WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:04.219 If you have your Bibles, look with me this morning to Matthew chapter 7. 00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:07.000 We're going to be reading verses 7 through 11 in just a moment. 00:00:07.700 --> 00:00:12.040 And we're continuing the series that I began last week, The Enemies of Prayer. 00:00:12.519 --> 00:00:19.039 We said last week, and I think we would all acknowledge that believers recognize the benefit of prayer. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:26.339 We all talk about how God answers prayer, how God moves when we pray, and the power of prayer. 00:00:26.339 --> 00:00:33.140 And yet we also acknowledge that we seldom pray as much or in the fashion we'd like to pray. 00:00:33.299 --> 00:00:36.320 And so we began last week talking about The Enemies of Prayer. 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:37.600 What keeps us from praying? 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:44.079 And we mentioned three things last week that affect us negatively in our prayer lives. 00:00:44.420 --> 00:00:47.960 This morning I want to add yet a fourth enemy of prayer. 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:51.060 And this fourth enemy is lack of persistence. 00:00:51.780 --> 00:00:53.500 Or you could label it another way. 00:00:53.500 --> 00:00:57.299 Secondly, we have a tendency to simply settle. 00:00:58.299 --> 00:01:05.000 Several years ago, probably ten or more now, I got a call from a guy one Sunday after I preached on marriage. 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:08.519 And he said, I wonder if you could meet me one day this week in a local restaurant. 00:01:08.680 --> 00:01:09.680 And so we got together. 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:18.019 And when we met in that restaurant, he told me the reason I asked you to meet me is because my marriage is just not what I want it to be. 00:01:18.019 --> 00:01:21.099 And I said, well, describe it to me because I had known him for a long time. 00:01:21.399 --> 00:01:24.060 And he seemed like a very likable fellow. 00:01:24.199 --> 00:01:26.759 And his wife seemed like they got along very well. 00:01:27.019 --> 00:01:30.479 I didn't see anything would indicate to me there were any red flags in their marriage. 00:01:30.859 --> 00:01:33.019 And so I said, well, just tell me about your relationship. 00:01:33.759 --> 00:01:36.319 And he said, well, I want you to understand we don't ever fight. 00:01:36.459 --> 00:01:38.519 I said, we've never fussed much. 00:01:38.579 --> 00:01:40.780 And said, we just get along real well. 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:42.019 We don't argue about anything. 00:01:42.379 --> 00:01:43.799 We come in and go to work. 00:01:43.899 --> 00:01:44.359 We come in. 00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:45.000 We sit down. 00:01:45.079 --> 00:01:46.319 We enjoy the evening together. 00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:47.619 I have our meals. 00:01:47.759 --> 00:01:48.339 It's pleasant. 00:01:48.519 --> 00:01:49.079 We talk. 00:01:49.479 --> 00:02:00.459 He said, but the truth is our relationship is more like the relationship between a loving brother and a loving sister than it is a husband and wife. 00:02:01.019 --> 00:02:02.719 And so I asked him, have you been to counseling? 00:02:02.839 --> 00:02:03.280 We have. 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:04.139 Have you read some books? 00:02:04.199 --> 00:02:05.319 And we talked about different things. 00:02:05.780 --> 00:02:10.259 And pretty soon it became apparent when I asked him, what are you going to do about this? 00:02:10.459 --> 00:02:14.299 And he said, well, I don't see anything I can do about it. 00:02:14.300 --> 00:02:23.020 He said, it's not what I want, but I'm going to be faithful to my commitment, and we're just going to hang in there until the end. 00:02:23.640 --> 00:02:29.840 And I thought to myself, man, that's really and truly sad because this guy had lots of years of life left. 00:02:30.380 --> 00:02:35.680 And yet it became apparent he had come to the place in his life where he was simply going to settle. 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:42.939 Now, when you take that illustration and you apply it to people's prayer lives, I want to tell you, I think there's a lot of similarity. 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:49.280 I think there are a lot of believers out there who, when they first became a Christian, someone told them, you need to pray. 00:02:49.420 --> 00:02:53.680 And so they began to pray, and people told them how to pray, and they followed that routine. 00:02:54.100 --> 00:03:01.300 And they prayed, but after a while, they didn't see answer to the prayer the way they thought they might see an answer. 00:03:01.300 --> 00:03:09.400 And so like that man in his marriage, a lot of people have just come to the place where they've said, well, this is just how it is. 00:03:09.640 --> 00:03:13.280 And they don't have great expectation for prayer. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:16.500 And so they've come to the place they've just simply settled. 00:03:17.160 --> 00:03:24.120 And a lot of that, I believe, is the product of not persisting in prayer passionately. 00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:28.539 So look with me to Matthew chapter 7 and verse 7. 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:34.680 This is a part of the Sermon on the Mount, and this is what Jesus says about prayer. 00:03:35.219 --> 00:03:40.480 Keep asking, he writes, and it will be given to you. 00:03:41.180 --> 00:03:44.819 Keep searching, and you will find. 00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:51.040 Keep knocking, and the door will be opened unto you. 00:03:51.039 --> 00:04:00.079 So the first thing Jesus tells us is that we're to pray with passion and with persistence. 00:04:00.939 --> 00:04:06.599 And he uses these three words, and I don't know about you, but when I was somewhere along their age, 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:08.979 the age of some of these older ones up here earlier, 00:04:09.819 --> 00:04:13.039 first verse I ever memorized in the scripture was Matthew 7, 7. 00:04:13.099 --> 00:04:13.840 It was this verse. 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:21.560 And in those days, we used the King James Version, and it talked about asking and seeking and knocking, right? 00:04:21.939 --> 00:04:25.500 Well, today they've changed those words slightly in the modern translations, 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:30.160 and that's asking and searching and knocking. 00:04:30.980 --> 00:04:33.399 We look at those, and we have a tendency to think, 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:37.600 well, you know, that's just said three times a little differently, 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:40.620 but really it's the gist of the same thing. 00:04:40.620 --> 00:04:47.280 And there's great similarity between asking and seeking or searching and knocking. 00:04:47.899 --> 00:04:53.319 But I want you to see there's also a pretty substantial difference between each of those words, 00:04:53.639 --> 00:04:56.959 and even when you talk about any of those words individually, 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:02.300 there's a wide spectrum of ways that you can do that. 00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:04.579 For instance, let's start with that first word. 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:08.019 He says, ask, and it shall be given you. 00:05:08.019 --> 00:05:13.959 There's a lot of ways we can ask, and we can ask in a lot of different fashions at a lot of different levels. 00:05:14.519 --> 00:05:18.759 How many of you have ever asked something out of just idle curiosity? 00:05:19.719 --> 00:05:22.339 I mean, you're hearing somebody tell about something, 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:26.399 and it's not that you have a probing interest or that you're nosy 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:28.839 or you really got to know what's going on there, 00:05:29.099 --> 00:05:33.379 but you just find it interesting and curiously you ask them a question. 00:05:33.379 --> 00:05:37.879 And sometimes, as soon as you ask that innocent question, 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:42.459 you find out, boy, you've stepped into something that somebody didn't want to tell you about, right? 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:46.379 And so they kind of climb up, and they kind of let you know that subject's off limits, 00:05:46.519 --> 00:05:51.000 and you just quickly back away, and you really didn't mean to step over the line. 00:05:51.139 --> 00:05:54.139 You were just asking out of idle curiosity. 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:57.719 And then there are times you ask, and you really do want an answer. 00:05:57.860 --> 00:05:59.100 It's not life-threatening. 00:05:59.399 --> 00:06:02.719 It's not going to be life-altering, but you just want to answer, right? 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:06.220 You say, can you tell me where the bread is here in this grocery store? 00:06:06.620 --> 00:06:09.320 Can you tell me where the ice cream counter is? 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:11.720 Can you tell me how much this costs? 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:14.640 Can you give me directions to some place? 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:16.460 You just need the information. 00:06:16.760 --> 00:06:17.640 It's no big deal. 00:06:17.760 --> 00:06:20.440 You want it, and you simply ask. 00:06:21.140 --> 00:06:26.440 And boy, there are other times when you really, really do ask. 00:06:26.760 --> 00:06:28.680 I mean, you need somebody's help. 00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:34.180 You're in a bind, and you really ask in an intense fashion. 00:06:34.819 --> 00:06:35.639 And here's what I found. 00:06:35.699 --> 00:06:40.259 When we really need help, and we really do ask somebody for something, 00:06:40.740 --> 00:06:45.220 sometimes if it's life-threatening, we just blurt it out, and we get to it. 00:06:45.780 --> 00:06:49.019 But sometimes if it's one of those things we need, and we need it badly, 00:06:49.819 --> 00:06:53.100 have you ever noticed we can be even embarrassed to ask? 00:06:53.579 --> 00:06:54.980 Any of you ever been that way? 00:06:54.980 --> 00:06:57.780 You're just kind of embarrassed to ask somebody? 00:06:58.480 --> 00:06:59.560 Let me give you an illustration. 00:07:00.180 --> 00:07:01.240 I'm out on Lake Hartwell. 00:07:01.780 --> 00:07:06.120 It's about six, seven years ago, probably six years ago. 00:07:06.660 --> 00:07:11.120 My granddaughter's scout is 10 or 11 years old, and she's with me and my wife, 00:07:11.460 --> 00:07:12.960 and we're on this boat I had. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:17.400 I'm only telling you this because you need to understand the size of the boat. 00:07:17.860 --> 00:07:20.720 It's not a huge boat, but it's a bigger boat than you can paddle. 00:07:20.819 --> 00:07:21.520 It's not a rowboat. 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:24.019 It's about 19 foot long. 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:27.139 It's got a pretty good-sized engine on the back. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:32.979 It's fiberglass in weight, and we're just out cruising around the lake having a good time. 00:07:33.079 --> 00:07:34.959 Had a house down there on the lake at that time. 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:36.579 Lived down there about 13 years. 00:07:37.060 --> 00:07:38.620 And so we're just having a good time. 00:07:38.939 --> 00:07:40.279 My granddaughter's 10 years old. 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:46.019 We're cruising around, and all of a sudden the boat sputters, and it cuts off. 00:07:46.019 --> 00:07:53.379 And we're stranded out here in the middle of Lake Harrell, and we can see the landing, but it's about a mile away. 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:56.719 And so I do what any good man does. 00:07:56.859 --> 00:08:04.419 I go to the back as though I don't really know anything about engines, and I kind of look at it like the answer's going to pop out at me, and it doesn't. 00:08:04.420 --> 00:08:10.720 And so I go back, and I try it again, maybe hit it a time or two, you know, and go and try it, and still nothing happens. 00:08:11.280 --> 00:08:14.420 And so I'm standing there trying to analyze what it possibly could be. 00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:16.040 I make sure I've got gas in the thing. 00:08:16.759 --> 00:08:19.980 And then I scratch my head, and I realize, well, you know, I've got a paddle here. 00:08:20.460 --> 00:08:21.460 It's one of these boats. 00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:22.620 They put a little paddle in there. 00:08:22.660 --> 00:08:24.660 I guess the Coast Guard requires you to have it. 00:08:24.980 --> 00:08:27.020 So you've got a paddle in there about this long, right? 00:08:27.019 --> 00:08:31.500 As heavy as that fiberglass boat is, you're not going to move that thing very far. 00:08:31.719 --> 00:08:39.699 And so I paddle on this side a while, and I'd go to the other side of the boat, and I'd paddle there a while, and I'd paddle over here a while, and I'd go back, and I'd paddle over there a while. 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:48.019 And my little 10-, 11-year-old granddaughter finally looks at me and says, well, Papa, you've got a whistle on that keychain. 00:08:48.659 --> 00:08:49.659 I said, I know that. 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:53.000 He says, why don't you blow it? 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:57.539 That's what it's for, isn't it, to let people know you need help? 00:08:58.500 --> 00:09:00.299 And I said, yeah. 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:03.039 Well, why don't you blow it? 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:05.639 Well, because I don't want to. 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:06.659 I just want to paddle. 00:09:09.059 --> 00:09:16.539 And so I paddle for about 10 minutes, and I'm maybe to the back of the church here, you know, by that time. 00:09:17.460 --> 00:09:20.259 And she says, Papa, I really do think you need to blow that whistle. 00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:24.080 And so I pick up the whistle. 00:09:24.379 --> 00:09:24.939 I look around. 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:27.319 There are boats going by me all the time, right? 00:09:28.139 --> 00:09:29.500 But I'm embarrassed. 00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:30.879 I don't know why. 00:09:31.019 --> 00:09:35.639 I just, I don't want to ask somebody, would you stop what you're doing and tow me to this landing? 00:09:35.779 --> 00:09:36.840 I think I'll just paddle. 00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:40.139 So I paddle a couple more minutes, and I'm sitting at nowhere. 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:45.080 She's just sitting there giving me one of those granddaughter looks like, you know, you need to blow that whistle. 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:48.100 So I said, why don't you blow the whistle? 00:09:48.100 --> 00:09:49.700 So she blows the whistle. 00:09:51.460 --> 00:09:54.980 And it's only about a minute until somebody comes by, and they say, you got rope? 00:09:55.019 --> 00:09:55.540 And I said, yeah. 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:56.940 And I throw them rope, and they tie me up. 00:09:57.200 --> 00:10:00.399 And three minutes later, I'm at the landing, right? 00:10:01.820 --> 00:10:03.740 But I'm fearful about asking. 00:10:04.920 --> 00:10:07.740 And I just wonder at times if all of us are like that. 00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:12.940 We know help's available, but we just hate to ask. 00:10:12.940 --> 00:10:17.700 So Jesus says, you have to ask. 00:10:17.920 --> 00:10:18.640 Keep asking. 00:10:18.740 --> 00:10:19.400 Not just once. 00:10:19.760 --> 00:10:21.440 Keep asking, and it will be given to you. 00:10:21.720 --> 00:10:24.280 And then he says, keep searching. 00:10:25.300 --> 00:10:26.280 Keep searching. 00:10:26.920 --> 00:10:30.640 Now, again, there are a couple levels of searching, isn't it? 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:35.380 How many of you wives have ever sent your husband to find something, and he actually came back with it, right? 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:36.800 It just doesn't happen. 00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:40.660 Husbands are notoriously bad searchers. 00:10:40.959 --> 00:10:42.939 Children and grandchildren are even worse. 00:10:43.019 --> 00:10:44.579 I think they learned from their dads, right? 00:10:45.219 --> 00:10:48.279 My granddaughter, Scott, knew I needed to blow that whistle, but I want to tell you something. 00:10:48.959 --> 00:10:55.279 She couldn't find an object in a room that you told her how to get there and find it if it had a flashing light on it, right? 00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:57.279 She's just incapable. 00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:02.740 And I've watched her before, and I'll say, it's in there on that table, and she'll walk in there, and she'll kind of do this thing when she was younger. 00:11:02.839 --> 00:11:03.620 She would just kind of go. 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:09.779 And she's looked at it, and then she looks at it again, and then she looks at it again, and then she'll come back and say, 00:11:09.779 --> 00:11:11.360 I couldn't find it. 00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:12.779 You ever had that happen? 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:19.559 There's that kind of searching when you don't have much interest in it, when it's just something somebody tells you to do, 00:11:19.699 --> 00:11:22.500 and you're just half-heartedly looking for that object. 00:11:22.980 --> 00:11:23.939 But let me ask you this. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:27.919 You moms ever been in the mall with your daughter or your son? 00:11:28.419 --> 00:11:33.779 They're three or four or five years old, and you turn to look at a dress, and you turn back around, and they're gone? 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:37.919 Boy, you remember that sense of panic that comes over you? 00:11:38.419 --> 00:11:44.860 And you quickly drop what you're doing, and you start looking, and if you don't find them within about 30, 45 seconds, what do you do? 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:46.779 You're calling their name out. 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:54.699 You feel a little bit embarrassed, but you're calling their name out, and pretty soon you're enlisting the help of others to help you find that child 00:11:54.699 --> 00:11:57.000 because, man, you don't want them to go missing. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:12:05.419 About five years before I retired, I got a secretary who is in another office and came into our part of the office complex, 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:14.940 and she said, Pastor Gene, her husband, has just called, and he's got an elderly father who has Alzheimer's, 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:17.940 and he's wandered off this morning, and they can't find him. 00:12:18.740 --> 00:12:24.320 And he wondered if you could rally some men to go to that part of town and help look for that man. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:30.260 And so I said, of course, and about 10 minutes later, there were 15 of us, and we're on our way over to that part of town, 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:34.440 the west side of Greenville, and we get over there, and we had a little map, and we said, 00:12:34.520 --> 00:12:42.580 you take this street, and I'll take this one, and we divide out the area, and we looked for about five hours as intensely as we could look. 00:12:42.800 --> 00:12:48.300 And finally, they found him several blocks from his home behind a church laying out there on the grass. 00:12:48.380 --> 00:12:50.440 He was okay, did all right, but I'm going to tell you something. 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:55.700 That was a frantic search because we knew this man's life is on the line. 00:12:56.100 --> 00:13:00.020 Jesus says, when you pray, search like that. 00:13:01.140 --> 00:13:04.080 Jesus says, when you pray, ask. 00:13:04.880 --> 00:13:05.580 Keep asking. 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:06.820 Keep searching. 00:13:07.340 --> 00:13:09.660 And then he says, knock. 00:13:10.400 --> 00:13:13.520 Not just knock, but keep knocking. 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:18.380 Now, I don't know if you've ever thought about this or not, but there are different levels of knocking too. 00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:19.700 Did you know that? 00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:21.720 We don't always knock the same. 00:13:22.800 --> 00:13:29.280 Sometimes you're selling something, or you're taking a survey, or you're out on church visitation, and you're new at this. 00:13:29.780 --> 00:13:32.640 I've been with folks, and you go into the door. 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:35.840 He said, here's a family that's visited our church, and we're going to go out there and see them. 00:13:36.100 --> 00:13:38.660 And it's new to somebody, and they're a little bit afraid. 00:13:38.780 --> 00:13:39.759 Can you identify with that? 00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:41.680 And you know how they knock when they go to the door? 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:42.740 I see them do this. 00:13:42.740 --> 00:13:42.759 I see them do this. 00:13:48.040 --> 00:13:49.300 Pastor, I don't think they're here. 00:13:49.299 --> 00:13:49.819 Let's go. 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:52.079 Right? 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:55.159 Because they don't want them to be there, right? 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:57.159 Because they're scared. 00:13:57.740 --> 00:13:58.719 That's one way to knock. 00:13:58.939 --> 00:14:02.559 And then, of course, there's that time you're invited to somebody's house, right? 00:14:02.659 --> 00:14:04.179 And they're your friends, and you know them. 00:14:04.479 --> 00:14:07.439 You're not timid about that, but you're not going to tear the door down. 00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:08.120 You go to the door. 00:14:08.199 --> 00:14:09.639 If they don't have a doorbell, you know what you do? 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:10.579 You knock about like this. 00:14:10.620 --> 00:14:10.859 You go. 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:13.560 And you stand back, and you're waiting. 00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:17.659 Pretty soon, they open the door, and they greet you, and you go in, and you have a wonderful time together. 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:19.560 But there's another kind of knocking. 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:21.360 We don't see it very often. 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:22.700 You may have never seen it. 00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:29.800 December 2016, about two months before I retired. 00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:34.879 It's 2 o'clock in the morning, two weeks before Christmas, almost exactly. 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:45.360 My wife and I are in bed asleep, and the front door from our house is about from here to that double door leading out of the church to where our bedroom is. 00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:53.259 Well, 2 o'clock in the morning, all of a sudden, the loudest pounding you can imagine, and it's like this. 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:56.179 Not quite like this, but much louder. 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:03.460 And it goes on and on. 00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:06.740 And it lasted for at least two to three minutes. 00:15:07.660 --> 00:15:09.000 We are suddenly awakened. 00:15:09.400 --> 00:15:12.639 It frightens us, scares us, and it just won't let up. 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:15.740 And you can tell it's more than one person pounding at the door. 00:15:16.379 --> 00:15:17.960 You think, is the house on fire? 00:15:18.660 --> 00:15:19.800 What in the world is wrong? 00:15:19.920 --> 00:15:20.700 You jump up. 00:15:20.800 --> 00:15:21.600 We put on clothes. 00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:22.440 We get to the door. 00:15:22.540 --> 00:15:28.300 And when I got to the door, here stands a man and a woman and his two daughters, college-age daughters that I all know. 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:32.180 She's been a person who was on our staff at one point in time. 00:15:32.179 --> 00:15:38.799 I open the door, and they rush into the door, and they all throw their arms around me simultaneously. 00:15:39.599 --> 00:15:40.779 And they're sobbing. 00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:43.219 And their face says, something horrible has happened. 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:57.000 And they tell me their 19-year-old son, they just learned a few minutes earlier, their 19-year-old son coming from Charleston was run over by a transfer truck on 385. 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:59.639 It's immediately taken his life. 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:05.360 And they're looking at me, and they're telling me this, and they're saying, Pastor, what do we do? 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:06.720 What do we do? 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:08.039 What do we do? 00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:10.000 They're frantic. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:14.320 And they're needing answers, and they're wanting help. 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:16.539 Now, here's my question to you. 00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:20.360 When you pray, do you pray like that? 00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:31.120 Can you imagine what it would take you, what would have to happen for you to go to someone's home in the middle of the night, 2 in the morning, 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:36.360 and just pound incessantly, unashamedly, as hard as you could, at a door? 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:40.340 Can you imagine the state of emergency you have to be in to do that? 00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:42.960 Have you ever prayed like that? 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:54.540 Because I have a feeling when Jesus says, ask and keep asking, and search and keep searching, and knock and keep knocking, 00:16:55.600 --> 00:17:01.180 he's not talking about those entry levels of asking and searching and knocking. 00:17:02.180 --> 00:17:07.059 He's talking about that person who just persistently ask and ask and ask, 00:17:07.380 --> 00:17:11.079 and that person who searches and they turn it upside down, they're looking everywhere, 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:15.480 and that person who goes to that door and they just pound and pound and pound and say, 00:17:15.919 --> 00:17:21.399 I cannot be turned away, I need your help, please, please, please come and help me. 00:17:22.659 --> 00:17:25.039 I want you to notice the second thing in this passage. 00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:34.759 He promises us in verse 8, there will be an answer, but it will only come when we persist. 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:36.119 Look at verse 8. 00:17:36.119 --> 00:17:50.299 The one who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and the one who knocks, someone will open the door for him. 00:17:51.239 --> 00:17:55.919 I'm going to make a simple, short statement about this, and I hope you'll listen carefully. 00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:59.039 When I read that, it's so assertive. 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:02.779 Jesus says, the one who asks will receive. 00:18:02.779 --> 00:18:05.899 The one who searches will find. 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:09.559 The one who knocks, it will be given to him. 00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:13.319 I'm going to shock you when I say this, but I'm going to tell you something. 00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:15.779 Only two things I know to say about that. 00:18:15.899 --> 00:18:20.240 Either Jesus told a lie, or that's the truth. 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:26.859 I mean, either Jesus just exaggerated or told an outright lie, 00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:31.200 or that must be the absolute truth. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:34.059 There's no in-between for that statement. 00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:35.700 He says that to us. 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:36.980 If you ask, you'll receive. 00:18:37.120 --> 00:18:38.160 If you seek, you'll find. 00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:40.539 If you knock, it's going to be opened unto you. 00:18:40.600 --> 00:18:41.960 So is he right? 00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:44.660 Or did he just exaggerate? 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.319 Is that a lie? 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:48.720 Well, if he lied to us, I want to tell you something. 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:51.500 There's not any reason in the world for you to ever pray again, 00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:56.259 because God is not there, and he doesn't listen, and he won't answer even if he could. 00:18:56.259 --> 00:19:01.720 Or what he said was truth, and I believe it is. 00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:05.519 And if it is, then I want to ask you something. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:11.140 Why in the world wouldn't we pray in that fashion? 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:14.119 How foolish is it? 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:17.779 It's just like me on that boat with the whistle there and not blowing it. 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:19.720 He's saying there's help available. 00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:20.240 You know what? 00:19:20.379 --> 00:19:21.379 I just refuse to. 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:23.079 I'm not going to ask like that. 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:25.059 I'm not going to ask persistently. 00:19:25.159 --> 00:19:26.039 I'm not going to seek. 00:19:26.139 --> 00:19:27.220 I'm not going to knock. 00:19:28.139 --> 00:19:31.839 And that's altogether foolish to have that mentality. 00:19:32.899 --> 00:19:35.039 Here's the third and final thing I want to say to you today. 00:19:35.699 --> 00:19:40.799 There is a sensible rationale for why God will be faithful in answering. 00:19:41.159 --> 00:19:42.019 And you know what that is? 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:44.720 We are his children, and he loves us. 00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:46.879 Now look at what he says in verses 9 to 11. 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:53.380 What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 00:19:54.520 --> 00:19:57.580 Or if he asks for fish, will give him a snake? 00:19:58.420 --> 00:20:02.220 If you then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, 00:20:02.580 --> 00:20:08.240 how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him? 00:20:09.100 --> 00:20:16.180 Jesus lays out the rationale for this bold, assertive statement he makes about God answering prayer. 00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:19.500 He says, listen, why wouldn't God answer prayer? 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:21.600 Think about it, he says. 00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:24.420 Those who are dads know this. 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:28.759 If your son comes to you and says, hey, dad, I'm hungry. 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:30.680 Could you give me some bread? 00:20:32.100 --> 00:20:36.279 What dad is there that says, no, but I tell you what, I have a pile of rocks I'll give you. 00:20:37.560 --> 00:20:44.220 Or he says, son comes and says, dad, could you give me some fish? 00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:44.940 I'm hungry. 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:48.720 And he says, no, but how about a snake? 00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:52.559 There's not a dad in the room that does that kind of thing. 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:58.460 Truth of the matter is, every one of us who are dads or moms for that matter, 00:20:59.100 --> 00:21:02.039 we want to give to our kids, don't we? 00:21:02.320 --> 00:21:05.779 I know at times I think they think, no, dad doesn't want to give to me. 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:09.640 He's stingy or he's wanting to hold out on it. 00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:15.259 But I want to tell you something, almost every dad I meet, they're generous with their kids and their grandkids. 00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:16.480 And here's what I found. 00:21:16.560 --> 00:21:18.440 If they can do it, they will do it. 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:23.220 If they know it's good and in the best interest of the child. 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:27.960 There have been times I've looked at my son or daughter and said, no, I won't do that. 00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:29.740 Well, can you afford to do it? 00:21:29.840 --> 00:21:31.220 Yeah, I can afford to do it. 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:34.440 But I know this, it's not in your best interest that I do that. 00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:36.819 That's not something you really need. 00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:38.120 It's going to be harmful to you. 00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:39.140 It's going to be hurtful to you. 00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:40.380 So no, I won't do it. 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:41.400 But I'm going to tell you something. 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:47.700 If it's in their best interest, if it's good for them, there's not a man in this room, I would guess, 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:49.700 who would say, I have the means. 00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:51.079 I know it would be good for my child. 00:21:51.100 --> 00:21:51.640 But you know what? 00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:54.259 I just want to withhold from them. 00:21:54.840 --> 00:21:56.020 We're exactly the opposite. 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:57.640 God's built us in a different fashion. 00:21:58.060 --> 00:22:03.900 Even among lost people, not just people who are believers, dads want to do good. 00:22:04.120 --> 00:22:05.860 But recognize this about us. 00:22:06.360 --> 00:22:08.600 Every dad in the room, I don't care how good a dad you are. 00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:10.700 I don't care how fine a Christian you are. 00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.340 You're evil. 00:22:13.320 --> 00:22:14.700 You're not completely evil. 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:17.480 You do some good things, but you know this. 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:19.700 You've got an evil nature to you. 00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:23.940 You know that you can be self-absorbed and you can be selfish just like I can. 00:22:24.840 --> 00:22:26.500 And so Jesus says this. 00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:32.240 If you guys who are dads can give good things to your children and you're evil, 00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:34.600 think about our Heavenly Father. 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:35.500 He's not evil. 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:37.259 He's perfectly righteous. 00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.519 He's perfectly good. 00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:40.360 He has everything. 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:42.000 Everything's at his disposal. 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:45.319 He owns everything that exists because he made it all. 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:50.619 So if you ask him, why in the world would he want to withhold from you if it's in your best interest? 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:52.939 It just doesn't make sense. 00:22:53.859 --> 00:23:00.240 And so Jesus says the problem in our praying is that we're not persistent. 00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:04.740 Now I want you to turn to one last passage and we'll go home. 00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:06.759 Look with me to Luke chapter 18. 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.799 Luke chapter 18. 00:23:09.679 --> 00:23:11.759 And I want you to look at verse 1 through 8. 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:13.519 I'm not going to explain this parable. 00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:15.180 It's self-explanatory. 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:20.259 But I want you to just look at it and read it and hear what Jesus says. 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:22.319 This is the parable he gives on persistence. 00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.900 Luke 18 verse 1. 00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:30.099 Then he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not to become discouraged. 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:33.700 Any of you ever get discouraged in praying? 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.240 Anybody here? 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:36.160 Boy, I have. 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:42.800 There was a judge in one town who didn't fear God or respect man. 00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:47.860 A widow in that town kept coming to him saying, 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:50.100 Give me justice against my adversary. 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:53.700 For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, 00:23:54.100 --> 00:23:56.840 Even though I don't fear God or respect man, 00:23:57.460 --> 00:24:00.740 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:06.440 I will give her justice so she doesn't wear me out by her persistent coming. 00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:07.920 Then the Lord said, 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:11.079 Listen to what the unjust judge says. 00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:16.640 Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? 00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:19.559 Will he delay to help them? 00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:23.160 I tell you, he will swiftly grant them justice. 00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:26.160 Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, 00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:29.500 will he find that faith on earth? 00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:36.180 Jesus is telling us to persist in prayer. 00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:41.380 I want to tell you one story, and I close the message. 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:44.579 How many of you know the name Bob Goff? 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:47.559 G-O-F-F, Bob Goff. 00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:49.019 Any of you ever heard that name? 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:50.640 Anybody here? 00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:53.079 I see one or two back here. 00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:55.279 He's written a couple books. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:58.079 One is called Love Does. 00:24:58.079 --> 00:25:04.240 In this book, he says, in essence, that if you love, it's not something you say. 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:05.579 It's something you do. 00:25:06.139 --> 00:25:09.339 Now, I don't recommend a lot of books because I'm not a big, big, big reader. 00:25:09.899 --> 00:25:14.559 So if a book, if I read a book on taste, it's a good, good book, okay? 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.099 Write that down. 00:25:16.199 --> 00:25:17.740 Go home and order it today on Amazon. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:19.980 It'll be one of the best books you've ever read. 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:21.279 It's a short, easy read. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:21.839 It's funny. 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:23.200 You'll laugh yourself sick. 00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:26.799 It's called Love Does, Bob Goff. 00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:27.579 You're not writing. 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.720 You need to be writing, okay? 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:31.660 Love Does, Bob Goff. 00:25:31.899 --> 00:25:32.839 Go home, buy that book. 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.500 True story. 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:36.599 Here's what happened to Bob Goff. 00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:39.039 He's a West Coaster, right? 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:41.639 He's about my age. 00:25:42.520 --> 00:25:43.920 He lives on the West Coast. 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:53.720 Years and years ago, he goes to college after finishing high school, just does mediocre work all through high school, all through college. 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:55.480 His parents are educators. 00:25:55.620 --> 00:25:57.960 They keep saying, Bob, you need to get serious about your studies. 00:25:58.640 --> 00:25:59.980 Bob doesn't get serious about his studies. 00:26:00.120 --> 00:26:03.580 I guess he probably knew, to be honest, he's a pretty smart guy. 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:07.780 And so he just thought he could just wing it, get through school the best he can. 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:10.520 He goes to high school, just makes subpar grades. 00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:12.660 Goes to college, just gets through. 00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:15.779 Receives Christ somewhere in his college experience. 00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:17.539 He's devoted to two things. 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:19.839 Young life, if you know about that organization. 00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:22.660 And the other thing is surfing, right? 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.740 He's just a beach bum. 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:29.819 He gets through college, and God speaks to his heart, and God says, Bob, you need to go to law school. 00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:32.119 You need to be an attorney. 00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:39.900 Because if you were an attorney, and you used your gifts in the way you could use your gifts, you could change the world. 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:42.259 So guess what Bob Goff does? 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.779 He goes. 00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:45.619 This guy doesn't lack confidence. 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:49.039 He goes, and he takes the LSAT. 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:53.980 It's the pre-law school test you take to get in and see if you've got the aptitude for it. 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:56.420 He does miserably, okay? 00:26:57.160 --> 00:27:02.119 And so he applies to all the law schools that were on his list, has a long list, applies to all these. 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:06.220 A few weeks later, he gets back rejection letters just by the basket full. 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:08.240 They all say, no, no, no, you can't come. 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:12.700 So he decides, well, which one do I really want to go to of all those on the list? 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:14.839 And here's his favorite law school. 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.640 So it's on the West Coast. 00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:23.400 He goes, makes an appointment to see this dean of the law school one week before classes start. 00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:25.000 He walks into his office. 00:27:25.120 --> 00:27:26.579 The guy seats him. 00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:29.640 He says, I applied to your law school, but y'all rejected me. 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:34.980 And he said, I just came to make a personal appeal to you because I think I'd make a great lawyer. 00:27:35.380 --> 00:27:36.579 Guy says, why do you want to be a lawyer? 00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:38.480 He says, is it because of the money? 00:27:38.599 --> 00:27:39.879 No, I want to change the world. 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:43.960 And God's told me that I could change the world if I would just become a lawyer. 00:27:44.199 --> 00:27:45.419 So I need to go to law school. 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:48.039 He says, well, he's looking at his transcript. 00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:51.159 I'm sure you're a fine young man. 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:52.659 I'm sure you've got a lot of abilities. 00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:55.879 You can't come to this law school. 00:27:56.220 --> 00:28:00.019 We just can't bend our policies to allow you in. 00:28:00.659 --> 00:28:02.199 He says, but thank you for coming. 00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:03.299 And there are a lot of other schools. 00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:06.159 And maybe there's a school out there who would let you in. 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:07.460 He doesn't think so, but maybe. 00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:09.039 And he shows him to the door. 00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:10.259 But he's very polite to him. 00:28:11.139 --> 00:28:14.180 So he works that day, the dean does. 00:28:14.639 --> 00:28:20.019 And when he goes out for lunch, they've got a bench just like this right outside the dean's office. 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.480 And guess who's sitting there? 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:23.599 Bob Goff sitting on that bench. 00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:26.960 And so he walks by and he says, can I help you? 00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:27.779 Was there something else? 00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:28.559 And he said, no, sir. 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:31.899 He said, I just wanted to remind you of one thing. 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:32.700 He says, what that? 00:28:33.399 --> 00:28:38.879 He says, you can change this whole thing by saying four words. 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:42.859 The dean looks at him curiously and he says, what are those four words? 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.899 Go buy your books. 00:28:44.919 --> 00:28:47.759 He says, well, I'm sorry I'd like to, but I can't. 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.839 So he goes on to lunch. 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:53.440 When he comes back, he fully expects Bob Goff will be gone. 00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:53.919 But guess what? 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:55.500 Bob Goff's still sitting on that bench. 00:28:55.500 --> 00:29:01.960 When he comes walking by, just as he gets up to him, he says, you can say those four words and it'll change everything. 00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:05.000 He says, go buy your books. 00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:09.160 And dean smiles and walks on in his office. 00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:11.240 That day he leaves. 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:14.160 When he leaves to go home, Bob Goff's sitting there. 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:17.299 He looks at him, just say those four words. 00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:19.539 Dean smiles, walks home. 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:21.039 So he goes home. 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:22.559 He tells his wife about it and all I could. 00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:23.640 The next day he comes to work. 00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.160 Guess what? 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:26.100 Bob Goff's sitting on that bench. 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:29.279 Now he's a little bit annoyed, right? 00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:31.779 But he thinks this guy is really persistent. 00:29:32.560 --> 00:29:33.600 He walks in his office. 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.620 He comes out for lunch. 00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.600 There's Bob Goff. 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:38.840 He goes away to lunch, comes back. 00:29:39.080 --> 00:29:40.080 There's Bob Goff. 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:42.100 The next day he comes to work. 00:29:42.340 --> 00:29:43.360 Bob Goff's still sitting there. 00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:44.800 Just say those four words. 00:29:45.860 --> 00:29:47.560 Guy grins, goes in his office. 00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:51.540 He does that for seven days and finally school starts. 00:29:52.080 --> 00:29:52.279 Okay? 00:29:52.540 --> 00:29:53.779 Law school starts. 00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:57.600 He thinks now this guy will be gone because he sees he's not getting in. 00:29:58.220 --> 00:30:00.200 First day of classes, Bob Goff's sitting there. 00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:02.759 Second day of classes, Bob Goff's sitting there. 00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:05.000 Third day of classes, Bob Goff's sitting there. 00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:07.900 Fourth day of classes, Bob Goff's sitting there. 00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:11.660 Fifth day of classes, a whole week now, Bob Goff's sitting there. 00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:13.540 He thinks, well, that's over. 00:30:13.540 --> 00:30:18.340 The next week, second week, first day, Bob Goff's sitting there. 00:30:18.339 --> 00:30:22.699 When he walks by, and this time, he's really perturbed. 00:30:22.899 --> 00:30:26.179 Why don't you just go do anything but get out of my office? 00:30:26.379 --> 00:30:30.959 And so he comes walking by, and Bob Goff looks at him and says, just say those four words. 00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:36.420 He walks on past him, and just as he gets to his door, he turns around and looks at him. 00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:38.960 He says, go buy your books. 00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:43.160 He graduates from that law school. 00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:50.079 He is now a professor at Pepperdine University and is the pro-council of the Ugandan government, 00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:55.720 where he has saved tons and tons and tons of abused children from wix doctors. 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:59.199 He has changed the world. 00:31:00.399 --> 00:31:06.039 The whole reason I tell you that is, that's what persistence looks like. 00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:09.539 Are you persistent in praying? 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:16.279 There's a prayer that my wife and I have been praying for nearly 50 years. 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:20.619 We're seeing God right now begin to answer that prayer. 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:28.180 We believe in the next week or two, I'm going to be able to tell you something that God has done in answer to that prayer. 00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:33.839 We've been praying that prayer nearly 50 years, day in and day out. 00:31:35.099 --> 00:31:37.000 Are you persistent in your praying? 00:31:38.639 --> 00:31:39.839 Let's bow together in prayer. 00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:46.180 Father, I pray that we'd recognize that prayer is not something we do. 00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:46.920 Hit and miss. 00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:51.160 That it's not something we just throw a little effort at every now and then. 00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:53.799 That it's not something we do to feel good about ourselves. 00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:59.099 That we don't just pray for the psychological value. 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:03.740 But that we believe that you are the creator of the earth. 00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:06.299 The maker of all things. 00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:08.859 All power is in your hand. 00:32:08.859 --> 00:32:15.279 And Lord, when we come into your presence, when we bombard heaven, we believe because of your love for us. 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:18.439 Because you are a good and righteous God. 00:32:19.419 --> 00:32:20.939 That you will move. 00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:26.879 And Father, I pray that even now people would not give up in prayer. 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:32.439 That right here in this room, you'd awaken and renew a spirit of the need to pray. 00:32:32.919 --> 00:32:34.219 Please, oh God, do that. 00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:38.299 For we make this prayer in Christ's name and for his sake alone. 00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:39.440 Amen.