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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Developing A Praying Heart (Part 1)

July 11, 2025 | 29:0

Robert Jeffress - Developing A Praying Heart (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#SpiritualGrowth #Heart #Prayer #SeekGod #RelationshipwithGod #Focus #Distractions #Disciples #Discipleship #Change #Transformation #NewCreation #Jesus

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Developing A Praying Heart (Part 1) | July 11, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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  • Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
  • 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:10.066
  • Dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
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  • If i asked you to be completely honest about your prayer life,
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  • What would you say?
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  • Do you find it difficult to carve out even 5 minutes a day
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  • To talk with god?
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  • When you do manage to pray, does your mind wander?
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  • And do you wonder if your prayers actually make
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  • Any difference?
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  • Well, you're not alone in that struggle.
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  • Today i want to show you four practical principles that will
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  • Revolutionize your relationship with god through prayer.
  • 00:00:41.498 --> 00:00:45.535
  • My message is titled, "developing a praying heart," on
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  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: give your heart the encouragement it needs.
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  • Start and end each day meditating on god's word with
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  • "encouragement for the heart of a disciple."
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  • This brand-new, beautiful, full-color, padded hardcover
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  • Book by dr. robert jeffress features 80 breathtaking images
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  • Of creation paired with scripture, prayers, and insights
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  • You can read in under 2 minutes, perfect for your coffee table or
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  • As a thoughtful gift for a loved one.
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  • Request "encouragement for the heart of a disciple" when you
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  • Give a generous gift to pathway to victory.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: you know, jesus said we ought to pray at all times
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  • And never to lose heart.
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  • Paul said to the thessalonian christians, "pray
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  • Without ceasing."
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  • Hah, but that's easier said than done, isn't it?
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  • We find it difficult to pray.
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  • Oh, i know what the polls say.
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  • The polls say that 9 out of 10 americans pray regularly, so 75%
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  • Of americans pray every day.
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  • More people will pray next week than exercise or have sex, and
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  • That's what the polls say.
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  • I'm a little dubious about that though.
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  • I wonder about these polls because i think sometimes people
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  • Tell pollsters what makes them look good rather than what is
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  • Really true.
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  • I mean, for example, if people attended church as frequently as
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  • They said they attend church, every church in america would be
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  • In a perpetual building program.
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  • We couldn't contain the crowds.
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  • If everybody gave as much money to the church as they claim to,
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  • We'd be having business meetings about how to spend all the
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  • Excess funds.
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  • If people prayed as regularly as they claim to pray, well, we'd
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  • All be spiritual giants.
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  • The fact is we don't pray as often as we should because
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  • Prayer is hard work.
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  • Romans 15, verse 30, even the apostle paul said, "strive with
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  • Me in prayer."
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  • That word "strive," agonizomai, it means agonize with me
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  • In prayer.
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  • Prayer is agonizing work.
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  • Sometimes it's because it's just hard to find time to pray.
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  • I imagine perhaps that's true about you as well.
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  • I imagine if we had a survey today and you were honest about
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  • Your prayer life, you could probably identify with me in
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  • Saying you feel guilty at times about your lack of prayer.
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  • You find it difficult to carve out 5 or 10 minutes a day
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  • To pray.
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  • In those times that you are able to spend 5 minutes praying, you
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  • Have difficulty concentrating on what to pray during those 5
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  • Minutes, your mind wanders.
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  • And deep down, you wonder sometimes, does your prayer make
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  • Any difference at all?
  • 00:04:04.233 --> 00:04:07.003
  • Again, you're not alone.
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  • Paul, even jesus himself, struggled at times with prayer.
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  • One reason is we think we're too busy to pray.
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  • Oswald chambers places that excuse into its proper
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  • Perspective when he says, "remember, no one has time
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  • To pray.
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  • We have to take time from other things that are valuable in
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  • Order to understand how necessary prayer is."
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  • But even that doesn't really identify the reason we
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  • Don't pray.
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  • We find time to do the things we think are really important in
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  • Life, don't we?
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  • I think at the bottom of our lack of prayer is the question:
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  • Does prayer make a difference?
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  • I mean, if god is sovereign and has a will that governs
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  • Everything that happens, how could my prayer change things?
  • 00:04:55.284 --> 00:05:00.289
  • And yet all of my questions about the value of prayer melt
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  • Away when i look at the example of jesus christ.
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  • To jesus, prayer was not optional; it was absolutely
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  • Necessary for his spiritual survival.
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  • And if we are going to be a disciple, a follower of christ,
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  • One of the marks of our life is going to be to develop a praying
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  • Heart, a heart that makes prayer our first response, not our last
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  • Resort when we run into need and difficulty.
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  • You know, we're in a series called, "the seven marks of a
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  • Disciple," and we've said that the essence of discipleship is a
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  • Changed life that comes from a transformed heart.
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  • That's what being a disciple is, it's experience a changed life.
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  • Remember what paul said, "if any person be in christ, he is a
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  • New creation.
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  • Old things have passed away, new things have come."
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  • We've gotten this idea that we can't experience the benefits of
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  • Being a disciple until we die and go to heaven.
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  • No, you can experience the benefit of god's kingdom now.
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  • If you submit your life to god's will now, you can experience
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  • Freedom from worry, you can experience victory over sin, you
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  • Can experience harmony in your relationships, you can
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  • Experience power over addictions in your life.
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  • All of those things can be yours right now as long as you submit
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  • To god's will for your life.
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  • But to do that, we have to have a change of heart, and that's
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  • Why i say a changed life that comes from a transformed heart.
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  • Discipleship is about a transformed heart.
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  • Remember we saw last time that our heart is the center of who
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  • We are.
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  • It encompasses our mind, our will, and our emotions.
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  • Proverbs 4:23 says: "guard your heart with all diligence, for
  • 00:07:03.045 --> 00:07:07.383
  • Out of your heart come the issues of life."
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  • Every choice you make, every thought you think, every emotion
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  • You feel, originates in the heart.
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  • Who is responsible for transforming our heart?
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  • Be sure you get this right.
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  • Only god alone can save us and forgive us.
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  • But once we are saved, he and we join together in that operation
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  • Of transforming our heart.
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  • It is a joint effort between god and us.
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  • Now we're talking about seven marks of a true disciple
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  • Of christ.
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  • The first mark is what we looked at last time, a transformed
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  • Heart, one that has changed, but remember in biology, maybe you
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  • Remember this, your heart has four different chambers in it.
  • 00:07:52.895 --> 00:07:56.299
  • Remember that?
  • 00:07:56.299 --> 00:07:57.667
  • And for your heart to function properly, all four of those
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  • Chambers have to be doing their job correctly.
  • 00:08:00.636 --> 00:08:05.975
  • In the same way in our spiritual heart, if we're gonna have an
  • 00:08:05.975 --> 00:08:09.612
  • Overall healthy transformed heart, there are six chambers in
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  • Our spiritual heart that have to be functioning properly to
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  • Produce that transformed heart and the changed life we
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  • All want.
  • 00:08:21.757 --> 00:08:23.225
  • Today we're going to look at the second mark of a disciple, which
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  • Is the first of those six chambers.
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  • I call it a praying heart.
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  • A praying heart.
  • 00:08:32.368 --> 00:08:34.570
  • You know, jesus talked about the importance of prayer.
  • 00:08:34.570 --> 00:08:38.207
  • He showed us the importance of prayer.
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  • First of all, by his own example.
  • 00:08:40.076 --> 00:08:42.845
  • Remember in mark 1:35, we find this description of what
  • 00:08:42.845 --> 00:08:46.282
  • Happened one day in the lord's life, and i take it, it's
  • 00:08:46.282 --> 00:08:50.653
  • Something that happened every day because it was a habit
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  • With him.
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  • The bible says: "and in the early morning, while it was
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  • Still dark, jesus arose and went out and departed to a lonely
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  • Place, and was praying there."
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  • Jesus started off his day while it was still dark, going out by
  • 00:09:06.202 --> 00:09:10.306
  • Himself to pray.
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  • It must have been very, very early.
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  • A few years ago in my former church we had bobby bowden as
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  • Our guest speaker, the former coach of florida state
  • 00:09:19.682 --> 00:09:23.219
  • University, and bobby dowden said that he got up every
  • 00:09:23.219 --> 00:09:28.124
  • Morning at 4 o'clock to pray.
  • 00:09:28.124 --> 00:09:30.926
  • In fact, he said, i wouldn't have a spiritual life right now
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  • If it were not for getting up at 4 o'clock every morning to pray.
  • 00:09:34.263 --> 00:09:39.435
  • He said, of course, i go to bed at 7 o'clock every night.
  • 00:09:39.435 --> 00:09:43.239
  • Everybody laughed.
  • 00:09:43.239 --> 00:09:45.007
  • But not jesus.
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  • Yes, jesus got up when it was early, but notice what happens
  • 00:09:46.375 --> 00:09:50.946
  • The night before he got up early.
  • 00:09:50.946 --> 00:09:53.683
  • In mark 1:32, we find out what had happened the day before.
  • 00:09:53.683 --> 00:09:57.687
  • In fact, we find that this day was the busiest recorded day in
  • 00:09:57.687 --> 00:10:01.624
  • Jesus's entire ministry.
  • 00:10:01.624 --> 00:10:03.459
  • In fact, the bible says in mark 1:32, that "when the evening had
  • 00:10:03.459 --> 00:10:07.763
  • Come, after the sun had set, they begin bringing to him all
  • 00:10:07.763 --> 00:10:11.801
  • Who were ill and those who were demon possessed."
  • 00:10:11.801 --> 00:10:14.704
  • Jesus was working, ministering until late at night.
  • 00:10:14.704 --> 00:10:20.676
  • Now if jesus were like many of us, he probably would have hit
  • 00:10:20.676 --> 00:10:26.315
  • The snooze button the next morning when the alarm went off.
  • 00:10:26.315 --> 00:10:29.385
  • He had a pretty good excuse.
  • 00:10:29.385 --> 00:10:30.753
  • After all, he'd been doing ministry for the lord until late
  • 00:10:30.753 --> 00:10:33.556
  • At night.
  • 00:10:33.556 --> 00:10:34.924
  • Surely the lord would excuse a missed morning in prayer.
  • 00:10:34.924 --> 00:10:38.828
  • But to jesus, prayer wasn't optional; it was the secret of
  • 00:10:38.828 --> 00:10:42.565
  • His spiritual life.
  • 00:10:42.565 --> 00:10:44.467
  • And by the way, did you know jesus's prayer life continues
  • 00:10:44.467 --> 00:10:47.403
  • Today even though he's in heaven?
  • 00:10:47.403 --> 00:10:49.405
  • He's in heaven right now.
  • 00:10:49.405 --> 00:10:51.006
  • You know what he's doing?
  • 00:10:51.006 --> 00:10:52.341
  • He's praying.
  • 00:10:52.341 --> 00:10:53.709
  • Hebrews 7:25 about what jesus is doing right now.
  • 00:10:53.709 --> 00:10:56.912
  • It says that "he always lives to make intercession for us."
  • 00:10:56.912 --> 00:11:02.151
  • Right now, jesus is at the right hand of god the father, and
  • 00:11:02.151 --> 00:11:05.688
  • He's praying.
  • 00:11:05.688 --> 00:11:07.022
  • You know what he's praying for?
  • 00:11:07.022 --> 00:11:08.390
  • He's praying for you.
  • 00:11:08.390 --> 00:11:09.792
  • He's making intercession for you and for me.
  • 00:11:09.792 --> 00:11:13.062
  • He's asking god to give us the power to say no to sin, to
  • 00:11:13.062 --> 00:11:17.233
  • Realize the purpose that he has for our life.
  • 00:11:17.233 --> 00:11:20.669
  • Jesus prays.
  • 00:11:20.669 --> 00:11:22.505
  • He taught us that by example.
  • 00:11:22.505 --> 00:11:24.173
  • He also taught us that by exhortation, by his teaching.
  • 00:11:24.173 --> 00:11:28.277
  • Turn over to a familiar parable in luke 18, since we've looked
  • 00:11:28.277 --> 00:11:32.114
  • At this before in our study of luke, i'll just give you the
  • 00:11:32.114 --> 00:11:35.217
  • "reader's digest" version of this parable.
  • 00:11:35.217 --> 00:11:37.753
  • But remember, luke 18:1 says that "jesus was telling the
  • 00:11:37.753 --> 00:11:41.123
  • Disciples a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray
  • 00:11:41.123 --> 00:11:46.228
  • And not lose heart."
  • 00:11:46.228 --> 00:11:49.131
  • And then he told a story about why we ought to persist
  • 00:11:49.131 --> 00:11:51.700
  • In praying.
  • 00:11:51.700 --> 00:11:53.068
  • You remember the story.
  • 00:11:53.068 --> 00:11:54.403
  • There is a widow who is being cheated by one of the
  • 00:11:54.403 --> 00:11:58.073
  • Religious groups.
  • 00:11:58.073 --> 00:11:59.408
  • They were trying to take her house away from her, take
  • 00:11:59.408 --> 00:12:01.911
  • Advantage of her, and so she needed protection.
  • 00:12:01.911 --> 00:12:04.814
  • She couldn't afford a lawyer and so she went directly to the
  • 00:12:04.814 --> 00:12:08.551
  • Judge who was described as a man who neither respected god nor
  • 00:12:08.551 --> 00:12:13.622
  • Regarded man.
  • 00:12:13.622 --> 00:12:14.990
  • And she kept begging this judge to give her protection.
  • 00:12:14.990 --> 00:12:18.494
  • He couldn't have cared less, but notice what happened.
  • 00:12:18.494 --> 00:12:21.797
  • Verse 4, he said, finally, "even though i don't fear god or
  • 00:12:21.797 --> 00:12:27.937
  • Respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, i will give
  • 00:12:27.937 --> 00:12:33.175
  • Her legal protection, lest by continually coming she wear
  • 00:12:33.175 --> 00:12:38.781
  • Me out."
  • 00:12:38.781 --> 00:12:41.250
  • This judge said, "i can't take this any longer.
  • 00:12:41.250 --> 00:12:44.286
  • I don't care about god and i sure don't care about her, but
  • 00:12:44.286 --> 00:12:47.890
  • For my own benefit, i'm gonna give in so she'll leave
  • 00:12:47.890 --> 00:12:50.559
  • Me alone."
  • 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:51.961
  • And then notice the application jesus makes in verse 6: "and the
  • 00:12:51.961 --> 00:12:55.264
  • Lord said to his disciples, 'hear what the unrighteous judge
  • 00:12:55.264 --> 00:12:59.001
  • Said; now, shall not god bring about justice for his elect who
  • 00:12:59.001 --> 00:13:04.506
  • Cry to him day and night, and will he delay long over them?'"
  • 00:13:04.506 --> 00:13:09.712
  • Don't make the wrong application.
  • 00:13:09.712 --> 00:13:11.180
  • Jesus is not saying that god is like a judge who has to have his
  • 00:13:11.180 --> 00:13:15.284
  • Arm twisted to do what he really doesn't want to do for
  • 00:13:15.284 --> 00:13:18.087
  • Our benefit.
  • 00:13:18.087 --> 00:13:19.421
  • What he's saying is, if an unrighteous judge who doesn't
  • 00:13:19.421 --> 00:13:22.458
  • Care about this woman can be moved by her persistent
  • 00:13:22.458 --> 00:13:26.095
  • Pleading, how much more will your heavenly father who loves
  • 00:13:26.095 --> 00:13:31.367
  • You, do for you who are his children.
  • 00:13:31.367 --> 00:13:35.771
  • Jesus showed us the reason we ought to pray, both by his own
  • 00:13:35.771 --> 00:13:40.175
  • Life's example and by his teaching.
  • 00:13:40.175 --> 00:13:43.679
  • "well," you say, "why should we pray?"
  • 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:47.549
  • We parents know how we answer the why question?
  • 00:13:47.549 --> 00:13:50.586
  • Because i told you so, that's why you need to do it.
  • 00:13:50.586 --> 00:13:54.123
  • God could say, "you're to pray because i told you so."
  • 00:13:54.123 --> 00:13:57.393
  • But actually, scripture gives us four reasons that prayer ought
  • 00:13:57.393 --> 00:14:01.196
  • To be a regular part of our life.
  • 00:14:01.196 --> 00:14:04.800
  • First of all, the bible teaches that prayer develops our
  • 00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:08.704
  • Intimacy with god.
  • 00:14:08.704 --> 00:14:11.607
  • It develops our intimacy with god.
  • 00:14:11.607 --> 00:14:14.643
  • Have you discovered intimacy cannot be mandated with
  • 00:14:14.643 --> 00:14:18.681
  • Another person?
  • 00:14:18.681 --> 00:14:20.015
  • Even with your own mate, just because you go to a wedding
  • 00:14:20.015 --> 00:14:22.718
  • Ceremony, you have a marriage certificate, you make certain
  • 00:14:22.718 --> 00:14:25.754
  • Vows and exchange rings, that doesn't mean you are instantly
  • 00:14:25.754 --> 00:14:30.225
  • Intimate with one another.
  • 00:14:30.225 --> 00:14:32.061
  • Intimacy takes work.
  • 00:14:32.061 --> 00:14:34.263
  • You have to work to achieve it.
  • 00:14:34.263 --> 00:14:35.631
  • You have to work to maintain it.
  • 00:14:35.631 --> 00:14:38.200
  • You know, i was gone for a few days this week and amy was busy
  • 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:42.838
  • With helping ryan and julia some with the triplets and we'd been
  • 00:14:42.838 --> 00:14:47.242
  • Away for a while and so forth, and yesterday we spent a little
  • 00:14:47.242 --> 00:14:51.313
  • Bit of time together just talking and catching up.
  • 00:14:51.313 --> 00:14:54.550
  • There was a distance that had occurred just because we hadn't
  • 00:14:54.550 --> 00:14:57.553
  • Communicated for a while with one another.
  • 00:14:57.553 --> 00:15:00.022
  • The same thing is true in our relationship with god.
  • 00:15:00.022 --> 00:15:03.726
  • Sometimes i talk to people and they'll say, "you know, i just
  • 00:15:03.726 --> 00:15:07.863
  • Feel so distant from god.
  • 00:15:07.863 --> 00:15:10.566
  • Sometimes i wonder if he really even exists."
  • 00:15:10.566 --> 00:15:13.702
  • And i gently ask, "well, when's the last time you talked
  • 00:15:13.702 --> 00:15:16.271
  • To him?"
  • 00:15:16.271 --> 00:15:17.873
  • "oh, i don't have time to do that."
  • 00:15:17.873 --> 00:15:21.210
  • Well, god didn't move.
  • 00:15:21.210 --> 00:15:23.746
  • They moved away from him.
  • 00:15:23.746 --> 00:15:25.814
  • And when you move away from god and you don't talk to him,
  • 00:15:25.814 --> 00:15:28.450
  • There's gonna be that barrier, that lack of intimacy.
  • 00:15:28.450 --> 00:15:32.755
  • You know, martin luther once said, "to be a christian without
  • 00:15:32.755 --> 00:15:35.491
  • Prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing."
  • 00:15:35.491 --> 00:15:40.429
  • A lot of people treat prayer as a spiritual oxygen mask.
  • 00:15:40.429 --> 00:15:45.467
  • You know, it's good to know it's there in case you need it, you
  • 00:15:45.467 --> 00:15:48.370
  • Run into problems.
  • 00:15:48.370 --> 00:15:50.339
  • But no, the bible says prayer is not like an oxygen mask.
  • 00:15:50.339 --> 00:15:54.777
  • Prayer is like oxygen itself.
  • 00:15:54.777 --> 00:15:58.047
  • It's vital to our survival.
  • 00:15:58.047 --> 00:15:59.948
  • Again, to be a christian without praying is no more possible than
  • 00:15:59.948 --> 00:16:03.619
  • To be alive without breathing.
  • 00:16:03.619 --> 00:16:06.889
  • A second reason for praying is prayer unleashes the power
  • 00:16:06.889 --> 00:16:11.260
  • Of god.
  • 00:16:11.260 --> 00:16:12.961
  • Prayer unleashes the power of god.
  • 00:16:12.961 --> 00:16:15.564
  • Can you imagine jesus telling this parable from luke
  • 00:16:15.564 --> 00:16:18.667
  • Chapter 18?
  • 00:16:18.667 --> 00:16:20.035
  • Imagine jesus gave a different ending to this story.
  • 00:16:20.035 --> 00:16:23.806
  • Imagine the ending went like this: "and the unrighteous judge
  • 00:16:23.806 --> 00:16:28.477
  • Responded to the woman, 'although i have no intention of
  • 00:16:28.477 --> 00:16:32.481
  • Protecting this widow from her adversaries, her constant
  • 00:16:32.481 --> 00:16:36.251
  • Pleading with me has developed our relationship.'"
  • 00:16:36.251 --> 00:16:42.324
  • Would that motivate you to pray?
  • 00:16:42.324 --> 00:16:44.993
  • This woman keeps pleading for help and the judge says, "well,
  • 00:16:44.993 --> 00:16:47.863
  • I'm not gonna do what you asked me to, but i sure feel a lot
  • 00:16:47.863 --> 00:16:50.699
  • Better about you."
  • 00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:52.434
  • No, the reason she went to the judge is she wanted him to
  • 00:16:52.434 --> 00:16:55.437
  • Do something.
  • 00:16:55.437 --> 00:16:57.039
  • And the same is true for us as well.
  • 00:16:57.039 --> 00:17:00.309
  • Getting to know the judge was not the purpose of her pleading.
  • 00:17:00.309 --> 00:17:03.445
  • She wanted to get the judge to act on her behalf.
  • 00:17:03.445 --> 00:17:07.549
  • And the bible teaches that many times that is a proper
  • 00:17:07.549 --> 00:17:10.586
  • Motivation for praying.
  • 00:17:10.586 --> 00:17:12.154
  • We want god to do something.
  • 00:17:12.154 --> 00:17:14.123
  • We want god to do something that he's not going to do unless
  • 00:17:14.123 --> 00:17:16.992
  • We ask.
  • 00:17:16.992 --> 00:17:18.327
  • Remember james 4, verse 2: "you have not," why?
  • 00:17:18.327 --> 00:17:21.797
  • "because you ask not."
  • 00:17:21.797 --> 00:17:23.999
  • There is a connection between our asking and god answering.
  • 00:17:23.999 --> 00:17:28.670
  • One of the most vivid illustrations of that
  • 00:17:28.670 --> 00:17:31.073
  • Relationship between asking and answering is found in romans--
  • 00:17:31.073 --> 00:17:35.344
  • Revelation chapter 8.
  • 00:17:35.344 --> 00:17:37.446
  • Turn over to revelation chapter 8.
  • 00:17:37.446 --> 00:17:39.381
  • You know, some people are so scared of the book of
  • 00:17:39.381 --> 00:17:43.018
  • Revelation, they never read it.
  • 00:17:43.018 --> 00:17:44.353
  • It's the only book of the bible that has a special blessing
  • 00:17:44.353 --> 00:17:46.455
  • Attached to those who read it and understand it.
  • 00:17:46.455 --> 00:17:50.159
  • But when we come to revelation 8, we're in the final 7 years of
  • 00:17:50.159 --> 00:17:54.196
  • Earth's history.
  • 00:17:54.196 --> 00:17:55.531
  • We call it the great tribulation, and it's a time
  • 00:17:55.531 --> 00:17:58.433
  • When god pours out three series of judgments: the seal
  • 00:17:58.433 --> 00:18:03.605
  • Judgments, the trumpet judgments, and finally the
  • 00:18:03.605 --> 00:18:06.875
  • Vial judgments.
  • 00:18:06.875 --> 00:18:08.377
  • But in revelation chapter 8, it's right before the second
  • 00:18:08.377 --> 00:18:11.680
  • Series of judgments is poured out upon the earth, the trumpet
  • 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:16.185
  • Judgments, and revelation 8:1 says that before the second
  • 00:18:16.185 --> 00:18:21.156
  • Series of judgments there was a pause.
  • 00:18:21.156 --> 00:18:23.959
  • There was silence in heaven that lasted for 30 minutes.
  • 00:18:23.959 --> 00:18:29.198
  • What was going on during those 30 minutes before god poured out
  • 00:18:29.198 --> 00:18:32.334
  • His judgment on the earth?
  • 00:18:32.334 --> 00:18:35.137
  • The believers who are on earth during the tribulation at
  • 00:18:35.137 --> 00:18:37.806
  • This time.
  • 00:18:37.806 --> 00:18:39.274
  • And these are people who became christians during
  • 00:18:39.274 --> 00:18:41.476
  • The tribulation.
  • 00:18:41.476 --> 00:18:42.844
  • You and i have been raptured into heaven, but those who are
  • 00:18:42.844 --> 00:18:44.980
  • On earth during the tribulation who became believers, they've
  • 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:47.983
  • Been crying out to god: "god, put an end to this injustice in
  • 00:18:47.983 --> 00:18:52.321
  • The world right now.
  • 00:18:52.321 --> 00:18:53.655
  • Put an end to our suffering."
  • 00:18:53.655 --> 00:18:55.524
  • They are praying continually before god.
  • 00:18:55.524 --> 00:18:57.526
  • Now look what happens, verse 4: "and the smoke of the incense,
  • 00:18:57.526 --> 00:19:01.663
  • With the prayers of the saints, went up before god out of the
  • 00:19:01.663 --> 00:19:06.268
  • Angel's hand.
  • 00:19:06.268 --> 00:19:07.636
  • And the angel took the censer and he filled it with the fire
  • 00:19:07.636 --> 00:19:11.406
  • Of the altar, and he threw it to the earth."
  • 00:19:11.406 --> 00:19:15.177
  • In other words, for these 30 minutes, god is collecting all
  • 00:19:15.177 --> 00:19:18.780
  • Of these prayers.
  • 00:19:18.780 --> 00:19:20.148
  • The angel collects the prayers, and then once all of the prayers
  • 00:19:20.148 --> 00:19:23.452
  • Of the saints have been collected, he casts them down to
  • 00:19:23.452 --> 00:19:26.488
  • The earth and there followed, verse 5 says, "peals of thunder
  • 00:19:26.488 --> 00:19:31.660
  • And sound and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
  • 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:35.197
  • And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared
  • 00:19:35.197 --> 00:19:39.201
  • Themselves to sound them."
  • 00:19:39.201 --> 00:19:40.702
  • In other words, it was the prayers of god's people that
  • 00:19:40.702 --> 00:19:45.807
  • Resulted in the pouring out of god's judgment on the earth.
  • 00:19:45.807 --> 00:19:50.445
  • One commentator says it this way: "the message is clear:
  • 00:19:50.445 --> 00:19:55.584
  • History belongs to the intercessors who pray the future
  • 00:19:55.584 --> 00:20:02.224
  • Into being."
  • 00:20:02.224 --> 00:20:04.660
  • I love that line.
  • 00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:06.028
  • People who pray the future into being.
  • 00:20:06.028 --> 00:20:09.097
  • That's why we pray.
  • 00:20:09.097 --> 00:20:10.766
  • Andrew murray said it this way: "prayer is the power by which
  • 00:20:10.766 --> 00:20:14.870
  • That comes to pass, which otherwise would not take place."
  • 00:20:14.870 --> 00:20:20.776
  • A third reason we pray is prayer protects us with the peace
  • 00:20:20.776 --> 00:20:26.214
  • Of god.
  • 00:20:26.214 --> 00:20:27.582
  • Prayer protects us with the peace of god.
  • 00:20:27.582 --> 00:20:29.985
  • If you ever have the opportunity, i know some of you
  • 00:20:29.985 --> 00:20:31.920
  • Have, to go to the ancient city of philippi, through the ruins
  • 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:36.124
  • Of philippi, they will always take you to the hole in the
  • 00:20:36.124 --> 00:20:39.261
  • Ground where paul and silas were in chains and in prison.
  • 00:20:39.261 --> 00:20:43.799
  • They had been arrested for preaching the gospel.
  • 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:46.535
  • And remember in acts chapter 16, it says: "around midnight paul
  • 00:20:46.535 --> 00:20:51.573
  • And silas were praying and singing hymns, and the rest of
  • 00:20:51.573 --> 00:20:56.244
  • The prisoners were listening."
  • 00:20:56.244 --> 00:20:59.748
  • I bet they were listening.
  • 00:20:59.748 --> 00:21:01.116
  • They probably thought these guys are out of their gourd.
  • 00:21:01.116 --> 00:21:03.985
  • I mean, what are they doing?
  • 00:21:03.985 --> 00:21:05.320
  • They've been hit one too many times by the romans in the head.
  • 00:21:05.320 --> 00:21:08.423
  • Who in the world could pray and offer praise to god while they
  • 00:21:08.423 --> 00:21:13.562
  • Were facing what could be their execution?
  • 00:21:13.562 --> 00:21:16.865
  • And of course, what happened, the earthquake came and they
  • 00:21:16.865 --> 00:21:19.468
  • Were suddenly released from prison.
  • 00:21:19.468 --> 00:21:22.003
  • I want to tell you the way i always understood that passage,
  • 00:21:22.003 --> 00:21:25.474
  • And unfortunately i've preached it occasionally.
  • 00:21:25.474 --> 00:21:29.478
  • I said, "isn't that great?
  • 00:21:29.478 --> 00:21:32.681
  • They were the recipients of god's supernatural peace.
  • 00:21:32.681 --> 00:21:36.885
  • They had the peace that passes all understanding, and that
  • 00:21:36.885 --> 00:21:40.956
  • Peace gave them the ability to pray and to praise god."
  • 00:21:40.956 --> 00:21:46.628
  • I didn't realize i'd gotten it backwards.
  • 00:21:46.628 --> 00:21:50.565
  • I got it completely backwards.
  • 00:21:50.565 --> 00:21:54.136
  • Their prayer and praise was not the result of their supernatural
  • 00:21:54.136 --> 00:22:00.075
  • Peace; it was the cause of their supernatural peace.
  • 00:22:00.075 --> 00:22:04.913
  • You know where i get that?
  • 00:22:04.913 --> 00:22:06.248
  • Turn over to philippians chapter 6, verses 6 to 7, because 10
  • 00:22:06.248 --> 00:22:11.086
  • Years after that event in philippi, paul wrote a letter to
  • 00:22:11.086 --> 00:22:15.023
  • The philippian christians.
  • 00:22:15.023 --> 00:22:17.325
  • And you know where he wrote that letter from?
  • 00:22:17.325 --> 00:22:19.461
  • It wasn't the comfort of a pastor's study.
  • 00:22:19.461 --> 00:22:21.730
  • He was once again arrested, in prison, facing what could have
  • 00:22:21.730 --> 00:22:25.367
  • Been the execution of his own life.
  • 00:22:25.367 --> 00:22:28.570
  • He was waiting for the verdict to come down, whether he was
  • 00:22:28.570 --> 00:22:31.640
  • Going to live or die.
  • 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:35.076
  • Jeffress: we've only scratched the surface on this important
  • 00:22:39.314 --> 00:22:41.983
  • Topic of developing a praying heart, so let me encourage you
  • 00:22:41.983 --> 00:22:45.754
  • To join us again next time on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:22:45.754 --> 00:22:49.391
  • Now, as we conclude today, i want to thank those of you who
  • 00:22:49.391 --> 00:22:52.194
  • Faithfully support this ministry.
  • 00:22:52.194 --> 00:22:54.763
  • Your generosity makes it possible for us to reach
  • 00:22:54.763 --> 00:22:57.899
  • Millions of people every week with the truth of god's word.
  • 00:22:57.899 --> 00:23:02.170
  • Whether you're a pathway partner or give an occasional gift,
  • 00:23:02.170 --> 00:23:05.707
  • You're playing an essential role in helping people around the
  • 00:23:05.707 --> 00:23:08.844
  • World discover the joy and peace that come from being a disciple
  • 00:23:08.844 --> 00:23:13.548
  • Of christ.
  • 00:23:13.548 --> 00:23:14.883
  • I'm continually amazed by the letters and emails we receive
  • 00:23:14.883 --> 00:23:18.386
  • From viewers who tell us how god is using this program to
  • 00:23:18.386 --> 00:23:22.491
  • Transform their relationship with him.
  • 00:23:22.491 --> 00:23:25.227
  • Thank you so much for partnering with us as together we pierce
  • 00:23:25.227 --> 00:23:29.130
  • The darkness with the light of god's word.
  • 00:23:29.130 --> 00:23:32.534
  • Now stay right there.
  • 00:23:32.534 --> 00:23:33.902
  • I'll be back with more in just a moment.
  • 00:23:33.902 --> 00:23:36.271
  • Announcer: we all need god's strength to make it through
  • 00:23:38.273 --> 00:23:40.609
  • The day.
  • 00:23:40.609 --> 00:23:41.977
  • "encouragement for the heart of a disciple" by dr. robert
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  • Jeffress provides the spiritual refreshment you need
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  • In a large-print format, every page bursts with breathtaking
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  • Imagery that draws you toward the beauty of god's creation.
  • 00:23:51.653 --> 00:23:55.457
  • Jeffress: i know how challenging it can be to stay connected with
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  • God in our busy lives.
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  • In my new devotional, i provide personal reflections and
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  • Practical insights that will help you experience god's
  • 00:24:03.899 --> 00:24:07.302
  • Presence and encouragement throughout your day.
  • 00:24:07.302 --> 00:24:10.572
  • Announcer: filled with stunning images of creation, scripture
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  • Verses, and prayers you can read in under 2 minutes, this padded
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  • Hardcover book is the perfect daily companion to help refresh
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  • Your spirit, morning and night.
  • 00:24:20.649 --> 00:24:22.918
  • It also makes a thoughtful gift to encourage a friend or
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  • Loved one.
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  • Request your copy of "encouragement for the heart of
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  • A disciple" when you give a generous gift to support the
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  • Ministry of pathway to victory or when you become a
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  • Pathway partner.
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  • With your ministry gift of $100 or more, we'll send you the
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  • Encouragement resource set, containing the new devotional,
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  • Six clutter-free prayer cards, the "clutter-free christianity"
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  • Book and life application guide, and the "seven marks of a
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  • Disciple" message series on both cd and dvd.
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  • Your generous partnership helps us impact you and your family
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  • And a nation in deep spiritual need with the transforming truth
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  • Of god's word.
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  • Jeffress: to jesus, prayer was not an option; it was absolutely
  • 00:25:08.196 --> 00:25:12.667
  • Necessary for his spiritual survival.
  • 00:25:12.667 --> 00:25:15.270
  • And if we're going to be a disciple of jesus, we need to
  • 00:25:15.270 --> 00:25:18.940
  • Learn to develop a praying heart as well.
  • 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:22.410
  • Today we talked about the model for prayer that jesus gave us,
  • 00:25:22.410 --> 00:25:26.281
  • And, next time, i'm going to talk about four practical ways
  • 00:25:26.281 --> 00:25:30.352
  • That you can transform your heart into a praying heart.
  • 00:25:30.352 --> 00:25:34.289
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:25:34.289 --> 00:25:36.925
  • Series, "seven marks of a disciple."
  • 00:25:36.925 --> 00:25:41.029
  • Jeffress: on one level we may be thinking, discussing, seeking,
  • 00:25:41.096 --> 00:25:44.933
  • Calculating, meeting all the demands of external affairs, but
  • 00:25:44.933 --> 00:25:50.572
  • Deep within, behind the scenes, at a more profound level, we may
  • 00:25:50.572 --> 00:25:56.511
  • Also be in prayer, adoration, song and worship and a gentle
  • 00:25:56.511 --> 00:26:01.349
  • Receptivity to divine breathings.
  • 00:26:01.349 --> 00:26:05.120
  • And therein is the secret to develop what i'm calling this
  • 00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:08.423
  • Praying heart, and here's the secret:
  • 00:26:08.423 --> 00:26:11.993
  • The more we pray, the more we want to pray.
  • 00:26:11.993 --> 00:26:17.766
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for part two of the
  • 00:26:17.766 --> 00:26:20.635
  • Message, "developing a praying heart," here on "pathway
  • 00:26:20.635 --> 00:26:24.205
  • To victory."
  • 00:26:24.205 --> 00:26:26.808
  • Announcer: step away from your daily routine and immerse
  • 00:26:28.777 --> 00:26:31.479
  • Yourself in god's masterpiece on the pathway to victory cruise
  • 00:26:31.479 --> 00:26:34.883
  • To alaska, june 13 through 20, 2026.
  • 00:26:34.883 --> 00:26:38.620
  • Jeffress: imagine starting each day immersed in god's word, then
  • 00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:42.190
  • Stepping out to witness god's grandeur from the majestic
  • 00:26:42.190 --> 00:26:45.593
  • Glaciers to soaring eagles.
  • 00:26:45.593 --> 00:26:48.196
  • These moments in god's creation will deepen your faith in
  • 00:26:48.196 --> 00:26:51.766
  • Powerful ways.
  • 00:26:51.766 --> 00:26:53.101
  • Announcer: experience five-star dining, luxurious staterooms,
  • 00:26:53.101 --> 00:26:56.171
  • And exceptional service while visiting iconic ports like juno,
  • 00:26:56.171 --> 00:26:59.908
  • Ketchikan, and skagway.
  • 00:26:59.908 --> 00:27:01.810
  • Jeffress: we'll explore god's word together against the
  • 00:27:01.810 --> 00:27:04.245
  • Backdrop of his most impressive handiwork.
  • 00:27:04.245 --> 00:27:07.649
  • I promise you'll return home with memories that will last a
  • 00:27:07.649 --> 00:27:10.985
  • Lifetime and a heart renewed by god's presence.
  • 00:27:10.985 --> 00:27:15.156
  • Announcer: to book your spot on the 2026 pathway to victory
  • 00:27:15.156 --> 00:27:18.159
  • Cruise to alaska, call... or go to ptv.org.
  • 00:27:18.159 --> 00:27:18.159