WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.039 I'm very grateful that your church is part of this work as we work together in the blood of Christ. 00:00:17.960 --> 00:00:23.859 I want to read from Luke chapter 8, verse 1 to 8. 00:00:23.859 --> 00:00:26.760 Luke, sorry, Luke 18, 1 to 8. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.039 I'm reading from NID. 00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:43.399 And it's a well-known Bible of the persistent widow. 00:00:45.539 --> 00:00:46.740 It says, 00:00:46.740 --> 00:00:56.159 Then Jesus told his disciples a Bible to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 00:00:56.159 --> 00:01:26.140 He said, 00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:38.399 And the Lord said, 00:01:38.400 --> 00:02:08.400 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:09.000 This is where it was. 00:02:09.140 --> 00:02:14.260 Because, again, just ask the Lord to open our hearts and our minds this morning. 00:02:14.460 --> 00:02:20.300 This is what we pray, Lord, that you open our hearts and our minds as we hear your word. 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:23.840 I just pray for the blessing as we listen and as we share. 00:02:24.379 --> 00:02:27.759 Thank you, Lord, that you cover us all under your precious love. 00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:30.620 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 00:02:30.620 --> 00:02:37.300 This is a well-known parable that Jesus is teaching us. 00:02:38.060 --> 00:02:47.319 And the parable, if we try to define it perfectly, it's a story from the real life, but it's had heavenly meaning. 00:02:47.740 --> 00:02:50.659 Or we have a spiritual lesson we come to learn from. 00:02:50.659 --> 00:02:59.120 And in chapter 17 and chapter 18, the word kingdom of God is mentioned several times. 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:07.680 And the kingdom of God, you could say, it's the circle of God's work to be accomplished and to be implemented. 00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:13.780 And for the citizens in this kingdom, the Lord teaching us an important lesson. 00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:21.000 How to learn and how to be disciplined to pray always, persistent, continuously. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:31.960 And he gave us a story about unjust judge, unrighteous judge in one of the cities. 00:03:31.960 --> 00:03:38.180 And the Romans gave the Jewish people to take care of their civilian or their civil problems. 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:44.379 But this man, this judge, didn't fear God and also didn't respect people. 00:03:44.379 --> 00:03:46.400 And there was a weak widow. 00:03:47.060 --> 00:03:53.039 And she came to him time after time, you know, granted me justice from my adversary. 00:03:53.859 --> 00:03:56.780 And for a while, the scripture said, he refused. 00:03:57.079 --> 00:03:58.639 But then he felt to himself. 00:03:59.159 --> 00:04:00.299 And he knew himself. 00:04:01.939 --> 00:04:05.300 Unrighteous, don't fear God, don't respect people. 00:04:05.479 --> 00:04:08.800 But because this widow, we are we out. 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:09.919 She's bothering me. 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:12.379 She caused me headaches. 00:04:12.379 --> 00:04:15.000 I will grant her justice. 00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:19.639 And listen, the Lord loved one wants to teach us. 00:04:19.779 --> 00:04:26.800 If the unrighteous judge is willing to give and to grant justice to the wicked, 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:33.800 how much more our heavenly Father will listen to his children who cry for him, 00:04:34.159 --> 00:04:35.100 believe him not. 00:04:35.699 --> 00:04:39.439 And the scripture said, he will answer us equally. 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:49.060 But then he said in the end of this passage, when the Son of Man coming back, will he find faith on this earth? 00:04:49.699 --> 00:04:50.879 Why is he saying that? 00:04:51.339 --> 00:04:57.420 Basically, one of the things we know that before the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:04:57.540 --> 00:04:59.439 there will be escalation of unrighteousness. 00:05:00.540 --> 00:05:01.139 Escalation? 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:02.600 Unjustice. 00:05:03.139 --> 00:05:05.579 And there will be escalation in persecution. 00:05:05.579 --> 00:05:11.759 And the challenge to every one of us as the children of God, who are citizens in this kingdom, 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:15.300 when the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of Man coming back, 00:05:15.699 --> 00:05:25.979 will he find you and me still have faith to pray always and continuously and to be persistent in our prayer? 00:05:25.980 --> 00:05:31.060 And this is the lesson he wants us to learn and to discipline ourselves. 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:35.360 And he said to pray always and don't lose heart. 00:05:36.020 --> 00:05:36.720 Don't give up. 00:05:36.759 --> 00:05:38.319 Because it's very easy, loved one. 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:44.960 When you pray time after time and you didn't see an answer, then you give up. 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:52.400 But the scripture said he wants us to learn to continue to pray and don't lose heart. 00:05:52.399 --> 00:05:55.779 Keep faith alive in your life. 00:05:56.939 --> 00:06:02.879 You know, let me just mention about some men and women of God, 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:07.179 how prayer is so important in their life. 00:06:08.060 --> 00:06:11.459 One of the questions, when the first prayer mentioned in the Bible, 00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:15.779 is it in Genesis 4 when Cain and Abel offer an offer to the Lord? 00:06:15.779 --> 00:06:21.939 Or is it in Genesis 3 when there was kind of conversation between God and Adam and Eve? 00:06:22.479 --> 00:06:26.979 But we see that men and women of God in the Old Testament, 00:06:27.219 --> 00:06:30.059 the prayer was so important in their life. 00:06:30.299 --> 00:06:37.339 And I want to say, my life and your spiritual life will not rise above our prayer life. 00:06:37.339 --> 00:06:45.179 We see Elijah praying, the servant of Abraham, we see Jacob praying, 00:06:45.399 --> 00:06:49.000 we see Moses, we see Hannah, we see David, we see Solomon, 00:06:49.459 --> 00:06:56.279 we see Ezekiel, we see Joseph, we see Israel, Daniel, Habakkuk. 00:06:57.399 --> 00:07:01.079 And the common thing with the men and women of God, 00:07:01.139 --> 00:07:03.239 when they pray, they pray the prayer of faith. 00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:06.420 And this prayer is not only to change their life, 00:07:06.680 --> 00:07:09.699 but it changes their community and it changes their society. 00:07:10.379 --> 00:07:16.960 But one of the things, when I was Googling about the prayer of Jesus in the Bible, 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:24.519 there's 25 prayers that's mentioned in the Gospel that Jesus prayed. 00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:29.800 Let me just share with you briefly, just to see how prayer even was so important 00:07:29.800 --> 00:07:35.379 in the Bible, when He baptized in Luke 3, He was praying. 00:07:35.840 --> 00:07:37.740 Before healing the other thing, He was praying. 00:07:38.620 --> 00:07:41.960 After healing people in Luke 5, He was praying. 00:07:42.300 --> 00:07:46.879 He was praying all night, before He chose that will of disciples in Luke 6. 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:49.879 While speaking to the Jewish leader, He was praying. 00:07:50.180 --> 00:07:53.300 Before feeding the 5,000 and the 4,000, He prayed. 00:07:53.580 --> 00:07:56.280 Before walking on the water in Matthew 14, He prayed. 00:07:56.600 --> 00:07:58.439 Praying for the deaf and the youth. 00:07:58.439 --> 00:08:26.620 Praying for the children in Matthew 19. 00:08:26.620 --> 00:08:32.240 Asking the Father to glorify His name in John 12. 00:08:32.500 --> 00:08:35.200 At the Lord's Supper, Jesus prayed in Matthew 26. 00:08:35.340 --> 00:08:36.440 Praying for Peter. 00:08:36.679 --> 00:08:38.820 Faith that He continued to be strong. 00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:40.840 Praying for unity in John 17. 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:45.759 In Gethsemane, as He was struggling before He went to the cross in Matthew 26. 00:08:46.179 --> 00:08:48.560 On the cross, Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them. 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:52.440 And also when He cried out just before He died. 00:08:52.440 --> 00:08:55.380 On the cross, when He said, My God, My God. 00:08:55.380 --> 00:08:59.940 And then when He said, Father, in Your hands I commit My spirit. 00:09:00.640 --> 00:09:05.320 Where He also blessed the bread in Matthew 24. 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:08.800 And where He blessed the disciples just before His ascension. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:17.539 And the thought, loved one, if Jesus, the Son of God, God incarnate, as a man, He felt, 00:09:18.359 --> 00:09:22.699 He needs to spend time with the Father in daily basis. 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:27.139 How much you and I, if you will, the sons of Adam, 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:36.120 We need to learn and to be disciplined to pray continuously in our relation with the Lord. 00:09:36.740 --> 00:09:38.899 We see the prayer in the life of the first church. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:41.819 We see it in the life of different apostles of Paul. 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:45.279 But this morning I want to share with you four things. 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:53.200 First, there is a difference between repetition in your prayer and to be persistent in your prayer. 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:59.860 And second, why the Lord compelled us to pray continuously. 00:10:00.560 --> 00:10:08.500 Third, if God knew what I need, why sometimes He didn't give it to me quickly. 00:10:09.140 --> 00:10:10.720 Why I have to keep waiting. 00:10:11.520 --> 00:10:20.360 And the fourth thing is simple practical things to help us to pray always. 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:25.139 The difference between repetition in the prayer and persistent. 00:10:27.620 --> 00:10:30.800 We read in Matthew 6. 00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:33.980 The Lord said, when you pray, go to your room, close your door, 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:36.519 and pray to your Heavenly Father who will heal. 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:37.980 He will reward you. 00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:43.600 And then He said, don't be bubbling in your prayer like the Vikings do. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:44.440 Why? 00:10:44.440 --> 00:10:47.180 Because they believe in so many different gods. 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:51.400 That these gods, small g, have so many names. 00:10:51.760 --> 00:10:53.780 And they want to mention all these names. 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:58.600 Hopefully, one of these gods will answer and will respond. 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:01.140 But Jesus said, no, no, you're not that. 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:05.560 But you pray to your Heavenly Father, to the true God, who will hear. 00:11:05.780 --> 00:11:06.580 He will respond. 00:11:06.800 --> 00:11:07.500 He will listen. 00:11:07.660 --> 00:11:10.820 He will answer according to His will. 00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:15.460 And then He gave this parable in Luke 11. 00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:20.180 How important, loved one, to pray always. 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:27.360 And He talks about a friend who received a friend coming from far away. 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:29.500 And it was in the middle of the night. 00:11:29.800 --> 00:11:32.420 But He didn't have anything to offer His friend. 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:35.680 What He did, He went to the other friend. 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:40.599 Asking, please, could I borrow three loaves of a bread. 00:11:40.959 --> 00:11:42.859 I have a friend coming from far. 00:11:43.699 --> 00:11:45.559 And the friend will respond. 00:11:45.699 --> 00:11:46.759 It's the middle of the night. 00:11:47.359 --> 00:11:48.399 The Lord is in close. 00:11:48.659 --> 00:11:49.819 My children in bed. 00:11:50.199 --> 00:11:53.599 But He said, even if He didn't respond as His friend. 00:11:53.959 --> 00:11:56.879 The Scripture said, but because He is persistent. 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:00.799 He had shameless audacity. 00:12:01.659 --> 00:12:06.019 In other translations, He said, God of rudeness, that He continued to ask. 00:12:06.659 --> 00:12:10.860 But He said, because of His persistence, He will respond. 00:12:11.700 --> 00:12:14.899 And then the Lord teaches us this promise. 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:19.799 Because His desire, He said, you don't have because you don't ask. 00:12:19.799 --> 00:12:24.879 But then you ask, and I ask, and we didn't get it. 00:12:25.539 --> 00:12:28.599 Because sometimes we ask for selfish reasons. 00:12:28.919 --> 00:12:33.139 Our attitude, our motivation is not pleasing to the Lord. 00:12:33.459 --> 00:12:36.559 And the promise said, ask and you will receive. 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:41.399 And you know in the Greek, it's a present continuousness. 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:44.879 What the Lord is saying, ask and continue asking. 00:12:45.419 --> 00:12:47.139 Seek and continue seeking. 00:12:47.139 --> 00:12:49.580 Seek, not and continue looking. 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:51.100 Because who ask will receive. 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:52.340 And who seek will find. 00:12:52.460 --> 00:12:55.000 And who look, the Lord will be open to them. 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:56.199 Don't lose heart. 00:12:56.340 --> 00:12:57.240 Don't tear up. 00:12:57.639 --> 00:13:00.059 Be persistent as you seek the Lord. 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:01.759 And then He gave us this lesson. 00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:04.960 He said, look, you as a human being. 00:13:05.779 --> 00:13:07.740 Even with our wickedness. 00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:10.919 When our children asking us. 00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:12.659 It's great. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:14.460 Wouldn't I go and give them stones? 00:13:14.460 --> 00:13:19.600 When they ask fish, we're not going to give them this day. 00:13:19.680 --> 00:13:21.740 When He asked an egg, Allah will be supreme. 00:13:22.280 --> 00:13:27.639 And if we are, as a human being, with this evil in us. 00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:30.220 Willing to give good gifts to our children. 00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:36.080 How much more our Heavenly Father, who created us in His image. 00:13:36.180 --> 00:13:37.320 Who will the person of life. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:39.200 The Holy God. 00:13:39.560 --> 00:13:42.139 Will give good gifts to the children. 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:44.080 Who seeking Him. 00:13:44.420 --> 00:13:47.660 Who asking that He will give the Holy Spirit. 00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:50.220 There is a difference between the petition. 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:53.639 And to be persistent in your prayer. 00:13:53.639 --> 00:14:00.059 Second, why the Lord commands us to pray continuously. 00:14:00.580 --> 00:14:02.179 Why He takes us to do that. 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:07.600 You know, time is one of the most precious things you can give to another human being. 00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:10.279 Time is the only thing you cannot take back. 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:13.439 If you spend a day, or an hour, or two with somebody. 00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:14.100 That's it. 00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:15.519 You give your time. 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:24.039 So when you make up your mind that the Lord, I want to commit my time, my life, and take me to the Lord. 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:25.980 As I say, the Lord is first. 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:27.960 The Lord is first. 00:14:28.500 --> 00:14:31.759 My faith is first in my life. 00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:39.740 Because when I pray continuously, I implement the greatest command to love the Lord God from all my heart. 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:40.919 From all my strength. 00:14:41.199 --> 00:14:42.199 From all my meaning. 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:47.080 And the second command to love your neighbor as yourself. 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:58.300 When you decide to pray continuously, every time when you humble yourself before the Lord, you declare faith and trust in the living God. 00:14:59.520 --> 00:15:02.060 Another thing important when you pray continuously. 00:15:03.180 --> 00:15:07.460 We not only, loved ones, learn about our Heavenly Father and who He is. 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:09.340 But we learn about ourselves. 00:15:09.340 --> 00:15:14.980 When you humble yourself, you bow your head before the, in the presence of the Lord. 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:17.899 You start to learn more about who you are. 00:15:18.300 --> 00:15:19.300 About your strength. 00:15:19.660 --> 00:15:20.540 About your weakness. 00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:21.740 About your attitude. 00:15:22.180 --> 00:15:23.100 About your motivation. 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:24.259 About your desire. 00:15:24.560 --> 00:15:28.040 And the Lord will start to change. 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:32.639 And to transform more and more of your life. 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:36.399 The continuous prayer of Lord, loved one. 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:41.960 It teaches us how much really we need God in our life. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:45.100 How desperate we need the Lord in our life. 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:46.460 What about the widow? 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:49.740 How much really she needs justice. 00:15:50.179 --> 00:15:54.620 That she can't go time after time to the unjust judge. 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:58.779 You know, I love the verse in Matthew 5 verse 3. 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:01.360 Where he said, blessed are the poor and the spirit. 00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:09.659 You know, the drink or the poor is not just the poor, but the poorest of the poor. 00:16:09.659 --> 00:16:23.079 In other words, there is somebody, a person, a father, who worked long hours and clearly he is able to provide the basic needs for his children. 00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:25.299 Drink, order, and children. 00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:33.819 But another person who is the poorest of the poor is not able to provide the basic needs for his family. 00:16:33.820 --> 00:16:38.879 And this is the word which is used here when he says, blessed are the poor and the spirit. 00:16:39.260 --> 00:16:46.000 What the Lord is saying, how much this person needs these basic needs in his life? 00:16:47.760 --> 00:16:48.920 Very much so. 00:16:49.640 --> 00:16:58.480 On the other side, the Lord said on the spiritual level, if this is how much you feel you need me in your life. 00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:04.140 If you are so desperate, how badly you need me in your life, then you'll be blessed. 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:09.759 How much we need the Lord in our life. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:19.299 You know, the prayer, it changed not only the person, but it changed the whole society. 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:22.839 You remember Hannah, when she prayed in the Old Testament? 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:34.779 Her prayer is not only the person, but Samuel, the Lord used him to change the whole community, the whole society, the whole nation. 00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:42.759 Our prayer is so important as we discipline ourselves before the whole life. 00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:48.460 Somebody said, if your prayer is not changing you, do not pray to our prayer. 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:58.359 And the desire, the desire, God desired for every one of us to be more like Him. 00:17:58.680 --> 00:18:04.539 His image to be reflected in every area of our life. 00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:17.480 Second, or third, why God didn't answer us equally? 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:22.639 Why God didn't answer us equally? 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:33.220 If He knew my needs, basically as all of us know, if there is something wrong in my relationship with the Lord, He will not respond. 00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:36.019 As I seek Him. 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.160 He will show me. 00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:42.400 But if there is sin, I have to confess it, I have to change it, I have to leave it, I have to refrain. 00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:54.019 But also I noticed, sometimes the Lord, like we see in the Deuteronomy, chapter 8, verse 2 and 3. 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:58.019 And if I may read it, I don't know if you have it on the screen. 00:18:58.019 --> 00:19:06.440 He mentioned to the people of Israel, in Deuteronomy 8, 2 to 3. 00:19:06.879 --> 00:19:17.019 He said, remember how the Lord, your God, led you all the way in the wilderness these 40 years. 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:22.920 To humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart. 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:26.680 Whether or not you would keep His commands. 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:32.539 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna. 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:37.320 Which neither you nor your ancestors had known. 00:19:37.600 --> 00:19:47.860 To teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 00:19:48.120 --> 00:19:49.440 What are we saying here? 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:56.400 Sometimes He is not responding quickly as we expect or as we desire. 00:19:56.400 --> 00:20:02.600 Because He brings you or brings me to a humble situation. 00:20:03.140 --> 00:20:05.620 To realize how much I need. 00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:09.559 How desperate I need God in my life. 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:17.539 And He says, for 40 years, because of disobedience, because of disobedience, the Lord brought them to this kind of situation. 00:20:18.179 --> 00:20:20.460 You know, Gaza is on the border of the nations. 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:22.440 Not far from the Sinai Desert. 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:27.960 If you drive from Jerusalem to the Sinai Desert, maybe just several hours. 00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:31.079 And somebody says, maybe take them three days. 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:33.319 But took them 40 years. 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:39.600 Desert is a place of pain. 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:42.740 A place of suffering as well. 00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:50.340 And sometimes, loved ones, you and I, as if we forced out the Lord to bring us to this situation. 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:52.640 To realize how much we need it. 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:56.820 They thought maybe they can be independent from the Lord. 00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:59.400 They can do it with their own strength. 00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:03.640 As if they forced the Lord to bring them to this humble. 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:07.780 And in other translations say, He humiliated them. 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:12.420 To realize how much they need the Lord in their life. 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:12.700 Why? 00:21:12.800 --> 00:21:17.820 Because you and I, to the Lord, more important than anything else. 00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:19.220 More important than our ministry. 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:20.640 More important than our preaching. 00:21:20.800 --> 00:21:22.140 More important than our service. 00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:25.980 Because this is how much He loves every one of us. 00:21:28.020 --> 00:21:29.180 The time of wilderness. 00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:32.580 And it's very easy from one person to another this morning. 00:21:32.820 --> 00:21:35.240 But for me, I remember when I was in Gaza. 00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:40.200 And me and my wife once mostly separated for nine to ten months. 00:21:41.340 --> 00:21:43.860 Because basically, I was in Gaza home. 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:44.860 She was in Jordan. 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:47.040 And she was not able to come back. 00:21:47.040 --> 00:21:50.560 Because they didn't refuse Israel to give her a visa to come back home. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:52.659 Five months not in heaven. 00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:54.839 How many people prayed around the world? 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:59.399 And then we went to the Supreme Court in Jerusalem to bring her back. 00:21:59.400 --> 00:22:04.700 And after almost ten months for the first time, she was back with one single injury. 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:05.920 Back home. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:11.759 And this almost happened again in our wilderness. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:15.420 But then the Lord, in a way, we never dreamed of. 00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:18.019 It's difficult to mention the details here. 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:26.420 But me as Christian Palestinian, that the Lord provided a person in high position in the Israeli side. 00:22:27.139 --> 00:22:29.079 And all this man like an angel. 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.660 We never met him. 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:32.539 But we heard about our story. 00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:35.319 The kindest person we ever heard. 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:37.720 And I told it this day, we never met him. 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:44.299 But for a year and a half, he walked with us step by step with me, my wife, and my children. 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.839 And God used that. 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:51.240 But there is time the Lord will allow us to go through the wilderness. 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:57.600 But I also want to say, wilderness, or challenges, or difficulties, or trials, or tribulations, 00:22:57.799 --> 00:23:00.819 is not necessarily always because of disobedience or rebellion. 00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:08.819 But sometimes the Lord set the stage for you as you will launch something new level in your life and in your ministry. 00:23:08.939 --> 00:23:11.599 So don't be afraid in the time of testing. 00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:14.240 And this is what he did with his people. 00:23:14.399 --> 00:23:17.539 He testing them in the wilderness. 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:20.059 He took their security for a while. 00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:21.480 The food and the drink. 00:23:21.899 --> 00:23:27.919 And then he gifted them enough so they can learn and realize that the only person can live by the bread of Allah. 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:32.720 But every word comes out of the mouth of the Lord. 00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:34.240 The time of testing. 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:41.200 This is why James, he said, consider it all joy, loved one, when you go through different kinds of tribulations. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:48.320 Because the testing of your faith, and the word testing at that time, the time of James, 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:54.860 it's used to examine the coin at that time, if it's genuine or fake. 00:23:54.859 --> 00:24:02.079 What I'm trying to say, my faith, loved one, and your faith, will not be tested when everything is going fine. 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:05.759 But our faith will be tested in the most difficult time of our life. 00:24:05.939 --> 00:24:12.000 And he said, if you pass this test, this test will produce perseverance, produce burden. 00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:16.779 And when you have this virtue in your life, you will learn nothing. 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:25.039 I want to say, loved one, before every real blessing in your life and in my life, there will be time of testing. 00:24:25.899 --> 00:24:31.039 And if we didn't pass the test, we have to repeat it until we then learn the lesson. 00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:40.519 And that will affect us, if we're not learning quickly, affect our maturity, affect our character, affect our relationship with the Lord. 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:49.740 Sometimes we, as a leader, focus too much on the skills of a leader, rather than the character of the leader. 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:58.879 John Maxwell said, our influence as servant leaders is more through our character than our skills. 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:07.440 When we talk about character, we talk about integrity, faithfulness, our attitude, how we live to other people. 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:14.620 And he said, 87% or 89% of our influence will be more through our character. 00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:22.880 And I just pray, may God help us all, loved one, as we learn how to discipline ourselves in this persistent prayer. 00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:28.400 How to build ourselves from inside out and to be men and women of character. 00:25:29.559 --> 00:25:33.759 Yet people, if you want to tell what in your life, you will wonder you. 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:40.920 But if you start to compromise in your age, the price of God will be too much. 00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:47.039 Pay today, like they say, and pay tomorrow. 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:52.879 But if you start to compromise now, the payment, I'm afraid it will be too much. 00:25:53.379 --> 00:25:54.839 And regret it. 00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:57.279 I'm afraid the rest of you will like this. 00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:58.480 The Lord will forgive you. 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:05.220 But the regret and the wounds sometimes could be too deep. 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:13.440 The Lord wants us to be men and women of character. 00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:16.240 The time of this thing. 00:26:16.879 --> 00:26:21.819 And the Lord said, He's doing that because He wants to know what in their hearts. 00:26:22.299 --> 00:26:23.220 Didn't He use a Rebbe? 00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:24.740 He was in their heart, of course. 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:29.140 But what He's saying, He wants His people to know what in their heart. 00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:39.039 The Lord allowed this testing so in order that every one of us realized and knew what inside in His heart. 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:58.139 Let me just quickly mention about some tips which is helping us as we discipline our mind to be connected. 00:26:58.319 --> 00:27:05.500 Of course, loved ones, when we say to pray continuously, this is 1324-7, that you're kneeling down, you're bound down. 00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:09.700 Of course, there is time you need and I need to kneel and to bow. 00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:18.059 But to pray continuously, it means to be aware of the presence of God in your life. 00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:24.279 Even though you're driving, but you have this connection and you discipline your mind. 00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:26.160 You have this connection between you and the Lord. 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:34.420 You talk to people, you do your work, but in the same time you're aware of the presence of God and you have this special connection between you and the Lord. 00:27:34.620 --> 00:27:39.400 And I think this is one of the most painful things for us as the children of God. 00:27:40.580 --> 00:27:43.920 I love Psalm 84-11. 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:56.820 God will not withhold, please listen, God will not withhold any good thing from His children who bow deadless before Him. 00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:59.620 This is the heart of God. 00:27:59.800 --> 00:28:04.300 He wants to give every good thing to His children. 00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:13.180 But you know what, sometimes the Lord, He knew, I'm not mature enough to receive that blessing. 00:28:13.639 --> 00:28:17.599 Because if I receive it, I will abuse it, I will misuse it. 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:23.480 We as parents, the children ask us for second thing and we say no. 00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:26.579 This is a tough love. 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:33.259 Because we know they could harm themselves if they get this thing or that thing. 00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:34.839 It's not the right time. 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:40.599 Aren't you happy that the Lord didn't answer every prayer you requested? 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:47.119 If the Lord answered every prayer we prayed through our ears, I don't know where we would be ending. 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:52.220 But out of His mercy, loved one, out of His grace, He said no. 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:59.019 But sometimes you ask the Lord and He said, Robo, there's something that's not right in the relationship. 00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:07.420 But sometimes when the time is right and the character is right, He said yes, my child. 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:10.460 I know you're not going to abuse the blessing. 00:29:10.860 --> 00:29:12.059 You're not going to use it. 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:16.120 Look quickly with me at Joseph. 00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:24.479 The Lord had wonderful work He proceeded and He prepared for Joseph to walk into. 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:33.139 But Joseph was 17 and he's still not able to handle the great blessing that the Lord had for him. 00:29:33.919 --> 00:29:40.639 Joseph had to come to the bottom of the pit when his siblings saw him. 00:29:40.639 --> 00:29:45.199 He has to be tempted in Pharaoh's house. 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:48.120 He has to be in the prison for a while. 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:57.380 17 and he was 13 before he sat at the greatest second man on the throne of Egypt. 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:06.279 But only then he matured enough to be used of what God had in store for him. 00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:08.140 Look with me at David. 00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:11.720 When Samuel and Monica David, he was 17. 00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:14.960 But when he sat on the throne, he was 13. 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:21.100 When he governed for 40 years, the people of Israel. 00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:24.759 David had to go in the wilderness. 00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:26.920 Saul had to go after him. 00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:29.840 But think with me for a moment. 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:35.319 How high the ethics was in the life of David. 00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:43.039 He wasn't willing to come close to Saul to hurt him as an anointed one. 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:49.720 This is how ethically the level, the standard was so high. 00:30:49.720 --> 00:31:01.600 But isn't this the same David when he was walking on the roof of his house and as all of us know, the sin he committed or the sins he committed. 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:03.799 How is this possible? 00:31:03.879 --> 00:31:13.240 It's very easy but not only for believers but also for people, leaders, pastors, servants of all. 00:31:13.240 --> 00:31:19.859 All of us really become servants as we commit our life to the Lord. 00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:26.179 But the lesson here, as long as you and I, we keep our eyes on the Lord, we will be fine. 00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:34.539 But when, as David did, start to wave his eyes and turn to the Lord and look at other things, he started to go down. 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:43.299 It just shows you, loved one, how we, even as a Christian, as a believer, capable to do wicked things. 00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:56.659 If we start to wave our eyes, Lord, help us all, even under a pressure, under all circumstances, to give our eyes and move. 00:31:56.839 --> 00:32:01.359 Not to compromise, but to live our life completely and quickly. 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:12.679 Somebody say, the definition of Christianity is not only words I repeat, it's not only doctrine I believe, even though these are important things. 00:32:12.919 --> 00:32:17.199 But it's more and simply that Christ in me and I in him. 00:32:17.959 --> 00:32:24.179 Spurgeon said, the Lord looked at me and I looked at him and we became one. 00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:36.160 And this is what Jesus prayed in John 17, when he said, as, say to the Father, as you are in me and I in you, may he also be one in us. 00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:41.000 The Lord is closer to you than even you close to yourself. 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:47.860 The most conversation we have is not among our, with each other. 00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:53.539 Most of the conversation we have, 80% of our conversation is self-talk. 00:32:53.539 --> 00:32:55.039 Can you imagine that? 00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:59.299 80% of the conversation we have is self-talk. 00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:04.539 And the key here, not one, which could be really blessing for you and for me. 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:13.519 Because the self-talk, most of the time, things we worry about, things we concern about, things sometimes will drive us crazy. 00:33:14.379 --> 00:33:19.759 What about if this self-talk, the 80% conversation that you have with yourself, 00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:25.920 Lord, help me to turn this conversation as a prayer before you. 00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:33.759 And you will see the great things that the Lord can do through this kind of prayer. 00:33:34.200 --> 00:33:41.440 One of the most beautiful things, loved one, is to enjoy the presence of God in your life. 00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:50.500 I think the most beautiful thing, and this is what really sustains us when we went through persecution in Gaza and in difficult times, 00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:53.620 it's just to be aware of the presence of God. 00:33:54.580 --> 00:33:59.460 I think the most beautiful thing when you humble yourself, when you close your eyes, when you bow for the Lord, 00:33:59.539 --> 00:34:06.279 and you just hear His loving arm embrace you and carry you in the most difficult times of your life. 00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:13.239 This is why David the king, when he sinned against the Lord, and he felt the connection and the fellowship, 00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:14.440 it's been broken. 00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:16.159 He cried out to the Lord and said, 00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:18.340 Don't cast me out of your presence. 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:20.480 Your Holy Spirit don't take away from me. 00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:21.480 What he was saying, 00:34:22.219 --> 00:34:24.900 Lord, if I lost your presence in my life, 00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:27.940 what is this done for me? 00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:31.019 This is why he came in Psalm 27. 00:34:31.220 --> 00:34:31.360 He said, 00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:32.380 One thing I decided, 00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:34.820 David, aren't you the king? 00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:39.740 Aren't you having the will and the authority and the power and the... 00:34:39.740 --> 00:34:40.139 He said, 00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:41.000 You don't understand. 00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:44.139 If I lost the presence of God in my life, 00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:46.740 there is nothing lived in this life for me. 00:34:48.240 --> 00:34:51.340 The will, the authority, the army, nothing. 00:34:51.340 --> 00:34:59.059 The only thing that can bring your meaning, purpose, and tenement to my life and your life, loved one, 00:34:59.180 --> 00:35:05.360 is to enjoy and to respect and don't take the presence of God for granted. 00:35:05.820 --> 00:35:09.320 What it's worth if I start one day to bow before the Lord, 00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:13.340 but I didn't feel His presence around me. 00:35:16.180 --> 00:35:17.460 Isaiah 57. 00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:18.120 He said, 00:35:18.120 --> 00:35:19.920 The Lord is living in two places. 00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:21.500 Of course, the Lord in different ways. 00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:23.820 But He's in the highest place, 00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:26.659 but also where is the broken hearted. 00:35:27.480 --> 00:35:28.079 Loved one, 00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:31.159 you want to experience the presence of God in a special way, 00:35:31.420 --> 00:35:35.079 just humble yourself in the presence of the Lord. 00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.900 To be persistent in the prayer, 00:35:38.039 --> 00:35:38.639 the Lord will say, 00:35:38.760 --> 00:35:39.619 Don't lose heart. 00:35:40.180 --> 00:35:41.200 The Lord will answer. 00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:43.159 He will hear and He will answer. 00:35:43.340 --> 00:35:44.780 And He will bring justice 00:35:44.780 --> 00:35:47.119 to you. 00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:50.239 Sometimes there's some justice. 00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:52.239 Maybe we will not see it in this life, 00:35:52.699 --> 00:35:53.579 but it's coming. 00:35:54.199 --> 00:35:56.440 And this is the cry in Revelation 6. 00:35:56.859 --> 00:35:59.859 Those who are martyrs for their faith, 00:36:00.579 --> 00:36:03.940 their souls went under the altar, 00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:06.940 and they cried out to the Lord, 00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:10.079 until when are you going to bring justice? 00:36:10.079 --> 00:36:11.719 And He said, 00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:13.480 For now, rest. 00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:14.980 Get your growth, 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:18.880 until the number of those brothers and sisters 00:36:18.880 --> 00:36:21.519 who will be murdered for their faith, 00:36:21.759 --> 00:36:23.420 until the number will be completed. 00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:27.819 Then the Lord will bring full justice. 00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:29.579 Don't lose heart. 00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:32.400 And the challenge for you and for me, 00:36:32.759 --> 00:36:34.679 when the Son of Man is coming back, 00:36:34.900 --> 00:36:38.420 will He will find faith in my life and in your life, 00:36:38.420 --> 00:36:40.059 that we continue to learn, 00:36:40.720 --> 00:36:42.200 to pray, 00:36:43.300 --> 00:36:44.260 continuously, 00:36:44.800 --> 00:36:46.300 and not losing heart. 00:36:47.240 --> 00:36:47.619 Amen. 00:36:48.139 --> 00:36:48.820 God bless you.