WEBVTT

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 If you have your Bibles, I want you to turn to Ephesians chapter 6.

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 Ephesians chapter 6, people that know what they're doing in the kitchen

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 have special touches that just set off a dish and make it right.

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 Somebody confessed to me between the worship hours

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 that today they were going home and serving an experiment with a stow-bought cake.

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 Wow. I said, that's the stuff you do at home.

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 Don't bring that stuff to church. You bring the good stuff to us.

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 Sometimes folks do stuff like that and they don't tell you what they do.

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 It's a secret. They don't want you to know how good, how they got what they got.

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 The secret formula for Coca-Cola is 130 years old

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 and it sits in a vault at the Coca-Cola Museum in Atlanta.

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 KFC's original recipe is a secret.

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 11 herbs and spices.

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 And I thought Heinz 57 had 57 ingredients,

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 but I found out that J.H. Heinz' favorite number is 5

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 and his wife's favorite number is 7.

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 And that's where they came up with the name.

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 So I know Dawn's grandmother's secret recipe was bacon grease.

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 And she served bacon grease with about anything.

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 And I'm convinced that you could pour bacon grease on something in the yard and eat it

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 and it would be good.

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 I haven't tried that and I encourage you not to try that,

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 but I'm just saying.

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 It's the secret sauce that makes one dish stand out from another.

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 Now I realize it is Christmas time and we're all ready,

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 but I got to finish what I start.

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 And so today I want to conclude a series on the real war.

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 Because folks, we're in a war that we can't see.

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 We see the evidence of it.

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 A war that is filled with battles that we need to win.

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 And our goal is to win every daily battle.

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 That's the goal, okay?

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 Now I will tell you that we were born in sin

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 and we're sinners by our own commission.

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 So we will not win every battle, okay?

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 You will fail.

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 But our effort is to win every daily battle.

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 At least as many as we possibly can.

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 And to be clear, the war has been won, thank God.

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 Christ won the war on the cross,

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 but now we're fighting skirmishes that we don't need to be fighting.

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 And we lose too many battles.

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 We've been talking about spiritually defending ourselves

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 and we talked about the offensive weapon being the word of God.

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 Now, what I want you to know today

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 is what will really set you off for victory.

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 It's what I call the secret sauce.

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 For context, I want to read Ephesians chapter 6,

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 beginning in verse 16, where it says this.

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 In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith

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 with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one

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 and take the helmet of salvation

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 and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.

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 Our key passage today,

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 praying at all times with all prayer and supplication.

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 To that end, keep alert with all perseverance,

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 making supplication for all the saints.

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 And also for me,

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 that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly

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 to proclaim the mystery of the gospel

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 for which I am an ambassador in chains,

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 that I may declare it boldly as I ought to speak.

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 The secret sauce of spiritual victory

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 is consistent, heartfelt, dedicated,

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 life-surrendering prayer.

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 Like a secret sauce,

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 you need to make sure that prayer is part of your processes.

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 Now, how do we do that?

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 Well, this passage tells us how to do that.

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 First, it tells us to pray on all occasions.

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 When do we pray?

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 Do we pray in the morning?

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 Or do we pray in the evening?

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 Yes.

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 Both.

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 When we think we need to pray,

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 we pray.

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 When we don't think we need to pray,

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 we pray.

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 When we want to pray and feel like praying,

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 we pray.

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 When we don't want to pray

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 and don't feel like praying,

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 we pray.

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 When we feel strong in prayer,

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 we pray.

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 When we feel weak in prayer,

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 we pray.

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 Verse 18 says,

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 Praying at all times in the Spirit

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 with all prayer.

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 All prayer means that's the kind of prayer

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 you pray on your knees.

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 It's also the kind of prayer

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 you pray driving down the road.

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 It's the kind of prayer you pray

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 with your hands folded in front of you.

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 It's the kind of prayer that you pray

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 with your hands up in the air.

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 And I discourage you from doing

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 either one of those

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 when you're driving and praying.

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 Okay?

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 It's about praying publicly.

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 It's about praying privately.

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 It's about praying with loud cries.

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 It's about praying with silent whispers.

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 Pray prayers of praise

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 because of who he is.

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 Pray prayers of thanksgiving

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 because of what he's done.

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 Pray prayers of confession

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 because of what we've done.

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 Pray prayers of petition

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 for what we want him to do.

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 Pray prayers of intercession

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 for what you want,

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 who you want him to do it through.

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 and with.

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 We're to pray at all times.

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 It is to be an ongoing conversation.

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 1 Thessalonians 5, 17 says,

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 Pray without ceasing.

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 Now, that means

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 when a burdensome thought

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 crosses your mind,

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 give that to God.

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 When a hateful thought

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 crosses your mind,

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 give that to God.

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 When an impure thought

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 crosses your mind,

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 give that to God.

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 When an inappropriate thought

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 crosses your mind,

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 give that to God.

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 When a negative thought

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 crosses your mind,

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 give that to God.

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 2 Corinthians 10, verse 5,

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 says take every thought captive

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 to obey Christ.

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 I compared it a couple weeks ago

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 to playing the arcade game

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 Whack-A-Mole.

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 When them things popped up,

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 you hit them with a hammer.

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 When another one popped up,

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 you hit it with a hammer.

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 And the reality is

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 in our life,

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 we need to be whacking the moles

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 that come up with prayer.

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 When thoughts cross our mind

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 that don't need to cross our mind,

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 we take those thoughts to God.

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 We catch them.

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 We take them captive

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 to obey Christ.

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 When good things come,

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 give God praise.

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 When bad things come,

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 give that over to God.

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 Trust Him with it.

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 Don't wait until the evening

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 when that time comes.

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 Don't wait until the morning

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 when that time comes.

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 Don't wait until you get still.

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 There's great value

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 and very biblical value.

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 And the men that journey with me

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 on Tuesday mornings know

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 we've been over this again

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 and again and again.

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 There is a need in your life

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 to have a still time

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 with the Lord,

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 quietly,

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 quietly,

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 alone,

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 with His Word in your lap

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 and seeking His face in prayer.

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 There is desperate need of that

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 in all of our lives.

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 It needs to be a habit,

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 a practice

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 that we do every day

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 that God allows us to.

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 But we also address the Lord

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 in an ongoing fashion.

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 I get confused these days

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 between who's crazy in the world

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 and who's got an earbud in.

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 When I'm in the store

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 and somebody's having

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 a full-blown conversation

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 with nobody

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 and I don't know

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 that they got something

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 in their ear

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 and they're talking to somebody

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 or maybe they're just

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 talking to themselves,

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 you know.

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 I want to help,

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 but it don't seem appropriate,

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 you know.

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 Whether verbal or not,

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 that's the kind of ongoing prayer

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 that we ought to have

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 with the Lord.

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 When things come up,

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 give them over to God.

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 I mean, prayer is about

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 taking time to be still

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 and alone and before the Lord.

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 However, it's also about

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 walking with Him

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 and talking with Him.

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 That's what praying

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 in the Spirit is all about.

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 Part of what praying

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 in the Spirit is all about.

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 Now, how do we do that?

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 Well,

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 the way it works is

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 we need to be filled

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 with the Holy Spirit.

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 Now, let me explain

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 something to you.

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 As a child of God,

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 if you surrender your life

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 to the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 you receive all the Holy Spirit

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 you're ever going to get.

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 Okay?

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 The Holy Spirit

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 in several things happen

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 when we're saved

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 and one of them is

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 the Holy Spirit

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 indwells us.

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 Okay?

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 So we have the Holy Spirit

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 in our lives.

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 But there are times

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 when we can be filled

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 with the Holy Spirit.

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 Okay?

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 It's kind of like a balloon

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 for lack of a better.

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 There's not a good illustration.

00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:16.079
 I'll promise you.

00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:17.179
 But it's kind of like a balloon.

00:10:17.340 --> 00:10:18.199
 It can be there,

00:10:18.299 --> 00:10:19.120
 but it can be deflated

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 or it can be inflated.

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 There's times when we walk

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 with the Lord faithfully,

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 obediently,

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 taking matters

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 that are not obedient

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 and laying them before Him

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 and asking Him to forgive us

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 and then walking away from Him

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 that He fills us

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 with His Holy Spirit.

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 We already got the Holy Spirit,

00:10:36.779 --> 00:10:37.320
 but we get filled.

00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:40.019
 Our balloon gets inflated,

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 if you will.

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 We're where we need to be.

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 I make it a practice

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 not to run out of gas

00:10:49.099 --> 00:10:49.919
 in my vehicle.

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 Okay?

00:10:51.939 --> 00:10:52.939
 Just don't do that.

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 I'm not going to do

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 the push of shame.

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 I'm not going to do it.

00:10:56.419 --> 00:10:56.559
 Okay?

00:10:57.059 --> 00:11:00.019
 But at the same time,

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 it's not always full.

00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:05.500
 And the reality is

00:11:05.500 --> 00:11:08.419
 that we always have

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 the Holy Spirit,

00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:09.959
 but we're not always

00:11:09.959 --> 00:11:11.500
 filled with the Holy Spirit.

00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:14.120
 Our lives don't reflect that.

00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:15.720
 And I wish

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 that by your attendance

00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:18.779
 this morning

00:11:18.779 --> 00:11:20.700
 that you'd just be

00:11:20.700 --> 00:11:21.519
 fully inflated

00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:22.100
 and leave here

00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:22.980
 filled with the Holy Spirit.

00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:23.940
 But the reality is

00:11:23.940 --> 00:11:24.960
 that's not what it's based on.

00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:26.879
 It's not based on

00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:27.679
 your appearance here.

00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:29.480
 It's not based on

00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:30.299
 your presence here.

00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:32.480
 It's not based on being

00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:34.899
 excited about the music.

00:11:36.139 --> 00:11:37.340
 It's not based on

00:11:37.340 --> 00:11:38.419
 enjoying the sermon.

00:11:39.340 --> 00:11:40.360
 All of those things

00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:41.200
 can play into it,

00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:41.960
 but the reality is

00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:42.440
 it's got to do

00:11:42.440 --> 00:11:42.940
 with your personal

00:11:42.940 --> 00:11:43.759
 relationship with Christ.

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 Where are you at

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 with the matters

00:11:46.060 --> 00:11:47.320
 that He's laid before you

00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:47.800
 that you know

00:11:47.800 --> 00:11:48.680
 you need to deal with?

00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:49.300
 What have you done

00:11:49.300 --> 00:11:49.680
 with that?

00:11:50.940 --> 00:11:51.879
 And when you walk

00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:52.620
 away from that,

00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:54.620
 God blesses such as that

00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:56.140
 and He'll fill you

00:11:56.140 --> 00:11:57.020
 with the Holy Spirit

00:11:57.020 --> 00:11:57.540
 of God.

00:11:58.140 --> 00:11:58.879
 You'll be filled.

00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:00.280
 The Holy Spirit

00:12:00.280 --> 00:12:01.680
 will take over your life.

00:12:02.640 --> 00:12:03.660
 You'll make good decisions

00:12:03.660 --> 00:12:05.120
 because you're not

00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:05.840
 leaning on yourself.

00:12:05.940 --> 00:12:06.340
 You're leaning on

00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:06.820
 the Holy Spirit

00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:07.600
 of God to do it.

00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:09.980
 You'll live more godly.

00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:12.300
 And that kind of

00:12:12.300 --> 00:12:12.620
 relationship,

00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:13.779
 you don't fall out

00:12:13.779 --> 00:12:14.240
 of relationship

00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:14.779
 with the Lord

00:12:14.779 --> 00:12:15.680
 when you're not

00:12:15.680 --> 00:12:16.240
 walking with Him

00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:16.920
 if you're a child

00:12:16.920 --> 00:12:17.399
 of God.

00:12:17.940 --> 00:12:18.620
 But you're not

00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:19.519
 filled with the Holy Spirit.

00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:20.180
 You're not making

00:12:20.180 --> 00:12:20.860
 good decisions.

00:12:21.040 --> 00:12:22.019
 You're not doing it right.

00:12:22.460 --> 00:12:23.440
 And so the challenge

00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:25.460
 for us is to keep that,

00:12:25.700 --> 00:12:26.519
 to be filled

00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:27.460
 with the Holy Spirit

00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:29.060
 and we're filled

00:12:29.060 --> 00:12:29.740
 with the Holy Spirit

00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:30.500
 when we take

00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:31.720
 God's Word in

00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:33.300
 and when we respond

00:12:33.300 --> 00:12:35.320
 obediently to it.

00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:38.620
 There's not a ritual

00:12:38.620 --> 00:12:39.560
 we can do with that.

00:12:39.680 --> 00:12:40.500
 It's a life.

00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:42.040
 We live for that.

00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:43.960
 And God loves us

00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:45.580
 regardless of our actions

00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:47.399
 but He does greater things.

00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:48.060
 Get this now.

00:12:48.300 --> 00:12:49.740
 He does greater things

00:12:49.740 --> 00:12:50.480
 in those

00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:51.700
 who are filled

00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:53.040
 with the Holy Spirit

00:12:53.040 --> 00:12:53.680
 of God.

00:12:53.860 --> 00:12:55.379
 He does greater things

00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:56.160
 in those

00:12:56.160 --> 00:12:57.200
 that are walking

00:12:57.200 --> 00:12:58.899
 obediently to God

00:12:58.899 --> 00:12:59.720
 that are conversing

00:13:00.300 --> 00:13:01.139
 with the Lord

00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:01.980
 about matters

00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:02.480
 that they need

00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:03.279
 to deal with

00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:04.139
 and are walking

00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:05.100
 away from the things

00:13:05.100 --> 00:13:06.040
 that become a hindrance

00:13:06.040 --> 00:13:06.320
 to them.

00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:07.700
 God blesses

00:13:07.700 --> 00:13:08.600
 such as that.

00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:10.240
 James 5, 16 says

00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:11.100
 the prayer

00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:12.180
 of a righteous person

00:13:12.180 --> 00:13:13.639
 has great power

00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:14.600
 as it's working.

00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:17.500
 But it does make

00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:17.860
 a difference

00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:18.700
 in what kind of life

00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:19.160
 we're living.

00:13:20.300 --> 00:13:21.240
 It does make a difference

00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:21.800
 if we're trying

00:13:21.800 --> 00:13:22.639
 to be independent

00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:23.399
 or we're being

00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:25.019
 dependent upon Him.

00:13:25.300 --> 00:13:26.000
 I want you to listen

00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:26.500
 to what happens

00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:27.540
 when we pray

00:13:27.540 --> 00:13:28.460
 in the Spirit.

00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:30.519
 Romans 8, 26, and 27

00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:31.100
 says this.

00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:32.480
 Likewise, the Spirit

00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:33.480
 helps us

00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:34.480
 in our weakness

00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:36.400
 for we don't know

00:13:36.400 --> 00:13:37.280
 what to pray for

00:13:37.280 --> 00:13:38.639
 as we ought.

00:13:39.040 --> 00:13:39.660
 You ever been there?

00:13:41.800 --> 00:13:42.840
 When you're in a situation

00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:43.519
 and you need to pray

00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:43.820
 about it

00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:44.220
 but you don't know

00:13:44.220 --> 00:13:44.780
 how to pray?

00:13:50.540 --> 00:13:51.580
 Maybe I'm the only one.

00:13:51.820 --> 00:13:53.600
 But for we don't know

00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:54.500
 what we ought to pray

00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:56.080
 for as we ought

00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:56.840
 but the Spirit

00:13:56.840 --> 00:13:57.840
 Himself intercedes

00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:58.360
 for us

00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:59.639
 with groanings

00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:00.560
 too deep

00:14:00.560 --> 00:14:01.180
 for words

00:14:01.180 --> 00:14:02.360
 and He who

00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:03.340
 searches hearts

00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:04.500
 knows what's

00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:05.160
 in the mind

00:14:05.160 --> 00:14:05.740
 of the Spirit

00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:06.560
 because the Spirit

00:14:06.560 --> 00:14:07.620
 intercedes for the saints

00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:08.879
 according to the will

00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:09.379
 of God.

00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:10.879
 Now for that to happen

00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:11.840
 we have to pray

00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:12.940
 in the Spirit.

00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:14.080
 That means not

00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:15.740
 pray selfishly,

00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:16.879
 not pray about

00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:17.899
 what I want

00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:18.879
 but pray about

00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:20.160
 what God wants

00:14:20.160 --> 00:14:21.420
 because prayer

00:14:21.420 --> 00:14:22.220
 is not about

00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:22.879
 trying to get

00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:24.100
 my will into heaven.

00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:25.220
 Prayer is about

00:14:25.220 --> 00:14:26.300
 getting God's will

00:14:26.300 --> 00:14:27.639
 into my life

00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:28.879
 and on earth

00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:30.940
 and God moves

00:14:30.940 --> 00:14:31.960
 in such prayers

00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:32.600
 as that.

00:14:32.800 --> 00:14:33.220
 He'll move

00:14:33.220 --> 00:14:33.820
 in the prayer.

00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:34.519
 He'll move

00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:35.080
 in the prayer.

00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:37.519
 The one that's

00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.180
 doing the praying.

00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:40.139
 So we pray

00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:40.860
 on all occasions.

00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:41.680
 The second thing

00:14:41.680 --> 00:14:42.340
 is we pray

00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:43.800
 with every effort.

00:14:45.420 --> 00:14:46.440
 He says keep alert

00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:48.200
 with all perseverance.

00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:50.920
 Now I want you

00:14:50.920 --> 00:14:51.580
 to think about something.

00:14:51.660 --> 00:14:52.240
 I want to ask you

00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:52.500
 something.

00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:55.320
 If someone's trying

00:14:55.320 --> 00:14:56.700
 to break into your home

00:14:56.700 --> 00:14:59.039
 and you are

00:14:59.039 --> 00:14:59.980
 at home

00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:01.759
 and you know

00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:02.799
 he's trying to do it

00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:04.899
 when do you

00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:05.700
 give up

00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:08.179
 and open the door

00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:10.519
 and let him in

00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:12.799
 to do whatever

00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:13.620
 he wants to do?

00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:17.659
 Well I don't.

00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:18.919
 Okay?

00:15:19.019 --> 00:15:19.580
 I don't.

00:15:19.580 --> 00:15:21.620
 I warn him.

00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:23.800
 I call the law

00:15:23.800 --> 00:15:25.980
 and then I introduce

00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:27.020
 him to my little friend.

00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:27.759
 Okay?

00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:30.840
 However,

00:15:30.920 --> 00:15:31.759
 I'm not going

00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.700
 to stand by

00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:34.020
 and let somebody

00:15:34.020 --> 00:15:35.680
 endanger my family.

00:15:35.800 --> 00:15:36.460
 It's not

00:15:36.460 --> 00:15:37.740
 going to happen.

00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:39.840
 And I want to

00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:40.280
 advise you

00:15:40.280 --> 00:15:40.639
 something.

00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.800
 We're in a war

00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:46.099
 and someone

00:15:46.099 --> 00:15:46.979
 is pursuing

00:15:46.979 --> 00:15:47.899
 your family

00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:49.019
 and you better

00:15:49.019 --> 00:15:49.939
 be on watch.

00:15:50.939 --> 00:15:52.019
 And I'm telling you

00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:53.219
 don't get weary.

00:15:55.059 --> 00:15:55.500
 Fight,

00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:56.539
 defend,

00:15:57.419 --> 00:15:58.779
 do it on your knees.

00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:01.079
 When Jesus

00:16:01.079 --> 00:16:01.959
 was praying

00:16:01.959 --> 00:16:02.620
 in the garden

00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:03.299
 right before

00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:03.740
 his arrest

00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.740
 he told his disciples

00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:06.159
 to watch and pray.

00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:06.479
 And you know

00:16:06.479 --> 00:16:07.039
 what they did?

00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:09.000
 They fell asleep

00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:09.719
 is what they did.

00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:12.440
 And in Matthew 26

00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:13.480
 verse 40 through 41

00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.200
 he says this.

00:16:14.920 --> 00:16:15.759
 And he came

00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:16.560
 to his disciples

00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:17.139
 and found them

00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:18.220
 sleeping and he said

00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:18.860
 to Peter.

00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:20.100
 And notice he's

00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:20.700
 talking to Peter.

00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:21.460
 Now why did he talk

00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:22.440
 to Peter about this?

00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:22.860
 Because they were

00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:23.899
 all sleeping apparently.

00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:26.040
 He says that

00:16:26.040 --> 00:16:26.700
 to Peter because

00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:27.540
 he knows Peter's

00:16:27.540 --> 00:16:28.139
 about to face

00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:29.139
 a huge temptation

00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:29.779
 that night.

00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:31.060
 The temptation

00:16:31.060 --> 00:16:32.440
 to protect himself

00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:33.720
 by denying Christ

00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:34.960
 and he falls to it

00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:35.840
 again and again

00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:36.259
 and again.

00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:37.540
 But he also

00:16:37.540 --> 00:16:38.340
 speaks to Peter

00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:39.360
 because he knows

00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:40.080
 that God's

00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:40.519
 going to use

00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:41.980
 Peter in a mighty way.

00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:43.300
 If you don't believe it

00:16:43.300 --> 00:16:43.840
 read the book

00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:44.800
 of Acts this afternoon.

00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:45.160
 Okay?

00:16:45.420 --> 00:16:46.259
 God's going to use

00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:47.399
 Peter in a mighty way

00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:49.340
 and Jesus knows that

00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:50.160
 so he speaks

00:16:50.160 --> 00:16:51.639
 specifically to Peter.

00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:53.019
 It relates to all of them

00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:53.540
 but he says

00:16:53.540 --> 00:16:54.860
 so could you not

00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:55.800
 watch with me

00:16:55.800 --> 00:16:56.980
 one hour?

00:16:58.519 --> 00:16:59.440
 Watch and pray

00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:00.240
 that you may not

00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:01.360
 enter into temptation.

00:17:01.540 --> 00:17:02.220
 The spirit indeed

00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:02.620
 is willing

00:17:02.620 --> 00:17:03.660
 but the flesh is weak.

00:17:03.660 --> 00:17:05.860
 Now when he's saying

00:17:05.860 --> 00:17:06.819
 watch there

00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:07.660
 he means prayerfully

00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:08.300
 prayerfully

00:17:08.300 --> 00:17:10.259
 be on your guard.

00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.200
 Paul says

00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:11.700
 to pray

00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:12.980
 with perseverance

00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:14.920
 steadfastness

00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:16.360
 don't let up.

00:17:18.580 --> 00:17:19.640
 Jesus left them

00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:20.400
 went back to pray.

00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:20.779
 Do you know

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.279
 what they did

00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:21.800
 in the garden?

00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:24.080
 They went back

00:17:24.080 --> 00:17:24.660
 to sleep.

00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:26.860
 They went back

00:17:26.860 --> 00:17:27.120
 to sleep

00:17:27.120 --> 00:17:28.040
 their eyes were heavy

00:17:28.040 --> 00:17:28.980
 it was the middle

00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:29.519
 of the night

00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:30.200
 give them a break

00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:30.820
 but they went back

00:17:30.820 --> 00:17:31.440
 to sleep.

00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:34.420
 Listen

00:17:34.420 --> 00:17:35.620
 we may grow weary

00:17:35.619 --> 00:17:37.299
 but we can't

00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:37.899
 stop praying

00:17:37.899 --> 00:17:38.519
 folks.

00:17:41.139 --> 00:17:42.139
 Things may get tough

00:17:42.139 --> 00:17:42.719
 but we can't

00:17:42.719 --> 00:17:43.119
 stop praying.

00:17:43.459 --> 00:17:44.839
 Jesus tells a story

00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:46.019
 in Luke chapter 18

00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:46.779
 of a widow

00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:48.899
 begging a wicked judge

00:17:48.899 --> 00:17:49.979
 for justice

00:17:49.979 --> 00:17:51.399
 against her adversary

00:17:51.399 --> 00:17:52.779
 and he would not

00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:53.419
 respond.

00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:55.359
 And so the woman

00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:56.159
 just kept on

00:17:56.159 --> 00:17:58.299
 and finally

00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:58.839
 the judge

00:17:58.839 --> 00:17:59.519
 gave in

00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:01.660
 because of

00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:03.660
 her persistence

00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:05.940
 and Jesus

00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:06.460
 said

00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:07.940
 if a judge

00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:09.119
 that does not

00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:10.000
 fear God

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.220
 or respect people

00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:12.119
 will change

00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:12.639
 his mind

00:18:12.639 --> 00:18:13.019
 and relent

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:13.759
 don't you think

00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.599
 a loving father

00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:15.000
 will?

00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:16.759
 And then he

00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:17.400
 asked

00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:19.359
 when I return

00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:20.700
 will I find

00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.259
 such faith?

00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:21.680
 Now people

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.680
 have a hard time

00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:24.119
 with Luke 18

00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:24.519
 because

00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:25.900
 they say

00:18:25.900 --> 00:18:26.700
 is he saying

00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:28.099
 that Father God

00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:29.579
 is like the wicked judge

00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:30.379
 that wouldn't

00:18:30.379 --> 00:18:30.699
 listen.

00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.299
 No that's not

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:31.899
 what he's saying.

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:32.859
 He's saying

00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:34.500
 if a godless man

00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:35.679
 will finally

00:18:35.679 --> 00:18:36.939
 respond to somebody

00:18:36.939 --> 00:18:37.799
 who pursues

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:39.159
 how much more

00:18:39.159 --> 00:18:40.159
 will a loving father

00:18:40.159 --> 00:18:40.740
 do that?

00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:43.719
 Take your matters

00:18:43.719 --> 00:18:44.339
 to the Lord.

00:18:44.659 --> 00:18:45.500
 Take them in prayer.

00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.319
 Leave them with him.

00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:48.179
 Luke 18

00:18:48.179 --> 00:18:48.919
 1 says

00:18:48.919 --> 00:18:49.759
 that he told

00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.500
 that story

00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:51.019
 listen

00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:51.879
 so they would

00:18:51.879 --> 00:18:53.459
 continue to pray

00:18:53.459 --> 00:18:55.319
 and not lose heart.

00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:56.719
 That was the point

00:18:56.719 --> 00:18:57.579
 of telling that story.

00:18:58.099 --> 00:18:59.519
 In Luke chapter 11

00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:00.419
 he tells of a man

00:19:00.419 --> 00:19:02.319
 banging on a friend's door

00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:03.399
 in the middle of the night

00:19:03.399 --> 00:19:04.219
 wanting bread

00:19:04.219 --> 00:19:05.019
 for his family

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.539
 and the man

00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:07.359
 didn't want to get up.

00:19:08.399 --> 00:19:09.279
 You know why?

00:19:09.619 --> 00:19:10.279
 Because they were

00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:11.299
 probably all

00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:12.279
 in the same bed

00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:12.980
 probably in some

00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:13.699
 big pallet

00:19:13.699 --> 00:19:14.379
 in that place

00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:15.519
 and he probably

00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:16.399
 had a baby

00:19:16.399 --> 00:19:18.059
 because if anybody

00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:18.980
 has a baby

00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:19.439
 they don't want

00:19:19.439 --> 00:19:20.219
 to get up in the night.

00:19:20.939 --> 00:19:22.139
 Don't mess with a baby.

00:19:23.459 --> 00:19:24.179
 I don't know

00:19:24.179 --> 00:19:24.779
 what his family

00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:25.599
 structure was

00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:26.240
 I'm just telling you

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:26.539
 the man didn't

00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:26.959
 want to get up.

00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:27.900
 He had locked

00:19:27.900 --> 00:19:28.840
 the place down.

00:19:29.340 --> 00:19:30.460
 He had secured it.

00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:31.539
 He had everybody

00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.200
 bedded down.

00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.100
 He didn't want

00:19:33.100 --> 00:19:33.559
 to get up

00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:34.319
 and the dude

00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:35.420
 just kept knocking.

00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:36.440
 Why?

00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:37.340
 Because his family

00:19:37.340 --> 00:19:38.019
 was starving.

00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:40.880
 He wasn't asking

00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:41.640
 for a cup of sugar

00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:42.319
 he was asking

00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:43.019
 for bread

00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:45.420
 and the man

00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:48.400
 because he kept knocking

00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:49.900
 the man that was

00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:50.259
 in the bed

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:50.779
 got up

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:53.259
 and I want you

00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:53.880
 to listen to what

00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:54.580
 Jesus said

00:19:54.580 --> 00:19:55.300
 when he followed

00:19:55.300 --> 00:19:56.000
 up that story

00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:56.500
 you're familiar

00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.100
 with this probably

00:19:57.100 --> 00:19:57.940
 but I want you

00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:59.160
 to know the context

00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:00.260
 in which he says it.

00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.460
 It's in Luke 11

00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:02.160
 9 and 10

00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:02.800
 it says this

00:20:02.800 --> 00:20:04.160
 and I tell you

00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:05.000
 ask and it will

00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:05.820
 be given to you

00:20:05.820 --> 00:20:08.040
 seek and you'll find

00:20:08.040 --> 00:20:09.380
 knock and it will

00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:10.140
 be opened to you

00:20:10.140 --> 00:20:11.240
 for anyone who

00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:12.160
 asks receives

00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:13.040
 and the one

00:20:13.040 --> 00:20:14.180
 who seeks finds

00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:14.740
 and the one

00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:15.340
 who knocks

00:20:15.340 --> 00:20:16.980
 it will be opened.

00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:19.799
 We are in desperate

00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:20.900
 need to keep

00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:22.019
 spiritual watch

00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:23.160
 over our lives

00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:24.579
 over our loved

00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:25.380
 one's lives

00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:26.259
 and to pray

00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:27.480
 persistently

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.880
 that God would

00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:30.259
 work and move

00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.640
 in our lives.

00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:34.799
 I don't understand

00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.480
 everything about

00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.400
 the economy of God

00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:37.599
 I trust it by faith

00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:40.539
 but I just have

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.279
 to ask this question

00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:44.259
 what if we're

00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:45.860
 one prayer short

00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:47.119
 of the persistence

00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:48.839
 that God was seeking

00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:53.799
 and all I got

00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:54.419
 to say about that

00:20:54.419 --> 00:20:55.319
 is let's not be

00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:57.279
 let's not be

00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:57.939
 one prayer short

00:20:57.939 --> 00:21:01.259
 so pray with

00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:01.759
 every effort

00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:02.500
 also pray for

00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.000
 others

00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:05.599
 pray for others

00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:06.179
 the best way

00:21:06.179 --> 00:21:06.719
 to keep from

00:21:06.719 --> 00:21:07.899
 getting self-absorbed

00:21:07.899 --> 00:21:08.619
 about your own

00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:09.519
 pain and your own

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.219
 worry is to

00:21:10.219 --> 00:21:11.679
 prioritize the

00:21:11.679 --> 00:21:13.099
 praying for others

00:21:13.099 --> 00:21:14.819
 because God blesses

00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:16.019
 intercessory prayer

00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:18.259
 intercessory prayers

00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:19.279
 are those prayers

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.299
 that we pray for

00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:20.980
 other people

00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:21.799
 and intercede

00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.759
 on their behalf

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:24.480
 and such prayer

00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:27.720
 puts us second

00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:30.119
 and puts the one

00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:30.819
 that we're praying

00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:31.740
 for first

00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:33.700
 when we take on

00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.659
 that concern

00:21:34.659 --> 00:21:36.159
 to the right place

00:21:36.159 --> 00:21:37.139
 to the throne

00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:37.859
 of God

00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:39.759
 and I'll just tell you

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.919
 God blesses such as that

00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:42.640
 and if

00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:44.700
 we spend so much

00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.400
 time praying

00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:46.259
 for other people

00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:47.820
 that we run

00:21:47.820 --> 00:21:48.500
 out of time

00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.200
 and don't get

00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.360
 to our own needs

00:21:50.360 --> 00:21:51.759
 God's not

00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:52.380
 going to neglect

00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:52.900
 us

00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:54.140
 because we were

00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:54.720
 busy praying

00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.380
 for somebody else

00:21:55.380 --> 00:21:56.140
 I promise you

00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:56.759
 he'll provide

00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:58.680
 the devil would

00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:59.519
 much rather you

00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:00.019
 be concerned

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:00.680
 about yourselves

00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:04.200
 he wants us

00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:05.279
 to want our way

00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:06.000
 he wants us

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.460
 to look

00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:08.200
 out for ourselves

00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.980
 instead of prioritizing

00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:10.880
 the will of God

00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:11.720
 he wants us

00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.100
 to ask

00:22:12.100 --> 00:22:12.620
 well what's

00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:13.420
 in this for me

00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:14.340
 what do I get

00:22:14.340 --> 00:22:14.860
 out of this

00:22:14.860 --> 00:22:15.980
 nothing about

00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:16.420
 an attitude

00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:16.900
 like that

00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:17.640
 is godly

00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:18.299
 and it shows

00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:18.980
 up quickly

00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:20.559
 and the devil

00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.340
 uses those

00:22:21.340 --> 00:22:21.740
 attitudes

00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.460
 to divide

00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:23.220
 families

00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:25.460
 pray for

00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.100
 families

00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:27.180
 pray for

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:28.000
 your family

00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.220
 pray for

00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:29.840
 other people's

00:22:29.840 --> 00:22:30.319
 families

00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:31.100
 families are

00:22:31.100 --> 00:22:31.700
 under attack

00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:32.180
 folks

00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:33.559
 families are

00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.240
 attacking each

00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:34.779
 other and they're

00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:35.680
 being attacked

00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:36.900
 all at the same

00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:37.420
 time

00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.519
 pray for

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:38.960
 families

00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:39.420
 pray for

00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:40.120
 the church

00:22:40.120 --> 00:22:42.800
 I mean do you

00:22:42.800 --> 00:22:43.480
 think the devil

00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:44.380
 likes when a church

00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:44.880
 grows

00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:46.860
 do you think the

00:22:46.860 --> 00:22:47.700
 devil likes when we

00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:48.320
 reach people for

00:22:48.320 --> 00:22:48.740
 Christ

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.680
 do you think he

00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:51.200
 likes when people

00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:52.320
 grow in the

00:22:52.320 --> 00:22:52.660
 Lord

00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:54.740
 do you think he

00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:55.200
 likes when we

00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:56.000
 preach on satanic

00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.460
 attack

00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:59.480
 we've poked a

00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:00.360
 bear folks

00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:03.960
 pray for the

00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.460
 church

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:06.880
 Satan would

00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:07.620
 love for

00:23:07.620 --> 00:23:08.440
 selfishness to

00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:08.860
 come in the

00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:09.240
 way

00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:10.840
 selfishness takes

00:23:10.840 --> 00:23:11.580
 our mind off

00:23:11.580 --> 00:23:12.400
 what God wants

00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:12.900
 to do through

00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:13.740
 us and puts

00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.300
 our mind on

00:23:14.300 --> 00:23:15.000
 what's in it

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:15.900
 for me and

00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:16.660
 God's plan is

00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.540
 bigger than me

00:23:17.540 --> 00:23:18.120
 and it's bigger

00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:19.000
 than you it's

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.600
 bigger than all

00:23:19.600 --> 00:23:20.200
 of us it's

00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:21.900
 God's plan we

00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:22.660
 just get to be a

00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:24.460
 part of it we

00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:25.240
 just get to join

00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:26.820
 in so let's look

00:23:26.820 --> 00:23:27.520
 to him and pray

00:23:27.520 --> 00:23:28.520
 for the church and

00:23:28.520 --> 00:23:30.380
 and pray for this

00:23:30.380 --> 00:23:30.920
 nation

00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:33.320
 God's not done

00:23:33.320 --> 00:23:34.200
 with America I'm

00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:34.980
 convinced God's not

00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:35.779
 done with America

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:37.680
 Jesus still saves

00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:39.680
 folks and pray

00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:40.360
 that God would

00:23:40.360 --> 00:23:41.779
 bring revival and

00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.680
 renewal to our

00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:46.240
 country and on

00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:47.220
 that note I want

00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:47.980
 you to notice how

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:49.500
 Paul tells them to

00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:51.000
 pray he didn't ask

00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.900
 for them to pray for

00:23:51.900 --> 00:23:54.559
 his well-being he

00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.339
 didn't ask for them

00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:56.099
 to pray for his

00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:59.400
 ease he didn't ask

00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.460
 for him them to pray

00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:03.099
 for his comfort he

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.839
 didn't ask for them

00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:04.759
 to pray that he'd

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:07.439
 have his way no no

00:24:07.439 --> 00:24:09.720
 he asked in verse

00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:11.619
 19 that words may be

00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:12.599
 given to me in

00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:13.679
 opening my mouth

00:24:13.679 --> 00:24:15.879
 boldly to proclaim

00:24:15.879 --> 00:24:17.859
 the mystery of the

00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:20.599
 gospel so lastly

00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:23.319
 pray concerning the

00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:26.740
 gospel pray concerning

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.839
 the gospel we are

00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:29.399
 quick to pray for

00:24:29.399 --> 00:24:30.379
 Christians to get

00:24:30.379 --> 00:24:32.179
 well man we spend a

00:24:32.179 --> 00:24:32.919
 lot of time trying to

00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:33.800
 keep Christians out of

00:24:33.800 --> 00:24:35.360
 heaven you know and

00:24:35.360 --> 00:24:35.920
 there's nothing wrong

00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:37.400
 with that there's

00:24:37.400 --> 00:24:38.120
 nothing wrong with

00:24:38.120 --> 00:24:40.600
 that but we spend a

00:24:40.600 --> 00:24:41.500
 lot of time praying

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.779
 that Christians will

00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.759
 get well that they

00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.820
 won't hurt and that

00:24:44.820 --> 00:24:45.680
 they'll be healed and

00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:46.259
 there's nothing wrong

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:46.900
 with that but I want

00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:47.660
 you to notice how

00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:49.320
 centered the message

00:24:49.320 --> 00:24:51.300
 that Paul gives them

00:24:51.300 --> 00:24:53.480
 is message of the

00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:56.800
 gospel Paul says pray

00:24:56.800 --> 00:24:59.640
 for boldness and he

00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:00.640
 describes it as the

00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:02.900
 mystery pray for boldness

00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:04.240
 and sharing the

00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:07.600
 mystery now what is the

00:25:07.600 --> 00:25:11.620
 mystery well this word

00:25:11.620 --> 00:25:13.100
 when it is used in the

00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:16.360
 New Testament it is

00:25:16.360 --> 00:25:17.820
 defined as either a

00:25:17.820 --> 00:25:19.980
 mystery or a secret and

00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:20.720
 that's two different

00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:22.440
 words in our language but

00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.780
 it's the same kind of word

00:25:23.780 --> 00:25:26.020
 in the Greek and it's

00:25:26.020 --> 00:25:27.300
 talking about the life

00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:28.559
 changing message of the

00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:29.819
 gospel of Jesus Christ

00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:31.680
 being a mystery or a

00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:33.099
 secret is it a secret no

00:25:33.099 --> 00:25:35.759
 however it's a mystery

00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:37.079
 because you don't

00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:38.299
 understand it until you

00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:38.740
 have it

00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:45.639
 years ago my family drove

00:25:45.639 --> 00:25:48.759
 out west I had seen

00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:51.279
 pictures of the Grand

00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:55.539
 Canyon all my life we had a

00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.980
 set of encyclopedias at the

00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:58.899
 house we didn't have

00:25:58.899 --> 00:25:59.960
 world book that was for

00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:01.039
 rich folks but we had

00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:04.859
 one and and when I when I

00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:05.920
 look in there I could see

00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.619
 those black and white

00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:07.420
 pictures of the Grand

00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:08.359
 Canyon I had seen

00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:10.359
 pictures of it I knew it

00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:13.319
 was big I knew something

00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:14.539
 about Paul Bunyan's axe and

00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:17.220
 all that stuff but I had

00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:21.899
 never been there before and

00:26:21.899 --> 00:26:23.000
 when I stood on the south

00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:24.319
 rim of the Grand Canyon and

00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.319
 looked across that thing

00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:29.899
 those pictures didn't

00:26:29.899 --> 00:26:32.399
 didn't measure up

00:26:32.399 --> 00:26:35.419
 wasn't a secret I knew where

00:26:35.419 --> 00:26:37.299
 it was but it was a mystery

00:26:37.299 --> 00:26:38.899
 because I had never seen

00:26:38.899 --> 00:26:41.619
 anything like that from a

00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:44.059
 picture it was different when

00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:48.720
 I experienced it in a

00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:50.480
 similar way the power of the

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:54.019
 gospel is not known until it's

00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:57.259
 experienced now understand we

00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.480
 have a responsibility to share

00:26:58.480 --> 00:27:01.880
 the gospel with folks and

00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:02.519
 they're not going to

00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:03.660
 understand it they may submit

00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:04.940
 to it they may give their

00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:05.740
 heart and life to the Lord

00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.980
 Jesus but they're not even

00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.720
 going to know what they're

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.720
 getting when they do it until

00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:09.480
 they have it

00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:15.839
 and Paul says we pray that I'll

00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:18.460
 have boldness to to share that

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:21.519
 because it's a mystery that's hard

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.079
 to fathom

00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:26.360
 Alejandro is a Peruvian

00:27:26.360 --> 00:27:30.019
 he was on mission to God

00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:33.319
 years ago this church took a

00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:35.620
 mission trip to Peru and led

00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:39.199
 Alejandro to the Lord and

00:27:39.199 --> 00:27:40.959
 Alejandro got on fire for the

00:27:40.959 --> 00:27:44.339
 Lord and he served the Lord

00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:48.139
 faithfully and when you give to

00:27:48.139 --> 00:27:50.639
 First Baptist Church there's a

00:27:50.639 --> 00:27:52.639
 line besides the Lottie Moon and

00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:54.139
 side squad program besides that

00:27:54.139 --> 00:27:55.279
 there's another line a

00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.859
 significant line in our budget

00:27:56.859 --> 00:27:58.579
 that's international missions

00:27:58.579 --> 00:27:59.699
 there's another one called North

00:27:59.699 --> 00:28:02.659
 American missions anything we

00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:04.759
 don't spend in those lines goes

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.779
 toward Lottie Moon Christmas

00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:08.339
 offering but but those lines are

00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:10.579
 set up for us to partner with

00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:12.339
 missionaries on the field with

00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:15.339
 ministries on the field and to

00:28:15.879 --> 00:28:17.920
 subsidize those who go from our

00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:19.700
 church on mission trips over

00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.839
 there short-term mission trips

00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:22.980
 that's what it's set up for

00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:26.720
 Alejandro is supported through that

00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:28.940
 budget line because of his

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:33.660
 faithfulness and he

00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:36.300
 when we go over there he

00:28:36.300 --> 00:28:38.740
 translates for us and

00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:43.860
 when we're not there he boats up

00:28:43.860 --> 00:28:46.740
 into the jungles to reach tribal

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:50.200
 people and recently he baptized 18

00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:51.160
 people there

00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:55.440
 one man that was baptized was

00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:56.019
 formerly

00:28:56.019 --> 00:29:02.500
 a shaman that is that he was a

00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:04.599
 wizard of sorts that practiced

00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:08.039
 rituals of witchcraft he had

00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:10.039
 always challenged those that tried

00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:11.799
 to share the gospel around him

00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:16.000
 however one day someone gave him a

00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:21.400
 gospel track in his own dialect he

00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:25.379
 had never seen the gospel in his own

00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:30.220
 language customized to his dialect and

00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:32.580
 the simplicity and the clarity of the

00:29:32.580 --> 00:29:38.480
 gospel just jarred him it was like a

00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:42.640
 mystery reveal he tried to challenge

00:29:42.640 --> 00:29:46.120
 the man but the man just kept giving him

00:29:46.120 --> 00:29:51.300
 biblical answers and the shaman asked

00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:56.240
 him he said why don't you run away from me like

00:29:56.240 --> 00:30:00.740
 everyone else does and the witness said it's the

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:06.839
 holy spirit who convicts sin it's not man man that does that and he said I will

00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:14.259
 continue to pray for you and in due time you will listen and you will obey and two weeks

00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:21.539
 later the shaman came back got saved and he was baptized among those with Alejandro

00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:30.819
 that my friend is the power of the gospel

00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:40.539
 and it's through the gospel that God unites all people from every tribe every people and every

00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:46.700
 language and it's a mystery how all of the things that we have done wrong can be put upon Christ and

00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:51.379
 taken off of us for all of eternity but that's part of the gospel

00:30:51.380 --> 00:31:04.600
 when Paul was writing this to the church of Ephesus he was about to face the Romans

00:31:04.600 --> 00:31:07.020
 and he knew that was coming

00:31:07.020 --> 00:31:16.400
 and the Romans thought that Christianity was just a sect of the Jews and Paul was going to boldly go

00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:19.620
 and proclaim that Christ is where our hope is

00:31:19.620 --> 00:31:23.580
 and it is only in Christ alone

00:31:23.580 --> 00:31:28.680
 and so he concludes this by saying I want you to pray

00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:32.860
 that I'll speak boldly and that God will give me the words

00:31:32.860 --> 00:31:33.880
 to say

00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:39.280
 my friend that's a good prayer to pray every time the words preached

00:31:39.280 --> 00:31:43.200
 because God works

00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:46.160
 in and through such prayers

00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:50.920
 whatever we try to do for the kingdom

00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:54.620
 we can't make it happen

00:31:54.620 --> 00:31:57.259
 we can't conjure that up

00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:58.480
 only God can do that

00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:59.980
 and we must rely upon him

00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:03.860
 and how we rely upon him is through prayer

00:32:03.860 --> 00:32:05.940
 faithful

00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:07.380
 selfless

00:32:07.380 --> 00:32:09.800
 gospel driven prayer

00:32:09.800 --> 00:32:12.940
 Adrian Rogers said this

00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:15.380
 Satan can't keep God

00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:16.560
 from answering our prayers

00:32:16.560 --> 00:32:18.880
 but he will keep us from asking

00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:21.420
 and I'll just tell you friend

00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:22.920
 a prayerless Christian

00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:24.720
 is a powerless

00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:26.480
 Christian

00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:29.520
 with every head bowed and every eye closed

00:32:29.520 --> 00:32:30.800
 I want to ask you this morning

00:32:30.800 --> 00:32:33.680
 if you've ever surrendered your life to the Lord Jesus Christ

00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:35.780
 you say well I don't know about all that

00:32:35.780 --> 00:32:37.340
 well we'd love to guide you in that

00:32:37.340 --> 00:32:38.260
 it is a mystery

00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:42.339
 you'll be amazed

00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:44.299
 when you meet the Lord Jesus personally

00:32:44.299 --> 00:32:45.740
 but if you've never done that

00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:48.059
 we're going to stand and we're going to sing in just a moment

00:32:48.059 --> 00:32:49.119
 and I want you to obey God

00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:52.339
 maybe everybody around you thinks you have

00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:53.359
 but you've never done it

00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:54.839
 quit worrying about what everybody else thinks

00:32:54.839 --> 00:32:55.980
 and make it right with the Lord

00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:57.879
 maybe you've done that privately

00:32:57.879 --> 00:32:59.180
 you've never done that publicly

00:32:59.180 --> 00:33:01.700
 and you want to come and acknowledge that

00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:02.980
 biblically through baptism

00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:04.500
 you come

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.940
 we won't baptize you this morning

00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:06.980
 but we'll line it up

00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:07.559
 and set it up

00:33:07.559 --> 00:33:08.039
 you come

00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:09.360
 and acknowledge that publicly

00:33:09.360 --> 00:33:11.000
 maybe God's drawing you to this church

00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:12.720
 God's doing a move at First Baptist

00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:13.600
 I'm thankful for that

00:33:13.600 --> 00:33:13.920
 and so

00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:15.400
 God's leading you here

00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:16.779
 I encourage you to come

00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:18.200
 we guide you in that process

00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:20.480
 or maybe you just got stuff

00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.319
 you need to deal with

00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:22.240
 and you can deal with that

00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:23.620
 when we stand where you are

00:33:23.620 --> 00:33:24.819
 or you can deal with this altar

00:33:24.819 --> 00:33:25.180
 or

00:33:25.180 --> 00:33:27.420
 this pastor would love to pray with you

00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:28.340
 if you'd like for me to

00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:30.740
 I don't know what God's doing in your heart

00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:31.819
 but you'll never be satisfied

00:33:31.819 --> 00:33:32.819
 unless you follow it

00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:34.179
 so just be obedient

00:33:34.179 --> 00:33:35.959
 Heavenly Father I love you

00:33:35.959 --> 00:33:36.779
 and I thank you Lord

00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:37.740
 for your love for us

00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:38.639
 and I ask right now

00:33:38.639 --> 00:33:39.299
 that you'll work

00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:40.419
 and you'll move in our midst

00:33:40.419 --> 00:33:42.099
 as only you can

00:33:42.099 --> 00:33:42.759
 Lord Jesus

00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:44.599
 in Jesus name

00:33:44.599 --> 00:33:45.039
 Amen