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Mark 11:20-25 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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And amen. Please take out your copy of God's Word. Turn to the Gospel according to Mark chapter 11.
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As you're getting there, let me just by way of reminder, as I saw so many new precious little faces down front,
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we're very happy to have children in the service with us, but it's a work in progress, isn't it?
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And it's a challenge. It takes some sacrifice on everyone's part.
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For those of you without children, the great work ahead of us is to learn to be okay with kids
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because kids are not wired like we are, and they haven't quite yet learned what it looks like to sit perfectly quietly in a setting like this.
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So embrace kids, love kids, and love them for some of their oddities and their challenges as well.
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So for parents, it takes some sensitivity to that also.
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Recognize as parents, we get this really amazing skill as parents to tune out, to totally check out what's happening with our kids.
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It's pretty amazing how your child can be hitting you on the leg and saying your name over and over again.
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You just check them out, right, all together.
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It's harder for single people without children to do that thing.
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So remember that and be sensitive in that.
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It's a work in progress to have kids with us in here.
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Sam and I work really diligently with Cade and Judah.
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We practice at home.
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We have book time.
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We make them sit and be quiet.
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It takes a lot.
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And even still, my wife mostly has the burden placed on her.
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I think she's chuckling because there's some challenges going on even right now.
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But we do have some space across the hall for that.
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So if it's time to step out, that's a place that you can bring a little more stern discipline.
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You can, as I used to do with Cade and Judah, stick your two fingers in their collarbone.
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Be quiet.
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You can do that over there a little more easily than over here.
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I would encourage you to that because it does take work.
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I wish they would magically sit still and quiet, but it does take a work.
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It's amazing.
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I've discovered by the grace of God what I can preach through, but I'm not too sure about people's threshold for listening.
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So let's be sensitive to that.
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Mark chapter 11.
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I'm going to begin reading to you in verse 20, and we'll read through 25.
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As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.
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And Peter remembered and said to him, Rabbi, look, the fig tree that you cursed has withered.
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And Jesus answered them, have faith in God.
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Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be taken up and thrown into the sea and does not doubt in his heart,
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but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.
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Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.
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And whenever you stand praying, forgive.
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If you have anything against anyone so that your father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
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This is God's word to us written for his glory and our good.
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We would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
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Let's pray together.
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Father God, we do thank you today for your word to us.
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And I thank you, Father, for the church, this unique institution in the world that you have called out of darkness,
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a people who were once not a people and you have made us a people.
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And you have given us the task of gathering together and opening your word and having it applied to our lives.
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This application is a supernatural thing.
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The great miracle in preaching is not that I even managed to get up here and say things for the length of time,
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although that is a miracle in itself.
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The real miracle is the way in which you apply your word to our hearts.
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So I would ask this day, Father, because of your graciousness,
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because we know that you love your people and we know that you're zealous for your glory,
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that you will make us more like Christ to that great end.
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And we pray this in his name.
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Amen.
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So we looked last week at a rather remarkable event in the ministry of Jesus when he has gone into Jerusalem
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and he cleanses the temple.
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He goes in and he turns over the tables and he runs out the money changers.
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But prior to that, he cursed a fig tree.
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We saw on his journey into town, this is by my very best intellect, Tuesday of the Passion Week.
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He's entered Jerusalem for the first time on Monday.
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We now see him, verse 11, he's returned to Bethany.
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Now he's coming back into town on Tuesday and he's hungry and he sees a fig tree from far off and it's in leaf.
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And so it's probable in the life of the fig tree that it should have had unripened fruit on it.
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But it doesn't.
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And he uses this as an opportunity not to exert his power over creation in some kind of spiteful manner against the fig tree.
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But he uses it as an opportunity to show the disciples the coming judgment for the fruitlessness of Israel.
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And that's driven home for us as the story of him cleansing the temple is sandwiched in between,
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is bookended with the resulting words of the disciples concerning that very fig tree,
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which we see in verse 20 and verse 21.
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So this is Wednesday of the Passion Week.
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Jesus will be crucified on Friday.
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We will spend the next four to five months in this period of time in Jesus' ministry in the Gospel according to Mark.
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Much will happen.
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He's packing it in.
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He's giving the very last teaching.
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They have yet to realize this is the event that's going to happen at the end of the week,
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but he's fully aware of it.
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He knows what's about to come.
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And he's trying to impart to them all of the final truths they must understand.
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The lesson before us today is primarily a lesson about prayer.
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We certainly see his response in verse 22,
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have faith in God,
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and we could readily make it primarily about faith,
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but it is about prayer which is fueled by faith.
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Now, the disciples, their lives before encountering Jesus,
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being called by Him and following Him for the three-ish years that they followed Him,
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would not have been devoid of prayer.
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This was not a new thing.
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This wasn't that they were not praying,
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and now they knew that they were supposed to be praying.
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The New Testament people of God prayed to God.
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The Israelites prayed to God.
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There's an Old Testament record of so many precious and beautiful prayers,
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which we'll look at some of them today as an example for the way we should pray.
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But perhaps their prayer lives had faltered as of late.
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Perhaps they had ceased praying the way they ought to be praying
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because they were spending all of their time with Jesus.
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They had all of their needs met by Him.
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They were close and underneath the leadership of the Christ.
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They had lived with the provision and the power and the presence of God.
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But Jesus is going to soon leave them.
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This is going to change dramatically in their lives,
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and Jesus wants to say to them here how very, very important prayer is going to be.
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They seem to get this message because after He does leave them,
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what do we find the apostles doing with other disciples of Christ?
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We find them praying.
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We find them asking for the very thing that Jesus promised He would send,
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the Helper.
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And they do receive that.
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They receive God's presence in the form of the Holy Spirit.
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Yet, they still need God's continuing power and provision.
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They have now His presence in the form of the Spirit,
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but they also need His continuing power and provision.
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We find ourselves, beloved, in the same place.
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If you are in Christ, you have the Spirit of Christ.
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You have His presence.
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But we need His provision and we need His power
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if we want to properly honor Him with our lives.
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And this is going to require prayer.
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Do you want to see God move and work in your life?
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Do you want to see Him move and work in the world around you?
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And if you do, and I hope that you do,
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then you will want to pray powerful prayers.
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Now hear me before we get into the particulars
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of what a powerful prayer life looks like,
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that God does not need us.
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He is God, the sovereign, who rules over everything.
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He is Himself self-existent.
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He doesn't need us,
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and nor did He create us in such a way that He needs us.
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God could accomplish what God wants to accomplish
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with or without us.
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But, God loves us.
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And because He loves us,
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He wants to, He desires to include us
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in His purposes and His plans.
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He invites us along as the means to His great end.
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And one of the ways that that happens
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is through prayer.
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So prayer enacts the power of God.
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Prayer is used by God to accomplish His will.
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But He doesn't need us for that.
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Prayer is primarily for us.
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That we might experience Him
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and participate in His goodness to this world.
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So let me give you the outline for this morning
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in brief,
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and then we'll go back and fill in the details.
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And four points this morning.
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Prayer is,
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powerful prayer is,
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historical.
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It is theological.
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It is spiritual.
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And it is practical.
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But firstly,
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powerful prayer is historical.
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And by that,
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I don't mean that people have prayed powerful prayers in the past,
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although they have.
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Many wonderful examples of prayer in the past,
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both in our Old and New Testament,
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as well as beyond,
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many valuable recorded prayers.
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This is not what I mean by powerful prayer being historical.
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We're not taking our lesson here from history.
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But rather,
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look at the way that Peter remembers what Jesus had done.
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Verse 20,
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and then into 21.
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He had cursed the fig tree.
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We find that out in verse 21.
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21,
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because Jesus says in verse 14,
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and he said to it,
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may no one ever eat fruit from you again.
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Jesus said,
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said something.
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And then the very next day,
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they observed that it came to pass.
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Not just that the tree wasn't bearing fruit still,
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but that the tree was dead.
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And here saying withered away to its roots means that it was completely dead.
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There was no life left.
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The thing that Jesus had said,
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no fruit will ever come from you again,
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had certainly come to pass.
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There's this little word in verse 21,
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and Peter remembered.
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He remembered what Jesus had said would be accomplished,
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and here it was accomplished before him.
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So this first component of powerful prayer is to recognize
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that God has put His power on display in the past.
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God has done great things.
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God has accomplished so much.
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And powerful prayer is grounded.
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It is rooted,
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no pun intended,
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in this reality,
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that God has been good,
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and we have record of this.
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Israel is instructed in the Old Testament
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time and time and time again
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to remember.
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In fact,
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all of their festivals,
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all the things they celebrated
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were aimed at them remembering
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the things that God had done
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on their behalf.
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The way that He had preserved them
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by sending them to Egypt to begin with.
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That He had saved the nation in that way.
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That He had delivered them
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from the oppressive hand of the Egyptians,
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which happened some years later.
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That they had passed through the Red Sea
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on dry land and He had destroyed Pharaoh's army
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behind Him.
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That He preserved them in the wilderness
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by bringing manna from heaven,
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water from a rock.
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That He shaded them by day
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in the form of a cloud,
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and He warmed them by night
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in the form of a pillar of fire.
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That they crossed into the promised land
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and they became conquerors in that place.
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That they conquered mighty people
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again and again and again.
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It said to them,
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remember.
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This last week's community group text
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was Isaiah 46,
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verses 8-11,
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which says,
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remember this and stand firm.
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Recall it to mind,
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you transgressors.
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Remember the former things of old.
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For I am God,
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and there is no other.
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I am God,
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and there is none like Me,
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declaring the end from the beginning
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and from ancient times
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things not yet done,
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saying,
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My counsel shall stand,
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and I will accomplish
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all My purpose.
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So God has said to them in Isaiah,
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even as He's about to bring judgment,
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remember the things that I have done.
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I am God.
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Turn with me to Psalm 77.
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Psalm 77.
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In a day of trouble for the psalmist,
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here being Asaph,
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excuse me,
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He asked some questions in verse 8.
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Has steadfast love forever ceased?
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Are His promises at an end for all time?
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Has God forgotten to be gracious?
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Has He in anger shut up His compassion?
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Then I said,
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I will appeal to this.
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So He's not experiencing this present help of the Lord,
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but He says,
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I will appeal to this,
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to the years of the right hand,
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the mighty right hand of the Most High.
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I will remember the deeds of the Lord.
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Yes,
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I will remember Your wonders of old.
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I will ponder all Your work
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and meditate on Your mighty deeds.
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Your way,
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O God,
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is holy.
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What God is great?
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Like our God.
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You are the God who works wonders.
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You have made known Your might among the peoples.
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You with Your arm redeemed Your people,
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the children of Jacob and Joseph.
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When the waters saw You,
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O God,
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when the waters saw You,
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they were afraid.
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Indeed,
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the deep trembled.
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The clouds poured out water.
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The skies gave forth thunder.
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Your arrows flashed on every side.
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The crash of Your thunder was in the whirlwind.
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Your lightnings lighted up the world.
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The earth trembled and shook.
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Your way was through the sea.
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Your path to the great waters.
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Yet Your footprints were unseen.
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You led Your people like a flock
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by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
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And so He casts all of His hope
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back on the sure thing
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that God had already done.
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He had already manifested His goodness
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to the people of Israel
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in this way.
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And this is a great encouragement
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to the heart of Asaph
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in this time.
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In so many ways,
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God has placed Himself on display
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in the Scriptures.
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In so many magnificent ways.
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He's done so in your life as well.
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Remember.
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Remember the things that He's done for you.
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Remember Christ's presence
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power and provision
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in your salvation.
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Remember it in your daily needs
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having always been met.
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We sit here together
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because of God's graciousness to us.
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We've always had
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all that we've needed
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whether you think so or not.
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you have had your needs met.
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You have seen, likely,
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God work in countless particular ways.
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Little things accomplished
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on your behalf.
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Things that you prayed for.
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Things that troubled you
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that were little
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and momentary
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and light.
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And God came through
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on your behalf.
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This is true for me as well.
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We so readily forget them though.
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We encourage you to journal
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what's happening in your life
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through prayer
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that you might remember
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some of these things.
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I was able yesterday
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to participate in a wedding
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for Daniel Gentry
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who's a member of our church
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and he married a young lady
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by the name of Mackenzie.
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They'll be here in a couple of weeks
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and let me just at this time
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encourage you to
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wrap your arms around her.
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She's leaving behind
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a very precious church family
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and will need our love and support
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in this transition.
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Two springs ago,
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the spring of 2013,
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Daniel and I traveled together
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to Nicaragua
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to look at some potential future work
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for us to do there together.
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And during that time,
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we became very aware
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as we were praying through
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God's future plans for Daniel
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if it was going to be in this place
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that he was going to need a wife.
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It's a very matriarchal society
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and a wife was going to be
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a massive, massive help to him
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down there.
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And so we prayed together
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while we were down there
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that he would provide
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a wife for Daniel.
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And I learned yesterday,
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I didn't know the backstory,
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but I learned yesterday
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that Mackenzie and her father
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kind of had their eyes
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turned towards Daniel
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when he came back
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and got together a bunch of people
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to share this trip
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that he had taken to Nicaragua.
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So when they began to take
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some note of him
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and begin to pay attention.
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So it was a blessing for me
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to get to be part of this wedding
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and it'll be a blessing
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to have Mackenzie here
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because she'll be a reminder
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of God's goodness,
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the way in which he works
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through the prayers of his people.
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I prayed for a godly wife.
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She's here.
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Sam's a reminder to me
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of God's goodness to me
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and the way in which he uses
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my prayers.
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We prayed for children
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and they're here.
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Also God's goodness to us
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in our prayers.
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I shared with you last week
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at the beginning of the service
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in case you didn't hear it
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and maybe just need
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to be reminded of it
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that a couple of weeks ago
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this property,
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a pullout on the street
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was struck by lightning
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and it surged in the building
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and it knocked out the wireless.
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The modem got fried.
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The wireless routers got fried.
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The copier itself got fried.
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And there was a real good chance
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that the copier
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was going to be exorbitantly
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expensive to fix.
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The guy was saying
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somewhere between
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like $600 and $5,000
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to fix it.
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So we called our insurance company.
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We have insurance.
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$1,000 deductible.
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And I shared with you
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that I had some real anxiety
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about that
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and had to confess
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last Monday
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just like,
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Lord, I haven't trusted you for this.
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I haven't come to you
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in prayer for this.
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I have depended on simple numbers,
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right,
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which are fleeting
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and really not that important
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in the large scheme of things.
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And in that process
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to trust God again
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that He knows these things,
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He sent the lightning.
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He knew it was going to happen.
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He knew this very thing.
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And then I share with you
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about this very bizarre check
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that came after this.
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It came on Tuesday.
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Pray on Monday.
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Check shows up on Tuesday.
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From a very obscure source,
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I have been able to confirm
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that from an individual
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that used to attend church here,
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graduated,
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he's gone,
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was kind of involved.
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And his father
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sent us a check
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in the exact amount we needed
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to pay the deductible
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to get all of these things
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all sorted out.
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And so now,
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every time I get on
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the wireless internet
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here at the building,
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it's a reminder
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of God's goodness
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to us.
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Our church
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prayed
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and we've been praying
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for families.
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Families,
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you're an encouragement to me.
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Look around and see
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the way in which
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God uses prayers
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to bring about His will.
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Remember.
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Remember these things.
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This becomes a foundation
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for us
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to plead with God on.
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After Israel is delivered
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from the Philistines,
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one of the times
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they're delivered
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from the Philistines
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in 1 Samuel 7.12.
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Samuel takes a stone
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and he sets it up
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between Mizpah and Shin
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and he called its name
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Ebenezer,
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which means
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stone of remembrance.
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For he said,
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till now,
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the Lord
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has
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helped us.
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You guys familiar
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with that line
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in the song
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Come Thou Fount
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that we sing so often.
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Here I raise
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my Ebenezer.
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Here by thy
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great help
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I've come.
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If you've wondered
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what that's all about,
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Ebenezer is not
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an old man
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who doesn't like Christmas.
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It's a stone
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of remembrance.
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A thing that we can
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go back to
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and recall
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the goodness of God
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to us.
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That He has
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helped us
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thus far.
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And therefore
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we have confidence
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that He will continue
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to do so.
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So powerful prayer
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in this way
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is historical.
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Powerful prayer
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secondly
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is
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theological.
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Jesus answered
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them.
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It seems like
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this was often
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the case that
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Peter was the
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spokesman
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of the apostles.
23:25
So he says
23:26
something and
23:26
Jesus answers
23:27
them.
23:28
Have faith
23:30
in God.
23:32
So the second
23:33
component of prayer
23:34
being theological
23:35
is not the issue
23:37
at hand.
23:38
Not the primary
23:39
issue at hand.
23:40
The very character
23:41
of God
23:43
is.
23:44
Who
23:44
is
23:45
God?
23:47
Powerful prayer
23:48
being historical
23:48
is about what God
23:49
has done
23:50
but who
23:50
is He?
23:53
Do you have
23:54
faith
23:55
or do you
23:56
trust
23:56
God?
23:57
Do you trust
23:58
Him?
24:00
Do you believe
24:00
that He knows
24:01
best?
24:02
Do you trust
24:03
His plans?
24:04
His purposes?
24:06
His ways?
24:07
And His will?
24:08
Do you know
24:09
His plans?
24:11
His purposes?
24:12
His ways?
24:13
His will?
24:14
If you want to
24:16
pray powerful
24:18
prayers
24:18
you're going
24:19
to have to.
24:20
You're going
24:21
to have to.
24:22
When the
24:23
disciples ask
24:23
Jesus how
24:24
they should
24:25
pray
24:25
what does
24:26
He tell
24:27
them?
24:28
Matthew 6
24:28
9 and 10
24:29
Pray then
24:29
like this
24:30
Our Father
24:32
in heaven
24:32
hallowed
24:33
be your
24:34
name
24:34
your
24:35
kingdom
24:36
come
24:36
whose
24:37
will?
24:38
Your
24:38
will be
24:39
done
24:39
on earth
24:40
as it
24:41
is in
24:41
heaven.
24:42
If we want
24:43
to implore
24:44
God
24:45
as Jesus
24:46
instructions
24:46
to pray
24:47
like this
24:48
He doesn't
24:48
say pray
24:49
this
24:49
recite this
24:51
and some
24:51
magic blessing
24:52
will come
24:52
to you
24:53
He says
24:53
pray like
24:54
this
24:54
use this
24:55
as a
24:56
pattern
24:56
pray things
24:57
in the
24:58
will
24:59
of God
25:00
how are
25:01
we to
25:02
know
25:02
what this
25:03
is
25:04
unless
25:04
we know
25:05
God
25:06
we must
25:07
know about
25:08
Him
25:08
we must
25:08
know about
25:09
His plans
25:09
His purposes
25:10
His ways
25:10
therefore we
25:11
can know
25:12
His will
25:12
powerful
25:14
prayer
25:14
recognizes
25:15
God's
25:16
sovereign
25:17
goodness
25:18
His very
25:19
character
25:20
in fact it
25:21
relies
25:22
upon it
25:23
1 John 5
25:25
14
25:26
the apostle
25:28
John says
25:28
and this
25:29
is the
25:29
confidence
25:29
that we
25:30
have
25:30
toward
25:30
Him
25:31
that if
25:32
we ask
25:32
for anything
25:33
according
25:33
to
25:34
His
25:35
will
25:35
He
25:36
hears
25:36
us
25:36
and if
25:37
we know
25:38
that He
25:38
hears
25:38
us
25:38
and whenever
25:38
we ask
25:39
we know
25:39
that we
25:39
have
25:40
the
25:40
request
25:40
that we
25:41
have
25:41
asked
25:42
of
25:43
Him
25:43
powerful
25:44
prayer
25:45
banks
25:46
on God's
25:47
character
25:48
makes
25:48
withdrawals
25:49
from the
25:50
very
25:50
person
25:51
that He
25:52
is
25:53
a little
25:54
while ago
25:55
it's already
25:55
been two
25:56
summers
25:56
now
25:56
we studied
25:57
the great
25:58
Old Testament
25:59
book of
25:59
Nehemiah
26:00
and Nehemiah
26:01
serving as
26:02
the cupbearer
26:03
to King
26:03
Artaxerxes
26:04
the Persian
26:05
king
26:05
Persia
26:06
came
26:06
and overthrew
26:07
Babylon
26:07
remember
26:08
Israel
26:08
was
26:09
overthrown
26:09
by
26:10
and dispersed
26:11
by
26:11
Babylonian
26:12
invasion
26:13
and now
26:13
the power
26:14
has shifted
26:15
and Nehemiah
26:16
hears that
26:17
as the people
26:17
have been
26:17
allowed to
26:18
go back
26:18
they have
26:19
yet to
26:19
rebuild
26:19
the wall
26:20
and this
26:20
greatly
26:20
troubles
26:20
him
26:21
and he
26:21
prays
26:22
a prayer
26:22
because he
26:23
believes
26:24
he needs
26:24
to go be
26:24
part of
26:25
the process
26:25
to bring
26:26
restoration
26:26
to Jerusalem
26:27
but he's
26:29
serving
26:29
this king
26:30
right
26:31
and this
26:32
king
26:32
has said
26:33
some years
26:34
previous
26:35
he's issued
26:35
an edict
26:36
to say
26:37
that the wall
26:37
will not be
26:38
rebuilt
26:38
that he will
26:39
not allow
26:40
them to
26:40
fortify
26:41
the city
26:42
so this
26:43
is what
26:43
confronts
26:44
him
26:44
to go
26:44
to the
26:45
king
26:45
and ask
26:45
for permission
26:46
to go
26:47
back
26:47
we later
26:48
find out
26:48
he actually
26:48
asked for
26:49
a line
26:50
of credit
26:50
to actually
26:51
be able
26:51
to do
26:52
this very
26:52
thing
26:52
and the
26:53
way he
26:53
begins
26:54
his prayer
26:55
to God
26:55
makes
26:56
this very
26:57
point
26:57
Nehemiah
26:57
chapter 1
26:58
verse 5
26:58
and I
26:59
said
26:59
O Lord
27:00
God of
27:01
heaven
27:02
the great
27:03
and awesome
27:04
God
27:04
who keeps
27:04
covenant
27:05
and steadfast
27:06
love with
27:06
those who
27:07
love him
27:07
and keep
27:08
his
27:09
commandments
27:09
he knew
27:11
who God
27:11
was
27:12
the God
27:12
of heaven
27:12
the great
27:13
and awesome
27:13
one
27:14
and he knew
27:14
the way
27:15
in which
27:15
he dealt
27:16
with his
27:17
people
27:17
that he
27:18
could not
27:18
lie
27:19
that he
27:19
could not
27:19
go against
27:20
his very
27:21
own
27:21
character
27:22
and that he
27:23
must
27:23
keep
27:24
his steadfast
27:25
love
27:25
because
27:25
it's
27:26
who
27:26
he
27:27
is
27:28
so we
27:30
know him
27:30
by his
27:30
scripture
27:31
do you
27:32
know his
27:32
promises
27:33
do you
27:34
know the
27:35
things he's
27:35
promised to
27:36
do
27:36
for us
27:37
I will
27:39
tell you
27:39
this
27:39
if you
27:40
find your
27:40
prayer life
27:41
to be
27:42
lacking in
27:42
fervor
27:43
there is a
27:44
direct
27:45
correlation
27:46
to your
27:47
devotion to
27:48
God's
27:48
word
27:48
this is the
27:51
way in
27:51
which God
27:52
communicates
27:53
to us
27:53
beloved
27:54
so many
27:55
people want
27:56
to walk
27:56
around
27:57
what is
27:57
the will
27:57
of God
27:58
for my
27:58
life
27:59
what is
27:59
the will
28:00
of God
28:00
for my
28:00
life
28:01
stop
28:02
and open
28:02
his word
28:03
he has
28:04
written a
28:04
book to
28:05
you
28:06
the Lord
28:07
God
28:07
almighty
28:08
in heaven
28:08
came down
28:09
and wrote
28:10
you a
28:10
book
28:11
read this
28:13
this is the
28:13
way he
28:14
communicates
28:15
to you
28:15
it is
28:15
precious
28:16
every
28:16
little
28:17
dot
28:18
every
28:19
iota
28:19
is precious
28:20
to us
28:21
and I will
28:22
promise you
28:23
that as he
28:23
speaks to
28:24
you through
28:24
it you
28:25
will
28:25
automatically
28:26
respond
28:27
to him
28:27
in prayer
28:28
the conduit
28:30
by which
28:30
we communicate
28:31
with our
28:32
Lord
28:32
there's always
28:33
a correlation
28:34
between the
28:35
true
28:36
God's
28:40
love
28:40
God
28:41
absolutely
28:41
loves
28:42
hear this
28:42
God
28:43
loves
28:43
for us
28:44
to make
28:45
our cases
28:45
to him
28:46
by his
28:48
own
28:49
word
28:50
get this
28:52
this is
28:52
fascinating
28:53
turn back
28:53
to Mark
28:54
chapter 7
28:55
I just want
28:55
you to see
28:55
the story
28:56
of the
28:57
Syrophoenician
28:58
woman
28:58
I won't
29:03
read it to
29:03
you for
29:04
the sake
29:04
of time
29:05
but she
29:05
comes to
29:06
him asking
29:06
for something
29:07
she's outside
29:08
of those
29:08
who are
29:09
of Israel
29:10
and Jesus
29:14
says let
29:14
the children
29:14
be fed
29:15
first
29:15
for it is
29:17
not right
29:17
to take
29:18
the children's
29:18
bread and
29:19
throw it
29:19
to the
29:20
dogs
29:20
but she
29:22
answered
29:22
him
29:23
yes
29:24
Lord
29:24
yet even
29:25
the dogs
29:25
under the
29:26
table
29:26
eat the
29:27
children's
29:28
crumbs
29:28
she
29:29
argues
29:30
with
29:31
Jesus
29:31
by
29:31
God's
29:32
very
29:32
own
29:33
character
29:34
and in
29:35
regard to
29:36
this
29:36
let me
29:36
read you
29:37
a quote
29:37
from a
29:40
wonderful
29:40
biography
29:40
written by
29:41
A.T.
29:41
Pearson
29:41
about the
29:42
life of
29:42
George
29:43
Mueller
29:43
he wrote
29:46
we are
29:47
to argue
29:47
our case
29:48
with
29:48
God
29:49
not
29:50
indeed
29:50
to convince
29:51
him
29:52
but to
29:53
convince
29:53
ourselves
29:54
in proving
29:56
to him
29:56
that by
29:57
his own
29:57
word
29:58
and oath
29:59
and character
30:00
he has
30:01
bound himself
30:02
to interpose
30:03
we demonstrate
30:05
to our own
30:06
faith that he
30:06
has given us
30:07
the right
30:08
to ask
30:08
and claim
30:09
and that he
30:10
will answer
30:11
our plea
30:11
because he
30:12
cannot
30:13
deny
30:14
himself
30:16
God
30:18
loves
30:19
for us
30:20
to come
30:20
to him
30:20
in that
30:21
way
30:21
to plead
30:22
with him
30:23
by his
30:23
very
30:24
own
30:24
words
30:25
and God
30:25
is not a
30:26
liar
30:26
he cannot
30:27
deny
30:27
himself
30:28
let's look
30:29
at another
30:29
example
30:30
together
30:30
Exodus
30:30
chapter
30:31
32
30:31
this is
30:50
after
30:50
I hope
30:51
it's obvious
30:51
to you
30:52
the
30:53
Exodus
30:53
out of
30:54
Egypt
30:54
they have
30:56
come to
30:57
the foot
30:57
of Mount
30:57
Sinai
30:58
the people
30:58
of God
30:59
and
30:59
Moses
31:00
has gone
31:00
up onto
31:01
the mountain
31:01
to meet
31:01
with God
31:02
to receive
31:03
the Ten
31:03
Commandments
31:03
and in the
31:04
meantime
31:05
under Aaron's
31:07
leadership
31:07
the people
31:07
construct a
31:08
golden calf
31:09
and begin
31:10
to worship
31:10
it
31:11
Moses is unaware
31:12
of this
31:13
he's meeting
31:13
with God
31:13
he's receiving
31:14
the Ten
31:14
Commandments
31:14
but God
31:15
is fully
31:15
aware of it
31:16
and he
31:16
says to
31:16
Moses
31:17
we've got to
31:18
take a break
31:19
from this
31:19
giving of the
31:19
law
31:20
because I've
31:20
got to go
31:20
down
31:21
and destroy
31:21
the people
31:22
because they're
31:23
now worshipping
31:24
a false
31:25
God
31:25
a false
31:26
idol
31:26
and look
31:27
at what
31:28
Moses
31:28
says
31:29
but Moses
31:31
verse 11
31:31
I'm sorry
31:32
chapter 32
31:32
verse 11
31:33
but Moses
31:35
implored
31:35
the Lord
31:36
his God
31:37
and said
31:37
oh Lord
31:38
why does
31:39
your wrath
31:40
burn hot
31:40
against your
31:41
people
31:41
whom you
31:41
have brought
31:42
out of the
31:42
land of
31:42
Egypt
31:42
with great
31:43
power
31:44
and with
31:44
a mighty
31:45
hand
31:45
why should
31:46
the Egyptians
31:47
say
31:47
with evil
31:48
intent
31:49
did he
31:49
bring them
31:50
out
31:50
to kill
31:50
them
31:50
in the
31:51
mountains
31:51
and to
31:51
consume
31:52
them
31:52
from the
31:53
face
31:53
of the
31:53
earth
31:53
turn
31:54
from your
31:55
burning
31:55
anger
31:56
and relent
31:56
from this
31:57
disaster
31:57
against
31:58
your
31:58
people
31:59
now here
32:00
we go
32:00
remember
32:02
Abraham
32:03
Isaac
32:04
and Israel
32:05
your servants
32:06
to whom
32:07
you swore
32:08
by your
32:09
own self
32:10
and said
32:11
to them
32:11
I will
32:12
multiply
32:13
your
32:13
offspring
32:13
as the
32:14
stars
32:14
of heaven
32:15
and all
32:15
this land
32:16
that I
32:16
promised
32:17
I will
32:17
give to
32:17
your
32:17
offspring
32:17
and they
32:18
shall
32:18
inherit
32:19
it
32:19
forever
32:19
and the
32:21
Lord
32:21
relented
32:21
from the
32:22
disaster
32:22
that he
32:22
had
32:22
spoken
32:23
of
32:23
bringing
32:23
on his
32:25
people
32:25
so he
32:26
banks
32:27
on the
32:27
very
32:27
promises
32:28
that God
32:29
had made
32:30
now hear
32:31
me
32:31
God didn't
32:33
forget
32:33
about the
32:34
promises
32:34
that he
32:35
had made
32:35
he didn't
32:37
need to
32:37
be reminded
32:38
but what
32:39
happened
32:40
here
32:40
is
32:41
Moses
32:42
implores him
32:44
and says
32:44
you've promised
32:45
to do a
32:45
good thing
32:46
and God
32:46
says to
32:47
him
32:47
yes
32:48
did God
32:48
change his
32:49
mind
32:49
absolutely
32:50
not
32:50
but he
32:50
used the
32:51
prayer
32:51
of his
32:52
servant
32:52
he
32:53
used
32:53
the
32:53
prayer
32:53
of
32:53
Moses
32:53
he
32:53
got
32:54
Moses
32:54
his
32:54
heart
32:55
to
32:55
catch
32:55
up
32:56
to
32:56
where
32:56
he
32:56
was
32:57
loving
32:58
a
32:58
people
32:58
loving
32:59
a
32:59
people
32:59
regardless
33:00
of what
33:01
they
33:01
did
33:02
and
33:02
Moses
33:02
was
33:02
going
33:02
to
33:03
need
33:03
this
33:03
lesson
33:03
in
33:04
the
33:04
coming
33:04
40
33:05
years
33:05
in
33:06
the
33:06
wilderness
33:07
so
33:09
powerful
33:09
prayer
33:09
is
33:09
historical
33:10
it
33:12
is
33:12
theological
33:13
draws
33:14
from
33:14
banks
33:15
on
33:15
God's
33:16
very
33:17
character
33:17
thirdly
33:18
powerful
33:19
prayer
33:20
is
33:20
spiritual
33:22
verse
33:23
23
33:23
back
33:24
in
33:24
Mark
33:24
11
33:25
it's
33:29
truly
33:29
I
33:29
say
33:29
to
33:29
you
33:30
whoever
33:30
says
33:30
to
33:30
this
33:30
mountain
33:31
be
33:31
taken
33:31
up
33:31
and
33:32
thrown
33:32
into
33:32
the
33:33
sea
33:33
and
33:33
does
33:34
not
33:34
doubt
33:35
in
33:35
his
33:35
heart
33:35
but
33:36
believes
33:37
that
33:37
what
33:37
he
33:37
says
33:38
will
33:38
come
33:38
to
33:38
pass
33:39
it
33:39
will
33:39
be
33:39
done
33:40
for
33:40
him
33:40
this
33:42
third
33:42
component
33:43
is
33:43
spiritual
33:44
that
33:44
is
33:44
you
33:45
can't
33:45
pray
33:46
powerful
33:46
prayers
33:47
just
33:48
knowing
33:48
in
33:48
your
33:48
head
33:49
the
33:49
things
33:50
that
33:50
God
33:50
has
33:50
done
33:50
or
33:51
knowing
33:51
some
33:52
things
33:52
about
33:53
him
33:53
but
33:54
you
33:55
have
33:55
to
33:55
believe
33:55
in
33:56
your
33:56
heart
33:57
it's
33:57
taking
33:58
that
33:58
knowledge
33:58
and
33:59
it's
33:59
turning
33:59
it
33:59
into
34:00
reality
34:00
in
34:01
your
34:01
very
34:01
being
34:02
I
34:04
love
34:04
that
34:04
he
34:04
extends
34:05
this
34:05
very
34:06
general
34:07
offer
34:08
for
34:08
this
34:08
rather
34:09
miraculous
34:09
thing
34:10
he
34:10
says
34:10
whoever
34:11
whoever
34:12
says
34:13
and
34:14
doesn't
34:15
doubt
34:15
but
34:16
believes
34:16
these
34:17
are
34:17
the
34:17
conditions
34:18
that
34:18
he
34:18
places
34:19
!
34:20
Now
34:21
there's
34:21
been
34:22
a lot
34:22
written
34:22
about
34:23
what
34:23
he
34:24
is
34:24
referring
34:24
to
34:25
specifically
34:25
about
34:26
this
34:27
mountain
34:28
massive
34:30
amount
34:31
pages
34:32
wasted
34:32
in my
34:33
opinion
34:33
about
34:34
what he
34:34
means
34:34
particularly
34:35
where is
34:35
he standing
34:35
exactly
34:36
is there
34:37
a mountain
34:37
that's
34:37
going to
34:38
be moved
34:38
into the
34:38
sea
34:39
what's
34:39
going
34:39
on
34:39
here
34:40
I
34:40
believe
34:40
this
34:41
is
34:41
hyperbole
34:41
he's
34:42
just
34:42
simply
34:43
saying
34:43
this
34:44
massive
34:44
amazing
34:46
thing
34:47
will
34:48
be
34:48
accomplished
34:48
let me
34:50
strongly
34:50
encourage
34:51
all of
34:52
you
34:52
to not
34:52
sit
34:53
in front
34:53
of a
34:53
mountain
34:53
and try
34:54
to find
34:55
the measure
34:55
of your
34:56
faith
34:56
by seeing
34:57
if you
34:57
can get
34:57
it to
34:57
up
34:58
and move
34:59
I must
35:00
admit
35:01
very early
35:02
in my
35:02
Christian
35:02
life
35:03
I'm
35:03
thinking
35:04
around
35:04
seven
35:04
or eight
35:05
I used
35:05
to just
35:05
see if
35:05
I could
35:06
get
35:06
things
35:06
in my
35:06
room
35:07
to move
35:07
I think
35:08
that would
35:08
be
35:08
pretty
35:08
amazing
35:08
I will
35:09
start
35:09
with
35:09
this
35:10
pencil
35:10
and see
35:11
if this
35:12
is
35:12
possible
35:13
this is
35:14
not
35:14
the point
35:15
that he's
35:15
trying to
35:16
make
35:16
he's
35:17
using
35:17
hyperbole
35:18
we used to
35:18
use that
35:19
kind of
35:19
language
35:19
today
35:20
you talk
35:20
about
35:20
somebody
35:20
who's
35:21
unstoppable
35:22
you have
35:22
a person
35:22
you know
35:23
that really
35:23
gets things
35:24
accomplished
35:24
and they'll
35:24
say he
35:25
can move
35:25
mountains
35:26
right
35:27
this is
35:27
the thing
35:28
that he
35:28
is
35:28
communicating
35:29
to us
35:30
the point
35:31
is
35:31
ultimately
35:32
about
35:33
faith
35:34
he says
35:36
if you
35:36
doubt
35:37
in your
35:38
heart
35:39
who is it
35:41
that you're
35:41
doubting
35:42
what are you
35:43
doubting
35:43
you're doubting
35:44
God
35:45
that God
35:46
can accomplish
35:46
what God
35:47
intends to
35:48
accomplish
35:48
by
35:49
your prayers
35:51
now
35:53
beloved
35:53
we can get
35:53
this really
35:54
wrong
35:54
and many
35:55
many
35:55
people
35:56
have
35:57
our
35:58
belief
35:59
or faith
35:59
our
36:00
belief
36:01
does not
36:02
have
36:04
power
36:05
God
36:05
has power
36:06
he chooses
36:07
to use
36:08
in a very
36:09
particular
36:10
way
36:10
our faith
36:12
to accomplish
36:13
things
36:13
by his
36:14
power
36:15
but it's
36:16
wrongly
36:16
taught
36:17
often
36:17
that
36:17
you
36:18
have
36:19
you've
36:19
been
36:19
given
36:20
therefore
36:20
you
36:20
have
36:21
power
36:21
we do
36:21
not
36:22
we
36:23
ask
36:24
for
36:25
right
36:25
God
36:26
to use
36:26
his
36:27
power
36:27
through
36:28
us
36:28
and this
36:28
is the
36:29
way
36:29
in which
36:29
we
36:29
have
36:30
power
36:30
but it's
36:30
ultimately
36:31
his
36:33
James 1
36:35
6-8
36:36
says this
36:37
powerful
36:38
but let
36:39
him
36:39
ask
36:40
in faith
36:40
with
36:41
no
36:41
doubting
36:42
for
36:43
the
36:43
one
36:43
who
36:43
doubts
36:43
is like
36:44
a wave
36:44
of the
36:45
sea
36:45
that
36:45
is
36:45
driven
36:46
and
36:46
tossed
36:47
by the
36:47
wind
36:47
for
36:48
that
36:49
person
36:49
must
36:49
not
36:49
suppose
36:50
that
36:50
he
36:50
will
36:50
receive
36:50
anything
36:51
from
36:51
the
36:51
Lord
36:52
he
36:52
is
36:52
a
36:52
double
36:53
minded
36:53
man
36:53
unstable
36:54
in
36:55
all
36:55
his
36:56
ways
36:56
doesn't
36:58
trust
36:58
in
36:59
the
36:59
God
37:00
who
37:00
is
37:00
worth
37:00
trusting
37:01
!
37:02
in
37:02
powerful
37:03
prayer
37:03
is
37:03
theological
37:04
and it is spiritual because we have a God
37:07
to place our trust and faith in.
37:10
Now let's remember together
37:12
an example of faith that enacts the power of God
37:16
so that we can be encouraged at this point
37:17
because you want to ask the question,
37:19
well, how much faith is required?
37:24
Because if your experience is anything like mine,
37:26
and I am confident that it is,
37:29
our faith falters so much
37:32
in so many ways.
37:34
We're living between two times.
37:35
We've been given faith in God,
37:38
but it's not perfected yet.
37:40
We carry around the baggage of flesh
37:43
and we struggle with faith.
37:46
So turn back just a page or two
37:49
in your Bible to Mark 9.
37:59
We observe together the story
38:01
of a father with a demon-possessed boy.
38:06
Jesus has come down off the mountain,
38:09
Peter, James, and John,
38:10
and he has left the other apostles alone for some time
38:13
and they are trying to cast out,
38:16
they've gotten into this conflict
38:17
because they've tried to cast out this demon
38:18
and they're not able to do so.
38:21
And the overarching point of this story
38:24
is that they had no faith at this point.
38:27
The apostles had zero faith at all.
38:30
Previously, they have gone out
38:31
and they've cast out demons.
38:32
So what's lacking in this case,
38:34
they're not able to because they don't have faith.
38:39
And then we see Jesus' interaction
38:41
with this father,
38:42
this poor child who's been thrown into fires,
38:46
is likely having epileptic seizures
38:49
because he's been battered on the ground
38:51
by this demon.
38:52
It's a horrid situation.
38:55
And beginning in verse 21,
38:58
Jesus asks him,
38:59
how long has this been happening to him?
39:01
And he says, from childhood.
39:04
And it has often cast him into fire
39:05
and into water to destroy him.
39:07
But if you can do anything,
39:08
have compassion on us and help us.
39:12
And Jesus said to him,
39:14
if you can,
39:15
if you can do anything,
39:17
he says, if you can,
39:18
all things are possible
39:21
for one who believes.
39:24
And look at the father's response.
39:26
Immediately, the father of the child
39:28
cried out and said,
39:29
I believe.
39:31
Help.
39:32
My unbelief.
39:35
And Jesus casts out the demon.
39:36
So you see a great expression here
39:38
of the father's imperfect faith.
39:42
I believe, but help my unbelief.
39:45
There's a part of me that thinks
39:46
and knows that you can do this thing,
39:47
but I'm just not sure.
39:49
Help.
39:50
Increase my faith
39:51
by casting this demon
39:53
out of my child.
39:54
So he didn't have a perfect faith,
39:55
but he had a sufficient faith.
39:59
Beloved, this is one of the beautiful things
40:02
about prayers.
40:04
That we offer up prayers of faith
40:06
and we see God respond to those things
40:09
and it increases our faith.
40:12
It works in this wonderful,
40:14
beautiful cycle.
40:15
That we pray things in the will of God.
40:19
He accomplishes those things.
40:21
And in that we see the way in which
40:23
he enacts his power in our life
40:25
and it moves us to further prayer.
40:30
I hope this is true in your life.
40:31
If it's not, you need to begin.
40:33
You need to start praying
40:35
that you might see this be the case for you.
40:38
As powerful prayer is historical and theological,
40:41
it's spiritual,
40:43
it also has a practical component.
40:47
Powerful prayer is practical.
40:51
This fourth component is one of great practicality.
40:56
Verse 24, he says,
40:58
Therefore, I tell you,
41:00
whatever you ask in prayer,
41:04
if you want to pray powerful prayers,
41:07
you must pray.
41:12
And I know that might seem a little bit obtuse to you,
41:16
but we live in a prayerless generation.
41:21
I will admit, I struggle with prayer.
41:24
It is a challenge to place my face before the Lord.
41:30
My knee-jerk reaction is very rarely
41:33
to go to my knees in prayer.
41:35
I kind of got a business mind.
41:36
I tend to run to my own solutions,
41:38
which never sort anything out.
41:40
I learn this lesson after time and time again.
41:45
Prayer is a struggle,
41:46
but we must pray if we want to pray powerful prayers.
41:51
Jesus says, James 4, verse 2,
41:56
you do not have because you do not ask.
42:03
Jesus says later here in verse 24,
42:07
believe that you have received it.
42:08
What is he talking about?
42:09
The things that you've asked for,
42:12
that you've actually offered up to him,
42:16
and it will be yours.
42:19
I would imagine that the apostles' minds were drawn,
42:22
I hope yours are,
42:24
to the Sermon on the Mount,
42:25
Matthew 7.
42:27
Jesus said,
42:28
Ask, and it will be given to you.
42:30
Seek, and you will find.
42:33
Knock, and it will be opened to you.
42:36
For everyone who asks, receives.
42:37
And the one who seeks, finds.
42:39
And the one who knocks, it will be opened.
42:41
Or which one of you,
42:43
if his son asks him for bread,
42:44
will give him a stone?
42:45
Or if he asks for a fish,
42:47
will give him a serpent?
42:49
If you then, who are evil,
42:52
know how to give good gifts to your children,
42:55
how much more will your Father who is in heaven
42:57
give good things to those who ask him?
43:02
He's a good, loving, kind Father.
43:05
And he will give to us if we will ask.
43:11
Now, well, you could run wild with that one,
43:14
can't you?
43:14
And many denominations have.
43:17
This is dream teaching to some people.
43:21
But he puts some parameters on this.
43:25
He clearly puts some parameters on this.
43:27
In fact, if we continue reading in James 4, verse 3,
43:31
he says,
43:32
Jesus gives you a wonderful example in the garden
43:47
as he's quickly approaching the time of his crucifixion.
43:52
Mark 14, verse 36,
43:55
one account of this.
43:56
And he says,
43:57
Abba, Father,
43:59
all things are possible for you.
44:02
Remove this cup from me.
44:04
It was his desire in that moment
44:06
that he not have to go and be crucified.
44:09
If there was another way
44:10
that God could bring about redemption,
44:12
that it would happen that way.
44:13
And then he finishes by saying,
44:15
yet not what I will,
44:17
but what you will.
44:20
So God will give to us anything
44:22
that we ask within his will.
44:28
Psalm 37, verse 4 makes this point well.
44:31
Delight yourself in the Lord,
44:33
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
44:38
This is not a show up to a service
44:41
and have some fun.
44:42
Find some joy in singing music.
44:45
Delight.
44:46
And then God's going to give you
44:47
whatever you want to gratify you
44:49
and your flesh throughout the week.
44:51
It's find all of your joy.
44:54
Love God and therefore love the things of God.
44:57
And he will give you those things.
45:01
This is the seeking first his kingdom
45:03
and everything else.
45:04
All of that stuff that's necessary for our living
45:07
will be added to us.
45:11
John chapter 14.
45:13
Jesus makes the point for us once again.
45:16
Verse 12, he says,
45:17
Truly, truly, I say to you,
45:18
whoever believes in me
45:20
will also do the works that I do
45:22
and greater works than these will he do
45:25
because I am going to the Father.
45:27
We are going to do great, mighty things
45:30
for the kingdom of God
45:31
because Jesus is now at the right hand of the Father
45:34
and we have the Spirit of God.
45:36
That's what he's saying.
45:37
Verse 13,
45:38
Whatever you ask in my name,
45:42
this I will do,
45:43
that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
45:46
If you ask me anything in my name,
45:48
I will do it.
45:52
Now Jesus' name is consistent
45:55
with his person and purpose.
45:58
His name is who he is.
46:02
So this is the point that we would pray
46:05
in the will of God.
46:08
Again, how do we know that?
46:10
We know it by the Scriptures.
46:14
Now we don't know it in every case,
46:16
in every little circumstance.
46:17
It's difficult when we have somebody
46:19
going through, let's say, a health issue.
46:22
We have a pretty young congregation,
46:23
which means I don't do a lot of hospital visits,
46:26
but on occasion I have.
46:29
And our prayer is always a desire.
46:31
We want to see this person be healthy.
46:32
We want them to stay with us.
46:34
We want them to be able to continue
46:36
to serve alongside us.
46:38
We'll miss them dearly
46:39
if they didn't stay on with us.
46:43
I don't think it's right and proper
46:44
to express our desire in that,
46:46
but it's always, always proper to say,
46:50
but Lord, we don't know what's best.
46:52
We're not God.
46:53
It seems best to us, option A.
46:57
But if you choose option B,
46:59
we are going to be happy and content with that.
47:02
Help us.
47:03
Help us to be happy and content
47:05
and to be joyful in your sovereign will,
47:09
in the gray things of our lives.
47:13
He puts parameters on what it means
47:16
to ask and it will be granted to us.
47:19
And He does that here for us in verse 25.
47:21
And whenever you stand praying,
47:25
standing was a common position
47:27
for praying in that day
47:29
as well as kneeling and laying on your face.
47:32
When you stand praying, forgive.
47:34
If you have anything against anyone
47:36
so that your Father also who is in heaven
47:37
may forgive you your trespasses.
47:40
Now, some of your translations before you
47:43
may include verse 26
47:46
with brackets around it.
47:48
Some of yours may not.
47:49
If you're with me on the ESV,
47:51
they just omit it all together.
47:52
If you look on,
47:54
we go from verse 25 to verse 27.
47:57
What a horrific typo.
47:59
It's not.
48:00
They intentionally did this.
48:03
Verse 25 is a parallel to Matthew 6.14,
48:07
Sermon on the Mount.
48:09
Verse 26, a parallel to Matthew 6.15,
48:13
which would say something to the effect of,
48:15
again, I don't have it in my text before me,
48:17
but this is Matthew 6.15,
48:19
but if you do not forgive others their trespasses,
48:21
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
48:25
Now, it's omitted here or placed in brackets
48:29
in some of your copies
48:30
because it's not in the early manuscripts.
48:33
This is one of those little places
48:35
that later manuscripts have it,
48:37
earlier manuscripts don't have it,
48:38
and so our Bible translators are very careful
48:40
about what they do in these particular circumstances,
48:43
that I'm thankful for such faithful men
48:46
who are so careful in this matter.
48:49
However, whether it includes it or not
48:52
doesn't really change the meaning of the text itself.
48:57
And this is what we need to hear clearly.
48:59
This is not speaking of salvation.
49:03
He's not talking about
49:04
you have to first go and forgive others
49:07
so that you will be forgiven.
49:09
He's talking about a parameter,
49:11
a condition of powerful prayers,
49:15
a very practical one at that.
49:18
And that is that if we are harboring up sin in our hearts,
49:24
we're going to God with unconfessed sin,
49:27
the Scriptures teach us
49:28
that God doesn't hear our prayers.
49:33
Not that He doesn't hear it
49:34
like He's incapable of hearing it,
49:36
but they are squelched, so to speak, by this.
49:40
It's not speaking of salvation.
49:42
So look with me in John chapter 13
49:44
just quickly to show you
49:46
a very brief example of this
49:50
as we're really getting close to 12 o'clock.
49:52
Wow.
50:02
This lesson is going to be driven
50:03
in the coming days
50:05
for the disciples.
50:07
Verse 6 of chapter 13,
50:08
He came to Simon Peter who said to him,
50:10
Lord, do you wash my feet?
50:12
He's taking turns.
50:13
He's going around
50:13
showing him this great example of service.
50:16
And Jesus answered him,
50:17
What I am doing you do not understand now,
50:20
but afterward you will understand.
50:23
Peter said to him,
50:24
You shall never wash my feet.
50:26
I'm too lowly.
50:27
You can't serve me in that way.
50:30
Jesus answered him,
50:31
If I do not wash you,
50:33
you have no share with me.
50:35
Is Jesus not talking about
50:36
washing his feet?
50:37
No.
50:38
He's not.
50:39
If I do not wash you,
50:41
you have no share with me.
50:44
What he's saying to him is,
50:44
If I don't come as a servant
50:46
and die on your behalf,
50:49
you're not mine.
50:50
Simon Peter says to him,
50:52
Lord, not my feet only,
50:54
but also my hands and my head.
50:56
Okay, if this is the condition,
50:57
then let's get me clean.
51:00
And Jesus says to him,
51:01
The one who has bathed
51:02
does not need to wash
51:03
except for his feet,
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but is completely clean.
51:08
And he says,
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And you are clean.
51:09
And then he talks about Judas,
51:12
but not every one of you.
51:14
So he's expressing to him,
51:16
right,
51:17
in this figurative way
51:19
as people would get cleaned up
51:20
to come over for a meal.
51:21
But when they got there,
51:22
their feet would get dirty again.
51:24
We probably understand this
51:25
in our day more than some
51:27
because a lot of you wear sandals
51:29
everywhere you go.
51:31
Although we have pavement,
51:32
which might nullify that.
51:35
However,
51:36
your feet get stinky
51:36
between the shower
51:38
and getting over
51:39
to somebody's house.
51:40
And so the lowliest form of service
51:41
was to wash their feet.
51:43
So Jesus used this parallel example
51:44
to say to Peter,
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you've already been made clean.
51:50
But yet there's a continuing process
51:51
of purification in our life
51:53
and that is that we still
51:55
live lives of repentance, right?
51:57
We have judicially been dismissed,
52:00
right,
52:00
because we're found in Christ.
52:01
The forgiveness of sin
52:03
has been given to us,
52:06
has been administered to us,
52:07
but yet we still need to be
52:09
in this regular habit of confession.
52:12
And what they're communicating here,
52:13
what Jesus is saying,
52:14
because if you don't,
52:15
you can't play powerful prayers.
52:17
They're not going to be heard.
52:17
Psalm 66.18 says,
52:19
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
52:22
the Lord would not have listened.
52:25
1 Peter 3.7,
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Peter instructs men
52:27
to live properly with their wives
52:29
so that their prayers
52:30
may not be hindered.
52:32
So we must confess before the Lord
52:36
if we want to pray powerful prayers.
52:37
It's a very practical way.
52:39
So powerful prayer is historical,
52:41
it is theological,
52:42
it is spiritual,
52:44
it is practical.
52:46
And beloved,
52:46
we have Jesus' presence
52:48
because we have the Spirit of Christ.
52:49
If you have Him,
52:53
it's because you're His.
52:54
Right?
52:55
If you're found in Christ,
52:56
you have the Spirit of God.
52:58
And don't wait for some crazy,
53:01
unexplainable thing to happen to you.
53:02
This is a reality for you.
53:05
Right?
53:05
You're hating sin,
53:06
you're loving holiness,
53:07
you have the Spirit of God.
53:08
So we have the presence of Christ,
53:11
but we are still in continual need
53:12
of the power and provision of Christ.
53:14
So ask.
53:16
So ask.
53:18
Ask for the power and provision of Christ
53:20
in all things,
53:21
at all times.
53:23
Paul goes so far
53:24
as to say in 1 Thessalonians,
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pray without ceasing.
53:29
We always need this.
53:31
And as such,
53:32
we need to be a people
53:34
who are always praying.
53:37
There are many ways to do this.
53:40
Closet prayer is important for you.
53:43
Get alone with the Lord.
53:45
Make it a daily habit.
53:47
Disconnect from everything.
53:49
Your phone doesn't need to go with you
53:51
into this place.
53:52
Right?
53:53
Unplug from life
53:54
and be with the Lord.
53:56
Rest in Him.
53:57
Offer up everything that troubles you
53:59
to Him.
54:01
It's going to include you
54:02
digging into your Scriptures
54:03
that you might know how to pray.
54:05
This isn't a complicated thing.
54:07
Don't arrive at some new plateau
54:08
of knowledge of the Lord
54:09
before you start praying.
54:10
Just open the Word of God
54:12
and read it
54:13
and respond in prayer.
54:16
You should get together
54:17
with the people of God
54:18
and pray in a corporate setting.
54:21
We do a number of things
54:22
to do that around here.
54:23
It doesn't have to be some
54:24
formal Christ Family Church event.
54:27
Grab a couple of friends.
54:28
Get together.
54:29
Pray together.
54:31
Let's be a people
54:32
who pray as we should.
54:37
Let's pray now together.