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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The Power of Faith-Kneeling (Part 2) | May 5, 2025
- ...
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- ♪♪♪
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- Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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- Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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- With dr. robert jeffress.
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- Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress and
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- Welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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- Most christians understand that prayer is an important part of
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- Their spiritual life, but if god already knows everything, then
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- What's the point of praying, and what sort of things should we
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- Pray for?
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- Last time, we acknowledged the fact that while praying
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- Effectively is simple, praying consistently can be quite
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- A challenge.
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- So today i'm going to share biblical truths that can help
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- All of us become more disciplined about talking
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- With god.
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- My message is titled "the power of faith-kneeling" on today's
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- Edition of "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪♪
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- ♪ i am the righteous one, and i am the lamb ♪
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- ♪ i am the ram in the bush for abraham, ♪
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- ♪ i am the ultimate sacrifice for sin, ♪
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- ♪ i am your redeemer, ♪
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- ♪ beginning and the end. ♪
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- ♪ i am, i am, ♪
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- ♪ i am, i am. ♪
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- ♪ i am jehovah and i am your king, ♪
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- ♪ i am messiah, david's offspring. ♪
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- ♪ i am your high priest and i am the christ, ♪
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- ♪ i am the resurrection, and i am the life. ♪
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- ♪ i am, i am. ♪
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- ♪ i am the bread and i am the wine, ♪
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- ♪ i am your future so leave the past behind, ♪
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- ♪ i am the one in the midst of two or three, ♪
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- ♪ i am your tabernacle, i am your jubilee. ♪
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- ♪ i am, i am. ♪
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- ♪ i am the bread and i am the wine, ♪
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- ♪ i am your future so leave your past behind, ♪
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- ♪ i am the one in the midst of two or three, ♪
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- ♪ i am your tabernacle, i am your jubilee. ♪
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- ♪ i am, i am. ♪
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- ♪ i am hope, i am peace, i am joy, i am rest, ♪
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- ♪ i am your comfort and relief from your stress. ♪
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- ♪ i am strength, i am faith, i am love, i am power, ♪
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- ♪ i am your freedom this very hour. ♪
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- ♪ i am hope, i am peace, i am joy, i am rest. ♪
- 00:03:28.197 --> 00:03:32.802
- ♪ i am your comfort and relief from your stress. ♪
- 00:03:32.802 --> 00:03:37.140
- ♪ i am strength, i am faith, i am love, i am power, ♪
- 00:03:37.140 --> 00:03:41.778
- ♪ i am your freedom this very hour. ♪
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- ♪ i am, i am, ♪
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- ♪ i am. ♪
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- ♪ hallelujah. hallelujah. ♪
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- Announcer: god never intended for the holy spirit to be a
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- Mystery to believers.
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- In fact, if you're a follower of jesus, then god's spirit is
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- Dwelling inside of you and he's waiting to unleash his
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- Supernatural power in your life.
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- In his bestselling book "i want more," dr. robert jeffress
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- Teaches what it means to be filled with the power of the
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- Holy spirit.
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- Looking to satisfy your spiritual cravings?
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- Request the book "i want more" when you give a generous gift to
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- "pathway to victory."
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- ♪♪♪
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- Jeffress: ladies and gentlemen, god can do whatever
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- He chooses to do.
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- He doesn't need me to do it.
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- One extreme about prayer is to say that somehow god is limited
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- In what he can do by my willingness to pray.
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- On the other end of the spectrum though are those people who
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- Would say, "well, god is sovereign, god is in control,
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- And my prayers make no difference whatsoever."
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- Now these are the same people who say, "well, you know, god's
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- Gonna save whomever he is gonna save.
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- He doesn't need me to witness in order to save them."
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- How do we reconcile god's sovereignty with our
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- Responsibility to witness?
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- I like what one theologian says.
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- He says, "god has not only ordained the end result, he's
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- Ordained the means to the end."
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- Yes, god has decided who's going to be saved.
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- He has elected certain individuals to salvation.
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- You can't believe the bible and not believe that.
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- But even though god has ordained the end, who's gonna be saved,
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- He has also ordained the means by which those people are gonna
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- Be saved, and it's by their hearing the gospel of
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- Jesus christ.
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- Romans chapter 10 verse 17 says, "for faith comes by hearing and
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- Hearing the will of the word of god.
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- How will they believe upon him whom they have not heard?"
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- Paul asked.
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- God is ordained who's gonna be saved, but he's also ordained
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- How they're gonna be saved, and it is by you and me sharing the
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- Gospel with them.
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- Now folks, it is the same way with prayer.
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- God has all of these incredible things he wants to do for you.
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- He has a tremendous plan for your life.
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- Remember the words in jeremiah 29:11, god said, "'for i know
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- The plans i have for you,' declares the lord, 'plans for
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- Your welfare, not for calamity, a plan to give you a future and
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- A hope.'"
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- There is an infinite amount of things, good things, god wants
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- To do for your life.
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- How do those blessings come into your life?
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- The means by which they come into your life is
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- Through prayer.
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- God has ordained the good things he wants to do for you, but he's
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- Also ordained the means by which those good things are gonna come
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- Into your life, and it is through prayer.
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- Why should i pray if god is gonna do what he wants to
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- Do anyway?
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- Well, the simple answer is because he's told us to pray.
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- But the real answer is prayer is the channel, the means by which
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- Those good things come into my life.
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- That leads to a second question about prayer.
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- Okay, what sort of things should i pray for?
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- What sort of things should i pray for?
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- Is it wrong to pray for a bigger house, a better job, a
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- Larger salary?
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- Is it more spiritual to pray, "lord, heal me," or should i be
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- Praying, "lord, your will be done?"
- 00:07:35.745 --> 00:07:38.648
- Again, christians go to one of two extremes.
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- There's some people who kind of see god as a divine bellhop in
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- Heaven, and prayer is the buzzer that we use to summon his
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- Attention whenever we need him to carry out our purpose.
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- That's some people's view of prayer.
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- Other people are sickened by that kind of idea about prayer,
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- They go to the other extreme and they say, "you know what, you
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- Should never ask god for anything selfish."
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- I remember hearing people say, "teach about prayer."
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- The most simple, elementary, immature way to pray is to pray
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- For me.
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- Lord, do this for me, do this for me, and once you get past
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- That childish kind of praying, the next level of prayer is to
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- Pray for other people.
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- Lord, do this for sally, do this for jim, praying for
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- Other people.
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- But then they say when we reach the highest state of maturity in
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- Our spiritual life, we don't pray for ourselves, we don't
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- Pray for other people, we simply pray for the will of god to
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- Be done.
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- Now there's a greek term for that kind of teaching,
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- Hogwash, okay?
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- The bible tells us we need to pray for ourselves.
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- The bible says we ought to pray for other people.
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- The bible says we ought to also pray for the glory of god, and
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- We find a balanced view of how to really pray the kinds of
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- Things we ought to be praying for in matthew chapter 6.
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- Turn over to matthew chapter 6 for a moment.
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- Last summer i spent six weeks looking at matthew chapter 6,
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- This model prayer.
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- And even though i know every one of you remembers everything i
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- Said in that series last summer, i still want to remind you just
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- Of the simple five components that ought to be a part of
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- Our prayer.
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- Now let me remind you what occasioned what we call the
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- Lord's prayer.
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- In luke's account of this story, the disciples actually came to
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- Jesus and they said, "lord, teach us how to pray."
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- Now think about this.
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- The disciples weren't always the brightest bulbs in the socket,
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- If you know what i mean.
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- And yet even they, after hanging around the lord a couple of
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- Years, saw the connection between jesus's power and
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- Jesus's priority of prayer in his life.
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- They saw that there was some relationship between those two
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- Things, and they said, "lord, we want the same power in our life
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- That you have in your life, and we realize that it is because of
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- Your communication with your heavenly father that that power
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- Flows into your life.
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- So lord, teach us to pray as you pray."
- 00:10:06.162 --> 00:10:10.633
- And what did jesus say?
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- Jesus said, "when you pray, pray in this way."
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- He never said, "when you pray, pray this prayer."
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- I had people ask me in our first tract class, "you know, why
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- Don't we pray the lord's prayer every sunday like
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- Other churches?"
- 00:10:25.915 --> 00:10:27.683
- The reason is, jesus never instructed us to pray
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- This prayer.
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- Nowhere in the new testament do you find this prayer ever
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- Being repeated.
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- The lord's prayer is not a mantra to be repeated, it is a
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- Model to be followed in our praying.
- 00:10:40.429 --> 00:10:43.532
- And so jesus said, "here are the components of an effective
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- Prayer that reaches heaven.
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- First of all, our prayer ought to begin with a praise of
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- God's name.
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- "our father who is in heaven, hallowed be thy name."
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- It's not like children think sometimes, it's not halloween be
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- Your name, it is hallowed be your name.
- 00:11:00.116 --> 00:11:02.752
- That word "hallowed" simply means holy is your name.
- 00:11:02.752 --> 00:11:07.056
- And before we begin rushing to god with all of our requests and
- 00:11:07.056 --> 00:11:10.326
- The things we want to have done for us, we need to take a moment
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- And remember how holy god's name is.
- 00:11:15.131 --> 00:11:18.334
- Remember, a person's name is simply representative of who
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- That person is.
- 00:11:22.238 --> 00:11:24.206
- When jesus said, "remember the holiness of god's name," what
- 00:11:24.206 --> 00:11:27.009
- He's really saying is, "remember how holy god is."
- 00:11:27.009 --> 00:11:30.246
- That word "holy" means separate, a cut above, different.
- 00:11:30.246 --> 00:11:35.084
- When we come into god's presence, we ought to praise him
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- That he is not like we are.
- 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:40.689
- God, thank you for being loving, even though i deserve
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- Your judgment.
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- God, thank you for being faithful even when
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- I'm faithless.
- 00:11:48.497 --> 00:11:50.399
- God, thank you for being wiser and having a good plan for my
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- Life, even though i don't know what that plan is.
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- We take a moment and we praise god for who he is, the fact that
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- He is different than we are.
- 00:12:01.477 --> 00:12:03.546
- And then secondly, jesus said, "we need to get something
- 00:12:03.546 --> 00:12:06.782
- Settled early in our prayer, and that is the priority of
- 00:12:06.782 --> 00:12:10.386
- God's purpose."
- 00:12:10.386 --> 00:12:11.854
- Look at verse 10, "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth
- 00:12:11.854 --> 00:12:17.893
- As it is in heaven."
- 00:12:17.893 --> 00:12:21.030
- When we say, "god, may your kingdom come," what are
- 00:12:21.030 --> 00:12:23.933
- We saying?
- 00:12:23.933 --> 00:12:25.334
- The kingdom of god is one of those terms we all throw around,
- 00:12:25.334 --> 00:12:28.137
- But i think very few of us have a real understanding of.
- 00:12:28.137 --> 00:12:30.739
- What do we mean when we talk about the kingdom of god?
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- When we're praying for god's kingdom to come, we are praying
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- For the future return of jesus christ.
- 00:12:36.946 --> 00:12:39.982
- Now listen to this, a king's kingdom consists of that area
- 00:12:39.982 --> 00:12:45.521
- Wherever what the king wants done gets done.
- 00:12:45.521 --> 00:12:48.724
- It is the area over which he rules.
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- For example, the king of egypt is sovereign, he is ruler over
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- The citizens of egypt, he has total authority over them, they
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- Submit to him.
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- But the king of egypt has absolutely no authority over us.
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- If you get a letter from the egyptian government telling them
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- That you owe them 20% of your income and income tax, you
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- Probably aren't gonna send that money to egypt, are you?
- 00:13:13.582 --> 00:13:16.619
- Why?
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- Because they have no authority over you, the king has no
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- Authority over you.
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- It's the same way with god's kingdom.
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- God's kingdom is that area wherever what god wants done
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- Gets done.
- 00:13:27.696 --> 00:13:29.098
- Now, what does god's kingdom consist of?
- 00:13:29.098 --> 00:13:33.736
- Well, the bible says he's king, he's sovereign over all
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- The universe.
- 00:13:36.805 --> 00:13:38.641
- Well, that is true theologically.
- 00:13:38.641 --> 00:13:41.377
- God is in control of everything that happens, but there is one
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- Small corner of his universe where god's will is not being
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- Done right now.
- 00:13:49.718 --> 00:13:51.086
- There's one small corner in the universe where there is a
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- Rebellion against god's kingdom, and it's that speck in the
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- Universe called planet earth.
- 00:13:58.160 --> 00:14:00.529
- Right now on planet earth, there are a group of god's creations
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- That are rebelling against him.
- 00:14:04.033 --> 00:14:06.669
- But that rebellion won't last forever.
- 00:14:06.669 --> 00:14:09.405
- There is coming a time when god's son, the lord jesus
- 00:14:09.405 --> 00:14:12.775
- Christ, will return and he will rule over all the earth.
- 00:14:12.775 --> 00:14:17.413
- And the bible says at that time, "every knee will bow, every
- 00:14:17.413 --> 00:14:21.083
- Tongue will confess that jesus christ is kurios, he is lord,
- 00:14:21.083 --> 00:14:26.555
- He is sovereign over all.
- 00:14:26.555 --> 00:14:29.525
- But right now we're living in that time when god's kingdom,
- 00:14:29.525 --> 00:14:33.529
- His rule is not total over all of his creation.
- 00:14:33.529 --> 00:14:36.532
- There is that rebellion going on right now.
- 00:14:36.532 --> 00:14:39.168
- So when we pray, "your kingdom come," we're saying, "lord, we
- 00:14:39.168 --> 00:14:42.371
- Are praying for the future return of jesus christ.
- 00:14:42.371 --> 00:14:45.541
- But notice the second phrase, "your will be done on earth as
- 00:14:45.541 --> 00:14:50.446
- It is in heaven."
- 00:14:50.446 --> 00:14:52.247
- That is a prayer for the present rule of god on the earth and
- 00:14:52.247 --> 00:14:58.954
- Specifically in my life.
- 00:14:58.954 --> 00:15:01.023
- See, here's what the bible calls the mystery of the kingdom
- 00:15:01.023 --> 00:15:04.093
- Of god.
- 00:15:04.093 --> 00:15:05.461
- All throughout the new testament in matthew 13, jesus talked
- 00:15:05.461 --> 00:15:08.364
- About the mystery of the kingdom of god, and here's the mystery.
- 00:15:08.364 --> 00:15:11.633
- The mystery is the future kingdom is coming, jesus is
- 00:15:11.633 --> 00:15:15.504
- Gonna return one day.
- 00:15:15.504 --> 00:15:17.039
- But right now the kingdom of god occurs in the lives of
- 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:21.243
- Individual believers who are submitting to god's kingdom.
- 00:15:21.243 --> 00:15:24.713
- And so when we pray, "lord, your will be done on earth as it is
- 00:15:24.713 --> 00:15:28.784
- In heaven," what we're saying is, "lord, i want to obey your
- 00:15:28.784 --> 00:15:33.055
- Rule right now.
- 00:15:33.055 --> 00:15:35.124
- Even though other people around me are not submitting to your
- 00:15:35.124 --> 00:15:37.726
- Rule, right now i am submitting to your sovereignty over
- 00:15:37.726 --> 00:15:41.630
- My life.
- 00:15:41.630 --> 00:15:42.965
- Lord, may your will be done in my life just as it is being done
- 00:15:42.965 --> 00:15:47.770
- In heaven."
- 00:15:47.770 --> 00:15:50.305
- Why should we submit ourselves to god's rule over our life?
- 00:15:50.305 --> 00:15:56.111
- You know, how many of you are looking forward to going
- 00:15:56.111 --> 00:15:58.013
- To heaven?
- 00:15:58.013 --> 00:15:59.381
- Just raise your hand.
- 00:15:59.381 --> 00:16:00.716
- I mean, heaven is somewhat appealing to you.
- 00:16:00.716 --> 00:16:03.719
- What is it about heaven you're looking most forward to?
- 00:16:03.719 --> 00:16:07.089
- Well, some people say, "well, i'm looking forward to just
- 00:16:07.089 --> 00:16:10.292
- Being free from worrying all the time.
- 00:16:10.292 --> 00:16:12.594
- I just worry all the time, i'm just looking forward to the time
- 00:16:12.594 --> 00:16:15.130
- I don't have to worry about anything."
- 00:16:15.130 --> 00:16:16.799
- Guess what?
- 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:18.133
- You don't have to die to experience freedom from worry.
- 00:16:18.133 --> 00:16:21.303
- Jesus said, "my peace i give to you, my peace i leave with you."
- 00:16:21.303 --> 00:16:25.474
- You can have that right now.
- 00:16:25.474 --> 00:16:27.810
- Some people say, "well, i'm looking forward to just not
- 00:16:27.810 --> 00:16:29.945
- Worrying about money anymore, it's just a constant battle, you
- 00:16:29.945 --> 00:16:32.781
- Know, knowing if i'm gonna have enough.
- 00:16:32.781 --> 00:16:34.616
- I'm just looking forward to the time i don't have to be
- 00:16:34.616 --> 00:16:37.753
- Concerned about finances."
- 00:16:37.753 --> 00:16:39.088
- Guess what?
- 00:16:39.088 --> 00:16:40.422
- You don't have to die to be content with your
- 00:16:40.422 --> 00:16:42.424
- Financial situation.
- 00:16:42.424 --> 00:16:44.259
- The apostle paul said, "i've learned to be content in
- 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:46.895
- Whatever circumstance i'm in."
- 00:16:46.895 --> 00:16:49.832
- Some people say, "i'm looking forward to heaven because i
- 00:16:49.832 --> 00:16:52.468
- Won't have to be enslaved to sin anymore.
- 00:16:52.468 --> 00:16:55.337
- I won't have to be enslaved to addictions, to wrong
- 00:16:55.337 --> 00:16:58.140
- Relationships, the things that are destroying my life."
- 00:16:58.140 --> 00:17:01.110
- You don't have to die to experience that.
- 00:17:01.110 --> 00:17:03.579
- Paul said to the roman christians, he said, "so do not
- 00:17:03.579 --> 00:17:06.381
- Let sin reign over your mortal bodies that you should obey
- 00:17:06.381 --> 00:17:10.219
- Its lust."
- 00:17:10.219 --> 00:17:11.820
- What i'm saying to you folks is, you don't have to die to
- 00:17:11.820 --> 00:17:15.157
- Experience the benefits of the kingdom of god.
- 00:17:15.157 --> 00:17:17.860
- The fact is, to the extent that you and i submit to god's rule
- 00:17:17.860 --> 00:17:24.233
- In our life, we can experience the benefits of the kingdom
- 00:17:24.233 --> 00:17:28.670
- Of god.
- 00:17:28.670 --> 00:17:31.173
- You know, sometimes i really wonder why some christians even
- 00:17:31.173 --> 00:17:34.309
- Want to go to heaven.
- 00:17:34.309 --> 00:17:36.311
- I mean, think, what is it that's going to characterize heaven?
- 00:17:36.311 --> 00:17:40.682
- Heaven is gonna be characterized by total complete obedience to
- 00:17:40.682 --> 00:17:45.154
- The will of god, isn't it?
- 00:17:45.154 --> 00:17:47.256
- There's not gonna be one creature in the new heaven and
- 00:17:47.256 --> 00:17:50.559
- The new earth that rebels against god.
- 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:53.529
- And if we are rebelling against god's will right now, if we
- 00:17:53.529 --> 00:17:57.966
- Think the last thing i wanna do is to obey god in my life, why
- 00:17:57.966 --> 00:18:02.104
- Do we think we're gonna be in heaven one day where all we do
- 00:18:02.104 --> 00:18:05.807
- Is going to obey god day and night?
- 00:18:05.807 --> 00:18:09.478
- What do you think is gonna change in your life between now
- 00:18:09.478 --> 00:18:12.314
- And then that suddenly is gonna make you want to obey god?
- 00:18:12.314 --> 00:18:15.150
- If you don't wanna obey him now, there's nothing that's gonna
- 00:18:15.150 --> 00:18:18.453
- Change in your life that's gonna make you want to obey him
- 00:18:18.453 --> 00:18:20.722
- In heaven.
- 00:18:20.722 --> 00:18:22.691
- When you pray, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
- 00:18:22.691 --> 00:18:28.063
- What we're really praying is, god, i am going to obey your
- 00:18:28.063 --> 00:18:32.267
- Perceptive will.
- 00:18:32.267 --> 00:18:33.969
- That part of your will that has been revealed to me right now,
- 00:18:33.969 --> 00:18:37.639
- Father, i'm gonna get this settled in my heart.
- 00:18:37.639 --> 00:18:39.908
- I am going to start obeying you so that i can start benefiting
- 00:18:39.908 --> 00:18:45.247
- From the blessings of the kingdom.
- 00:18:45.247 --> 00:18:47.583
- When we pray, "your will be done in my life as it is in heaven,"
- 00:18:47.583 --> 00:18:51.787
- We're first of all saying, god, i acquiesce, i submit to your
- 00:18:51.787 --> 00:18:57.893
- Perceptive will, those commands in scripture that i know to
- 00:18:57.893 --> 00:19:01.863
- Be true.
- 00:19:01.863 --> 00:19:03.332
- But we're also saying something else.
- 00:19:03.332 --> 00:19:05.734
- When we say, "god, your will be done in my life," we're saying,
- 00:19:05.734 --> 00:19:08.537
- "god, i submit to your providential will."
- 00:19:08.537 --> 00:19:12.908
- See, a lot of things about god's will we don't know ahead of time
- 00:19:12.908 --> 00:19:15.544
- Until they happen, do we?
- 00:19:15.544 --> 00:19:17.946
- There are a lot of concerns we have that we can talk to god
- 00:19:17.946 --> 00:19:20.682
- About but we really don't know if it's god's will or not.
- 00:19:20.682 --> 00:19:22.951
- We can say, lord, i really want this relationship to be healed.
- 00:19:22.951 --> 00:19:27.556
- Truthfully, we don't know whether that's god's will or not
- 00:19:27.556 --> 00:19:29.625
- To heal that relationship in many cases.
- 00:19:29.625 --> 00:19:32.694
- We can say, god, i'm out of work now, i need this particular job
- 00:19:32.694 --> 00:19:36.898
- That has opened up.
- 00:19:36.898 --> 00:19:38.267
- And we can pray for that, but we don't know when we pray if that
- 00:19:38.267 --> 00:19:41.970
- Job is really god's will for us or not.
- 00:19:41.970 --> 00:19:45.340
- We can pray when illness strikes in ourselves or in a loved one.
- 00:19:45.340 --> 00:19:48.910
- We can say, god, heal us, heal them from that disease, but when
- 00:19:48.910 --> 00:19:53.515
- We pray, the truth is we don't know if it's god's will to heal
- 00:19:53.515 --> 00:19:56.385
- Or not.
- 00:19:56.385 --> 00:19:58.453
- So what does it mean to pray, "god, your will be done?"
- 00:19:58.453 --> 00:20:02.124
- Here's what it means.
- 00:20:02.124 --> 00:20:03.492
- It says, god, this is what i want.
- 00:20:03.492 --> 00:20:05.727
- I'm gonna be very honest in what i want, god, this is what i'm
- 00:20:05.727 --> 00:20:09.197
- Asking you to do, but i also realize that you know best, and
- 00:20:09.197 --> 00:20:15.103
- Ultimately i'm submitting myself to your providential will.
- 00:20:15.103 --> 00:20:19.174
- Isn't that what jesus did in the garden of gethsemane?
- 00:20:19.174 --> 00:20:22.611
- When he knelt there, he prayed in great agony, that sweat like
- 00:20:22.611 --> 00:20:26.782
- Blood fell to the ground.
- 00:20:26.782 --> 00:20:28.116
- He said, "father, if you are willing, let this experience
- 00:20:28.116 --> 00:20:31.987
- Pass for me."
- 00:20:31.987 --> 00:20:33.955
- We skip over that too often.
- 00:20:33.955 --> 00:20:36.491
- We don't realize that jesus really did not want to go to
- 00:20:36.491 --> 00:20:39.461
- The cross.
- 00:20:39.461 --> 00:20:40.862
- He really didn't want to do it.
- 00:20:40.862 --> 00:20:42.264
- Do you blame him?
- 00:20:42.264 --> 00:20:44.066
- Not just the physical horrendous suffering that the cross
- 00:20:44.066 --> 00:20:47.736
- Represented, but the spiritual suffering of being separated
- 00:20:47.736 --> 00:20:50.205
- From god.
- 00:20:50.205 --> 00:20:51.540
- Who could blame jesus for not wanting to go to the cross?
- 00:20:51.540 --> 00:20:53.342
- He was very honest with god.
- 00:20:53.342 --> 00:20:55.243
- He said, "god, if you're willing, please another way.
- 00:20:55.243 --> 00:20:59.748
- Let this cup be removed from me."
- 00:20:59.748 --> 00:21:02.551
- But then he added, "yet not my will but your will be done.
- 00:21:02.551 --> 00:21:09.224
- Your will be done on earth in my life as it's being done in
- 00:21:09.224 --> 00:21:15.230
- Heaven right now," and in some inexplicable way, what were two
- 00:21:15.230 --> 00:21:19.401
- Wills, god's will and jesus's will, were molded into one will.
- 00:21:19.401 --> 00:21:24.806
- When we're praying to god, we need to be honest and tell him
- 00:21:24.806 --> 00:21:28.043
- What we want.
- 00:21:28.043 --> 00:21:29.511
- But then we make that final acquiescence to god's will, not
- 00:21:29.511 --> 00:21:33.849
- My will, your will be done.
- 00:21:33.849 --> 00:21:38.019
- This past week, one of the most faithful members of our church,
- 00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:42.124
- Susan woodward, went home to be with the lord.
- 00:21:42.124 --> 00:21:46.695
- We had her homegoing celebration friday here in this sanctuary.
- 00:21:46.695 --> 00:21:50.899
- For ten months, susan battled with cancer.
- 00:21:50.899 --> 00:21:54.035
- Many of you prayed for susan's healing.
- 00:21:54.035 --> 00:21:57.105
- Susan and her family prayed for healing.
- 00:21:57.105 --> 00:22:00.008
- But a few months before she went home to be with the lord, this
- 00:22:00.008 --> 00:22:02.344
- Is what she wrote on her "caring bridge" website.
- 00:22:02.344 --> 00:22:06.081
- She wrote, "the lord has answered many prayers through
- 00:22:06.081 --> 00:22:09.384
- This journey, not just on my behalf, but for the many on my
- 00:22:09.384 --> 00:22:14.389
- Prayer list as well.
- 00:22:14.389 --> 00:22:16.324
- To god be the glory, great things he has done.
- 00:22:16.324 --> 00:22:20.662
- May each of you have comfort in god's perfect plan.
- 00:22:20.662 --> 00:22:25.200
- I know i have a loving father in heaven who is always in control.
- 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:30.472
- When you can't see god's hand, you can trust his heart."
- 00:22:30.472 --> 00:22:37.145
- Now that's what we're talking about when we're talking about
- 00:22:37.145 --> 00:22:39.781
- Submitting to god's providential plan.
- 00:22:39.781 --> 00:22:44.052
- Lord, i want to be healed.
- 00:22:44.052 --> 00:22:46.555
- Lord, i want a miracle.
- 00:22:46.555 --> 00:22:49.090
- But ultimately not my will but your will be done.
- 00:22:49.090 --> 00:22:55.564
- Certainly our praying ought to begin with praising god for who
- 00:22:55.564 --> 00:22:58.867
- He is.
- 00:22:58.867 --> 00:23:00.268
- It ought to also be a time when we surrender to god's perfect
- 00:23:00.268 --> 00:23:04.439
- Will in our life.
- 00:23:04.439 --> 00:23:06.775
- But that's not the only kind of things jesus says we're to
- 00:23:06.775 --> 00:23:09.344
- Pray about.
- 00:23:09.344 --> 00:23:10.812
- Next week we're gonna discover why it's okay to pray those
- 00:23:10.812 --> 00:23:13.882
- Selfish prayers.
- 00:23:13.882 --> 00:23:15.984
- We're also gonna answer a question many people don't want
- 00:23:15.984 --> 00:23:18.453
- To vocalize but we think about all the time, and that is, why
- 00:23:18.453 --> 00:23:21.923
- Doesn't god answer all of our prayers?
- 00:23:21.923 --> 00:23:25.594
- I hope you'll be with us next time as we talk about
- 00:23:25.594 --> 00:23:28.930
- The power of faith healing.
- 00:23:28.930 --> 00:23:32.868
- Jeffress: god has an infinite number of blessings he wants to
- 00:23:37.072 --> 00:23:39.941
- Pour into your life, and prayer is the channel through which
- 00:23:39.941 --> 00:23:43.678
- Those blessings, plans, and purposes flow.
- 00:23:43.678 --> 00:23:47.649
- Well, every day we receive notes from individuals who share how
- 00:23:47.649 --> 00:23:51.686
- This bible teaching ministry has become their spiritual lifeline.
- 00:23:51.686 --> 00:23:56.525
- For instance, i recently heard from susan who listens to
- 00:23:56.525 --> 00:24:00.028
- "pathway to victory" in kansas.
- 00:24:00.028 --> 00:24:02.330
- Susan wrote, "pastor, i live with depression and anxiety, but
- 00:24:02.330 --> 00:24:07.135
- You shared a powerful message that i needed to hear.
- 00:24:07.135 --> 00:24:10.772
- I haven't always been in a good relationship with god, but i am
- 00:24:10.772 --> 00:24:14.709
- Still learning how to be faithful and i look forward
- 00:24:14.709 --> 00:24:17.979
- Every morning to your message."
- 00:24:17.979 --> 00:24:20.682
- Susan, thanks so much for your willingness to write to us and
- 00:24:20.682 --> 00:24:24.152
- Encourage us.
- 00:24:24.152 --> 00:24:25.587
- And to those of you who give to "pathway to victory," your
- 00:24:25.587 --> 00:24:28.757
- Voluntary gifts are helping us reach people like susan and
- 00:24:28.757 --> 00:24:32.928
- Millions more.
- 00:24:32.928 --> 00:24:34.362
- So thank you, not only for giving to support this ministry,
- 00:24:34.362 --> 00:24:38.233
- But for bringing hope and light to a world shrouded in darkness.
- 00:24:38.233 --> 00:24:43.371
- Now, stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to
- 00:24:43.371 --> 00:24:46.074
- Victory" in just a moment.
- 00:24:46.074 --> 00:24:49.244
- Announcer: the bible promises that when we put our faith in
- 00:24:49.311 --> 00:24:52.013
- Jesus christ, our lives will be changed from the inside out, and
- 00:24:52.013 --> 00:24:56.217
- Yet many christians feel discouraged and defeated in
- 00:24:56.217 --> 00:24:58.954
- Their daily walk.
- 00:24:58.954 --> 00:25:00.288
- Jeffress: if you're longing for something more in your
- 00:25:00.288 --> 00:25:02.457
- Relationship with god, you're not alone.
- 00:25:02.457 --> 00:25:04.893
- At one time i felt dissatisfied and powerless to change it, but
- 00:25:04.893 --> 00:25:09.431
- By god's grace i discovered how to deploy the power of the holy
- 00:25:09.431 --> 00:25:13.668
- Spirit in my life.
- 00:25:13.668 --> 00:25:15.337
- And today i wanna help you discover that as well in my
- 00:25:15.337 --> 00:25:19.074
- Best-selling book "i want more."
- 00:25:19.074 --> 00:25:22.210
- Announcer: the book, "i want more," was written to help you
- 00:25:22.210 --> 00:25:24.779
- Build spiritual strength as you pursue a fresh way to unleash
- 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:28.450
- God's supernatural power in every area of your life.
- 00:25:28.450 --> 00:25:32.220
- You're invited to request a copy of "i want more" when you give a
- 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:35.523
- Generous gift to support the ministry of "pathway to victory"
- 00:25:35.523 --> 00:25:38.827
- Or when you become a pathway partner, and when you give $75
- 00:25:38.827 --> 00:25:42.998
- Or more, we'll also send you the complete "unleashed" teaching
- 00:25:42.998 --> 00:25:46.267
- Series on dvd and audio disc.
- 00:25:46.267 --> 00:25:49.037
- Jeffress: god has granted to you everything you need to lead a
- 00:25:49.037 --> 00:25:54.342
- Fulfilling existence while here on earth.
- 00:25:54.342 --> 00:25:57.078
- Everything he has given you is all wrapped up in the holy
- 00:25:57.078 --> 00:26:00.915
- Spirit of god.
- 00:26:00.915 --> 00:26:02.951
- Announcer: your generous giving will help us encourage and equip
- 00:26:02.951 --> 00:26:05.887
- Viewers like you with biblical truth and hope.
- 00:26:05.887 --> 00:26:08.923
- Thank you so much for your support as we continue to impact
- 00:26:08.923 --> 00:26:12.227
- You, your family, and our nation, with the transforming
- 00:26:12.227 --> 00:26:15.497
- Truth of god's word.
- 00:26:15.497 --> 00:26:17.365
- Jeffress: we're to praise god's name for who he is.
- 00:26:18.800 --> 00:26:22.070
- We're to pray for god's will to be done not just in the future
- 00:26:22.070 --> 00:26:25.774
- But right now on earth.
- 00:26:25.774 --> 00:26:28.043
- Those aren't the only things we're to pray for.
- 00:26:28.043 --> 00:26:30.712
- God says it's okay to pray for selfish things as well, and next
- 00:26:30.712 --> 00:26:35.583
- Time we're going to finish looking at how we should pray
- 00:26:35.583 --> 00:26:38.286
- For our needs.
- 00:26:38.286 --> 00:26:39.988
- And then we're going to answer the question i bet everybody
- 00:26:39.988 --> 00:26:43.024
- Wants to know but few have had the courage to ask, why doesn't
- 00:26:43.024 --> 00:26:48.196
- God answer all of my prayers?
- 00:26:48.196 --> 00:26:51.032
- Stay tuned for a preview of my answer to that question coming
- 00:26:51.032 --> 00:26:54.636
- Up next on "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:54.636 --> 00:26:57.772
- Jeffress: you know, prayer is a missing ingredient in many of
- 00:26:58.973 --> 00:27:02.544
- Our lives, and it's that lack of prayer that robs us not only of
- 00:27:02.544 --> 00:27:07.916
- Intimacy with god, a lack of prayer robs us of experiencing
- 00:27:07.916 --> 00:27:12.821
- God's power in our lives.
- 00:27:12.821 --> 00:27:16.057
- Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message
- 00:27:16.124 --> 00:27:19.027
- "effective pray-ers" here on "pathway to victory."
- 00:27:19.027 --> 00:27:19.027