> 00:26:00.200 Great experiences. 00:26:00.340 --> 00:26:01.360 And I've had flat times. 00:26:01.360 --> 00:26:02.220 I've had the whole thing. 00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:04.440 And I step back. 00:26:04.440 --> 00:26:06.400 and I look at this whole thing, 00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:07.140 this whole, 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.019 what I've been doing 00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:09.240 for the last 38 years, 00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:10.779 I just think it's so weird. 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:13.080 It's so just, 00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:14.480 I look at the whole faith deal 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:16.180 and it's so bizarre 00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:17.480 what God calls us to, 00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:18.000 isn't it? 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:19.620 That He would call me 00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:20.880 to give up everything 00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:23.259 in my life 00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:25.180 to come to the end of myself 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:27.740 for somebody that I've never seen. 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.960 I get down on my knees to pray 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:33.759 like I imagine you get down 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.500 on your knees to pray. 00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:35.400 If this is different for you, 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:35.960 tell me. 00:26:36.619 --> 00:26:38.000 But I get down on my knees to pray 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:39.420 like I imagine you get down 00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:40.180 on my knees to pray 00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:42.019 and I don't know what you do. 00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:43.339 Sometimes I close my eyes, 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.680 sometimes I don't close my eyes, 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.819 sometimes I look at the hills, 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.640 sometimes I look at my Bible. 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:49.259 There's different things that I do 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:50.819 practically when I'm praying 00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:52.839 but I never see Him. 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.879 I never see Him. 00:26:58.339 --> 00:26:59.259 And I'm sitting there 00:26:59.259 --> 00:26:59.740 and you know, 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:00.799 every night, 00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:02.259 I remember the first time I prayed. 00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:03.059 Do you remember the first time 00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:03.559 you ever prayed? 00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:04.720 For real? 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:05.740 Remember the first time 00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.379 you ever prayed for real? 00:27:06.599 --> 00:27:06.920 First time, 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:08.039 I didn't grow up in a Christian home. 00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:09.200 I got saved when I was 19, 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:10.079 fresher at university. 00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.700 So the first time I prayed 00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:13.680 was when I got saved. 00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:15.859 When I prayed, 00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:16.819 you know, 00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:19.079 to confess my sin 00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:20.440 and to receive God's gift 00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:21.079 of eternal life 00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:21.740 through Jesus Christ. 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:23.579 To put my faith and trust 00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:24.299 in what He did for me 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:24.700 on the cross. 00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:25.879 That was the first time 00:27:25.879 --> 00:27:27.240 I ever really prayed. 00:27:27.379 --> 00:27:27.519 I mean, 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.319 I prayed the Lord's Prayer. 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.279 I grew up in a New York, 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:29.660 Italian, 00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:30.440 Catholic environment. 00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:31.240 So we went to church 00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:32.019 and there was no, 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:32.859 in our life, 00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:33.620 there was no reality. 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.220 There was no, 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.900 there was no substance 00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:36.339 to any, 00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:37.079 but we did it. 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:38.099 But it wasn't praying. 00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:40.160 I was just verbalizing things 00:27:40.160 --> 00:27:40.960 that weren't connected 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.519 to my heart 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.660 or reality or anything. 00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.519 The first time I prayed, 00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:45.339 and I remember 00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:46.259 the first time I ever prayed, 00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:47.980 I remember feeling so weird 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:49.640 because I was, 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:49.880 you know, 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.599 what do you do? 00:27:51.099 --> 00:27:52.099 You've never prayed before? 00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:53.880 You've never talked to God before? 00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:54.380 What do you do? 00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:54.800 You just, 00:27:55.360 --> 00:27:55.520 you know, 00:27:55.560 --> 00:27:56.720 I remember being in my room 00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:57.460 and this guy had been 00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.060 kind of leading me 00:27:58.060 --> 00:27:58.560 through the script 00:27:58.560 --> 00:27:59.340 and he left me alone 00:27:59.340 --> 00:28:00.140 with some things to read 00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:00.780 and it hit. 00:28:00.840 --> 00:28:01.560 The penny dropped 00:28:01.560 --> 00:28:02.980 and I think that's when 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:03.440 I got saved. 00:28:04.020 --> 00:28:04.920 And I remember just going, 00:28:05.040 --> 00:28:05.240 well, 00:28:06.100 --> 00:28:06.460 you know, 00:28:07.300 --> 00:28:07.600 hey, 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:10.360 God, 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:11.400 you know, 00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:13.280 don't know where you are. 00:28:13.680 --> 00:28:14.440 This is weird. 00:28:15.540 --> 00:28:15.800 You know, 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.440 you and me, 00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.200 nobody else here. 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:18.320 It's kind of like that. 00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:18.960 Lord, 00:28:19.080 --> 00:28:19.400 this is, 00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:20.460 okay, 00:28:21.020 --> 00:28:22.040 I'm giving this a shot 00:28:22.040 --> 00:28:22.900 was kind of like what I was, 00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:23.680 I'm giving this a shot. 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:25.440 I'm pretty convinced 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.060 this is it, 00:28:26.580 --> 00:28:28.460 but I feel kind of strange 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:30.080 because I can't see you 00:28:30.080 --> 00:28:30.920 and I, 00:28:31.180 --> 00:28:31.440 you know, 00:28:32.100 --> 00:28:33.240 I don't really know you, 00:28:34.580 --> 00:28:36.380 but I'm convinced by 00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:38.900 what I think you're saying here. 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:40.940 And so, 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:41.380 you know, 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:42.000 and then I went on 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.220 and I, 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:42.940 and, 00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:43.259 and, 00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:44.200 and, 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.000 you know, 00:28:45.060 --> 00:28:45.539 it was just, 00:28:45.700 --> 00:28:45.920 it was, 00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:47.279 it was hard 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:48.180 because it was weird 00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:50.299 because it's this whole faith thing. 00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:51.080 You know, 00:28:51.120 --> 00:28:51.840 Paul says it. 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.500 Paul says we focus, 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:54.320 not on that. 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:54.500 We, 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:54.840 we look, 00:28:54.920 --> 00:28:55.940 we put our eyes, 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.740 we turn our eyes 00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:58.460 to the things that we can't see. 00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:58.640 Now, 00:28:58.680 --> 00:28:59.100 that's weird, 00:28:59.160 --> 00:28:59.580 isn't it? 00:28:59.840 --> 00:29:01.039 Because aren't eyes there 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:02.120 so you can see something? 00:29:02.340 --> 00:29:03.140 So we look, 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:03.940 Paul says, 00:29:04.360 --> 00:29:05.180 2 Corinthians 4, 00:29:05.600 --> 00:29:06.320 18 I think is, 00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:07.980 we look not at the things 00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.700 which are seen, 00:29:09.620 --> 00:29:11.900 but the things which are unseen. 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:13.740 The things which are seen 00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:14.080 are temporal, 00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:14.700 the things that are unseen 00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.060 are eternal. 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:16.220 So there's this whole 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:17.140 kind of wrestling 00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:18.320 with, 00:29:18.320 --> 00:29:19.320 with, 00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:20.659 with prayer. 00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:22.779 There's such a danger 00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:23.779 of losing heart 00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:25.099 and, 00:29:25.159 --> 00:29:25.500 and again, 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:26.779 depending on self. 00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:27.319 And we don't have time 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:28.439 to go through the whole parable, 00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:29.299 but, 00:29:30.159 --> 00:29:32.319 can I just ask the question, 00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:34.960 why it might be 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:36.779 that we actually can lose heart 00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.819 and persisting in prayer? 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:39.659 What is it about prayer 00:29:39.659 --> 00:29:41.700 in particular 00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:43.799 that makes it so easy 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.819 to lose heart in? 00:29:44.919 --> 00:29:45.319 Because that's why 00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:46.339 Jesus tells this parable. 00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.299 And I reckon, 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:47.740 if I'm, 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.159 if I'm, 00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:49.839 if I'm in good company here, 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.839 I don't know you all, 00:29:50.899 --> 00:29:51.539 I know very few of you, 00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:51.960 and, 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:53.240 and probably none of us 00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:54.379 have actually talked intimately 00:29:54.379 --> 00:29:55.439 about our prayer lives. 00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:56.559 I don't know if you guys 00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:57.099 do together 00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:58.279 in your church. 00:29:59.039 --> 00:29:59.819 I try to do this 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:01.079 with guys that I'm discipling 00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:01.279 or, 00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:01.579 or, 00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.339 or just, 00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:03.019 I think it helps. 00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:03.639 I think it's good. 00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:04.559 But it's very intimate. 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.399 Prayer's very intimate. 00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:06.619 And have you ever sat down 00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:06.899 with somebody 00:30:06.899 --> 00:30:07.679 and told them exactly 00:30:07.679 --> 00:30:08.359 how you pray? 00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.359 What do you think 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:09.899 when you're praying? 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:10.159 What, 00:30:10.159 --> 00:30:10.319 what, 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:12.039 what perception do you have? 00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:12.460 What, 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.220 where do you, 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.279 do you use the Lord's prayer? 00:30:15.360 --> 00:30:15.640 You know, 00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:16.319 in Matthew 6, 00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:17.279 do you do something out? 00:30:17.340 --> 00:30:17.480 Do you, 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.340 do you have a pattern? 00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.160 What do you do? 00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:20.160 These are very, 00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:21.000 very intimate things, 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:22.319 but really good to share. 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.759 Really good to share. 00:30:24.840 --> 00:30:25.779 I'm actually thinking now 00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:26.660 of altering what I do here 00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:27.579 and using the last five minutes 00:30:27.579 --> 00:30:28.039 for you to share 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:28.740 about your prayer lives, 00:30:28.819 --> 00:30:29.440 but I think I'm almost 00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:30.380 in my last five minutes. 00:30:31.120 --> 00:30:32.000 I haven't even looked at it yet. 00:30:32.059 --> 00:30:32.819 Let me suggest to you 00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:33.799 six possibilities 00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:35.779 as to why we might lose 00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:36.880 heart in prayer. 00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:38.120 Okay? 00:30:38.120 --> 00:30:39.120 Six possibilities. 00:30:39.600 --> 00:30:39.960 One, 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:42.360 because it's just hard. 00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:44.640 It is hard 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:46.279 for a broken, 00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:48.100 fallen human person 00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:49.380 to pray. 00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:51.100 J. Oswald Sanders 00:30:51.100 --> 00:30:52.900 says that true prayer 00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:54.460 is a strenuous 00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:56.079 spiritual exercise 00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:56.779 that demands 00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:58.319 the utmost mental discipline 00:30:58.319 --> 00:30:59.079 and concentration. 00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.160 Do you find that? 00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:01.559 I don't mean to just get down 00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:03.039 and go through a list with God. 00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:04.740 I mean to really connect with God. 00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.779 To really connect with God. 00:31:07.860 --> 00:31:09.460 To feel like you have been 00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.480 with God. 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.720 Not just go through a list 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.660 and then you get up 00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:13.120 off your knees 00:31:13.120 --> 00:31:13.940 and you think you've done 00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:14.440 your thing. 00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:16.000 But to really, 00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:16.420 I, 00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:18.019 this is my experience. 00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:19.420 Maybe I'm unique. 00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:20.620 Maybe I'm really 00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:21.860 so far back 00:31:21.860 --> 00:31:22.620 from you guys 00:31:22.620 --> 00:31:23.799 that it's unbelievable. 00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:25.819 But my experience is 00:31:25.819 --> 00:31:26.720 that for me 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.799 to really pray, 00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:29.220 I almost have to grab 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:30.200 a hold of something. 00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:31.120 Okay? 00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:32.640 Till my knuckles are white. 00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:33.759 To concentrate 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:34.980 long enough 00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:36.599 to stay with God 00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:37.279 more than for 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:39.000 five or ten seconds 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:40.099 until my mind 00:31:40.099 --> 00:31:40.559 goes off 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.400 on something else. 00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:42.240 What I'm going to be 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:43.079 making for lunch. 00:31:45.099 --> 00:31:45.400 You know, 00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:45.799 I, 00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:47.000 one of the dangers 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:47.640 for me praying 00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:48.160 looking out 00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:49.000 at the Pentland Hills 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:49.660 where we live 00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:51.059 is that there's a golf course 00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:51.400 up there 00:31:51.400 --> 00:31:52.319 on the side of the hills. 00:31:53.319 --> 00:31:54.079 And I've often 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:55.059 started to pray 00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:55.920 looking at the hills 00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:57.279 to see the bigness of God 00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:58.480 and the next thing I know 00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:59.279 I'm thinking about 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:00.640 how golf balls are made. 00:32:01.520 --> 00:32:03.660 And I trace my thinking back 00:32:03.660 --> 00:32:04.660 and I think 00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:05.740 I see where I departed. 00:32:06.040 --> 00:32:07.000 I was praying to God 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:08.080 and I was focusing 00:32:08.080 --> 00:32:08.780 on the greatness 00:32:08.780 --> 00:32:09.520 of who He is 00:32:09.520 --> 00:32:10.980 trying to connect with Him. 00:32:11.360 --> 00:32:12.180 And then I saw a guy 00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:12.960 taking a swing. 00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:14.360 And I thought, 00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:14.680 you know, 00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.360 and then my mind 00:32:15.360 --> 00:32:16.080 went to the swing 00:32:16.080 --> 00:32:16.440 and I thought, 00:32:16.540 --> 00:32:16.759 number one, 00:32:16.780 --> 00:32:17.900 I was a bad backswing. 00:32:18.120 --> 00:32:18.660 He's not going to get 00:32:18.660 --> 00:32:19.300 anywhere with that. 00:32:19.820 --> 00:32:20.520 And then I just thought, 00:32:20.580 --> 00:32:21.420 I saw the ball go 00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:21.720 and I thought, 00:32:21.800 --> 00:32:22.320 golf balls, 00:32:22.420 --> 00:32:22.500 well, 00:32:22.520 --> 00:32:23.640 they're amazing things. 00:32:24.400 --> 00:32:24.740 You know, 00:32:25.060 --> 00:32:25.440 they're just, 00:32:25.620 --> 00:32:26.380 they're coated 00:32:26.380 --> 00:32:27.900 with this hard kind of, 00:32:27.900 --> 00:32:28.759 and then inside 00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:29.660 they're wrapped with all, 00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.140 have you ever seen 00:32:30.140 --> 00:32:30.960 the inside of a golf ball? 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.320 It's wrapped. 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:32.940 And I must have gone on 00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:33.700 with that thought pattern 00:32:33.700 --> 00:32:34.680 for 15 minutes. 00:32:35.360 --> 00:32:36.280 And I'm thinking about 00:32:36.280 --> 00:32:37.300 factories that build 00:32:37.300 --> 00:32:38.240 golf balls and, 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:40.920 and I'm on my knees, 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:41.940 I'm on my knees 00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:42.900 to pray. 00:32:43.120 --> 00:32:43.940 That's why I'm there. 00:32:45.100 --> 00:32:46.560 It's just the whole deal 00:32:46.560 --> 00:32:47.160 of drift 00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:48.700 and the mental content. 00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:49.280 I'll tell you, 00:32:49.300 --> 00:32:49.880 the one time 00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:51.000 I didn't have any problem 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.500 doing that 00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:52.820 was when I had 00:32:52.820 --> 00:32:54.220 the most profound anxiety 00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:55.200 I've ever had in my life. 00:32:55.800 --> 00:32:56.400 I couldn't think 00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:57.100 about golf balls. 00:32:57.100 --> 00:32:57.680 Golf balls meant 00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:58.300 nothing to me. 00:32:58.299 --> 00:32:59.539 All I needed 00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:00.940 was some assurance 00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:01.579 that my life 00:33:01.579 --> 00:33:02.379 wasn't going to fall apart 00:33:02.379 --> 00:33:02.740 at the seams. 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:03.639 And I prayed. 00:33:03.940 --> 00:33:04.159 Man, 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:05.139 I prayed with the freedom 00:33:05.139 --> 00:33:05.779 that I never had 00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.559 in my life. 00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:09.000 But outside of that 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:10.200 kind of crisis moment, 00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:10.879 prayer's hard. 00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:12.700 In the normal 00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:13.759 warp and woof of life, 00:33:13.919 --> 00:33:14.599 prayer is hard. 00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:15.220 And I think that's, 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:16.359 I think God knows that. 00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:17.779 He knows we're fallen people. 00:33:17.879 --> 00:33:19.279 He knows we're struggling people. 00:33:20.879 --> 00:33:21.559 Maybe that's why 00:33:21.559 --> 00:33:23.279 we're told in 1 Peter 4, 7 00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:25.039 to be of sound judgment 00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:26.180 and sober 00:33:26.180 --> 00:33:27.559 for the purpose of prayer. 00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:28.399 Maybe that's why 00:33:28.399 --> 00:33:29.079 Peter says that. 00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:30.379 Maybe that's why 00:33:30.379 --> 00:33:30.960 we're told 00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:32.279 that it's the effectual 00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:33.379 fervent prayer 00:33:33.379 --> 00:33:34.740 of a righteous man 00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:36.139 that avails much. 00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:37.099 Or why the writer 00:33:37.099 --> 00:33:37.740 to Hebrews says 00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:38.159 that when Jesus 00:33:38.159 --> 00:33:38.799 was in the flesh 00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:39.500 he offered up prayers 00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:40.240 and supplications 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:42.179 with strong crying 00:33:42.179 --> 00:33:42.940 and tears 00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:44.200 to the one that was able 00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:44.919 to save him from death. 00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:45.539 And he wasn't dealing 00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:46.000 with sin, 00:33:46.119 --> 00:33:46.919 but he was dealing 00:33:46.919 --> 00:33:47.539 with humanity. 00:33:48.379 --> 00:33:48.839 Maybe that's why 00:33:48.839 --> 00:33:49.779 we're told that Epaphras 00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:51.279 who came close to death 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:51.919 in his devotion 00:33:51.919 --> 00:33:53.319 and his commitment 00:33:53.319 --> 00:33:54.879 to the Colossian Christians 00:33:54.879 --> 00:33:56.480 labored earnestly. 00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:57.019 The word there 00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:57.940 is agonizomai. 00:33:58.620 --> 00:33:59.099 Agonized. 00:34:00.599 --> 00:34:02.599 In his prayer for them. 00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:05.079 So prayer is hard too. 00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:05.920 Why can we lose 00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:07.680 heart with prayer? 00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:09.139 Because it's sacrificial. 00:34:10.699 --> 00:34:11.519 And by that 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.300 I mean 00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:13.340 it takes time. 00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:14.900 It takes time. 00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:15.380 David, 00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:16.340 I think there's a second point 00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:16.900 coming up there. 00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:18.079 Okay, thanks. 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:19.139 It's sacrificial. 00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:21.039 It takes time. 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:22.199 S.D. Gordon 00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:24.259 has said that the great 00:34:24.259 --> 00:34:24.939 people of the earth 00:34:24.939 --> 00:34:26.319 today are the people 00:34:26.319 --> 00:34:26.960 who pray. 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:27.879 I do not mean those 00:34:27.879 --> 00:34:28.799 who talk about prayer 00:34:28.799 --> 00:34:29.679 nor those who say 00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:30.659 they believe in prayer 00:34:30.659 --> 00:34:31.819 nor yet those who can 00:34:31.819 --> 00:34:32.799 explain about prayer. 00:34:32.939 --> 00:34:33.919 I mean those people 00:34:33.919 --> 00:34:35.179 who take time 00:34:35.179 --> 00:34:36.019 to pray. 00:34:36.619 --> 00:34:37.960 They don't have 00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:38.639 the time. 00:34:39.919 --> 00:34:41.039 It must be taken 00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:42.059 from something else. 00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:43.239 That something else 00:34:43.239 --> 00:34:43.799 is important, 00:34:43.939 --> 00:34:44.559 very important 00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:45.019 and pressing 00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:45.899 but yet 00:34:45.899 --> 00:34:46.980 less important 00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:48.259 and less pressing 00:34:48.259 --> 00:34:49.019 than prayer. 00:34:49.019 --> 00:34:50.960 It's hard 00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:52.579 because you know this. 00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:53.719 You know this. 00:34:53.820 --> 00:34:54.360 I'm sure 00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:55.440 the worst thing 00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:55.980 in the world 00:34:55.980 --> 00:34:56.519 for me 00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:57.340 in one sense 00:34:57.340 --> 00:34:57.780 although I'm going 00:34:57.780 --> 00:34:58.099 to come back 00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:58.679 to technology 00:34:58.679 --> 00:34:59.119 later on 00:34:59.119 --> 00:34:59.840 has been technology 00:34:59.840 --> 00:35:02.099 because emails 00:35:02.099 --> 00:35:03.119 which of course 00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:03.739 have made all 00:35:03.739 --> 00:35:04.219 of our lives 00:35:04.219 --> 00:35:04.820 so much easier 00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:05.259 haven't they? 00:35:06.380 --> 00:35:06.780 Right? 00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:07.460 They've made all 00:35:07.460 --> 00:35:07.780 our lives 00:35:07.780 --> 00:35:08.219 so much easier. 00:35:08.300 --> 00:35:08.820 That's what they said 00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:09.219 when they first 00:35:09.219 --> 00:35:09.920 started coming out. 00:35:10.199 --> 00:35:10.739 They've made all 00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:11.119 our lives 00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:12.099 saying the worst 00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:12.639 thing in the world 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:13.079 for me 00:35:13.079 --> 00:35:14.519 is to start my 00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:15.559 computer in the morning 00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.579 before I go to the word 00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:17.539 because as soon 00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:18.219 as I get sucked 00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:19.419 into my emails 00:35:19.419 --> 00:35:20.139 and everything else 00:35:20.139 --> 00:35:20.980 that's my time 00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:21.399 with God 00:35:21.399 --> 00:35:22.019 gone. 00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:23.719 The worst thing 00:35:23.719 --> 00:35:24.599 I have got to go 00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:25.919 straight to prayer 00:35:25.919 --> 00:35:27.939 straight to prayer 00:35:27.939 --> 00:35:29.739 to make the time 00:35:29.739 --> 00:35:30.099 for it 00:35:30.099 --> 00:35:30.619 because otherwise 00:35:30.619 --> 00:35:31.799 the business of life 00:35:31.799 --> 00:35:32.480 just takes 00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:33.299 so it makes it hard. 00:35:34.399 --> 00:35:34.879 Third thing 00:35:34.879 --> 00:35:36.579 prayer is spiritual 00:35:36.579 --> 00:35:38.239 it's spiritual 00:35:38.239 --> 00:35:39.019 and it's what I was 00:35:39.019 --> 00:35:39.839 just saying before 00:35:39.839 --> 00:35:40.779 it's this whole 00:35:40.779 --> 00:35:41.639 faith thing 00:35:41.639 --> 00:35:43.059 I don't see him 00:35:43.059 --> 00:35:43.359 I don't 00:35:43.359 --> 00:35:43.859 it's not 00:35:43.859 --> 00:35:44.559 you know 00:35:44.559 --> 00:35:45.399 and he knows this 00:35:45.399 --> 00:35:46.819 he's created it this way 00:35:46.820 --> 00:35:47.880 so I've got a few 00:35:47.880 --> 00:35:48.920 questions about that 00:35:48.920 --> 00:35:49.519 as to why 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:50.539 but I'm sure this 00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:51.320 for good reason 00:35:51.320 --> 00:35:53.180 that I don't see him 00:35:53.180 --> 00:35:55.180 I have to persist 00:35:55.180 --> 00:35:56.019 in my relationship 00:35:56.019 --> 00:35:56.460 with him 00:35:56.460 --> 00:35:57.780 without seeing him 00:35:57.780 --> 00:35:59.000 I see him in his word 00:35:59.000 --> 00:35:59.700 and I know what 00:35:59.700 --> 00:36:00.380 we mean by that 00:36:00.380 --> 00:36:01.780 but I don't see him 00:36:01.780 --> 00:36:02.500 physically 00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:03.620 like I see you 00:36:03.620 --> 00:36:04.100 and I can 00:36:04.100 --> 00:36:05.260 I can sit down 00:36:05.260 --> 00:36:06.220 and you can put 00:36:06.220 --> 00:36:07.059 your arm around me 00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:07.940 and I can feel it 00:36:07.940 --> 00:36:09.519 and it's a faith deal 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:11.400 the Christian life 00:36:11.400 --> 00:36:12.240 is a faith deal 00:36:12.240 --> 00:36:13.880 prayer is a faith deal 00:36:13.880 --> 00:36:15.019 and that's hard 00:36:15.019 --> 00:36:15.519 isn't it? 00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:16.420 do you find it hard? 00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:17.699 I find it hard 00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:18.300 I find it 00:36:18.300 --> 00:36:20.019 a challenge 00:36:20.019 --> 00:36:21.920 to go into 00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:22.800 this room 00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:23.420 where I pray 00:36:23.420 --> 00:36:24.360 it's my dining room 00:36:24.360 --> 00:36:25.639 it faces the hills 00:36:25.639 --> 00:36:26.380 if I want to look 00:36:26.380 --> 00:36:27.000 I can look 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:28.780 and to get on my knees 00:36:28.780 --> 00:36:31.139 and actually succeed 00:36:31.139 --> 00:36:33.280 in a decent amount 00:36:33.280 --> 00:36:34.320 of time with God 00:36:34.320 --> 00:36:35.539 that's hard 00:36:35.539 --> 00:36:36.679 because I don't see him 00:36:36.679 --> 00:36:38.199 and I struggle with that 00:36:38.199 --> 00:36:39.679 there's things 00:36:39.679 --> 00:36:40.679 that come into my mind 00:36:40.679 --> 00:36:41.219 there's pictures 00:36:41.219 --> 00:36:42.659 I don't want the big bearded guy 00:36:42.659 --> 00:36:43.539 in the sky thing 00:36:43.539 --> 00:36:44.779 I want somehow 00:36:44.779 --> 00:36:45.800 to perceive 00:36:45.800 --> 00:36:46.500 of the greatness 00:36:46.500 --> 00:36:47.300 of God 00:36:47.300 --> 00:36:49.219 so reading Psalms 00:36:49.219 --> 00:36:49.759 or something like that 00:36:49.759 --> 00:36:50.480 to get started with 00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:51.279 sometimes is good 00:36:51.279 --> 00:36:52.259 because it gets me 00:36:52.259 --> 00:36:53.199 in that frame 00:36:53.199 --> 00:36:54.059 where I can just sit 00:36:54.059 --> 00:36:55.679 before I even begin 00:36:55.679 --> 00:36:56.340 to think about 00:36:56.340 --> 00:36:57.259 opening my mouth 00:36:57.259 --> 00:36:59.320 Andrew Murray 00:36:59.320 --> 00:37:00.099 was big on this 00:37:00.099 --> 00:37:00.599 I don't know if you've ever 00:37:00.599 --> 00:37:01.659 read any of his stuff 00:37:01.659 --> 00:37:02.699 but Andrew Murray 00:37:02.699 --> 00:37:04.519 was just sitting 00:37:04.519 --> 00:37:07.800 and engaging with 00:37:07.800 --> 00:37:09.719 who God really is 00:37:09.719 --> 00:37:10.699 before you ever 00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:12.219 begin to think about 00:37:12.219 --> 00:37:13.059 opening your mouth 00:37:13.059 --> 00:37:14.779 but that's hard 00:37:14.779 --> 00:37:15.739 because 00:37:15.739 --> 00:37:16.960 I'm looking at 00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:17.619 the Pentland Hills 00:37:17.619 --> 00:37:18.259 and the Pentland Hills 00:37:18.259 --> 00:37:18.880 are not God 00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:20.960 the sky is not God 00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:22.460 he made it 00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:22.960 so I've got to go 00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:23.599 beyond that 00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:26.199 you guys 00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:27.299 you understand American 00:37:27.299 --> 00:37:27.639 do you? 00:37:27.739 --> 00:37:28.059 you understand 00:37:28.059 --> 00:37:30.219 I don't know 00:37:30.219 --> 00:37:30.759 if this is 00:37:30.759 --> 00:37:31.380 so you've got to 00:37:31.380 --> 00:37:31.840 give me some 00:37:31.840 --> 00:37:33.079 at some point 00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:33.659 in the break 00:37:33.659 --> 00:37:33.920 or whatever 00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:34.719 give me some feedback 00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:36.380 Jesus said 00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:37.799 in Matthew 21-22 00:37:37.799 --> 00:37:38.119 he said 00:37:38.119 --> 00:37:39.179 all things you ask 00:37:39.179 --> 00:37:39.679 in prayer 00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:40.799 believing 00:37:40.800 --> 00:37:42.100 it's a faith deal 00:37:42.100 --> 00:37:43.240 believing 00:37:43.240 --> 00:37:44.519 you shall receive 00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:45.880 Hebrews 11-6 00:37:45.880 --> 00:37:46.340 you know this 00:37:46.340 --> 00:37:46.720 without 00:37:46.720 --> 00:37:48.180 what? 00:37:48.260 --> 00:37:48.660 it's impossible 00:37:48.660 --> 00:37:49.260 to please God 00:37:49.260 --> 00:37:49.580 without 00:37:49.580 --> 00:37:50.720 faith 00:37:50.720 --> 00:37:52.280 it's impossible 00:37:52.280 --> 00:37:53.080 to please God 00:37:53.080 --> 00:37:53.620 for the one 00:37:53.620 --> 00:37:54.260 who comes to him 00:37:54.260 --> 00:37:55.200 must believe 00:37:55.200 --> 00:37:55.980 that he is 00:37:55.980 --> 00:37:56.940 because we're not 00:37:56.940 --> 00:37:58.120 gazing upon him 00:37:58.120 --> 00:37:58.580 directly 00:37:58.580 --> 00:37:59.600 it's a big 00:37:59.600 --> 00:38:00.360 it's a big subject 00:38:00.360 --> 00:38:00.840 but it's 00:38:00.840 --> 00:38:01.960 it factors 00:38:01.960 --> 00:38:03.300 into prayer 00:38:03.300 --> 00:38:03.820 four 00:38:03.820 --> 00:38:05.320 prayer is trusting 00:38:05.320 --> 00:38:08.340 in other words 00:38:08.340 --> 00:38:09.019 I think we often 00:38:09.019 --> 00:38:11.420 we often 00:38:11.420 --> 00:38:13.000 don't see the response 00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:14.180 that we would like to see 00:38:14.180 --> 00:38:14.500 right? 00:38:14.580 --> 00:38:14.900 we pray 00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:15.800 we ask God for things 00:38:15.800 --> 00:38:17.500 but do you struggle with that? 00:38:17.700 --> 00:38:18.580 I'm praying for a family 00:38:18.580 --> 00:38:19.660 right now in our church 00:38:19.660 --> 00:38:21.320 is in desperate straits 00:38:21.320 --> 00:38:22.080 and I'm praying 00:38:22.080 --> 00:38:22.440 I've been praying 00:38:22.440 --> 00:38:23.380 for two years 00:38:23.380 --> 00:38:24.140 for them 00:38:24.140 --> 00:38:25.000 and their family 00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:26.000 and issues that are going on 00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:26.480 in their family 00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:27.600 and nothing's changing 00:38:27.600 --> 00:38:28.600 that I can see 00:38:28.600 --> 00:38:31.420 I've been praying 00:38:31.420 --> 00:38:32.820 desperately for these guys 00:38:32.820 --> 00:38:33.700 meeting with them 00:38:33.700 --> 00:38:34.200 praying with them 00:38:34.199 --> 00:38:35.519 crying in our coffees 00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:35.919 together 00:38:35.919 --> 00:38:37.079 with the dad 00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:39.699 and as far as I can tell 00:38:39.699 --> 00:38:40.739 nothing's changing 00:38:40.739 --> 00:38:44.059 are you alright with that? 00:38:44.439 --> 00:38:45.259 you guys alright with that? 00:38:45.339 --> 00:38:45.939 it's not hard 00:38:45.939 --> 00:38:46.859 it's 00:38:46.859 --> 00:38:48.339 you know 00:38:48.339 --> 00:38:50.059 it's a trust exercise 00:38:50.059 --> 00:38:51.619 I've got to trust 00:38:51.619 --> 00:38:52.379 that he's hearing me 00:38:52.379 --> 00:38:52.779 there's somebody 00:38:52.779 --> 00:38:53.799 on the other end of the line 00:38:53.799 --> 00:38:54.579 and they care 00:38:54.579 --> 00:38:58.759 God doesn't work 00:38:58.759 --> 00:38:59.519 to our timetable 00:38:59.519 --> 00:39:00.179 we know that 00:39:00.179 --> 00:39:01.419 and that can crush 00:39:01.419 --> 00:39:02.000 a prayer life 00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:02.960 if we're not committed to it 00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:03.619 and believing in it 00:39:03.619 --> 00:39:04.279 and trusting God 00:39:04.279 --> 00:39:05.039 four and five 00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:06.119 prayer is humbling 00:39:06.119 --> 00:39:07.699 it's hard 00:39:07.699 --> 00:39:08.380 because it's humbling 00:39:08.380 --> 00:39:09.339 you know 00:39:09.339 --> 00:39:10.420 to pray 00:39:10.420 --> 00:39:11.059 what are we doing 00:39:11.059 --> 00:39:12.019 the whole posture 00:39:12.019 --> 00:39:13.359 of prayer 00:39:13.359 --> 00:39:14.400 often we talk about 00:39:14.400 --> 00:39:15.079 kneeling in prayer 00:39:15.079 --> 00:39:15.599 you don't have to 00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:16.579 you can stand in prayer 00:39:16.579 --> 00:39:17.819 you can raise your arms 00:39:17.819 --> 00:39:18.259 you can go out 00:39:18.259 --> 00:39:19.299 in the countryside 00:39:19.299 --> 00:39:20.159 there's loads 00:39:20.159 --> 00:39:21.359 my little picture there 00:39:21.359 --> 00:39:22.159 in the background 00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:22.500 you know 00:39:22.500 --> 00:39:22.980 just 00:39:22.980 --> 00:39:23.940 you don't have to be 00:39:23.940 --> 00:39:24.880 but the posture 00:39:24.880 --> 00:39:26.339 of somehow dependence 00:39:26.339 --> 00:39:28.219 submission 00:39:28.219 --> 00:39:30.339 you kneel before a king 00:39:30.339 --> 00:39:30.859 don't you? 00:39:30.860 --> 00:39:32.760 the whole posture 00:39:32.760 --> 00:39:33.559 and it's hard 00:39:33.559 --> 00:39:33.900 because we 00:39:33.900 --> 00:39:34.360 you know 00:39:34.360 --> 00:39:37.059 this obitome 00:39:37.059 --> 00:39:37.900 doesn't want to depend 00:39:37.900 --> 00:39:38.440 on anybody 00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:39.000 he wants to depend 00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:39.539 on Wayne 00:39:39.539 --> 00:39:42.920 but I have to depend 00:39:42.920 --> 00:39:43.320 on God 00:39:43.320 --> 00:39:45.019 that's why I pray 00:39:45.019 --> 00:39:47.320 because I do depend 00:39:47.320 --> 00:39:47.840 on him 00:39:47.840 --> 00:39:49.019 I need him 00:39:49.019 --> 00:39:50.980 but it makes it hard 00:39:50.980 --> 00:39:52.980 one man's written 00:39:52.980 --> 00:39:55.140 that whether we praise him 00:39:55.140 --> 00:39:56.740 for his unfathomable majesty 00:39:56.739 --> 00:39:58.419 or petition him 00:39:58.419 --> 00:39:59.439 for daily needs 00:39:59.439 --> 00:40:00.759 prayer is the expression 00:40:00.759 --> 00:40:01.500 of our dependence 00:40:01.500 --> 00:40:02.239 upon God 00:40:02.239 --> 00:40:03.759 our whole soul 00:40:03.759 --> 00:40:04.659 reliance 00:40:04.659 --> 00:40:05.879 upon his power 00:40:05.879 --> 00:40:06.679 to sustain us 00:40:06.679 --> 00:40:07.479 his mercy 00:40:07.479 --> 00:40:08.179 to forgive us 00:40:08.179 --> 00:40:08.939 his bounty 00:40:08.939 --> 00:40:09.739 to supply us 00:40:09.739 --> 00:40:10.619 and his glory 00:40:10.619 --> 00:40:11.619 to overwhelm us 00:40:11.619 --> 00:40:12.559 as we reflect 00:40:12.559 --> 00:40:13.959 on who he is 00:40:13.959 --> 00:40:15.659 that's why 00:40:15.659 --> 00:40:16.479 I think 00:40:16.479 --> 00:40:17.199 prayer rubs 00:40:17.199 --> 00:40:17.739 so raw 00:40:17.739 --> 00:40:18.419 against our 00:40:18.419 --> 00:40:19.639 egocentric 00:40:19.639 --> 00:40:20.539 human nature 00:40:20.539 --> 00:40:21.859 it rubs raw 00:40:21.859 --> 00:40:22.419 against that 00:40:22.419 --> 00:40:23.479 and it makes it hard 00:40:23.479 --> 00:40:24.039 to pray 00:40:24.039 --> 00:40:24.860 finally 00:40:24.860 --> 00:40:25.920 sixth 00:40:25.920 --> 00:40:27.019 prayer is a battle 00:40:27.019 --> 00:40:28.059 isn't it 00:40:28.059 --> 00:40:29.599 we often talk about 00:40:29.599 --> 00:40:29.880 the battle 00:40:29.880 --> 00:40:30.380 and so does 00:40:30.380 --> 00:40:31.880 so does the word of God 00:40:31.880 --> 00:40:32.659 Ephesians 6 00:40:32.659 --> 00:40:33.300 especially 00:40:33.300 --> 00:40:34.420 right 00:40:34.420 --> 00:40:34.960 talks about 00:40:34.960 --> 00:40:36.079 our battle 00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:36.480 is not against 00:40:36.480 --> 00:40:37.199 flesh and blood 00:40:37.199 --> 00:40:38.039 it's against 00:40:38.039 --> 00:40:38.960 principalities 00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:40.300 and powers 00:40:40.300 --> 00:40:43.279 all these forces 00:40:43.279 --> 00:40:43.940 of darkness 00:40:43.940 --> 00:40:45.340 and heavenly realms 00:40:45.340 --> 00:40:47.000 this is huge 00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:47.840 it's huge 00:40:47.840 --> 00:40:49.119 the stuff that's 00:40:49.119 --> 00:40:49.800 going on around us 00:40:49.800 --> 00:40:50.380 that we can't see 00:40:50.380 --> 00:40:50.920 is huge 00:40:50.920 --> 00:40:52.420 and God invites us 00:40:52.420 --> 00:40:53.519 into this somehow 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:54.579 and I don't know 00:40:54.579 --> 00:40:55.880 how it all works 00:40:55.880 --> 00:40:56.960 I don't know 00:40:56.960 --> 00:40:57.679 he doesn't tell us 00:40:57.679 --> 00:40:58.579 enough to know 00:40:58.579 --> 00:40:58.880 exactly 00:40:58.880 --> 00:40:59.940 you've got those passages 00:40:59.940 --> 00:41:00.559 in Daniel 00:41:00.559 --> 00:41:01.900 where Daniel's praying 00:41:01.900 --> 00:41:02.420 and you've got the 00:41:02.420 --> 00:41:03.099 prince of Persia 00:41:03.099 --> 00:41:03.800 and you've got Michael 00:41:03.800 --> 00:41:06.780 and you've got this 00:41:06.780 --> 00:41:07.400 battle going 00:41:07.400 --> 00:41:09.360 and you've read 00:41:09.360 --> 00:41:10.440 I don't know 00:41:10.440 --> 00:41:11.579 piercing the darkness 00:41:11.579 --> 00:41:12.300 or whatever it was 00:41:12.300 --> 00:41:12.820 that you know 00:41:12.820 --> 00:41:14.239 I can't remember the guy's name 00:41:14.239 --> 00:41:14.820 Frank Peretti 00:41:14.820 --> 00:41:16.099 and it was his kind of deal 00:41:16.099 --> 00:41:16.880 on that whole 00:41:16.880 --> 00:41:18.019 the bottom line is 00:41:18.019 --> 00:41:20.039 we're not exposed 00:41:20.039 --> 00:41:21.320 to everything 00:41:21.320 --> 00:41:22.400 that's going on there 00:41:22.400 --> 00:41:23.160 and how 00:41:23.160 --> 00:41:24.559 how does 00:41:24.559 --> 00:41:25.519 my prayer 00:41:25.519 --> 00:41:26.119 affect 00:41:26.119 --> 00:41:27.440 the work of God 00:41:27.440 --> 00:41:28.680 I believe it does 00:41:28.680 --> 00:41:29.360 I believe scripture 00:41:29.360 --> 00:41:30.160 tells us it does 00:41:30.160 --> 00:41:31.220 I don't know exactly 00:41:31.220 --> 00:41:32.559 does it move an angel 00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:33.160 that moves 00:41:33.160 --> 00:41:33.960 you know 00:41:33.960 --> 00:41:35.099 a community of angels 00:41:35.099 --> 00:41:35.940 I don't know 00:41:35.940 --> 00:41:37.960 it could be 00:41:37.960 --> 00:41:38.619 because we know 00:41:38.619 --> 00:41:39.200 that there's 00:41:39.200 --> 00:41:39.599 you know 00:41:39.599 --> 00:41:40.340 the Lord's given us 00:41:40.340 --> 00:41:41.340 a little bit of insight 00:41:41.340 --> 00:41:42.240 into that in the word 00:41:42.240 --> 00:41:43.619 but not enough 00:41:43.619 --> 00:41:44.220 to be 00:41:44.220 --> 00:41:45.720 I think overly confident 00:41:45.720 --> 00:41:46.940 or go too far with it 00:41:46.940 --> 00:41:47.860 like maybe some people 00:41:47.860 --> 00:41:48.660 have 00:41:48.659 --> 00:41:51.019 but something's going on 00:41:51.019 --> 00:41:53.500 something's going on 00:41:53.500 --> 00:41:54.099 when we pray 00:41:54.099 --> 00:41:56.139 you know 00:41:56.139 --> 00:41:56.599 and I 00:41:56.599 --> 00:41:56.899 and I 00:41:56.899 --> 00:41:58.039 and I have been moved 00:41:58.039 --> 00:41:58.920 by some of those books 00:41:58.920 --> 00:41:59.559 that speculate 00:41:59.559 --> 00:42:00.119 a little bit 00:42:00.119 --> 00:42:01.000 Randy Alcorn's book 00:42:01.000 --> 00:42:01.799 on heaven 00:42:01.799 --> 00:42:02.639 and some of it 00:42:02.639 --> 00:42:02.980 you know 00:42:02.980 --> 00:42:03.399 I've been 00:42:03.399 --> 00:42:04.519 I've been moved by that 00:42:04.519 --> 00:42:05.159 it's speculative 00:42:05.159 --> 00:42:06.719 but just to think 00:42:06.719 --> 00:42:07.299 that maybe 00:42:07.299 --> 00:42:09.159 maybe 00:42:09.159 --> 00:42:10.619 you know 00:42:10.619 --> 00:42:11.059 and 00:42:11.059 --> 00:42:11.319 and 00:42:11.319 --> 00:42:11.559 and 00:42:11.559 --> 00:42:11.879 and 00:42:11.879 --> 00:42:12.779 and there's things 00:42:12.779 --> 00:42:13.839 that could be moving 00:42:13.839 --> 00:42:14.519 and changing 00:42:14.519 --> 00:42:15.860 but I'm not praying 00:42:15.860 --> 00:42:18.539 and so are they not 00:42:18.539 --> 00:42:19.360 moving and changing 00:42:19.360 --> 00:42:20.300 because I'm not praying 00:42:20.300 --> 00:42:22.380 and this is big 00:42:22.380 --> 00:42:22.900 and it goes into 00:42:22.900 --> 00:42:23.880 the sovereignty of God 00:42:23.880 --> 00:42:24.159 and all 00:42:24.159 --> 00:42:24.360 but 00:42:24.360 --> 00:42:25.900 but something's going on 00:42:25.900 --> 00:42:26.259 and it's a 00:42:26.259 --> 00:42:28.099 the Bible tells us that 00:42:28.099 --> 00:42:29.579 it's a battle 00:42:29.579 --> 00:42:30.659 there is a spirit 00:42:30.659 --> 00:42:31.360 and we have to 00:42:31.360 --> 00:42:32.000 we've got a weapon 00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:32.679 we've got the sword 00:42:32.679 --> 00:42:33.239 of the spirit 00:42:33.239 --> 00:42:35.840 but we put all this armor on 00:42:35.840 --> 00:42:36.000 we 00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:37.579 and prayer and petition 00:42:37.579 --> 00:42:38.780 with thanksgiving 00:42:38.780 --> 00:42:42.579 and so prayer is a big part 00:42:42.579 --> 00:42:43.179 of the battle 00:42:43.179 --> 00:42:44.899 and yet I think 00:42:44.899 --> 00:42:45.460 here we are 00:42:45.460 --> 00:42:46.139 and we're bothered 00:42:46.139 --> 00:42:46.980 about whether our 00:42:46.980 --> 00:42:48.119 local coffee shop 00:42:48.119 --> 00:42:48.619 is going to be 00:42:48.619 --> 00:42:49.419 renovated 00:42:49.419 --> 00:42:49.899 and we're not going 00:42:49.899 --> 00:42:50.359 to be able to go 00:42:50.359 --> 00:42:50.960 for a drink 00:42:50.960 --> 00:42:51.619 and you know 00:42:51.619 --> 00:42:52.440 or 00:42:52.440 --> 00:42:54.539 I've got to get 00:42:54.539 --> 00:42:55.679 a spare tire today 00:42:55.679 --> 00:42:56.199 you know 00:42:56.199 --> 00:42:56.980 and I'm 00:42:56.980 --> 00:42:59.219 and there's eternal 00:42:59.219 --> 00:43:00.179 stuff going on 00:43:00.179 --> 00:43:00.759 in the realms 00:43:00.759 --> 00:43:01.379 around us 00:43:01.379 --> 00:43:02.759 and God tells us that 00:43:02.759 --> 00:43:03.879 and invites us 00:43:03.879 --> 00:43:04.819 into that with prayer 00:43:04.819 --> 00:43:05.739 it's a battle 00:43:05.739 --> 00:43:06.559 but it's a battle 00:43:06.559 --> 00:43:08.059 and so you need 00:43:08.059 --> 00:43:08.619 to be ready 00:43:08.619 --> 00:43:09.500 for whatever 00:43:09.500 --> 00:43:10.619 that's going to mean 00:43:10.619 --> 00:43:11.059 for you 00:43:11.059 --> 00:43:12.019 is Satan going to 00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.639 oppose that? 00:43:12.759 --> 00:43:13.159 Probably 00:43:13.159 --> 00:43:13.859 how? 00:43:14.039 --> 00:43:14.639 I don't know 00:43:14.639 --> 00:43:16.000 but I'm sure 00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:16.859 he's going to oppose 00:43:16.859 --> 00:43:17.659 the prayer life 00:43:17.659 --> 00:43:18.219 of a Christian 00:43:18.219 --> 00:43:20.259 and try to distract you 00:43:20.259 --> 00:43:21.379 in any way he can 00:43:21.379 --> 00:43:23.819 any way he can 00:43:23.819 --> 00:43:26.119 well I don't know 00:43:26.119 --> 00:43:26.420 are there 00:43:26.420 --> 00:43:26.739 are there 00:43:26.739 --> 00:43:27.099 that's 00:43:27.099 --> 00:43:28.139 I think my time's 00:43:28.139 --> 00:43:28.719 just about up 00:43:28.719 --> 00:43:29.679 but you know 00:43:29.679 --> 00:43:30.699 I gave you a little list 00:43:30.699 --> 00:43:31.420 that prayer's hard 00:43:31.420 --> 00:43:32.000 but anybody want 00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:32.579 to say anything? 00:43:33.559 --> 00:43:33.719 I mean 00:43:33.719 --> 00:43:34.839 throw something in there 00:43:34.839 --> 00:43:35.179 is there 00:43:35.179 --> 00:43:36.319 have I missed something? 00:43:36.480 --> 00:43:36.899 is there something 00:43:36.899 --> 00:43:37.500 that you 00:43:37.500 --> 00:43:39.019 so this is 00:43:39.019 --> 00:43:39.759 I want to be able 00:43:39.759 --> 00:43:40.480 to go walk away 00:43:40.480 --> 00:43:40.920 and say yes 00:43:40.920 --> 00:43:41.619 we've had a seminar 00:43:41.619 --> 00:43:43.200 okay 00:43:43.200 --> 00:43:45.659 I have a few 00:43:45.659 --> 00:43:47.320 you guys have recommended 00:43:47.320 --> 00:43:48.180 some books 00:43:48.180 --> 00:43:50.840 and I know time's up here 00:43:50.840 --> 00:43:52.260 but one of the things 00:43:52.260 --> 00:43:53.180 that I started doing 00:43:53.180 --> 00:43:54.440 during my breakdown period 00:43:54.440 --> 00:43:55.960 was I started using 00:43:55.960 --> 00:43:56.820 a prayer book 00:43:56.820 --> 00:43:57.780 okay 00:43:57.780 --> 00:43:58.659 because as a pastor 00:43:58.659 --> 00:43:59.380 I'm on the door 00:43:59.380 --> 00:44:00.000 every Sunday 00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:00.840 and people say 00:44:00.840 --> 00:44:01.639 would you pray for this 00:44:01.639 --> 00:44:01.900 and I think 00:44:01.900 --> 00:44:02.460 oh yeah yeah 00:44:02.460 --> 00:44:03.539 and you know 00:44:03.539 --> 00:44:04.360 it's gone 00:44:04.360 --> 00:44:06.059 and I just didn't 00:44:06.059 --> 00:44:06.720 want to do that 00:44:06.720 --> 00:44:07.980 so I keep a piece of paper 00:44:07.980 --> 00:44:08.500 in my pocket 00:44:08.500 --> 00:44:08.880 and a pen 00:44:08.880 --> 00:44:10.539 and I just put it 00:44:10.539 --> 00:44:11.260 into a book 00:44:11.260 --> 00:44:13.160 and this starts in 2003 00:44:13.160 --> 00:44:14.240 when I had my breakdown 00:44:14.240 --> 00:44:14.640 boom 00:44:14.640 --> 00:44:15.300 2003 00:44:15.300 --> 00:44:16.820 and then I've got 00:44:16.820 --> 00:44:17.200 I don't know if you can 00:44:17.200 --> 00:44:17.720 see it or not 00:44:17.720 --> 00:44:18.140 but I make 00:44:18.140 --> 00:44:19.160 and when I feel 00:44:19.160 --> 00:44:19.760 there's been an answer 00:44:19.760 --> 00:44:20.360 or a resolution 00:44:20.360 --> 00:44:20.860 I tick it 00:44:20.860 --> 00:44:21.680 with a red tick 00:44:21.680 --> 00:44:23.160 and I can go back 00:44:23.160 --> 00:44:23.880 I can start from 00:44:23.880 --> 00:44:24.880 just a couple days ago 00:44:24.880 --> 00:44:26.120 when the last entry was 00:44:26.120 --> 00:44:27.780 and I can work my way back 00:44:27.780 --> 00:44:29.039 because chances are 00:44:29.039 --> 00:44:29.800 the more recent ones 00:44:29.800 --> 00:44:30.480 are the ones that are 00:44:30.480 --> 00:44:31.059 unresolved 00:44:31.059 --> 00:44:31.320 or whatever 00:44:31.320 --> 00:44:32.000 and I just 00:44:32.000 --> 00:44:32.860 and that's how I pray 00:44:32.860 --> 00:44:33.260 there's more 00:44:33.260 --> 00:44:35.280 I'm a very driven guy 00:44:35.280 --> 00:44:37.440 but I'm highly chaotic 00:44:37.440 --> 00:44:39.540 I'm very disorganized 00:44:39.540 --> 00:44:40.460 and maybe that's why 00:44:40.460 --> 00:44:40.980 I had a breakdown 00:44:40.980 --> 00:44:42.400 but using something 00:44:42.400 --> 00:44:43.560 particular like this 00:44:43.560 --> 00:44:44.800 has so helped me 00:44:44.800 --> 00:44:46.100 and there's people in here 00:44:46.100 --> 00:44:47.680 from the church mainly 00:44:47.680 --> 00:44:49.200 but from my wider life 00:44:49.200 --> 00:44:49.880 and if you asked me 00:44:49.880 --> 00:44:50.560 to pray for something 00:44:50.560 --> 00:44:51.260 I'd write it down 00:44:51.260 --> 00:44:52.340 and I would put it in here 00:44:52.340 --> 00:44:53.980 and until I hear from you 00:44:53.980 --> 00:44:55.840 I'll keep praying for it 00:44:55.840 --> 00:44:56.700 I'll just keep 00:44:56.700 --> 00:44:58.060 like the persistent widow 00:44:58.060 --> 00:44:59.820 I'll just keep going back 00:44:59.820 --> 00:45:00.680 and going back 00:45:00.680 --> 00:45:01.340 and this family 00:45:01.340 --> 00:45:01.940 that I've been praying for 00:45:01.940 --> 00:45:03.240 because the Lord 00:45:03.239 --> 00:45:04.079 the Lord's told me to 00:45:04.079 --> 00:45:05.659 so this has been good 00:45:05.659 --> 00:45:07.959 and let me just give you 00:45:07.959 --> 00:45:08.859 a couple of my own 00:45:08.859 --> 00:45:09.539 recommendations 00:45:09.539 --> 00:45:11.739 these tend to be older ones 00:45:11.739 --> 00:45:13.419 but I don't know 00:45:13.419 --> 00:45:13.839 if you ever read 00:45:13.839 --> 00:45:14.599 Paul Miller's book 00:45:14.599 --> 00:45:15.339 A Praying Life 00:45:15.339 --> 00:45:16.279 really good book 00:45:16.279 --> 00:45:17.000 Paul Miller's 00:45:17.000 --> 00:45:18.299 just some real practical 00:45:18.299 --> 00:45:19.519 stuff in here 00:45:19.519 --> 00:45:20.379 I read this again 00:45:20.379 --> 00:45:20.919 most of the stuff 00:45:20.919 --> 00:45:22.299 I read when I wasn't at work 00:45:22.299 --> 00:45:23.239 because I was just desperate 00:45:23.239 --> 00:45:24.219 to learn more about prayer 00:45:24.219 --> 00:45:26.459 Spurgeon's prayers 00:45:26.459 --> 00:45:28.899 will just knock you for sex 00:45:28.899 --> 00:45:30.419 there's just a book 00:45:30.419 --> 00:45:31.299 called Prayer 00:45:31.300 --> 00:45:32.860 and they're just Spurgeon's prayers 00:45:32.860 --> 00:45:34.560 and I think this guy 00:45:34.560 --> 00:45:35.820 prayed these in the services 00:45:35.820 --> 00:45:37.019 that he preached at 00:45:37.019 --> 00:45:37.980 and I just think 00:45:37.980 --> 00:45:39.380 they're longer than my sermons 00:45:39.380 --> 00:45:40.500 you know 00:45:40.500 --> 00:45:41.080 and they're long 00:45:41.080 --> 00:45:43.640 just Spurgeon's 00:45:43.640 --> 00:45:43.760 you know 00:45:43.760 --> 00:45:45.200 just somebody who 00:45:45.200 --> 00:45:47.140 seemingly has mastered 00:45:47.140 --> 00:45:48.060 or is mastering 00:45:48.060 --> 00:45:49.140 the art of prayer 00:45:49.140 --> 00:45:49.860 learn from them 00:45:49.860 --> 00:45:50.560 learn from their 00:45:50.560 --> 00:45:51.480 example 00:45:51.480 --> 00:45:52.240 this one 00:45:52.240 --> 00:45:53.860 was a lifesaver for me 00:45:53.860 --> 00:45:55.620 particularly in a dark place 00:45:55.620 --> 00:45:56.820 and it's Andrew Murray 00:45:56.820 --> 00:45:57.420 and it's just called 00:45:57.420 --> 00:45:58.480 Waiting on God 00:45:58.480 --> 00:45:59.579 and I don't know 00:45:59.579 --> 00:46:00.280 if you've read much 00:46:00.280 --> 00:46:01.780 he's a bit of a mystic 00:46:01.780 --> 00:46:02.159 kind of 00:46:02.159 --> 00:46:02.420 you know 00:46:02.420 --> 00:46:02.599 but 00:46:02.599 --> 00:46:05.300 good stuff 00:46:05.300 --> 00:46:06.260 man did he get me 00:46:06.260 --> 00:46:07.219 thinking about 00:46:07.219 --> 00:46:08.900 just the mechanics 00:46:08.900 --> 00:46:10.460 of my prayers 00:46:10.460 --> 00:46:11.139 and 00:46:11.139 --> 00:46:13.579 probably during my 00:46:13.579 --> 00:46:14.099 breakdown prayer 00:46:14.099 --> 00:46:14.559 I was off work 00:46:14.559 --> 00:46:15.500 for about nine months 00:46:15.500 --> 00:46:16.840 and I think I must have 00:46:16.840 --> 00:46:17.400 read this through 00:46:17.400 --> 00:46:18.820 like about 15 times 00:46:18.820 --> 00:46:20.460 I mean it just 00:46:20.460 --> 00:46:20.940 was 00:46:20.940 --> 00:46:22.039 phenomenal 00:46:22.039 --> 00:46:22.960 there's a little thing 00:46:22.960 --> 00:46:24.019 that's even more mystical 00:46:24.019 --> 00:46:24.699 and some of you guys 00:46:24.699 --> 00:46:25.780 might hate it 00:46:25.780 --> 00:46:26.460 but 00:46:26.460 --> 00:46:28.140 you may have heard 00:46:28.140 --> 00:46:28.720 this little book 00:46:28.720 --> 00:46:29.280 called The Practice 00:46:29.280 --> 00:46:30.240 of the Presence of God 00:46:30.240 --> 00:46:32.040 by Brother Lawrence 00:46:32.040 --> 00:46:33.660 there's a few things 00:46:33.660 --> 00:46:34.480 in it I would just say 00:46:34.480 --> 00:46:35.840 be careful 00:46:35.840 --> 00:46:37.019 not taking too far 00:46:37.019 --> 00:46:38.540 but I like the idea 00:46:38.540 --> 00:46:39.680 I like his idea 00:46:39.680 --> 00:46:40.780 of just praying everywhere 00:46:40.780 --> 00:46:41.480 you know 00:46:41.480 --> 00:46:42.320 the guy was a monk 00:46:42.320 --> 00:46:43.720 and he was the cook 00:46:43.720 --> 00:46:44.740 in the monastery 00:46:44.740 --> 00:46:45.340 he was the cook 00:46:45.340 --> 00:46:46.360 and he became 00:46:46.360 --> 00:46:46.920 one of the most 00:46:46.920 --> 00:46:47.580 well-known guys 00:46:47.580 --> 00:46:47.940 in the world 00:46:47.940 --> 00:46:48.540 just for his 00:46:48.540 --> 00:46:50.080 he learned to just 00:46:50.080 --> 00:46:50.740 do everything 00:46:50.740 --> 00:46:51.800 communing with God 00:46:51.800 --> 00:46:52.620 and I thought 00:46:52.620 --> 00:46:53.540 that's a good idea 00:46:53.540 --> 00:46:54.540 you know 00:46:54.539 --> 00:46:55.179 driving 00:46:55.179 --> 00:46:56.119 exercising 00:46:56.119 --> 00:46:56.860 walking 00:46:56.860 --> 00:46:58.079 whatever 00:46:58.079 --> 00:46:58.980 you know 00:46:58.980 --> 00:46:59.739 learn to 00:46:59.739 --> 00:47:00.840 pray with God 00:47:00.840 --> 00:47:01.099 anyway 00:47:01.099 --> 00:47:01.940 that's just a few 00:47:01.940 --> 00:47:03.380 practical things 00:47:03.380 --> 00:47:03.739 okay 00:47:03.739 --> 00:47:04.400 let me pray 00:47:04.400 --> 00:47:06.139 Lord thank you for 00:47:06.139 --> 00:47:09.079 thank you for your word 00:47:09.079 --> 00:47:10.639 thank you for the body of Christ 00:47:10.639 --> 00:47:11.779 thank you for the precious time 00:47:11.779 --> 00:47:12.980 we have together 00:47:12.980 --> 00:47:13.779 and the opportunity 00:47:13.779 --> 00:47:14.480 we have to 00:47:14.480 --> 00:47:15.900 to make the most of it 00:47:15.900 --> 00:47:17.579 thank you especially 00:47:17.579 --> 00:47:18.500 for opening the way 00:47:18.500 --> 00:47:19.539 for us to commune with you 00:47:19.539 --> 00:47:20.460 through the blood of Christ 00:47:20.460 --> 00:47:21.739 and the sacrifice of Christ 00:47:21.739 --> 00:47:23.519 and help us Lord 00:47:23.519 --> 00:47:25.380 teach us 00:47:25.380 --> 00:47:26.400 as your disciples said 00:47:26.400 --> 00:47:27.340 teach us 00:47:27.340 --> 00:47:28.199 to pray 00:47:28.199 --> 00:47:29.920 in Jesus name 00:47:29.920 --> 00:47:30.360 Amen