WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.919 Well, last week we started a series where we talked about the things that we believe, the things that we affirm as a church, the things that we believe are important to every single believer. 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:32.840 And last week, Evan kicked us off with a wonderful message on we believe in the authority of Scripture or we believe in the power of Scripture in the believer's life and that we should be committing ourselves to reading God's Word, diving deeper into God's Word, and letting God's Word transform us. 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:43.300 Well, today we're going to be talking about we believe in the power of prayer. And I just want to go ahead and invite everyone to come back tonight as well. 00:00:43.680 --> 00:00:58.540 Tonight, right here in the bridge at 5 p.m., we're going to have a time of prayer where we come together as a church and we pray specifically for things in our community, in our state, around the nation, around the world. 00:00:58.539 --> 00:01:12.039 We'll be praying for other churches in our community. We'll be praying for all kinds of things. And we're also going to be praying how our church can be used by God to reach our community, to reach our state, to reach our nation, to reach the world. 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:19.739 And so I want to encourage you to come back for an evening of worship and prayer where we bring these requests to God. 00:01:19.739 --> 00:01:26.539 And so this morning, we're going to be discussing how we believe in the power of prayer. 00:01:26.540 --> 00:01:35.040 I heard a pastor say one time, he says, if our prayers are not intimidating to us, they may be insulting to God. 00:01:35.580 --> 00:01:39.020 If our prayers are not intimidating to us, they may be insulting to God. 00:01:39.060 --> 00:01:43.180 Now, I don't want to minimize the fact that God wants to hear all of our prayers. 00:01:43.480 --> 00:01:48.940 He wants to hear the things that we have going on in our life. He wants to hear all of those things. 00:01:48.940 --> 00:01:56.120 But oftentimes, I think prayer just becomes the pleasantries for us, where we're just meeting somebody and passing in the hallway. 00:01:56.120 --> 00:01:59.439 Hey, how are you doing? I'm doing well. Hope you have a great day type thing. 00:01:59.700 --> 00:02:09.259 But God wants us to bring our requests to him. He wants us to pray big prayers to him, prayers that depend on him. 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:12.480 And so we want to be thinking through it in this way. 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:20.460 Think of it like this. If God were to say yes to all the prayers that you prayed over the last month, 00:02:20.460 --> 00:02:22.820 how would the world be different? 00:02:23.820 --> 00:02:28.920 If God just gave a blanket yes to all of the prayers that you prayed over the past month, 00:02:28.920 --> 00:02:30.680 how would the world be different? 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:33.460 Would a different team have won a football game? 00:02:33.620 --> 00:02:37.659 Would you have gotten all green lights on your way into work one day? 00:02:37.719 --> 00:02:40.340 Would you have found that parking spot that you were looking for? 00:02:40.580 --> 00:02:41.819 Would all of these things happen? 00:02:42.040 --> 00:02:44.360 Or how would the world be different? 00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:49.760 Would there be churches planted all over the world where the gospel has not gone? 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:53.819 Would your neighbor come to faith in Christ that you've been praying for? 00:02:54.179 --> 00:02:57.280 Would God be working in this community in powerful ways? 00:02:57.379 --> 00:03:05.060 Would we see revival taking place in this state that spills over into this nation that gives us a renewed sense of dependence on God? 00:03:05.419 --> 00:03:11.299 How would the world be different if God were to answer all of our prayers? 00:03:11.300 --> 00:03:17.540 Several years ago, as a church, we read through the book, A Praying Church by Paul Miller. 00:03:17.640 --> 00:03:25.900 And this book was really transformative, not only in my life, but I know in many of your lives from the conversations that we've had about this. 00:03:26.460 --> 00:03:32.040 But in one of the first couple of chapters, Miller talks about the decline of prayer in the church 00:03:32.039 --> 00:03:37.000 and ultimately the decline of prayer in Christian homes throughout our country. 00:03:37.620 --> 00:03:43.039 And much of the reason that he gives for this is there's a focus that has been taken off of God 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:49.599 and placed on things of this world where we are constantly consumed by trying to get more and more and more. 00:03:49.599 --> 00:03:56.960 And we fill our lives, we fill our time, we spend our money and our resources on those things of this world. 00:03:57.659 --> 00:04:08.539 We are busy and often wealthy people and we attribute that success to working hard, setting goals, and staying busy. 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:13.139 This is how our society tells us to find success. 00:04:13.139 --> 00:04:21.659 And whether we admit it or not, praying sometimes feels like a waste of time, where we're just sitting around doing nothing. 00:04:22.759 --> 00:04:31.699 In fact, Miller in this book points out, he says, but the church, he says, we aren't a yoga community burning candles to get in touch with our feelings. 00:04:31.959 --> 00:04:33.919 He says, we're a praying community. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:44.699 We're a praying community living in a personal world where the Father by his Spirit is constantly making Jesus come alive in our midst. 00:04:45.220 --> 00:04:55.220 We are called to live lives that depend on prayer, where if God doesn't move, if God doesn't show up in a miraculous way, then our plans are going to fail. 00:04:55.220 --> 00:05:03.400 We're called to live lives where we attempt great things for God and depend on God to work and to move in those things. 00:05:03.399 --> 00:05:09.639 And when we begin to live lives like this, then we become dependent on prayer. 00:05:10.239 --> 00:05:14.739 Then we become dependent on God to work and to move in our midst. 00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:20.339 And so I hope and pray this morning as we discuss this and we think about the importance of prayer, 00:05:20.339 --> 00:05:26.500 we're not just looking to God to say, help us to do some easy things that we feel comfortable doing. 00:05:26.739 --> 00:05:30.759 But we're going to God and saying, God, we want to attempt great things for you. 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:36.000 Because we know that with you, we can accomplish this. 00:05:36.139 --> 00:05:39.339 And so many of you may recognize the name Tim Keller. 00:05:40.099 --> 00:05:44.300 Tim Keller was the founding pastor of Redeemer Church in New York City. 00:05:44.300 --> 00:05:49.959 And he recently passed away just a few years ago after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:54.899 And at the end of 2021, he did an interview with World Magazine. 00:05:55.339 --> 00:05:56.919 It was a pretty long interview. 00:05:57.000 --> 00:06:01.239 And he gave some pretty long, extensive answers to some questions that they were asking him. 00:06:01.239 --> 00:06:09.159 But there was one question in particular that the interviewer came to him and asked him that Keller gave a very short answer to. 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:11.019 And the question was this. 00:06:11.019 --> 00:06:17.299 The interviewer asked him, he says, looking back, is there anything that you wish you had done differently in ministry? 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:21.060 And Keller answered, he said, absolutely. 00:06:21.859 --> 00:06:24.379 I should have prayed more. 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:25.879 No question. 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:38.240 This is a man who had much success as a pastor, who had much influence in this country and around the world, wrote many books, had a lot of influence. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:43.600 And he says, if I could have done something different, I would have prayed more. 00:06:44.139 --> 00:06:45.600 I would have gone to God more. 00:06:45.719 --> 00:06:51.439 Prayer should be essential to the Christian life because it was essential to Jesus' life. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:56.879 Throughout the gospel accounts, we see many times that Jesus was praying. 00:06:57.139 --> 00:07:02.500 And there was obviously something very different about the way that Jesus prayed. 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:10.600 And I say this because in our passage today in Luke chapter 11, we see his disciples asking him to teach them something. 00:07:11.100 --> 00:07:18.980 And this is the only account where we have in scripture of his disciples specifically asking Jesus to teach them to do something. 00:07:18.980 --> 00:07:22.379 Now, obviously, Jesus taught them to do many things. 00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:25.240 That kind of goes with being a disciple of someone. 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:28.640 You have someone who is teaching you how to do things. 00:07:28.960 --> 00:07:33.600 But this is the only time that we see recorded where the disciples go to Jesus. 00:07:33.819 --> 00:07:35.480 They see him doing something. 00:07:35.800 --> 00:07:38.140 And they say, teach us to do that. 00:07:38.700 --> 00:07:39.860 Teach us to do that. 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:46.319 And so in this passage, we see they ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:52.699 And so if you have a copy of God's word, I want to invite you to open with me right there to Luke chapter 11. 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:56.219 And we're going to read the first 13 verses this morning. 00:07:56.300 --> 00:07:57.699 This is what God's word says. 00:07:58.740 --> 00:08:01.600 It says, now Jesus was praying in a certain place. 00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:06.819 And when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray. 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:09.019 As John taught his disciples. 00:08:09.019 --> 00:08:13.899 And he said to them, when you pray, say, Father, hallowed be your name. 00:08:14.299 --> 00:08:15.439 Your kingdom come. 00:08:16.060 --> 00:08:19.879 Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins. 00:08:20.259 --> 00:08:26.199 For we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us and lead us not into temptation. 00:08:27.159 --> 00:08:30.060 And he said to them, which one of you has a friend? 00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:35.379 Will go to him at midnight and say to him, friend, lend me three loaves. 00:08:35.379 --> 00:08:40.139 For a friend of mine has arrived on a journey and I have nothing to set before him. 00:08:40.539 --> 00:08:42.360 And he will answer from within. 00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:43.980 Do not bother me. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:47.740 The door is now shut and my children are with me in bed. 00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:50.080 I cannot give up to give you anything. 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:56.059 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend. 00:08:56.539 --> 00:09:00.759 Yet because of his impudence, or some of your translations make his persistence, 00:09:01.139 --> 00:09:04.580 he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 00:09:04.580 --> 00:09:08.980 And I tell you, ask and it will be given to you. 00:09:09.180 --> 00:09:10.620 Seek and you will find. 00:09:11.100 --> 00:09:12.720 Knock and it will be opened to you. 00:09:12.780 --> 00:09:17.020 For everyone who asks receives and the one who seeks finds. 00:09:17.240 --> 00:09:19.460 And to the one who knocks it will be opened. 00:09:20.160 --> 00:09:25.720 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead give him a serpent? 00:09:25.800 --> 00:09:28.660 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:34.319 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, 00:09:34.699 --> 00:09:41.019 how much more will the heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:46.699 Verse 1 here, it tells us that Jesus was praying in a certain place. 00:09:46.700 --> 00:09:53.080 And one of his disciples saw him and said, Lord, teach us to pray. 00:09:54.220 --> 00:10:01.460 One commentator notes, he says, that request means that prayer is not something learned automatically. 00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:03.580 Prayer is not natural. 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:06.660 Effective prayer has to be taught and learned. 00:10:07.220 --> 00:10:11.980 He says there's no shame in not knowing how to pray or feeling uncomfortable in prayer. 00:10:11.980 --> 00:10:12.460 Prayer is not natural. 00:10:12.460 --> 00:10:17.220 There's only shame if we don't ask to be taught and as a result, 00:10:17.399 --> 00:10:21.620 spend years of our Christian lives ineffective in prayer. 00:10:22.700 --> 00:10:24.399 And so I want to encourage us this morning. 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:30.060 Let us come to this passage as the disciples were coming to Jesus, 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:33.500 wanting to grow in our prayer lives. 00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:37.420 And so the first thing that I want us to bring our attention to this morning 00:10:37.420 --> 00:10:41.080 is that we see in this passage the pattern of prayer. 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:45.920 There's a pattern of prayer that is taking place here in these first few verses. 00:10:46.800 --> 00:10:50.259 In this passage, there's going to be several observations about how to pray. 00:10:51.180 --> 00:10:59.160 But to begin with, I want us to see that Jesus opens up with a bold statement about our relationship to God. 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:05.660 He opens up teaching us how to pray with this bold statement about our relationship with God. 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:08.720 He says, Father, hallowed be your name. 00:11:08.800 --> 00:11:09.600 Your kingdom come. 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:11.220 This is how we are to come to God. 00:11:11.659 --> 00:11:13.620 Father, hallowed be your name. 00:11:13.700 --> 00:11:14.620 Your kingdom come. 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:17.519 Now in this abbreviated version of the Lord's Prayer, 00:11:17.639 --> 00:11:22.840 we see Jesus teaching us to pray to God as our Father. 00:11:23.639 --> 00:11:29.620 We're going to spend more time talking about this fact than anything else as we talk through this scripture 00:11:29.620 --> 00:11:39.340 because I think it's important for us to understand and to wrap our minds around the significance of what Jesus is teaching us 00:11:39.340 --> 00:11:44.060 right out of the gates when we are to address God as our Father. 00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:46.539 We're to address God as Father. 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:51.460 Prayer is something that happens between a father and his children. 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:53.700 It's a family conversation. 00:11:53.700 --> 00:11:57.600 There's a sense of intimacy that is associated with it. 00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:05.340 And it's become so common for us today to start our prayers with Father or Heavenly Father 00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:12.899 that we almost always lose the significance of what Jesus is telling his disciples here. 00:12:13.899 --> 00:12:17.740 Kent Hughes made an observation that really brings this to our attention. 00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:21.259 He says, you can search from Genesis to Malachi. 00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:23.899 In other words, you can search the entire Old Testament. 00:12:24.659 --> 00:12:30.139 And he says, and you will not find an individual speaking of God as Father. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:38.259 Moreover, in Jesus' day, his contemporaries had so focused on the sovereignty and transcendence of God 00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:42.340 that they were careful never to repeat his covenant name, Yahweh. 00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:48.240 So they invented the word Jehovah, a combination of two separate names of God. 00:12:48.660 --> 00:12:51.840 Thus, the distance from God was well guarded. 00:12:52.460 --> 00:12:57.399 You can imagine the controversy that Jesus caused when he came on the scene 00:12:57.399 --> 00:13:01.740 and pretty much only used Father when he was addressing God. 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:07.280 All of Jesus' prayers, he addresses God as Father. 00:13:07.280 --> 00:13:12.280 The Gospels record him using Father more than 60 times in reference to God. 00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:18.840 Jesus is clearly showing that his followers have the ability to experience a relationship with God 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:23.940 that is far different than anything anybody had ever known. 00:13:25.180 --> 00:13:27.580 They get to address him as Father. 00:13:27.940 --> 00:13:30.879 When we pray to God and address him as Father, 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:34.160 we need to understand the significance and the privilege 00:13:34.160 --> 00:13:41.180 we have to address the eternal creator of everything in such a personal way. 00:13:41.179 --> 00:13:46.500 Many of you know that one of my favorite books is Knowing God by J.I. Packer. 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:49.319 And in this, J.I. Packer says, he says, 00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:54.419 You sum up the whole of the New Testament teaching in a single phrase 00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:59.459 if you speak of it as a revelation of the fatherhood of the Holy Creator. 00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:00.299 And he says, 00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:04.639 In the same way, you sum up the whole of the New Testament religion 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:09.759 if you describe it as the knowledge of God as one's holy father. 00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:10.899 He says, 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:14.460 If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:19.439 find out how much he makes of the thought of being God's child 00:14:19.439 --> 00:14:21.639 and having God as his father. 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:27.840 If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:30.240 and the whole outlook on life, 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:34.620 it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all. 00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:36.980 For everything that Christ taught, 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:39.600 everything that makes the New Testament new, 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:44.440 everything that is distinctively Christian as opposed to merely Jewish, 00:14:44.920 --> 00:14:48.759 is summed up in the knowledge of the fatherhood of God. 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:53.320 Father is the Christian name for God. 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:58.780 And it's so important for us to see God as our father. 00:14:59.580 --> 00:15:02.400 Tim Keller once said something along the lines of, 00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:02.980 he says, 00:15:03.280 --> 00:15:07.860 Do you know the only person that's not afraid to wake up a king in the middle of the night? 00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:08.860 He says, 00:15:08.920 --> 00:15:12.980 The only person that's not afraid to wake up a king in the middle of the night is his children. 00:15:13.560 --> 00:15:16.680 Because they have that unrestricted access to him. 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:18.200 As a parent, 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:20.420 I'm sure some of you can identify with this, 00:15:20.419 --> 00:15:24.939 there have been many times where I've been sound asleep in my bed in the middle of the night, 00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:26.199 and then all of a sudden, 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:26.959 I'm just, 00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:27.819 I can feel, 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:31.319 it just feels like somebody is standing over me watching me. 00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:32.779 And then you open your eyes, 00:15:32.819 --> 00:15:35.339 and there's one of your kids right there in your face. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:36.699 And you say, 00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:38.079 What's going on? 00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:39.199 And they say, 00:15:39.319 --> 00:15:40.779 I can't sleep. 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:41.599 I'm like, 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:43.299 Well now I can't either. 00:15:43.459 --> 00:15:44.659 Thank you for that. 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:45.919 Or they come to you, 00:15:45.939 --> 00:15:47.500 and they're just standing right over you, 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:47.879 and they say, 00:15:48.199 --> 00:15:48.980 I'm thirsty. 00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:50.420 Can I have some water? 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:51.519 And I say, 00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:52.120 Of course. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:52.860 Go around, 00:15:52.920 --> 00:15:53.639 wake up your mom, 00:15:53.779 --> 00:15:54.920 and go get some water. 00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:55.220 You know? 00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:56.000 And so, 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:56.879 those kids, 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:59.139 they have this unrestricted access. 00:15:59.659 --> 00:15:59.800 Now, 00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:02.620 if one of you came to my house in the middle of the night, 00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:04.420 and was standing over my bed, 00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:05.879 and somehow made it into my house, 00:16:05.920 --> 00:16:07.080 and into my bedroom, 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:08.440 and was standing over me, 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:09.080 and just, 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:10.740 I woke up to your face, 00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:11.480 then all of a sudden, 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:15.740 I would probably have a lot of things that I'd have to ask forgiveness for later. 00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:17.399 Some of the things that I said, 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:18.559 and probably the things that I did, 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:21.539 there'll be a lot of things that I'll have to ask forgiveness for later. 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:23.319 But not for my kids. 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:24.980 Those kids, 00:16:25.079 --> 00:16:27.159 they have unrestricted access to me. 00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:29.799 They can come to me at any time. 00:16:30.079 --> 00:16:30.399 And so, 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:35.299 when we see Jesus telling us to address God as Father, 00:16:36.299 --> 00:16:38.319 there's a significance to this. 00:16:38.939 --> 00:16:41.079 There's a deep meaning to this. 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:43.840 There's power that comes in this. 00:16:45.040 --> 00:16:47.460 My kids can come to me with boldness. 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:52.740 And this is how God wants us to come to Him as His children. 00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:53.960 And so, 00:16:54.060 --> 00:16:58.700 as we begin to recognize that we are praying to our Heavenly Father, 00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:00.139 who is also Creator, 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:00.920 Sustainer, 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:02.740 and Savior of the world, 00:17:02.920 --> 00:17:05.680 we begin to realize that ultimately, 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:08.500 we want His kingdom to come, 00:17:08.580 --> 00:17:10.080 and His will to be accomplished. 00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.220 And so, 00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:13.299 as we recognize who God is, 00:17:13.320 --> 00:17:14.140 our Father, 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:17.240 we naturally want His kingdom to come. 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:22.440 And this has a strong missions emphasis that goes along with this. 00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:26.519 This statement is very both personal for our lives today, 00:17:26.580 --> 00:17:29.740 and something that we look forward to it being complete one day. 00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:33.579 I want God's kingdom to come in my life. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:35.500 I want God's kingdom to come in my life. 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:38.680 I want Him to be King and Lord of my life today. 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:42.200 I want Him to rule and reign in my life today. 00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:43.319 And also, 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:49.799 I look forward to one day when His name is honored among all the nations for all eternity. 00:17:50.620 --> 00:17:51.000 And so, 00:17:51.140 --> 00:17:52.819 when we pray to our Heavenly Father, 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:53.299 and we say, 00:17:53.620 --> 00:17:54.559 Your kingdom come, 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:58.019 we are saying very boldly that, 00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:58.279 God, 00:17:58.380 --> 00:17:59.519 I want Your kingdom, 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.680 not mine. 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:03.299 I want Your name to be honored, 00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:04.599 not mine. 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:08.220 I want my life to reflect the ultimate purpose that You give it, 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:11.819 and not what this world says it should be. 00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:14.620 And this is really easy to say, 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:17.079 but it's incredibly difficult to mean. 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:19.440 Because closely tied to this, 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:21.819 Your kingdom come is Your will be done. 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:22.740 In fact, 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:27.579 when we see the longer version of the Lord's Prayer back in Matthew chapter 6, 00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:28.920 this is what it says. 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:29.220 It says, 00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:30.100 Your kingdom come, 00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:32.220 Your will be done. 00:18:32.800 --> 00:18:36.640 I can't begin to tell you how many times I've heard people come to me, 00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:37.820 or I've said it myself, 00:18:38.320 --> 00:18:38.900 where I say, 00:18:39.120 --> 00:18:39.460 Lord, 00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:40.279 God, 00:18:40.360 --> 00:18:41.400 show me Your will. 00:18:41.800 --> 00:18:45.039 Help me to find Your will for my life. 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:45.800 Well, 00:18:45.840 --> 00:18:46.500 guess what? 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:48.259 It's not lost. 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:48.779 God, 00:18:48.860 --> 00:18:51.140 it's not something we have to find because it's not lost. 00:18:51.140 --> 00:18:57.020 So we have His word right here that tells us God's will and God's plan for us. 00:18:57.320 --> 00:18:59.200 You want to know God's will for your life? 00:18:59.320 --> 00:19:02.160 Pick up the Bible and start reading. 00:19:02.860 --> 00:19:07.000 We know that it is His will for lost people to be told about Jesus. 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:09.220 In 2 Peter 3, 00:19:09.299 --> 00:19:09.500 9, 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:09.799 it says, 00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:12.559 The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise, 00:19:12.619 --> 00:19:13.920 as some count slowness, 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:15.660 but is patient towards you, 00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:18.319 not wishing that any should perish, 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:21.180 but that all should reach repentance. 00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:21.539 repentance. 00:19:22.060 --> 00:19:23.400 And so what we are saying, 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.580 if we mean it, 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:26.100 what we're saying when we say, 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:26.340 God, 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:27.720 Your kingdom come, 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:28.940 what we're saying is, 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:29.180 God, 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:31.779 I want Your name to be proclaimed everywhere. 00:19:32.380 --> 00:19:35.799 I want Your name to be proclaimed to my lost neighbors. 00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:38.180 I want Your name to be proclaimed in this community. 00:19:38.360 --> 00:19:39.920 I want to see revival taking place. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:46.320 I want to see Your name being proclaimed to the millions of lost people that are right here in our state. 00:19:46.620 --> 00:19:50.920 I want Your name to be proclaimed to those areas of our country where the gospel presence, 00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:52.799 is minimal at best. 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:53.500 Lord, 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:55.200 I want Your name to be proclaimed. 00:19:55.320 --> 00:19:59.820 I want Your gospel to go forth to places that have never heard the name of Jesus. 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:00.759 And when we say, 00:20:01.340 --> 00:20:02.080 Your kingdom come, 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:02.900 what we're saying is, 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:03.120 God, 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.920 I want to be a part of that. 00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:08.600 Not only do I want to see that happen, 00:20:08.600 --> 00:20:09.440 but God, 00:20:09.560 --> 00:20:13.039 I want You to use me to accomplish Your will. 00:20:13.620 --> 00:20:15.060 Your kingdom come. 00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:16.820 Your will be done. 00:20:17.120 --> 00:20:18.820 His will for your life, 00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:26.279 at least part of it is proclaiming the name of Jesus wherever it is that He's called you to be at this time. 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:29.359 I'm afraid all too often when we pray, 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:29.679 God, 00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:30.839 show me Your will, 00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:32.700 what we are really saying is, 00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:32.919 God, 00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:34.319 here's my will, 00:20:34.439 --> 00:20:36.059 and here's my plan, 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:40.720 and I need You to make me feel good about my plan and my will, 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:42.519 and act like it's Your plan. 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:47.059 And this is completely backwards to the purpose of prayer. 00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:48.420 Packer, 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.519 reflecting on this statement, 00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:50.519 Your will be done, 00:20:50.619 --> 00:20:50.920 says, 00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:51.839 Here, 00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:53.960 more clearly than anywhere, 00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:56.480 the purpose of prayer becomes plain. 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:59.420 Not to make God do my will, 00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:03.339 but to bring my will into line with His. 00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:05.180 Now, 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.480 I want to be very clear. 00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:09.720 Praying Your kingdom come is a dangerous prayer. 00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:12.200 And I encourage you to pray it, 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:17.220 but just understand that it will cause many changes in our lives. 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:24.140 It means that you willingly submit your life to be molded and shaped by another. 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:27.400 It gives control of your life to God. 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.120 And I also want to encourage you, 00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:33.279 if you truly want to find God's specific plan and will for your life, 00:21:33.600 --> 00:21:36.860 start by doing the things that you know He's called us all to do. 00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:40.679 If you want to know God's specific plan for your life, 00:21:41.159 --> 00:21:41.279 well, 00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:45.479 a great place to start is what He's called all of us to do. 00:21:45.959 --> 00:21:49.699 Look to God's Word and follow His call to all believers 00:21:49.699 --> 00:21:54.519 and watch how God starts shaping and molding your life. 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.919 But parents and grandparents, 00:21:57.099 --> 00:22:00.699 I want to encourage you to pray something that is even harder to pray. 00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:05.519 We just had a lot of kids walk out of this room 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:07.180 and go back to children's church 00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:12.460 and go back to studying God's Word and what it has to Him. 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:15.240 And so I want to encourage you something that's even harder to pray. 00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:17.180 Pray for God's kingdom to come 00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:20.140 and His will to be done in your children's lives. 00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:25.620 But also pray that God will begin to work in your heart 00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:28.420 to support wherever God may lead them. 00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:31.039 We want our kids to follow Jesus, 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:35.220 but often we teach them to do that with parameters. 00:22:35.640 --> 00:22:35.880 We say, 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.140 yes, 00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:37.279 we want you to follow Jesus, 00:22:37.580 --> 00:22:40.380 but here's some parameters to go along with that. 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:44.460 Many times in wanting the best for our kids, 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:48.340 we advise them to follow comfort and not God. 00:22:49.120 --> 00:22:50.539 As we raise them, 00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:54.240 what are we telling them is most important in life? 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:57.319 Yes, we can tell them, 00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:59.579 we can say that Jesus is supreme 00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.880 and that He is the most important, 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:04.500 but what are we telling them with our actions? 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:07.660 Are we telling them that money is supreme 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.980 or sports are supreme 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:10.940 or a certain grade is supreme? 00:23:11.120 --> 00:23:12.700 Or are we teaching them 00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:14.819 that following Jesus 00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:17.079 is greater than all of this? 00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:19.460 Next in this prayer, 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.699 we see Jesus teaching us 00:23:21.699 --> 00:23:24.279 to ask our Father for our needs. 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:26.980 Give us each day our daily bread. 00:23:27.439 --> 00:23:28.240 And through this passage, 00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:30.799 we see Jesus is concerned with our daily needs. 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:32.539 The request for daily bread 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:34.159 is a reminder of the manna 00:23:34.159 --> 00:23:36.579 that God provided for Israel in the desert. 00:23:36.699 --> 00:23:37.319 If you remember, 00:23:37.419 --> 00:23:39.579 they were instructed to gather enough manna, 00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:42.299 to gather enough bread for that day. 00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:44.460 And so this gave them 00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:47.159 this deep sense of dependence on God 00:23:47.159 --> 00:23:49.139 every single day to provide, 00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:51.379 to provide over and over again. 00:23:51.639 --> 00:23:54.139 And this is a foreign concept for most of us 00:23:54.139 --> 00:23:57.059 because we've grown up in a first world context. 00:23:57.419 --> 00:23:59.279 Because most of us not only 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:01.639 have what we need for today, 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.680 but we have enough stored up in our homes 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:05.119 that will last us for weeks. 00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:06.619 And if you're like me, 00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:07.639 even when that runs out, 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.659 you've got enough stored up 00:24:08.659 --> 00:24:11.639 to last you a little while longer after that. 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.919 And so this is a hard concept 00:24:13.919 --> 00:24:16.220 sometimes for us to understand. 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.940 But Danny Akinos, he says, 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:21.299 we must not let the availability of food 00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:23.579 trick us into thinking 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:25.519 that we are self-sufficient 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.859 and do not need God 00:24:26.859 --> 00:24:28.980 to provide for our daily needs. 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.279 Because we do. 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:34.440 We're reminded here of physical needs that we have, 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:36.759 but also of a much greater need 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:39.480 that Jesus is telling us to pray for. 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:41.960 And so the final observation 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:43.839 in this section that we're talking about here 00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:46.759 is ask God to not only forgive us, 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:49.220 but to protect us from temptation. 00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:50.180 He says, 00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:51.380 And forgive us our sins, 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:53.839 for we also forgive everyone 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:55.319 who is indebted to us 00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:57.900 and lead us not into temptation. 00:24:58.759 --> 00:25:00.240 And I must admit that this sometimes 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:02.319 can be a little bit confusing for us 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:03.319 because in the Bible, 00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:05.200 we are told that as believers, 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:07.960 we are justified that our sins, 00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:10.340 past, present, and future, 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:11.819 are paid for. 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:15.620 And now we see a need to ask for forgiveness. 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:17.779 Is this something that we need to do? 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.779 And the answer is yes. 00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:19.920 As believers, 00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:21.500 our sins are paid for, 00:25:21.580 --> 00:25:22.799 past, present, and future. 00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:23.960 And yes, 00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:25.440 it is important for us 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:27.360 to ask for forgiveness. 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:29.240 Packer, again, 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:31.160 was very helpful in understanding this. 00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:31.580 He says, 00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:34.379 the Lord's Prayer is a family prayer 00:25:34.379 --> 00:25:37.279 in which God's adopted children 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:38.960 address their father. 00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:41.339 And though their daily failures 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:43.579 do not overthrow their justification, 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:45.859 things will not be right 00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:47.740 between them and their father 00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:49.740 till they have said sorry 00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:52.159 and asked him to forgive the ways 00:25:52.159 --> 00:25:54.279 that they have let them down. 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:56.799 So not only is our need 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:58.299 for forgiveness addressed here, 00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:59.779 but we also see our need 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:01.259 to forgive others. 00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.679 For the believer, 00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:04.159 we must always remember 00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:05.919 that we are to forgive others. 00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:07.439 Ephesians 4, 32, 00:26:07.899 --> 00:26:08.839 forgiving one another 00:26:08.839 --> 00:26:11.960 just as God also forgave you. 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:15.740 Our Lord certainly does not mean here 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:17.059 that forgiveness of others 00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:19.399 earns us the right to be forgiven. 00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:21.859 It rather that God forgives 00:26:21.859 --> 00:26:22.539 the penitent 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:25.799 and the one of the chief evidences 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:29.240 of this is a forgiving spirit. 00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:31.539 And so finally, Jesus says, 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:33.359 lead us not into temptation, 00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:34.980 but to deliver us from evil. 00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:37.059 Obviously, God does not tempt anyone, 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:39.419 but the request comes from a place 00:26:39.419 --> 00:26:41.960 of understanding our weaknesses 00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:44.079 and our need for dependence 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:45.740 on God each and every day. 00:26:46.139 --> 00:26:48.079 We need God's strength and power 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:49.179 to resist Satan 00:26:49.179 --> 00:26:51.000 and the wisdom and the direction 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:53.720 to not be put into situations 00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:56.460 where Satan can easily lead us away. 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:58.319 And so what we see 00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:59.960 at looking at the Lord's prayer 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:02.340 is a need for remembering 00:27:02.340 --> 00:27:04.259 who it is that we're talking to 00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:06.039 and with that, 00:27:06.140 --> 00:27:07.880 what an incredible privilege it is 00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:09.600 to call God our Heavenly Father. 00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.539 And from that place, 00:27:11.600 --> 00:27:13.600 we begin to bring our requests to Him, 00:27:13.860 --> 00:27:15.160 our daily needs, 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:17.259 our understanding of our greatest needs, 00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:19.259 showing complete dependence on God 00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:20.319 for everything. 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:23.599 And so after teaching them how to pray, 00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:25.839 Jesus follows this lesson 00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:26.960 with a parable 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:28.500 that is where I want us to spend 00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:30.220 just the last few minutes 00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:31.819 that we have together this morning. 00:27:32.159 --> 00:27:34.200 I want you to listen to these words 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.879 from this parable. 00:27:34.939 --> 00:27:35.240 And He says, 00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:36.500 And He said to him, 00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:38.779 Which one of you has a friend? 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:41.240 Which one of you has a friend? 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:42.559 Will go to him at midnight 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:42.980 and say, 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:45.339 Friend, lend me three loaves 00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:46.120 for a friend of mine 00:27:46.120 --> 00:27:47.420 has arrived on a journey 00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:49.859 and I have nothing to set before him. 00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:51.900 And he will answer from within, 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:53.599 Do not bother me. 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:55.000 The door is now shut 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:57.059 and my children are with me in bed. 00:27:57.120 --> 00:27:59.259 I cannot get up and give you anything. 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.460 I tell you, 00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:01.640 though he will not get up 00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:02.740 and give him anything 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:04.539 because he is his friend, 00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.339 and yet, 00:28:05.799 --> 00:28:07.299 because of his impudence, 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:08.559 he will rise 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:11.500 and give him whatever he needs. 00:28:12.119 --> 00:28:13.559 And so in this passage, 00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:14.740 we are reminded 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:17.659 to be persistent in prayer. 00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:20.259 To be persistent in prayer. 00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.799 Now, I'm not a Greek scholar 00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:23.079 and I don't claim to be one, 00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:25.619 but I did have a professor in seminary 00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:27.379 who was one of the leading 00:28:27.379 --> 00:28:28.899 New Testament Greek scholars 00:28:28.899 --> 00:28:29.539 in the world. 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:31.240 And he was actually the one 00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:33.159 who wrote or translated 00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:34.840 the ISV, 00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:36.420 the International Standard Version. 00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:37.920 And he taught us 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:40.120 the importance of looking at verbs 00:28:40.120 --> 00:28:41.180 and looking at the tense, 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:42.019 looking at the mood, 00:28:42.120 --> 00:28:42.540 the person, 00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:44.500 the voice when translating. 00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:45.900 And so I want you to listen 00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:46.420 to how he translates 00:28:47.080 --> 00:28:48.360 verses 9 and 10 here. 00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.220 He says, 00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:50.519 And so I say to you, 00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:52.039 keep asking 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:54.100 and it will be given to you. 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.380 Keep searching 00:28:55.380 --> 00:28:56.640 and you will find. 00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.460 Keep knocking 00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:58.480 and the door will be opened 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.259 to you 00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:00.100 because everyone 00:29:00.100 --> 00:29:01.460 who keeps asking 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.420 will receive 00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:03.000 and the person 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:04.079 who keeps searching 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.039 will find 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.539 and the person 00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:06.600 who keeps knocking 00:29:06.600 --> 00:29:08.940 will have the door opened. 00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:10.720 Jesus is telling us 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.880 to be persistent 00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:13.460 in our requests to God. 00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:15.120 Just having a pattern 00:29:15.120 --> 00:29:15.640 of prayer 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.460 doesn't make you 00:29:16.460 --> 00:29:17.759 a prayer warrior, 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:20.180 we also need determination 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:21.920 to truly pray. 00:29:22.080 --> 00:29:22.840 Jesus wants us 00:29:22.840 --> 00:29:23.400 to understand 00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:24.600 that we must be 00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:25.480 persistent 00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:27.620 in our praying to God. 00:29:27.780 --> 00:29:28.800 Here in this verse, 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.000 the story is 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:31.020 of a persistent friend 00:29:31.020 --> 00:29:32.080 who goes to his neighbor 00:29:32.080 --> 00:29:33.140 in the middle of the night 00:29:33.140 --> 00:29:34.300 after his neighbor 00:29:34.300 --> 00:29:35.000 has gone to bed, 00:29:35.060 --> 00:29:36.060 after his children 00:29:36.060 --> 00:29:38.000 are asleep around him 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.840 and he begins 00:29:38.840 --> 00:29:40.200 knocking on the door. 00:29:41.280 --> 00:29:41.980 Clay, Josh, 00:29:42.020 --> 00:29:42.680 can you imagine 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.660 if I came to your house 00:29:43.660 --> 00:29:43.920 right now 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:45.440 with two new babies 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:46.779 that you had just gotten 00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:47.680 to go to sleep at night 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.259 and I just started 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.340 banging on that door, 00:29:50.120 --> 00:29:50.900 you would probably, 00:29:51.300 --> 00:29:52.140 Clay, 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.940 yeah, yeah, 00:29:54.560 --> 00:29:55.340 but yeah, 00:29:55.500 --> 00:29:56.740 you would probably 00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:58.360 be pretty annoyed with me 00:29:58.360 --> 00:29:59.240 and you made 00:29:59.240 --> 00:29:59.920 to begin with 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:00.759 by just ignoring me 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:00.960 and say, 00:30:01.060 --> 00:30:02.180 please just go away. 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:03.240 If we ignore him, 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:04.420 maybe he'll just go away 00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:05.759 and then I keep banging 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.440 on the door 00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:07.779 and I keep banging 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:09.240 until finally you get up, 00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:10.740 not because you're happy 00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.320 to see me, 00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:12.279 not because you're glad 00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:12.880 to see me, 00:30:12.880 --> 00:30:14.360 but because I'm persistent, 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.880 I keep banging on the door, 00:30:16.180 --> 00:30:17.360 finally you'll give me, 00:30:17.500 --> 00:30:18.160 get up and give me 00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:18.820 whatever it is 00:30:18.820 --> 00:30:19.400 that I'm needing 00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:21.260 because of the persistence there. 00:30:22.100 --> 00:30:22.920 Now again, 00:30:23.260 --> 00:30:25.180 Jesus gives a very similar 00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:27.140 parable later on 00:30:27.140 --> 00:30:28.800 in chapter 18 00:30:28.800 --> 00:30:30.120 where we are told 00:30:30.120 --> 00:30:30.860 in Luke 18, 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.260 he says, 00:30:31.360 --> 00:30:31.800 and he told them 00:30:31.800 --> 00:30:32.280 a parable 00:30:32.280 --> 00:30:33.160 into the effect 00:30:33.160 --> 00:30:34.180 that they ought to pray 00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:35.360 and not lose heart. 00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:35.680 He said, 00:30:35.800 --> 00:30:36.680 in a certain city 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.880 there was a judge 00:30:37.880 --> 00:30:38.940 who neither feared God 00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:40.120 nor respected man 00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:41.599 and there was a widow 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.500 in that city 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:44.000 who kept coming to him 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.319 and saying, 00:30:44.739 --> 00:30:45.639 give me justice 00:30:45.639 --> 00:30:46.759 against my adversary 00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:48.799 and for a while 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.819 he refused 00:30:49.819 --> 00:30:51.379 but afterward 00:30:51.379 --> 00:30:52.399 he said to himself, 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:54.399 though I neither fear God 00:30:54.399 --> 00:30:55.459 nor respect man 00:30:55.459 --> 00:30:57.019 yet because this widow 00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:58.500 keeps bothering me, 00:30:58.659 --> 00:31:00.079 I will give her justice 00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:01.699 so that she will not 00:31:01.699 --> 00:31:02.879 beat me down 00:31:02.879 --> 00:31:04.739 by her continual coming. 00:31:05.219 --> 00:31:06.579 How many parents in here 00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:07.299 have made terrible 00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:08.199 parenting decisions 00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:09.240 because they've been 00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:10.039 beat down 00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:10.720 by their kids 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:11.400 coming to them 00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:12.660 and asking for something? 00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:13.799 Whoever thought 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.960 to put all of the candy 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:16.279 at the checkout line 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:18.400 is a genius or evil 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:20.120 all at the same time? 00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.100 But we've all 00:31:21.100 --> 00:31:21.740 made those terrible, 00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:23.140 no you can't have 00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:23.920 chicken nuggets 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:24.840 and macaroni and cheese 00:31:24.840 --> 00:31:25.700 again tonight. 00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:26.980 No you can't do this 00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:28.360 and finally after they ask 00:31:28.360 --> 00:31:28.940 and asking you like, 00:31:29.140 --> 00:31:29.580 you know what, 00:31:29.640 --> 00:31:30.680 I don't care if you have it 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:31.500 every single night 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.460 for the rest of your life, 00:31:32.680 --> 00:31:33.519 here just eat 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:35.279 and be done asking me. 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.580 We've all made 00:31:36.579 --> 00:31:38.259 bad parenting decisions 00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.399 because our kids 00:31:39.399 --> 00:31:40.159 come to us 00:31:40.159 --> 00:31:40.779 and beat us down 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:41.740 and continue asking 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.980 and these are a couple 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:44.460 parables that Jesus 00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.579 gives us on prayer. 00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:47.259 Now it's important 00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.419 to note that Jesus 00:31:48.419 --> 00:31:50.039 is not, 00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:52.919 he's not comparing God 00:31:52.919 --> 00:31:54.960 to an irritated neighbor 00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:57.339 or a unjust judge 00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:59.859 but rather he's contrasting 00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:01.319 God to these people. 00:32:01.659 --> 00:32:02.639 He's not saying God 00:32:02.639 --> 00:32:03.899 is like this 00:32:03.899 --> 00:32:04.960 but he's saying, 00:32:05.079 --> 00:32:05.299 he says, 00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:06.980 if these people 00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:09.759 who are annoyed by you, 00:32:10.159 --> 00:32:11.119 if these people 00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:12.759 who are irritated 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:14.000 that you're coming to them 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:15.579 or this unjust judge 00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.500 finally gives you 00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:16.960 what you want 00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:18.079 because you keep coming to them, 00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:18.500 he says, 00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:20.000 how much more 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:22.500 will our heavenly father 00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:24.680 who loves us 00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:26.240 more than we could ever imagine 00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:27.359 want to give good things 00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:28.019 to his children? 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:30.240 How much more 00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:32.399 will our heavenly father 00:32:32.399 --> 00:32:33.539 want to give us this? 00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:34.859 Persistence in prayer 00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:37.339 is not the challenging part 00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:37.939 in this message 00:32:37.939 --> 00:32:38.599 to interpret. 00:32:39.199 --> 00:32:40.399 The challenge comes 00:32:40.399 --> 00:32:41.139 in verse 9. 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:42.559 He says, 00:32:42.639 --> 00:32:43.339 and I tell you, 00:32:43.459 --> 00:32:45.459 ask and you will be given. 00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:48.039 Seek and you will find. 00:32:48.699 --> 00:32:50.059 Knock and it will be opened 00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:51.019 to you. 00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:53.259 There are obviously 00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:55.279 many instances in life 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:56.299 where we can see 00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:57.839 that God did not answer 00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:58.419 a prayer 00:32:58.419 --> 00:32:59.699 that we were praying. 00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:02.100 I want you to listen 00:33:02.100 --> 00:33:03.440 to how Martin Lloyd-Jones 00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:04.480 describes this. 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.120 He says, 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:07.340 there is no difficulty 00:33:07.340 --> 00:33:08.100 in showing 00:33:08.100 --> 00:33:09.620 that this statement, 00:33:09.860 --> 00:33:10.559 far from being 00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:11.519 a universal promise 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:12.740 that God has pledged 00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:13.539 to do for us 00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:13.980 anything 00:33:13.980 --> 00:33:15.400 that we may ask 00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:16.039 of him. 00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:17.759 It actually is something 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:19.039 very much bigger 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:19.640 than that. 00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:20.660 He says, 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:21.299 I thank God, 00:33:21.360 --> 00:33:22.480 let me put it more bluntly, 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:23.960 I thank God 00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:25.759 that he is not prepared 00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:26.660 to do anything 00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:28.059 that I may chance 00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:29.299 ask of him. 00:33:29.819 --> 00:33:30.740 And I say that 00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:31.360 as a result 00:33:31.360 --> 00:33:33.360 of my own past experience 00:33:33.360 --> 00:33:34.559 in my past life, 00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:36.720 I, like all others, 00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:38.079 have often asked God 00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:38.799 for things 00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:40.059 and have asked God 00:33:40.059 --> 00:33:40.900 to do things 00:33:40.900 --> 00:33:42.099 which at the time 00:33:42.099 --> 00:33:44.120 I wanted very much 00:33:44.120 --> 00:33:45.620 and which I believe 00:33:45.620 --> 00:33:47.039 were the very best things 00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:47.559 for me. 00:33:48.140 --> 00:33:48.920 But now, 00:33:49.099 --> 00:33:49.960 standing at this 00:33:49.960 --> 00:33:51.000 particular juncture 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:51.940 in my life 00:33:51.940 --> 00:33:52.779 and looking back, 00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:54.519 I say that 00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:56.160 I am more profoundly 00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:57.000 grateful to God 00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:58.380 that he did not grant 00:33:58.380 --> 00:33:59.299 certain things 00:33:59.299 --> 00:34:00.400 for which I asked 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:01.519 and that he shut 00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:02.380 certain doors 00:34:02.380 --> 00:34:03.400 in my face. 00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:05.720 But perhaps 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:06.660 the best commentary 00:34:06.660 --> 00:34:07.400 on this passage 00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:07.940 and honestly 00:34:07.940 --> 00:34:08.800 any passage 00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:10.039 in the Bible 00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:11.639 is the Bible itself. 00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:14.679 Paul in 2 Corinthians 12 00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:16.480 tells us that he prayed 00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:18.360 for this thorn in the flesh 00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:19.099 to be removed 00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:20.300 multiple times. 00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:21.980 Now, we don't know 00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:22.880 exactly what this 00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:24.000 thorn in the flesh was. 00:34:24.100 --> 00:34:24.660 Some people think 00:34:24.660 --> 00:34:25.460 it was a temptation 00:34:25.460 --> 00:34:26.700 that he kept struggling 00:34:26.700 --> 00:34:27.100 with. 00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:28.039 I tend to think 00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:28.980 it might be along 00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.920 the lines of poor 00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:30.860 eyesight that he was 00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:31.539 dealing with 00:34:31.539 --> 00:34:31.980 and that was 00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:33.340 very difficult for him. 00:34:33.380 --> 00:34:34.280 And in this passage 00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:35.320 it tells us, 00:34:35.600 --> 00:34:36.640 he says that he kept 00:34:36.640 --> 00:34:37.800 coming to God 00:34:37.800 --> 00:34:39.280 for the answer 00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:39.940 to this prayer. 00:34:40.640 --> 00:34:41.640 And we realize 00:34:41.640 --> 00:34:42.080 and we know 00:34:42.080 --> 00:34:42.920 that God didn't 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.900 answer this prayer 00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:45.260 the way that Paul wanted. 00:34:45.740 --> 00:34:46.360 And we may think, 00:34:46.580 --> 00:34:47.440 well, God, 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:48.019 why aren't you 00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:48.619 answering these prayers? 00:34:48.659 --> 00:34:49.340 And I think that we 00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:50.320 can probably all 00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:51.420 safely say 00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:52.920 that the Apostle Paul 00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:54.059 was probably a little 00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:54.840 further along 00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:55.780 in his sanctification 00:34:55.780 --> 00:34:56.679 than any of us 00:34:56.679 --> 00:34:57.280 here today. 00:34:57.880 --> 00:34:58.400 After all, 00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.119 this is the man 00:34:59.119 --> 00:35:00.460 who had a 00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:00.920 handkerchief 00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:02.500 that he had touched 00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:03.159 was going around 00:35:03.159 --> 00:35:04.079 and people were being healed 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:05.320 by touching handkerchiefs 00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:05.840 that had touched 00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:07.539 the Apostle Paul here. 00:35:07.619 --> 00:35:08.380 God used him 00:35:08.380 --> 00:35:09.539 in some mighty ways. 00:35:10.220 --> 00:35:11.119 In this passage 00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:12.380 it tells us, 00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:13.420 it says, 00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:13.800 he says, 00:35:13.800 --> 00:35:14.900 three times 00:35:14.900 --> 00:35:15.960 I pleaded with the Lord 00:35:15.960 --> 00:35:16.760 about this. 00:35:17.400 --> 00:35:18.280 And I don't think 00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:18.900 this means 00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:19.960 three times 00:35:19.960 --> 00:35:20.120 like, 00:35:20.220 --> 00:35:20.320 Lord, 00:35:20.420 --> 00:35:21.460 take away this thorn, 00:35:21.580 --> 00:35:22.260 take away this thorn, 00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:23.100 take away this thorn. 00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:23.720 Well, 00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:24.440 he didn't do it, 00:35:24.480 --> 00:35:24.820 I guess. 00:35:25.120 --> 00:35:25.240 No, 00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:26.220 I think this is 00:35:26.220 --> 00:35:27.660 seasons 00:35:27.660 --> 00:35:29.120 of pleading 00:35:29.120 --> 00:35:30.060 to God 00:35:30.060 --> 00:35:30.640 for him to 00:35:30.640 --> 00:35:32.000 remove this thorn 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:32.720 in the flesh 00:35:32.720 --> 00:35:34.420 where he desperately 00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:35.519 went to God 00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:36.480 praying for God 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:38.039 to remove this 00:35:38.039 --> 00:35:39.019 from him. 00:35:39.560 --> 00:35:40.480 And he says this, 00:35:40.539 --> 00:35:40.760 he says, 00:35:40.840 --> 00:35:41.560 three times 00:35:41.560 --> 00:35:42.519 I pleaded with the Lord 00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:43.160 about this 00:35:43.159 --> 00:35:44.179 that it should 00:35:44.179 --> 00:35:44.960 leave me. 00:35:45.319 --> 00:35:46.739 But he said to me, 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:49.399 my grace is sufficient 00:35:49.399 --> 00:35:50.579 for you. 00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:52.059 For my power 00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:53.179 is made perfect 00:35:53.179 --> 00:35:54.059 in weakness. 00:35:55.519 --> 00:35:56.039 Sometimes 00:35:56.039 --> 00:35:57.119 what we need 00:35:57.119 --> 00:35:57.960 on the other side 00:35:57.960 --> 00:35:58.559 of our prayer 00:35:58.559 --> 00:36:00.019 is not the answer 00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:01.119 we are hoping for, 00:36:01.379 --> 00:36:02.299 but what we need 00:36:02.299 --> 00:36:03.000 on the other side 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:03.519 of that prayer 00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:04.940 is God himself. 00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:07.279 That we need 00:36:07.279 --> 00:36:07.779 to know 00:36:07.779 --> 00:36:08.980 that we have 00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:10.059 a heavenly Father 00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:11.559 who is walking 00:36:11.559 --> 00:36:12.299 through this 00:36:12.300 --> 00:36:12.700 with us 00:36:12.700 --> 00:36:13.480 and we have 00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:14.820 that assurance 00:36:14.820 --> 00:36:15.539 that he 00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:16.280 will be 00:36:16.280 --> 00:36:17.240 with us. 00:36:17.880 --> 00:36:18.420 And we can 00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:19.140 always assure 00:36:19.140 --> 00:36:19.660 ourselves 00:36:19.660 --> 00:36:20.880 that his 00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:21.660 grace 00:36:21.660 --> 00:36:23.039 is sufficient. 00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:25.200 So as we pray 00:36:25.200 --> 00:36:26.640 and we believe 00:36:26.640 --> 00:36:27.200 in the power 00:36:27.200 --> 00:36:27.500 of prayer, 00:36:27.800 --> 00:36:28.580 as we pray, 00:36:28.680 --> 00:36:29.180 let us pray 00:36:29.180 --> 00:36:30.180 boldly to 00:36:30.180 --> 00:36:31.260 our Father 00:36:31.260 --> 00:36:32.240 and let us 00:36:32.240 --> 00:36:33.640 pray persistently 00:36:33.640 --> 00:36:34.820 to our Father. 00:36:35.720 --> 00:36:36.280 And I want to 00:36:36.280 --> 00:36:37.240 encourage any of you 00:36:37.240 --> 00:36:38.460 to come back 00:36:38.460 --> 00:36:38.900 tonight 00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:40.000 because this 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:40.760 is exactly 00:36:40.760 --> 00:36:41.240 what we're 00:36:41.240 --> 00:36:41.840 going to be 00:36:41.840 --> 00:36:42.780 doing as a 00:36:42.780 --> 00:36:43.200 church. 00:36:43.639 --> 00:36:43.880 You know, 00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:44.500 it's easy 00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:45.079 for us to 00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:45.480 say we 00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:46.260 believe in 00:36:46.260 --> 00:36:46.680 the power 00:36:46.680 --> 00:36:47.320 of the prayer 00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:47.900 and we 00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:48.220 would all 00:36:48.220 --> 00:36:48.800 check that 00:36:48.800 --> 00:36:49.260 box and 00:36:49.260 --> 00:36:49.579 say we 00:36:49.579 --> 00:36:50.440 affirm that 00:36:50.440 --> 00:36:51.039 statement, 00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:52.160 but let us 00:36:52.160 --> 00:36:52.700 come back 00:36:52.700 --> 00:36:53.599 together tonight 00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:54.460 and show 00:36:54.460 --> 00:36:54.980 with our 00:36:54.980 --> 00:36:55.720 actions that 00:36:55.720 --> 00:36:56.840 we believe 00:36:56.840 --> 00:36:57.500 in the power 00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:57.980 of prayer, 00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:58.579 that we 00:36:58.579 --> 00:36:59.260 believe that 00:36:59.260 --> 00:36:59.920 God wants 00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:00.680 us to come 00:37:00.680 --> 00:37:01.019 to him, 00:37:01.139 --> 00:37:01.539 that we 00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:02.200 believe that 00:37:02.200 --> 00:37:02.960 prayer changes 00:37:02.960 --> 00:37:03.200 things, 00:37:03.260 --> 00:37:03.579 that we 00:37:03.579 --> 00:37:04.280 believe that 00:37:04.280 --> 00:37:05.100 God is 00:37:05.100 --> 00:37:06.400 in using 00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:07.000 this church 00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:07.300 in some 00:37:07.300 --> 00:37:07.880 powerful ways 00:37:07.880 --> 00:37:08.160 and we 00:37:08.160 --> 00:37:08.980 want to be 00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:09.880 dependent on 00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:10.940 him for 00:37:10.940 --> 00:37:11.260 it. 00:37:11.700 --> 00:37:12.140 So I want to 00:37:12.140 --> 00:37:12.720 encourage you 00:37:12.720 --> 00:37:13.920 to come back 00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:15.300 tonight as we 00:37:15.300 --> 00:37:16.080 come together 00:37:16.080 --> 00:37:17.060 as a church, 00:37:17.540 --> 00:37:18.800 sing praises to 00:37:18.800 --> 00:37:20.280 God and go to 00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:21.140 him desperately 00:37:21.140 --> 00:37:22.700 asking God to 00:37:22.700 --> 00:37:23.720 work not only in 00:37:23.720 --> 00:37:24.519 this community, 00:37:24.860 --> 00:37:25.660 in this state, 00:37:25.780 --> 00:37:26.560 in this nation, 00:37:26.640 --> 00:37:27.380 around the world, 00:37:27.660 --> 00:37:28.720 but that God 00:37:28.720 --> 00:37:30.200 would use us 00:37:30.200 --> 00:37:31.040 and use this 00:37:31.040 --> 00:37:31.880 church to 00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:32.620 accomplish his 00:37:32.620 --> 00:37:33.080 purposes. 00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:34.360 Father, 00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:35.019 thank you so 00:37:35.019 --> 00:37:35.699 very much for 00:37:35.699 --> 00:37:36.380 who you are. 00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:37.599 Thank you for 00:37:37.599 --> 00:37:38.619 your word, 00:37:38.739 --> 00:37:39.159 for what it 00:37:39.159 --> 00:37:40.259 clearly teaches 00:37:40.259 --> 00:37:41.440 us about you, 00:37:41.779 --> 00:37:42.279 for what it 00:37:42.279 --> 00:37:43.219 clearly teaches 00:37:43.219 --> 00:37:44.579 us about the 00:37:44.579 --> 00:37:45.400 importance of 00:37:45.400 --> 00:37:45.819 prayer, 00:37:46.519 --> 00:37:47.059 something that 00:37:47.059 --> 00:37:47.719 was important 00:37:47.719 --> 00:37:48.440 to Jesus, 00:37:48.779 --> 00:37:49.420 so important 00:37:49.420 --> 00:37:49.719 that the 00:37:49.719 --> 00:37:50.860 disciples looked 00:37:50.860 --> 00:37:51.799 at him and 00:37:51.799 --> 00:37:52.639 saw that they 00:37:52.639 --> 00:37:53.659 needed to learn 00:37:53.659 --> 00:37:54.259 how to pray 00:37:54.259 --> 00:37:55.139 like Jesus was 00:37:55.139 --> 00:37:55.480 praying. 00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:56.199 So Lord, 00:37:56.559 --> 00:37:57.500 help us to 00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:58.779 pray as you 00:37:58.779 --> 00:37:58.900 do. 00:37:58.980 --> 00:37:59.480 Help us to 00:37:59.480 --> 00:38:00.679 pray as being 00:38:00.679 --> 00:38:01.539 dependent on you. 00:38:01.639 --> 00:38:02.219 Help us to 00:38:02.219 --> 00:38:03.059 pray right 00:38:03.059 --> 00:38:03.900 recognizing the 00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:04.900 great gift it 00:38:04.900 --> 00:38:05.940 is to call you 00:38:05.940 --> 00:38:06.820 our heavenly 00:38:06.820 --> 00:38:07.699 father. 00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:08.980 And so Lord, 00:38:09.059 --> 00:38:09.460 help us to 00:38:09.460 --> 00:38:09.940 pray bold 00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:10.279 prayers. 00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:10.920 Help us to 00:38:10.920 --> 00:38:12.259 pray prayers 00:38:12.259 --> 00:38:12.900 that seek 00:38:12.900 --> 00:38:13.779 your kingdom 00:38:13.779 --> 00:38:14.279 to come. 00:38:14.699 --> 00:38:15.019 And Lord, 00:38:15.079 --> 00:38:15.880 when we say 00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:16.320 that your 00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:16.960 kingdom come, 00:38:17.119 --> 00:38:18.519 we mean that. 00:38:19.219 --> 00:38:20.119 We mean it 00:38:20.119 --> 00:38:20.400 that your 00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:20.900 kingdom come, 00:38:20.980 --> 00:38:21.239 and Lord, 00:38:21.500 --> 00:38:22.639 we mean that 00:38:22.639 --> 00:38:23.179 we want to 00:38:23.179 --> 00:38:24.159 be used to 00:38:24.159 --> 00:38:24.860 help bring 00:38:24.860 --> 00:38:25.360 into us 00:38:25.360 --> 00:38:25.759 in your 00:38:25.759 --> 00:38:26.279 kingdom as 00:38:26.279 --> 00:38:27.159 you see fit. 00:38:28.159 --> 00:38:28.759 And so Lord, 00:38:28.840 --> 00:38:29.480 we thank you 00:38:29.480 --> 00:38:30.320 for all that 00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:30.960 you do for us 00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:31.500 each and every 00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:31.860 day. 00:38:31.860 --> 00:38:32.820 And Lord, 00:38:32.900 --> 00:38:33.440 I pray 00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:35.200 that if there's 00:38:35.200 --> 00:38:35.880 someone here 00:38:35.880 --> 00:38:37.460 today that has 00:38:37.460 --> 00:38:38.539 never placed their 00:38:38.539 --> 00:38:39.240 faith and their 00:38:39.240 --> 00:38:39.920 trust in you, 00:38:40.240 --> 00:38:40.360 Lord, 00:38:40.420 --> 00:38:41.340 that their prayer 00:38:41.340 --> 00:38:42.940 today will be a 00:38:42.940 --> 00:38:43.800 prayer of salvation, 00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:45.480 showing that they 00:38:45.480 --> 00:38:46.240 are dependent on 00:38:46.240 --> 00:38:47.280 you for everything. 00:38:48.240 --> 00:38:48.500 Lord, 00:38:48.640 --> 00:38:49.480 be with us. 00:38:49.980 --> 00:38:50.880 Help us to honor 00:38:50.880 --> 00:38:51.720 you with everything 00:38:51.720 --> 00:38:52.700 we say and do. 00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:53.840 And we ask all 00:38:53.840 --> 00:38:54.599 this in Jesus' 00:38:54.800 --> 00:38:55.440 precious name. 00:38:55.740 --> 00:38:56.059 Amen. 00:38:56.059 --> 00:38:56.240 Amen. 00:38:56.700 --> 00:38:56.260 Amen. 00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:56.260 00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:56.260 00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:56.260 00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:56.260 00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:56.260 00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:56.260 00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:56.260 00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:56.260 00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:56.260 00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:56.260 00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:56.260 00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:56.260 00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:58.260 Amen. 00:38:58.260 --> 00:38:58.260 00:38:58.260 --> 00:38:58.260 00:38:58.260 --> 00:38:58.260 00:38:58.260 --> 00:38:58.260 00:38:58.260 --> 00:38:58.260 00:38:58.260 --> 00:39:00.260 Amen.