David Jeremiah - Prayer, Pagans, and Pretenders

August 31, 2025 | S1 E1329 | 58:20

The sound Bible-based teaching of Turning Point carries forward the goal of delivering the unchanging Word of God to an ever-changing world.

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Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah | David Jeremiah - Prayer, Pagans, and Pretenders | August 31, 2025
  • ...
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  • Dr. david jeremiah: as a pastor, i've had the profound privilege
  • 00:00:01.151 --> 00:00:03.653
  • Of walking alongside people through life's checkpoints:
  • 00:00:03.787 --> 00:00:08.291
  • Marriage, the birth of children, and unfortunately death as well.
  • 00:00:08.391 --> 00:00:14.664
  • Throughout the years, the questions i often hear
  • 00:00:14.798 --> 00:00:17.534
  • Aren't about this life.
  • 00:00:17.634 --> 00:00:18.034
  • They're about what comes next.
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  • That's why i have spent decades studying and preaching
  • 00:00:22.639 --> 00:00:26.009
  • About heaven.
  • 00:00:26.009 --> 00:00:27.377
  • And now, i've gathered all that biblical teaching together
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  • Into one book called "the promise of heaven."
  • 00:00:30.880 --> 00:00:34.984
  • Male announcer: "the promise of heaven: 31 reasons to get
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  • Excited about your eternal home," releases october 7th.
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  • Preorder your copy for a gift of any amount.
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  • Plus, receive exclusive bonus digital access to dr. jeremiah's
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  • "the promise of heaven" teaching series and study guide.
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  • Also available for preorder, "the promise of heaven"
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  • Study set.
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  • For more details and to preorder,
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  • Contact "turning point" today.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Dr. jeremiah: we are pretty self-sufficient people,
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  • But that has caused us to make prayer our last resort
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  • When we're in trouble.
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  • We make prayer so difficult.
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  • Prayer may be mysterious, but it's not complicated.
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  • It's simple.
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  • And in this series, i'm going to teach you
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  • How to transform your prayer life.
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  • I'm not here to make you feel guilty about not praying
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  • As much as you should.
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  • The real issue isn't guilt.
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  • It's that we're missing out on the great adventure
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  • God has for us.
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  • So you want to know why you're not seeing
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  • Your prayers being answered?
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  • Well, they're just not specific enough.
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  • Your prayer should be so specific
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  • That when god answers it, you recognize it.
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  • If you want your prayers answered,
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  • Three things need to be true:
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  • The request needs to be right, the timing needs to be right,
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  • And you need to be right.
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  • Don't pray like an adult.
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  • Pray like a child.
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  • Keep it simple, keep it specific, and keep at it.
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  • God cares about everything in your life,
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  • Even the little things.
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  • Nothing is too insignificant to get on your prayer list
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  • Because god has the capacity to care about every detail
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  • Of every one of his children, including you.
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  • What is prayer?
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  • Prayer is a conversation.
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  • Prayer is a relationship and prayer is a great adventure.
  • 00:02:31.134 --> 00:02:35.872
  • Announcer: coming up on "turning point."
  • 00:02:39.842 --> 00:02:42.278
  • Dr. jeremiah: the god who answers this prayer is a good
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  • And gracious and loving god.
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  • He never gives us anything that he does not give us the grace
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  • To deal with.
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  • He never asks us to walk a road that he does not lead us
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  • And go with us.
  • 00:02:56.693 --> 00:02:58.394
  • Announcer: prayer: keep it simple, keep it specific.
  • 00:03:00.863 --> 00:03:03.533
  • "everything to god in prayer: guided prayers
  • 00:03:03.533 --> 00:03:05.768
  • For your deepest needs & biggest dreams,"
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  • By dr. david jeremiah, provides you
  • 00:03:07.870 --> 00:03:09.706
  • With 100 carefully crafted prayers to guide you
  • 00:03:09.706 --> 00:03:12.208
  • Through life's challenges and celebrations.
  • 00:03:12.208 --> 00:03:15.011
  • When words fail you during times of grief;
  • 00:03:15.011 --> 00:03:17.480
  • When your heart is filled with gratitude,
  • 00:03:17.480 --> 00:03:19.349
  • But you can't express it; when you're facing decisions
  • 00:03:19.349 --> 00:03:21.884
  • That seem impossible, dr. jeremiah helps you
  • 00:03:21.884 --> 00:03:24.887
  • Bring everything to god.
  • 00:03:24.887 --> 00:03:26.556
  • The bible tells us to go to god in prayer for all things,
  • 00:03:26.556 --> 00:03:30.093
  • But sometimes we need guidance on how to pray effectively
  • 00:03:30.093 --> 00:03:32.528
  • And specifically.
  • 00:03:32.528 --> 00:03:34.197
  • Reading and praying these guided prayers by dr. jeremiah will
  • 00:03:34.197 --> 00:03:36.899
  • Help you learn to pray with confidence and clarity
  • 00:03:36.899 --> 00:03:40.036
  • And with renewed passion and purpose.
  • 00:03:40.036 --> 00:03:43.273
  • Request "everything to god in prayer," new from dr. jeremiah,
  • 00:03:43.273 --> 00:03:46.676
  • When you give a gift of any amount
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  • In support of "turning point."
  • 00:03:48.144 --> 00:03:50.246
  • "everything to god in prayer," the perfect companion
  • 00:03:50.246 --> 00:03:52.982
  • For your prayer life and a thoughtful gift for anyone
  • 00:03:52.982 --> 00:03:55.418
  • In your bible study or prayer group.
  • 00:03:55.418 --> 00:03:57.353
  • And you can request 2 copies for a gift of $60 or more.
  • 00:03:57.353 --> 00:04:00.890
  • Your deepest needs and biggest dreams deserve the right words.
  • 00:04:00.890 --> 00:04:04.661
  • Request "everything to god in prayer"
  • 00:04:04.661 --> 00:04:06.396
  • By dr. jeremiah from "turning point" today.
  • 00:04:06.396 --> 00:04:08.631
  • Announcer: thank you for watching "turning point."
  • 00:04:11.134 --> 00:04:13.036
  • Here is dr. jeremiah with his message,
  • 00:04:13.036 --> 00:04:15.438
  • "prayer, pagans and pretenders."
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  • Dr. jeremiah: the daughter of an atheist once told a friend
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  • That she had been raised without any religion.
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  • "i don't believe in god," she said.
  • 00:04:25.481 --> 00:04:27.950
  • And then a little wistfully she added, "but the other day i came
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  • Across an old german book that contained a prayer,
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  • And if the god of that prayer exists,
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  • Then i think i might be able to believe in him."
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  • Her friend asked, "what was the prayer?"
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  • And she replied slowly, "our father who art in heaven."
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  • The lord's prayer is one of the most powerful evidences
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  • Of god's existence.
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  • Such a prayer could not have been conceived
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  • Unless god was real, unless he had revealed himself
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  • And made it possible for us to know him.
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  • This prayer, recorded in matthew 6,
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  • Is one of many prayers of the lord jesus.
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  • In fact, we know of at least 20 prayers that jesus prayed.
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  • Luke 3 tells us that jesus prayed at his baptism.
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  • Later, when crowds began pressing him in capernaum,
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  • He seemed to be aware of the danger of a misplaced devotion.
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  • He arose, and a great while before dawn, he prayed.
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  • Before selecting his 12 apostles,
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  • Jesus spent the whole night in prayer.
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  • Then there is his high priestly prayer,
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  • Which is recorded in john 17.
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  • And of course, the prayer in the garden of gethsemane,
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  • Where he surrendered to the father's will,
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  • Saying, "nevertheless not my will, but thine be done."
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  • But the most well-known prayer associated with jesus's name
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  • Is the one we call the lord's prayer.
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  • Of course, the lord's prayer has also been used
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  • In some unusual ways.
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  • I read about a minister who parked his car
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  • In a no-parking zone in a large city.
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  • Short on time and unable to find a legal space,
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  • He left a note under his windshield wiper:
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  • "i have circled this block ten times.
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  • If i don't park here, i'll miss my appointment.
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  • Forgive us our trespasses."
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  • When he returned, he found a parking ticket along with a note
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  • From the police officer:
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  • "i have circled this block for 10 years.
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  • If i don't give you a ticket, i'll lose my job.
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  • Lead us not into temptation."
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  • [audience laughing]
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  • Dr. jeremiah: the lord's prayer...
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  • The lord's prayer appears two times in scripture:
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  • Matthew 6 and luke 11.
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  • And in this study, we'll focus on the version recorded
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  • In matthew's gospel.
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  • What a privilege it is to take a few moments today
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  • To learn from the lord's prayer,
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  • Not just how to pray, but how to live in harmony
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  • With the will of god.
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  • I find it interesting that the disciples never went to jesus
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  • And said, "lord, teach us to preach," or "teach us to lead."
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  • They felt the same need that we feel:
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  • "lord, teach us to pray."
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  • The lord's prayer begins with some preliminary instructions
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  • About prayer.
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  • Before he gives the prayer in matthew 6,
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  • He lays out a couple of requirements.
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  • When jesus said, "after this manner, pray,"
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  • He first wanted to teach us something important
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  • About the prayer itself.
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  • First thing that you learn when you read these preliminary
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  • Instructions is that you should never pray like the hypocrites.
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  • That's what he says.
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  • The first warning he gives us is that our prayers
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  • Must not be hypocritical.
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  • I think that's so interesting in light of what i've observed
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  • In many prayer meetings that i've attended.
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  • He even uses the word "hypocrite" in his teachings.
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  • Matthew 6:5: "and when you pray,
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  • You shall not be like the hypocrites.
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  • For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the
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  • Corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men.
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  • Assuredly, i say to you, they have their reward."
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  • Hypocrites are more interested in the position than in piety.
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  • In jesus's day, jewish pharisees
  • 00:08:31.227 --> 00:08:34.263
  • Were committed to praying at set hours:
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  • 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock, and 12 o'clock.
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  • Wherever they were when the hour struck,
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  • They would stop and pray out loud.
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  • Some of the pharisees even planned their schedules
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  • To ensure that they were in the most public places
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  • When it was time to pray.
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  • At 12 o'clock, they would find themselves in the city center,
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  • And at just the right moment, they would lift their hands
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  • And begin praying aloud.
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  • And the crowd would look on and say,
  • 00:09:05.127 --> 00:09:07.630
  • "now, that must be a really spiritual person."
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  • Jesus said, don't pray like that.
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  • Hypocritical praying is more concerned with position
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  • Than with piety, more concerned with the people
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  • Who are watching than the god you hope is listening.
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  • This doesn't mean that public praying is wrong.
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  • Some groups have taken these words of our lord
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  • And have used them to forbid group praying.
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  • That's just not what it means.
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  • After all, the gospels show jesus praying publicly
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  • On several occasions.
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  • And the book of acts, which is the history of the early church,
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  • Records many examples of believers praying together.
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  • There is a place for public prayers,
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  • But they must be genuine,
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  • And they must never take the place
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  • Of our private praying.
  • 00:09:54.477 --> 00:09:56.579
  • One of the most sobering truths in studying the lord's prayer
  • 00:09:56.579 --> 00:09:59.382
  • Is this: no one can try to impress people
  • 00:09:59.382 --> 00:10:03.419
  • And at the same time truly connect with god.
  • 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:07.256
  • It's not possible.
  • 00:10:07.256 --> 00:10:08.991
  • Jesus warns us upfront, prayer isn't about impressing others.
  • 00:10:08.991 --> 00:10:13.195
  • If we pray for recognition, that's the only reward
  • 00:10:13.195 --> 00:10:16.599
  • We'll ever get.
  • 00:10:16.599 --> 00:10:18.234
  • Jesus gives a second warning: not only should we avoid praying
  • 00:10:18.234 --> 00:10:21.671
  • Like hypocrites, but we must also avoid praying
  • 00:10:21.671 --> 00:10:25.441
  • Like the heathen.
  • 00:10:25.441 --> 00:10:26.809
  • He actually says that.
  • 00:10:26.809 --> 00:10:28.210
  • "and when you pray," verse 7, "do not use vain repetitions
  • 00:10:28.210 --> 00:10:32.615
  • As the heathen do.
  • 00:10:32.615 --> 00:10:34.984
  • For they think that they will be heard for their many words."
  • 00:10:34.984 --> 00:10:39.555
  • You might ask, "do the heathen pray?"
  • 00:10:39.555 --> 00:10:42.692
  • Oh, yes.
  • 00:10:42.692 --> 00:10:44.460
  • And jesus describes one of their key mistakes: vain repetition.
  • 00:10:44.460 --> 00:10:49.432
  • This is the idea that we must repeat the same words over and
  • 00:10:49.432 --> 00:10:52.968
  • Over, almost like a spiritual mantra to get god's attention.
  • 00:10:52.968 --> 00:10:58.507
  • And if we're honest, even as bible-believing christians,
  • 00:10:58.507 --> 00:11:03.112
  • We can sometimes fall into this habit.
  • 00:11:03.112 --> 00:11:06.582
  • Jesus warns us not to approach god with rote prayers,
  • 00:11:06.582 --> 00:11:11.320
  • But with real prayers, prayers that come from relationship,
  • 00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:14.857
  • Not from routine.
  • 00:11:14.857 --> 00:11:16.826
  • It's striking that before giving the lord's prayer,
  • 00:11:16.826 --> 00:11:19.328
  • One of the most frequently repeated prayers in history,
  • 00:11:19.328 --> 00:11:22.765
  • Jesus specifically warns against vain repetition.
  • 00:11:22.765 --> 00:11:27.737
  • In luke's account of the pharisees and the tax collector,
  • 00:11:27.737 --> 00:11:30.606
  • There's an intriguing phrase: "the pharisee stood
  • 00:11:30.606 --> 00:11:35.177
  • And prayed with himself."
  • 00:11:35.177 --> 00:11:39.482
  • Think about that.
  • 00:11:39.482 --> 00:11:40.816
  • Have you ever heard someone pray with themselves?
  • 00:11:40.816 --> 00:11:44.120
  • Maybe god is just listening in as a secondary thought.
  • 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:47.523
  • Jesus warns us that prayer must not be like that.
  • 00:11:47.523 --> 00:11:51.894
  • In some cultures, people write their prayers on paper
  • 00:11:51.894 --> 00:11:55.698
  • And place them in prayer wheels, believing that each
  • 00:11:55.698 --> 00:11:59.201
  • Turn of the wheel offers the prayer up to heaven.
  • 00:11:59.201 --> 00:12:02.304
  • The more spins, the more prayers.
  • 00:12:02.304 --> 00:12:05.274
  • That's vain repetition.
  • 00:12:05.274 --> 00:12:07.810
  • You see, prayer is all about god wanting our hearts.
  • 00:12:07.810 --> 00:12:11.514
  • That's why jesus gives these warnings.
  • 00:12:11.514 --> 00:12:14.216
  • Don't pray like the hypocrites.
  • 00:12:14.216 --> 00:12:16.051
  • Don't pray like the heathen.
  • 00:12:16.051 --> 00:12:17.987
  • That's what the scripture says.
  • 00:12:17.987 --> 00:12:20.122
  • Now, notice the pattern for prayer.
  • 00:12:20.122 --> 00:12:22.958
  • When you begin to study its meaning,
  • 00:12:22.958 --> 00:12:24.827
  • You discover some profound theology.
  • 00:12:24.827 --> 00:12:27.897
  • Look carefully at the prayer, and notice the emphasis on god
  • 00:12:27.897 --> 00:12:32.001
  • In the first three petitions: thy name, thy kingdom, thy will.
  • 00:12:32.001 --> 00:12:40.075
  • Then observe the second half of the prayer,
  • 00:12:40.075 --> 00:12:42.178
  • Which highlights the poverty of man.
  • 00:12:42.178 --> 00:12:45.014
  • Let me rephrase it so you see the contrast.
  • 00:12:45.014 --> 00:12:47.683
  • Us, give us daily bread.
  • 00:12:47.683 --> 00:12:50.319
  • Us, forgive us our debts.
  • 00:12:50.319 --> 00:12:52.822
  • Us, lead us not into temptation.
  • 00:12:52.822 --> 00:12:55.324
  • Us, deliver us from evil.
  • 00:12:55.324 --> 00:12:58.394
  • The first part of the prayer is, thy, thy, thy.
  • 00:12:58.394 --> 00:13:01.130
  • The second part of the prayer is, us, us, us.
  • 00:13:01.130 --> 00:13:04.200
  • God has all the glory, all the power, all the majesty.
  • 00:13:04.200 --> 00:13:07.469
  • We, on the other hand, have all the needs, all the wants,
  • 00:13:07.469 --> 00:13:11.907
  • And all the poverty.
  • 00:13:11.907 --> 00:13:13.576
  • Isn't it a privilege to come to a prayer where you can say,
  • 00:13:13.576 --> 00:13:17.713
  • Lord, i'm empty, but, o god, you're full.
  • 00:13:17.713 --> 00:13:21.183
  • You are my source.
  • 00:13:21.183 --> 00:13:22.518
  • You are the one i come to.
  • 00:13:22.518 --> 00:13:27.523
  • This prayer is everything we need for a life of prayer."
  • 00:13:27.523 --> 00:13:32.027
  • For a season, i used the lord's prayer as the outline
  • 00:13:32.027 --> 00:13:36.732
  • For my prayer every day.
  • 00:13:36.732 --> 00:13:38.801
  • Let me show you how it works, why it's a powerful way to pray.
  • 00:13:38.801 --> 00:13:43.973
  • The prayer begins, first of all, with praise.
  • 00:13:43.973 --> 00:13:47.009
  • "our father in heaven, hallowed be your name."
  • 00:13:47.009 --> 00:13:51.647
  • The bible tells us to enter into his presence with thanksgiving.
  • 00:13:51.647 --> 00:13:57.052
  • Jesus said, "hallowed be thy name."
  • 00:13:57.052 --> 00:13:58.787
  • That means we begin by honoring, worshiping, and praising god.
  • 00:13:58.787 --> 00:14:03.559
  • How easy it is to rush into god's presence
  • 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:07.062
  • With a long list of needs.
  • 00:14:07.062 --> 00:14:09.565
  • We start asking before we have even acknowledged who he is.
  • 00:14:09.565 --> 00:14:13.802
  • But god invites us to begin with praise.
  • 00:14:13.802 --> 00:14:17.072
  • Take the names of god, open the psalms,
  • 00:14:17.072 --> 00:14:19.575
  • Find words that exalt him.
  • 00:14:19.575 --> 00:14:21.977
  • Here's why this matters.
  • 00:14:21.977 --> 00:14:23.779
  • If you start your prayer focused on your needs,
  • 00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:26.982
  • You may not have confidence in your prayers.
  • 00:14:26.982 --> 00:14:30.219
  • But if you begin by seeing god as he is, high and lifted up,
  • 00:14:30.219 --> 00:14:35.925
  • Full of power and majesty, you know that your prayers are being
  • 00:14:35.925 --> 00:14:39.962
  • Offered to someone who can hear you and answer you and help you.
  • 00:14:39.962 --> 00:14:45.701
  • Make god big in your prayers.
  • 00:14:45.701 --> 00:14:48.203
  • Begin with praise.
  • 00:14:48.203 --> 00:14:49.838
  • "our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name."
  • 00:14:49.838 --> 00:14:55.477
  • And then, after praise comes priorities.
  • 00:14:55.477 --> 00:15:03.018
  • "your kingdom come.
  • 00:15:03.018 --> 00:15:05.454
  • Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
  • 00:15:05.454 --> 00:15:10.492
  • What would happen if god's will were done on earth
  • 00:15:10.492 --> 00:15:14.196
  • As it is in heaven?
  • 00:15:14.196 --> 00:15:16.031
  • In heaven, his will is done perfectly and completely.
  • 00:15:16.031 --> 00:15:19.969
  • This is where we surrender.
  • 00:15:19.969 --> 00:15:21.403
  • We lay our priorities before him and align them with his.
  • 00:15:21.403 --> 00:15:25.641
  • I remind myself almost every day of my priorities.
  • 00:15:25.641 --> 00:15:29.545
  • I want to give them to you.
  • 00:15:29.545 --> 00:15:30.879
  • Here's what they are.
  • 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:32.381
  • And if you know anything about me and have watched
  • 00:15:32.381 --> 00:15:34.783
  • What's happened here over the years,
  • 00:15:34.783 --> 00:15:36.885
  • You probably will see that these priorities
  • 00:15:36.885 --> 00:15:38.654
  • Are what have guided my life.
  • 00:15:38.654 --> 00:15:40.990
  • First of all, i am a person before god.
  • 00:15:41.056 --> 00:15:44.860
  • I must take care of that relationship.
  • 00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:49.064
  • Secondly, i'm a partner to my wife.
  • 00:15:49.064 --> 00:15:53.502
  • She's the most important person on this earth to me.
  • 00:15:53.502 --> 00:15:57.606
  • Only god gets ahead of donna.
  • 00:15:57.606 --> 00:16:00.009
  • Thirdly, i'm a parent with my children.
  • 00:16:00.009 --> 00:16:02.745
  • I need to tell you that when you do what i do
  • 00:16:02.745 --> 00:16:05.047
  • And what some of you guys do who have responsible positions
  • 00:16:05.047 --> 00:16:08.917
  • That demand a lot of your time and attention,
  • 00:16:08.917 --> 00:16:11.587
  • If you're not careful,
  • 00:16:11.587 --> 00:16:13.555
  • You can sacrifice your children on the altar of your success,
  • 00:16:13.555 --> 00:16:18.127
  • And it is a very poor choice if you do that.
  • 00:16:18.127 --> 00:16:22.264
  • When i was first beginning to be a pastor back in fort wayne,
  • 00:16:22.264 --> 00:16:27.069
  • I was trying to build the church i had started there
  • 00:16:27.069 --> 00:16:29.505
  • With seven families.
  • 00:16:29.505 --> 00:16:31.373
  • One of my favorite sayings to everybody was,
  • 00:16:31.373 --> 00:16:33.075
  • "sure, i got to work every day and every night.
  • 00:16:33.075 --> 00:16:34.710
  • I'm the gross national product.
  • 00:16:34.710 --> 00:16:36.278
  • Don't you know that?
  • 00:16:36.278 --> 00:16:37.646
  • There's nobody but me.
  • 00:16:37.646 --> 00:16:38.981
  • If i don't do it, nobody's going to do it."
  • 00:16:38.981 --> 00:16:40.482
  • So i worked many hours.
  • 00:16:40.482 --> 00:16:42.584
  • I would get up early and study, make appointments with people,
  • 00:16:42.584 --> 00:16:45.954
  • And i would eat supper and then immediately leave and go visit,
  • 00:16:45.954 --> 00:16:48.724
  • And i visited every night.
  • 00:16:48.724 --> 00:16:50.559
  • In many ways, it was a wonderful time.
  • 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:52.494
  • I led many people to jesus christ,
  • 00:16:52.494 --> 00:16:54.563
  • And the church grew,
  • 00:16:54.563 --> 00:16:56.065
  • But in that particular time, i was out of sync with god.
  • 00:16:56.065 --> 00:17:00.436
  • I would come home, and after we would eat, my wife would say to
  • 00:17:00.436 --> 00:17:02.938
  • Me, "are you gonna be gone again tonight?"
  • 00:17:02.938 --> 00:17:06.775
  • And then i would give her my little gross national product
  • 00:17:06.775 --> 00:17:09.445
  • Speech and tell her if i didn't go, there was nobody else to go.
  • 00:17:09.445 --> 00:17:12.848
  • And if i didn't go, this church would never grow.
  • 00:17:12.848 --> 00:17:15.050
  • And she would say, okay.
  • 00:17:15.050 --> 00:17:18.153
  • But she had two little children that she had fought with all day
  • 00:17:18.153 --> 00:17:20.556
  • Long, and she was hoping for a little help at night.
  • 00:17:20.556 --> 00:17:24.326
  • This went on until it got out of control, and one day,
  • 00:17:24.326 --> 00:17:27.629
  • I don't know if your wife has ever said this to you,
  • 00:17:27.629 --> 00:17:29.231
  • But donna said to me, "honey, we need to talk."
  • 00:17:29.231 --> 00:17:33.469
  • Yikes, yikes.
  • 00:17:33.469 --> 00:17:38.807
  • And so, we sat down in the kitchen,
  • 00:17:38.807 --> 00:17:42.611
  • And she gave me this speech.
  • 00:17:42.611 --> 00:17:44.246
  • I'll never forget it.
  • 00:17:44.246 --> 00:17:46.081
  • She said, "i don't know what to do."
  • 00:17:46.081 --> 00:17:49.852
  • She said, "i love you, i love this church,
  • 00:17:49.852 --> 00:17:52.554
  • And i love these children, but i can't do this by myself.
  • 00:17:52.554 --> 00:17:57.359
  • And i feel so awkward saying anything to you about it
  • 00:17:57.359 --> 00:18:01.864
  • Because i feel like i'm getting in between you
  • 00:18:01.864 --> 00:18:04.366
  • And what you think god wants you to do.
  • 00:18:04.366 --> 00:18:06.969
  • So i finally figured out what to do, and here it is.
  • 00:18:06.969 --> 00:18:10.239
  • I am never going to say anything to you again
  • 00:18:10.239 --> 00:18:13.142
  • About how you spend your time.
  • 00:18:13.142 --> 00:18:15.377
  • I'm going to let you and god figure that out."
  • 00:18:15.377 --> 00:18:19.648
  • And it broke my heart.
  • 00:18:19.648 --> 00:18:21.750
  • That's part of this list of priorities.
  • 00:18:21.750 --> 00:18:24.319
  • Once again, i'm a person before god,
  • 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:27.623
  • I'm a partner to my wife, and i'm a parent to my children.
  • 00:18:27.623 --> 00:18:32.427
  • And then i'm a pastor to the church.
  • 00:18:32.427 --> 00:18:35.297
  • And i remember telling the church one sunday,
  • 00:18:35.297 --> 00:18:37.399
  • "you guys are number four."
  • 00:18:37.399 --> 00:18:41.003
  • And i had many of them write me little notes and say,
  • 00:18:41.003 --> 00:18:44.006
  • "pastor, don't ever change that,
  • 00:18:44.006 --> 00:18:45.841
  • Because if we're not number four,
  • 00:18:45.841 --> 00:18:47.442
  • You've got nothing to give us."
  • 00:18:47.442 --> 00:18:49.611
  • Because this is god's priorities.
  • 00:18:49.611 --> 00:18:52.381
  • And so, thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.
  • 00:18:52.381 --> 00:18:56.518
  • What would happen if you prayed, "lord, let your will be done
  • 00:18:56.518 --> 00:18:59.521
  • In my relationships with you and my spouse
  • 00:18:59.521 --> 00:19:02.991
  • And my children and my calling?"
  • 00:19:02.991 --> 00:19:05.327
  • This is the place in the prayer to submit every part
  • 00:19:05.327 --> 00:19:08.163
  • Of your life to him.
  • 00:19:08.163 --> 00:19:10.499
  • First, praise, hallowed be thy name, and then priorities,
  • 00:19:10.499 --> 00:19:15.737
  • Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.
  • 00:19:15.737 --> 00:19:19.408
  • So after praise and after priorities comes provision.
  • 00:19:19.408 --> 00:19:23.946
  • Isn't it interesting that it's number three in the prayer list,
  • 00:19:23.946 --> 00:19:26.815
  • But it's number one on our practice list because we always
  • 00:19:26.815 --> 00:19:30.285
  • Want what god has and we don't have up front.
  • 00:19:30.285 --> 00:19:33.322
  • And we jump in at that and we don't praise him,
  • 00:19:33.322 --> 00:19:35.457
  • We don't ask him about our priorities,
  • 00:19:35.457 --> 00:19:38.260
  • And we ask him for what we need.
  • 00:19:38.260 --> 00:19:40.529
  • Matthew 6:11: "give us this day our daily bread."
  • 00:19:40.529 --> 00:19:45.901
  • How many of you have needs?
  • 00:19:45.901 --> 00:19:49.638
  • Some may say, "are we talking about physical bread
  • 00:19:49.638 --> 00:19:52.374
  • Or spiritual bread?"
  • 00:19:52.374 --> 00:19:53.709
  • And the answer is both.
  • 00:19:53.709 --> 00:19:55.444
  • God desires to meet our needs, but notice the order.
  • 00:19:55.444 --> 00:19:58.880
  • First we focus on who he is, then we align our lives
  • 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:03.485
  • With his will, and then we bring our needs before him.
  • 00:20:03.485 --> 00:20:07.956
  • Number four, personal relationships.
  • 00:20:07.956 --> 00:20:11.827
  • "and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."
  • 00:20:11.827 --> 00:20:17.266
  • Interestingly enough, if you study this prayer,
  • 00:20:17.266 --> 00:20:19.034
  • You will discover this is the only part of the prayer
  • 00:20:19.034 --> 00:20:21.203
  • That jesus repeats.
  • 00:20:21.203 --> 00:20:23.438
  • In matthew 6:15 at the end of the prayer, he says:
  • 00:20:23.438 --> 00:20:26.141
  • "if you do not forgive men their trespasses,
  • 00:20:26.141 --> 00:20:28.677
  • Neither will your father forgive your trespasses."
  • 00:20:28.677 --> 00:20:32.347
  • Is there someone in your life you haven't forgiven?
  • 00:20:32.347 --> 00:20:35.617
  • Jesus teaches us to pray, "lord, forgive me in the same way
  • 00:20:35.617 --> 00:20:39.755
  • That i forgive others."
  • 00:20:39.755 --> 00:20:41.990
  • That's a sobering thought.
  • 00:20:41.990 --> 00:20:44.559
  • Life is full of relational challenges.
  • 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:46.928
  • Every one of us in this room has them.
  • 00:20:46.928 --> 00:20:49.564
  • Friendships, family, work relationships,
  • 00:20:49.564 --> 00:20:51.967
  • Every day there's something to bring before god in prayer
  • 00:20:51.967 --> 00:20:54.936
  • In the relationship factor.
  • 00:20:54.936 --> 00:20:57.439
  • And then we pray for protection.
  • 00:20:57.439 --> 00:21:02.344
  • "and do not lead us into temptation,
  • 00:21:02.344 --> 00:21:04.446
  • But deliver us from the evil one."
  • 00:21:04.446 --> 00:21:08.550
  • Walking through life today is like walking
  • 00:21:08.550 --> 00:21:10.452
  • Through a minefield.
  • 00:21:10.452 --> 00:21:12.721
  • It's worse now than it's ever been in my lifetime.
  • 00:21:12.721 --> 00:21:15.724
  • I say that honestly before all of you who are christians here
  • 00:21:15.724 --> 00:21:18.660
  • Because i know most of you are.
  • 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:20.662
  • It's more difficult to be a christian now
  • 00:21:20.662 --> 00:21:22.497
  • Than it's ever been.
  • 00:21:22.497 --> 00:21:23.832
  • There are more things against us than have ever been
  • 00:21:23.832 --> 00:21:26.401
  • Against us before.
  • 00:21:26.401 --> 00:21:28.570
  • And we keep looking and waiting for it to change
  • 00:21:28.570 --> 00:21:31.306
  • And when it changes it gets worse.
  • 00:21:31.306 --> 00:21:34.209
  • And to be courageous enough to stand up in some settings
  • 00:21:34.209 --> 00:21:37.646
  • And admit that you are a follower of jesus christ
  • 00:21:37.646 --> 00:21:40.549
  • Puts your acceptability with that community in jeopardy.
  • 00:21:40.549 --> 00:21:45.921
  • But here's what we pray every morning.
  • 00:21:45.921 --> 00:21:48.924
  • "do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us
  • 00:21:48.924 --> 00:21:52.194
  • From the evil one."
  • 00:21:52.194 --> 00:21:53.695
  • We never know what temptation or challenge is ahead.
  • 00:21:53.695 --> 00:21:57.332
  • That is why we need to pray for god's guidance and protection.
  • 00:21:57.332 --> 00:22:01.169
  • So it's praise, priorities, provision,
  • 00:22:01.169 --> 00:22:04.806
  • Personal relationships, protection,
  • 00:22:04.806 --> 00:22:07.175
  • And guess where you end up?
  • 00:22:07.175 --> 00:22:09.044
  • Right back where you started.
  • 00:22:09.044 --> 00:22:11.413
  • "for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
  • 00:22:11.413 --> 00:22:16.418
  • Amen."
  • 00:22:16.418 --> 00:22:18.153
  • God's prayer is framed in praise.
  • 00:22:18.153 --> 00:22:21.123
  • We start with worship, we end with worship, and in between,
  • 00:22:21.123 --> 00:22:24.726
  • We bring our needs to god.
  • 00:22:24.726 --> 00:22:27.162
  • During world war ii, a young soldier lay dying in a hospital.
  • 00:22:27.162 --> 00:22:32.401
  • A chaplain came to pray with him, and something in his heart
  • 00:22:32.401 --> 00:22:35.670
  • Told him to pray the lord's prayer.
  • 00:22:35.670 --> 00:22:38.740
  • When he finished, the soldier's eyes filled with tears.
  • 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:42.177
  • He whispered, "my mother used to pray that prayer with me.
  • 00:22:42.177 --> 00:22:45.180
  • Oh, how good it is to hear it again."
  • 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:47.983
  • The next day, the chaplain returned and the bed was empty.
  • 00:22:47.983 --> 00:22:51.353
  • The young soldier had passed away.
  • 00:22:51.353 --> 00:22:54.022
  • A nurse told him, "just an hour after you left,
  • 00:22:54.022 --> 00:22:57.759
  • He was still praying out loud and his last words were,
  • 00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:00.695
  • 'my father, my father.
  • 00:23:00.695 --> 00:23:02.230
  • Yes, mother, he's my father, because i've accepted him.
  • 00:23:02.230 --> 00:23:06.268
  • I'm coming home.'"
  • 00:23:06.268 --> 00:23:08.003
  • My friends, you cannot say, "our father,"
  • 00:23:08.003 --> 00:23:09.805
  • Unless he is truly your father.
  • 00:23:09.805 --> 00:23:12.541
  • You only get into god's family if you accept god's son,
  • 00:23:12.541 --> 00:23:15.610
  • Jesus christ.
  • 00:23:15.610 --> 00:23:17.112
  • You must be born again.
  • 00:23:17.112 --> 00:23:19.314
  • You've never trusted christ as your savior,
  • 00:23:19.314 --> 00:23:22.117
  • This prayer doesn't belong to you yet.
  • 00:23:22.117 --> 00:23:24.619
  • You have to start by putting christ
  • 00:23:24.619 --> 00:23:26.621
  • On the throne of your life.
  • 00:23:26.621 --> 00:23:28.557
  • But here's the good news.
  • 00:23:28.557 --> 00:23:30.525
  • No matter who you are or what you've done,
  • 00:23:30.525 --> 00:23:33.528
  • God extends an invitation to you.
  • 00:23:33.528 --> 00:23:35.831
  • If you receive christ, he will become your lord,
  • 00:23:35.831 --> 00:23:41.002
  • And god will become your father.
  • 00:23:41.002 --> 00:23:43.238
  • And then with confidence, you can pray, "my father in heaven."
  • 00:23:43.238 --> 00:23:48.210
  • For those who are already believers, let this prayer
  • 00:23:48.210 --> 00:23:50.712
  • Remind you of god's desire for daily fellowship with you.
  • 00:23:50.712 --> 00:23:56.151
  • Not with high-sounding words, not with vain repetitions,
  • 00:23:56.151 --> 00:24:01.656
  • But with the simplicity of a child speaking to his father.
  • 00:24:01.656 --> 00:24:06.928
  • So open your heart and speak to him,
  • 00:24:06.928 --> 00:24:10.532
  • And let the lord's prayer give you an outline.
  • 00:24:10.532 --> 00:24:13.768
  • It's good to memorize the lord's prayer,
  • 00:24:13.768 --> 00:24:16.004
  • And we often recite it in church,
  • 00:24:16.004 --> 00:24:19.508
  • But that's not the purpose of the lord's teaching.
  • 00:24:19.508 --> 00:24:23.645
  • He taught us the lord's prayer to give us an outline
  • 00:24:23.645 --> 00:24:27.282
  • So we would know how to organize our prayers.
  • 00:24:27.282 --> 00:24:31.820
  • And i find that many christians who have been christians
  • 00:24:31.820 --> 00:24:34.556
  • For many years have never thought about that,
  • 00:24:34.556 --> 00:24:37.225
  • Have never thought even about a prayer being organized.
  • 00:24:37.225 --> 00:24:40.462
  • If we don't organize our prayers and plan them a little bit,
  • 00:24:40.462 --> 00:24:43.331
  • They just become sort of a mumbling in some ways.
  • 00:24:43.331 --> 00:24:49.104
  • We pray about our children, we pray about our needs,
  • 00:24:49.104 --> 00:24:53.208
  • We pray about our relationships,
  • 00:24:53.208 --> 00:24:56.411
  • And most of all we praise god for his goodness.
  • 00:24:56.411 --> 00:25:00.482
  • Somewhere along the way, all of this will be tested
  • 00:25:00.482 --> 00:25:03.118
  • In your life.
  • 00:25:03.118 --> 00:25:04.853
  • I used to say that, knowing it would be true,
  • 00:25:04.853 --> 00:25:06.688
  • Until it happened to me.
  • 00:25:06.688 --> 00:25:09.357
  • It's been tested in my life.
  • 00:25:09.357 --> 00:25:12.127
  • And i'm here to tell you that the god who answers this prayer
  • 00:25:12.127 --> 00:25:16.865
  • Is a good and gracious and loving god.
  • 00:25:16.865 --> 00:25:20.302
  • He never gives us anything that he does not give us
  • 00:25:20.302 --> 00:25:22.904
  • The grace to deal with.
  • 00:25:22.904 --> 00:25:24.706
  • He never asks us to walk a road that he does not lead us
  • 00:25:24.706 --> 00:25:28.810
  • And go with us.
  • 00:25:28.810 --> 00:25:30.712
  • When i first became a pastor, i went to the church
  • 00:25:30.712 --> 00:25:33.515
  • Where i was going to start with a bunch of families,
  • 00:25:33.515 --> 00:25:37.152
  • And someone had put a sign up on the door in our kitchen.
  • 00:25:37.152 --> 00:25:41.423
  • I'll never forget this sign that stayed with me all my life.
  • 00:25:41.423 --> 00:25:44.392
  • It went like this:
  • 00:25:44.392 --> 00:25:45.894
  • "god's commandments are god's enablements."
  • 00:25:45.894 --> 00:25:49.497
  • The sign was simply to encourage me that if god had commanded me
  • 00:25:49.497 --> 00:25:53.034
  • To come there and be the pastor,
  • 00:25:53.034 --> 00:25:55.370
  • God was obligated to give me what i needed to do it.
  • 00:25:55.370 --> 00:25:59.874
  • God will never ask you to go through anything
  • 00:25:59.874 --> 00:26:02.077
  • That he won't equip you for.
  • 00:26:02.077 --> 00:26:03.812
  • He just doesn't do that.
  • 00:26:03.812 --> 00:26:05.146
  • [audience applauding]
  • 00:26:05.146 --> 00:26:07.949
  • Dr. jeremiah: and the lord's prayer--the lord's prayer
  • 00:26:07.949 --> 00:26:10.852
  • Is a reminder of that truth.
  • 00:26:10.852 --> 00:26:13.488
  • He is your father.
  • 00:26:13.488 --> 00:26:14.956
  • You are his children.
  • 00:26:14.956 --> 00:26:16.858
  • I am his child, sons and daughters of almighty god.
  • 00:26:16.858 --> 00:26:21.730
  • And there's not anything he won't do for you
  • 00:26:21.730 --> 00:26:23.598
  • If you just pray.
  • 00:26:23.598 --> 00:26:26.368
  • Pray.
  • 00:26:26.368 --> 00:26:27.869
  • The father's prayer is a good place to start.
  • 00:26:27.869 --> 00:26:30.905
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:37.545
  • Announcer: thank you for watching "turning point."
  • 00:26:38.747 --> 00:26:40.849
  • Dr. jeremiah would like to offer you his new book,
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  • "everything to god in prayer:
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  • Guided prayers for your deepest needs & biggest dreams,"
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  • Containing 100 carefully crafted prayers
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  • For life's challenges and celebrations.
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  • These guided prayers will help you pray with confidence
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  • And renewed purpose as dr. jeremiah helps you
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  • Bring everything to god.
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  • Request "everything to god in prayer," new from dr. jeremiah,
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  • With your gift of any amount to "turning point."
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  • Or receive 2 copies for a gift of $60 or more,
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  • Perfect for your prayer life and a thoughtful gift
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  • For loved ones.
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  • Your deepest needs and biggest dreams deserve the right words.
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  • Request "everything to god in prayer"
  • 00:27:17.952 --> 00:27:20.021
  • By dr. jeremiah from "turning point" today.
  • 00:27:20.021 --> 00:27:22.323
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:23.858 --> 00:27:27.929
  • Announcer: if you have never taken the step to believe in
  • 00:27:27.929 --> 00:27:30.031
  • Jesus christ as your lord and savior, you can do that today.
  • 00:27:30.031 --> 00:27:34.502
  • If you will allow us, dr. jeremiah would like
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  • To send you two resources that will help you.
  • 00:27:36.938 --> 00:27:39.674
  • The first is a booklet called "your greatest turning point,"
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  • Which will help you as you begin your relationship with christ.
  • 00:27:42.844 --> 00:27:46.381
  • And the second is our monthly devotional magazine,
  • 00:27:46.381 --> 00:27:48.783
  • "turning points," to give you encouragement
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  • And inspiration throughout the year.
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  • These resources are yours, completely free,
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  • When you contact "turning point" today.
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  • Announcer: if you enjoyed today's message,
  • 00:28:01.830 --> 00:28:03.364
  • Watch the entire "prayer: the great adventure" series
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  • From dr. david jeremiah on turning point+.
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  • Start streaming this series today along
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  • With more than 1200 messages from dr. jeremiah's 4 decades
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  • Of broadcast ministry.
  • 00:28:14.909 --> 00:28:16.878
  • On turning point+, you'll find dr. jeremiah's bible-strong
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  • Teaching, original programming, plus special collections
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  • Visit turningpointplus.org today.
  • 00:28:26.621 --> 00:28:28.723
  • Announcer: coming up on "turning point."
  • 00:28:31.626 --> 00:28:33.161
  • Dr. jeremiah: there is a sanctuary in your prayer time
  • 00:28:34.529 --> 00:28:37.632
  • With the lord that takes you away from every pressure
  • 00:28:37.632 --> 00:28:40.702
  • And burden in this world.
  • 00:28:40.702 --> 00:28:42.137
  • And for a short time, you can understand sweet hour of prayer.
  • 00:28:42.137 --> 00:28:46.908
  • Announcer: stay tuned for another message
  • 00:28:46.975 --> 00:28:48.476
  • From dr. jeremiah's series, "prayer: the great adventure,"
  • 00:28:48.476 --> 00:28:52.046
  • "a life-changing prayer."
  • 00:28:52.046 --> 00:28:54.349
  • Coming up next here on "turning point."
  • 00:28:54.415 --> 00:28:56.484
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:28:58.286 --> 00:29:01.422
  • Dr. jeremiah: we are pretty self-sufficient people,
  • 00:29:01.422 --> 00:29:03.291
  • But that has caused us to make prayer our last resort
  • 00:29:03.291 --> 00:29:06.961
  • When we're in trouble.
  • 00:29:06.961 --> 00:29:10.398
  • We make prayer so difficult.
  • 00:29:10.398 --> 00:29:12.534
  • Prayer may be mysterious, but it's not complicated.
  • 00:29:12.534 --> 00:29:15.837
  • It's simple.
  • 00:29:15.837 --> 00:29:17.572
  • And in this series, i'm going to teach you
  • 00:29:17.572 --> 00:29:20.041
  • How to transform your prayer life.
  • 00:29:20.041 --> 00:29:25.446
  • I'm not here to make you feel guilty about not praying
  • 00:29:25.446 --> 00:29:28.416
  • As much as you should.
  • 00:29:28.416 --> 00:29:30.018
  • The real issue isn't guilt.
  • 00:29:30.018 --> 00:29:31.753
  • It's that we're missing out on the great adventure
  • 00:29:31.753 --> 00:29:34.322
  • God has for us.
  • 00:29:34.322 --> 00:29:37.859
  • So you want to know why you're not seeing
  • 00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:39.794
  • Your prayers being answered?
  • 00:29:39.794 --> 00:29:41.596
  • Well, they're just not specific enough.
  • 00:29:41.596 --> 00:29:44.966
  • Your prayer should be so specific
  • 00:29:44.966 --> 00:29:47.035
  • That when god answers it, you recognize it.
  • 00:29:47.035 --> 00:29:49.971
  • If you want your prayers answered,
  • 00:29:49.971 --> 00:29:52.173
  • Three things need to be true:
  • 00:29:52.173 --> 00:29:54.509
  • The request needs to be right, the timing needs to be right,
  • 00:29:54.509 --> 00:29:58.513
  • And you need to be right.
  • 00:29:58.513 --> 00:30:01.816
  • Don't pray like an adult.
  • 00:30:01.816 --> 00:30:03.718
  • Pray like a child.
  • 00:30:03.718 --> 00:30:05.353
  • Keep it simple, keep it specific, and keep at it.
  • 00:30:05.353 --> 00:30:11.125
  • God cares about everything in your life,
  • 00:30:11.125 --> 00:30:13.428
  • Even the little things.
  • 00:30:13.428 --> 00:30:15.163
  • Nothing is too insignificant to get on your prayer list
  • 00:30:15.163 --> 00:30:18.433
  • Because god has the capacity to care about every detail
  • 00:30:18.433 --> 00:30:21.336
  • Of every one of his children, including you.
  • 00:30:21.336 --> 00:30:25.807
  • What is prayer?
  • 00:30:25.807 --> 00:30:27.342
  • Prayer is a conversation.
  • 00:30:27.342 --> 00:30:29.377
  • Prayer is a relationship and prayer is a great adventure.
  • 00:30:29.377 --> 00:30:33.948
  • Announcer: here is dr. jeremiah with his message,
  • 00:30:37.952 --> 00:30:40.488
  • "a life-changing prayer."
  • 00:30:40.488 --> 00:30:42.390
  • Dr. jeremiah: almost 100 years ago,
  • 00:30:43.825 --> 00:30:45.793
  • A young missionary in ecuador named raymond edman
  • 00:30:45.793 --> 00:30:49.564
  • Staggered in the jungle, desperately ill.
  • 00:30:49.564 --> 00:30:53.735
  • "he be dead by morning," the doctor said,
  • 00:30:53.735 --> 00:30:57.505
  • And his wife dyed her wedding dress black,
  • 00:30:57.505 --> 00:31:02.610
  • Readying it for the funeral which, in the tropics,
  • 00:31:02.610 --> 00:31:04.913
  • You have to take place on the same day as the death.
  • 00:31:04.913 --> 00:31:08.616
  • A sense of shock and sorrow hung over their little home.
  • 00:31:08.616 --> 00:31:14.122
  • Thousands of miles away, edman's friend,
  • 00:31:14.122 --> 00:31:16.791
  • Dr. joseph evans, interrupted a prayer meeting,
  • 00:31:16.791 --> 00:31:19.193
  • Saying, "i feel we must pray for raymond edman in ecuador."
  • 00:31:19.193 --> 00:31:24.465
  • And the group stopped everything and prayed earnestly
  • 00:31:24.465 --> 00:31:27.435
  • Until evans cried out, "praise the lord,
  • 00:31:27.435 --> 00:31:29.570
  • I'm sure the victory's won."
  • 00:31:29.570 --> 00:31:31.739
  • Edman recovered, went on to have a remarkable career.
  • 00:31:31.739 --> 00:31:35.243
  • He eventually became president of wheaton college
  • 00:31:35.243 --> 00:31:38.279
  • And personally mentored hundreds of students,
  • 00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:41.149
  • Including billy graham.
  • 00:31:41.149 --> 00:31:43.418
  • An intercessory prayer.
  • 00:31:43.418 --> 00:31:47.755
  • I don't know what happened to the black wedding dress,
  • 00:31:47.755 --> 00:31:50.124
  • But i do know the story of the church
  • 00:31:50.124 --> 00:31:52.060
  • Has been repeatedly dyed in golden hues
  • 00:31:52.060 --> 00:31:54.996
  • By the power of intercessory prayer.
  • 00:31:54.996 --> 00:31:57.365
  • When we pray, god hears.
  • 00:31:57.365 --> 00:32:00.702
  • Jesus christ is our ultimate intercessor.
  • 00:32:00.702 --> 00:32:03.838
  • Hebrews tells us he prays for us.
  • 00:32:03.838 --> 00:32:06.207
  • Isn't that amazing?
  • 00:32:06.207 --> 00:32:08.176
  • And we're to do the same.
  • 00:32:08.176 --> 00:32:09.544
  • We're to offer supplications and prayers and intercessions
  • 00:32:09.544 --> 00:32:13.047
  • And giving of thanks for other people.
  • 00:32:13.047 --> 00:32:16.651
  • Praying is for us,
  • 00:32:16.651 --> 00:32:18.486
  • But it's first of all for others.
  • 00:32:18.486 --> 00:32:21.189
  • And to intercede simply means to pray for someone else.
  • 00:32:21.189 --> 00:32:25.259
  • Jesus closed the gap between us and god
  • 00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:27.695
  • When he died on the cross.
  • 00:32:27.695 --> 00:32:29.364
  • And because of that we can now stand in prayer for others,
  • 00:32:29.364 --> 00:32:33.101
  • Bringing their needs to god and asking god
  • 00:32:33.101 --> 00:32:36.371
  • To work according to his will.
  • 00:32:36.371 --> 00:32:39.374
  • So i want you to know that intercessory prayer
  • 00:32:39.374 --> 00:32:42.377
  • Isn't just for super christians who are called
  • 00:32:42.377 --> 00:32:45.380
  • To a specific ministry.
  • 00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:47.281
  • Maybe they're on the prayer team.
  • 00:32:47.281 --> 00:32:49.751
  • We're all intercessors, whether we know it or not.
  • 00:32:49.751 --> 00:32:52.987
  • I know that you have prayed for me and in that respect
  • 00:32:52.987 --> 00:32:55.656
  • You have interceded in my behalf.
  • 00:32:55.656 --> 00:32:58.092
  • It's part of your calling, part of my calling, in christ.
  • 00:32:58.092 --> 00:33:01.429
  • And it's a privilege to come every day
  • 00:33:01.429 --> 00:33:03.598
  • Before the lord and ask his blessing
  • 00:33:03.598 --> 00:33:05.767
  • On someone you know and love.
  • 00:33:05.767 --> 00:33:08.803
  • The bible tells us to offer intercessory prayers
  • 00:33:08.803 --> 00:33:12.640
  • For those in authority, for our friends,
  • 00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:16.110
  • For the city of jerusalem, for fellow countrymen,
  • 00:33:16.110 --> 00:33:19.514
  • For the sick, for our enemies,
  • 00:33:19.514 --> 00:33:22.083
  • For those who persecute us, for those who forsake us,
  • 00:33:22.083 --> 00:33:25.853
  • And for all people it says.
  • 00:33:25.853 --> 00:33:28.056
  • That's what the scripture says.
  • 00:33:28.056 --> 00:33:30.324
  • So can you create your own prayer list from those items?
  • 00:33:30.324 --> 00:33:33.928
  • You absolutely sure can.
  • 00:33:33.928 --> 00:33:35.730
  • Can you become an intercessor?
  • 00:33:35.730 --> 00:33:37.331
  • You'll find all you need to begin in what we're going
  • 00:33:37.331 --> 00:33:40.234
  • To look at today from the book of colossians
  • 00:33:40.234 --> 00:33:42.570
  • And the first chapter.
  • 00:33:42.570 --> 00:33:44.272
  • I have to tell you when i came across this prayer
  • 00:33:44.272 --> 00:33:46.441
  • I was overwhelmed.
  • 00:33:46.441 --> 00:33:48.176
  • I remember preaching a sermon on it a long time ago
  • 00:33:48.176 --> 00:33:51.212
  • And realizing what a tremendous illustration this is
  • 00:33:51.212 --> 00:33:56.317
  • For how we pray for others.
  • 00:33:56.317 --> 00:33:57.952
  • And i don't know if you've noticed this,
  • 00:33:57.952 --> 00:33:59.520
  • If you read the prayers of the bible
  • 00:33:59.520 --> 00:34:01.155
  • They're quite different from the ones we pray.
  • 00:34:01.155 --> 00:34:03.858
  • They're more like praying for the spiritual side of people.
  • 00:34:03.858 --> 00:34:06.494
  • We pray for the physical.
  • 00:34:06.494 --> 00:34:07.895
  • We want to get them out of the hospital,
  • 00:34:07.895 --> 00:34:09.297
  • Get them better.
  • 00:34:09.297 --> 00:34:10.731
  • But the prayers of the bible don't really resonate with that.
  • 00:34:10.731 --> 00:34:12.967
  • I mean, there are some specific prayers for that.
  • 00:34:12.967 --> 00:34:16.037
  • But i want to show you this prayer from colossians
  • 00:34:16.037 --> 00:34:19.974
  • Because it teaches us to pray without ceasing.
  • 00:34:19.974 --> 00:34:23.444
  • That is, without getting discouraged
  • 00:34:23.444 --> 00:34:25.012
  • And without quitting.
  • 00:34:25.012 --> 00:34:26.414
  • That doesn't mean you pray every moment.
  • 00:34:26.414 --> 00:34:27.815
  • It just means you don't ever give up on prayer.
  • 00:34:27.815 --> 00:34:30.451
  • Paul's prayers for the colossians
  • 00:34:30.451 --> 00:34:32.019
  • Were tireless and ceaseless,
  • 00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:34.589
  • And by the time he wrote the colossian letter,
  • 00:34:34.589 --> 00:34:37.258
  • He had possibly been praying for this church for almost 10 years.
  • 00:34:37.258 --> 00:34:42.396
  • It's easy to give up on prayer.
  • 00:34:42.396 --> 00:34:44.065
  • If you don't get what you want after a certain period of time,
  • 00:34:44.065 --> 00:34:45.933
  • If you don't see your agenda being fulfilled, you think,
  • 00:34:45.933 --> 00:34:48.002
  • "well, i guess maybe god doesn't want that to happen."
  • 00:34:48.002 --> 00:34:51.139
  • I just have too many illustrations of people
  • 00:34:51.139 --> 00:34:54.075
  • Who prayed all of their lives for one thing,
  • 00:34:54.075 --> 00:34:56.844
  • And then god answered in his time.
  • 00:34:56.844 --> 00:34:59.380
  • Somebody said, "if he answers you,
  • 00:34:59.380 --> 00:35:01.048
  • You quit praying.
  • 00:35:01.048 --> 00:35:02.850
  • So he's going to keep you praying."
  • 00:35:02.850 --> 00:35:06.087
  • Now this isn't the easiest habit to form.
  • 00:35:06.087 --> 00:35:08.856
  • Many of us fail to pray as we should and we admit that,
  • 00:35:08.856 --> 00:35:12.593
  • But there are always ways of weaving this habit
  • 00:35:12.593 --> 00:35:15.062
  • Into the rhythm of our lives.
  • 00:35:15.062 --> 00:35:17.465
  • Emma daniel gray worked for the federal government
  • 00:35:17.465 --> 00:35:20.635
  • As a charwoman, which is an old word for a cleaning woman.
  • 00:35:20.635 --> 00:35:25.973
  • She started in 1943, and for over a decade,
  • 00:35:25.973 --> 00:35:29.777
  • She cleaned various government agencies in washington.
  • 00:35:29.777 --> 00:35:33.981
  • In 1955 she was transferred to the white house
  • 00:35:33.981 --> 00:35:37.285
  • And for the next 24 years
  • 00:35:37.285 --> 00:35:39.520
  • She diligently cleaned the west wing.
  • 00:35:39.520 --> 00:35:42.790
  • Every day when she came to the president's chair she paused,
  • 00:35:42.790 --> 00:35:46.727
  • Cleaning materials in hand, and she prayed.
  • 00:35:46.727 --> 00:35:50.264
  • She asked for blessings, wisdom, safety for each
  • 00:35:50.264 --> 00:35:53.000
  • Of the six presidents that she served.
  • 00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:56.137
  • Emma's prayers weren't long or complex,
  • 00:35:56.137 --> 00:35:59.240
  • But they were persistent.
  • 00:35:59.240 --> 00:36:00.975
  • She prayed faithfully over a period of decades.
  • 00:36:00.975 --> 00:36:04.212
  • Have you prayed for someone or something like that?
  • 00:36:04.212 --> 00:36:07.248
  • Have you ever had a long list of prayer lists that you pray for?
  • 00:36:07.248 --> 00:36:11.085
  • Don't stop.
  • 00:36:11.085 --> 00:36:12.420
  • Don't let anybody talk you out of it.
  • 00:36:12.420 --> 00:36:14.288
  • John wesley advised, "storm the throne of grace
  • 00:36:14.288 --> 00:36:17.959
  • And persevere there, and mercy will come down."
  • 00:36:17.959 --> 00:36:21.562
  • Storm the throne of grace.
  • 00:36:21.562 --> 00:36:23.030
  • I like that phrase.
  • 00:36:23.030 --> 00:36:25.166
  • Our next lesson from paul's intercessory example
  • 00:36:25.166 --> 00:36:28.169
  • Has to do with his petitions,
  • 00:36:28.169 --> 00:36:30.471
  • What he asked for, what he prayed for,
  • 00:36:30.471 --> 00:36:32.740
  • Maybe what we should pray for on occasion.
  • 00:36:32.740 --> 00:36:35.376
  • His prayer for the colossians actually begins in verse 3
  • 00:36:35.376 --> 00:36:39.847
  • Of the first chapter and it's in verse 9
  • 00:36:39.847 --> 00:36:42.717
  • Where we find the heart of his intercession.
  • 00:36:42.717 --> 00:36:45.519
  • Here from the scripture was his prayer:
  • 00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:48.155
  • "that you might be filled with the knowledge
  • 00:36:48.155 --> 00:36:50.291
  • Of his will in wisdom and spiritual understanding."
  • 00:36:50.291 --> 00:36:54.929
  • He's praying this for the colossian believers.
  • 00:36:54.929 --> 00:36:57.965
  • He begged god to fill the colossians with the knowledge
  • 00:36:57.965 --> 00:37:00.835
  • Of god's will and he prayed it in a specific way.
  • 00:37:00.835 --> 00:37:03.771
  • He wanted them to get this knowledge
  • 00:37:03.771 --> 00:37:05.940
  • In all wisdom and understanding.
  • 00:37:05.940 --> 00:37:08.309
  • Those are some big concepts, so let's break them down.
  • 00:37:08.309 --> 00:37:11.445
  • The colossian believers were facing a serious challenge.
  • 00:37:11.445 --> 00:37:15.182
  • False gnostic teachings were creeping into their community
  • 00:37:15.182 --> 00:37:18.219
  • And threatening to lead them astray.
  • 00:37:18.219 --> 00:37:20.688
  • And they were teaching incorrect ideas about god and faith.
  • 00:37:20.688 --> 00:37:24.725
  • And paul wanted to replace the danger of those false ideas
  • 00:37:24.725 --> 00:37:28.562
  • With true knowledge, knowledge of christ.
  • 00:37:28.562 --> 00:37:31.365
  • He understood that knowledge alone wasn't enough.
  • 00:37:31.365 --> 00:37:34.368
  • That is why paul prayed not just for knowledge,
  • 00:37:34.368 --> 00:37:36.470
  • But for wisdom and spiritual understanding.
  • 00:37:36.470 --> 00:37:39.206
  • Many christians today face a similar disconnect.
  • 00:37:39.206 --> 00:37:43.044
  • They accumulate a lot of information about the bible,
  • 00:37:43.044 --> 00:37:46.013
  • But they don't know how it works in their lives.
  • 00:37:46.013 --> 00:37:48.683
  • It doesn't affect how they live.
  • 00:37:48.683 --> 00:37:50.785
  • They know scripture, but they struggle to apply it
  • 00:37:50.785 --> 00:37:52.820
  • To everyday decisions and relationships.
  • 00:37:52.820 --> 00:37:56.290
  • That makes paul's prayer as relevant today as it could be.
  • 00:37:56.290 --> 00:38:00.161
  • When you pray for each other, pray that god would give them
  • 00:38:00.161 --> 00:38:02.396
  • Knowledge and wisdom.
  • 00:38:02.396 --> 00:38:04.832
  • Someone once told me that wisdom is doing the right thing
  • 00:38:04.832 --> 00:38:07.835
  • Without a precedent.
  • 00:38:07.835 --> 00:38:09.370
  • And if that's true, we need that more now
  • 00:38:09.370 --> 00:38:11.539
  • Than we ever have because we live in unprecedented times.
  • 00:38:11.539 --> 00:38:14.942
  • Things are happening that have never happened before,
  • 00:38:14.942 --> 00:38:17.545
  • And when we think about what can we do, i hear people say,
  • 00:38:17.545 --> 00:38:21.182
  • "well, i guess all you can do is pray."
  • 00:38:21.182 --> 00:38:23.284
  • All you can do?
  • 00:38:23.284 --> 00:38:24.985
  • Come on, man, that's the best thing you can do.
  • 00:38:24.985 --> 00:38:26.987
  • That's where you start.
  • 00:38:26.987 --> 00:38:28.322
  • [audience applauding]
  • 00:38:28.322 --> 00:38:32.393
  • Dr. jeremiah: so when we're concerned about
  • 00:38:32.393 --> 00:38:33.728
  • A loved one who's struggling, we can follow paul's example.
  • 00:38:33.728 --> 00:38:37.331
  • Instead of just worrying or offering advice, we can pray:
  • 00:38:37.331 --> 00:38:40.601
  • "lord, fill them with knowledge of your will and all wisdom
  • 00:38:40.601 --> 00:38:44.939
  • And spiritual understanding."
  • 00:38:44.939 --> 00:38:46.874
  • There's always power in praying that god will equip
  • 00:38:46.874 --> 00:38:49.810
  • The one you pray for with the presence of god
  • 00:38:49.810 --> 00:38:52.480
  • In his own life so that he or she
  • 00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:54.081
  • Will know what to do.
  • 00:38:54.081 --> 00:38:56.317
  • Well, that's the persistence of prayer from the gospels
  • 00:38:56.317 --> 00:38:59.420
  • And the petition of paul's prayer.
  • 00:38:59.420 --> 00:39:01.555
  • But let me talk to you about the possibilities of paul's prayer.
  • 00:39:01.555 --> 00:39:05.059
  • For the rest of this whole message, from 3 to 14
  • 00:39:05.059 --> 00:39:08.229
  • In the first chapter, there's an unfolding of paul's requests
  • 00:39:08.229 --> 00:39:12.967
  • For the people of colossae.
  • 00:39:12.967 --> 00:39:15.336
  • And i'll tell you what, these are five life-changing realities
  • 00:39:15.336 --> 00:39:20.241
  • That flow from prayer.
  • 00:39:20.241 --> 00:39:22.710
  • This is what happens when you pray.
  • 00:39:22.710 --> 00:39:25.413
  • This is what can take place in your life.
  • 00:39:25.413 --> 00:39:27.615
  • This is who you become when you equip yourself to do that
  • 00:39:27.615 --> 00:39:31.252
  • And make a purpose of it.
  • 00:39:31.252 --> 00:39:32.853
  • And you do it every day or every day that you can.
  • 00:39:32.853 --> 00:39:35.823
  • Verse 10 says that when people are filled with wisdom
  • 00:39:35.823 --> 00:39:40.327
  • And knowledge, they will "walk worthy of the lord,
  • 00:39:40.327 --> 00:39:45.466
  • Fully pleasing him."
  • 00:39:45.466 --> 00:39:48.202
  • Walk fully pleasing the lord.
  • 00:39:48.202 --> 00:39:51.739
  • If we walk with knowledge and wisdom, one of the results
  • 00:39:51.739 --> 00:39:54.542
  • Will be we'll be pleasing the lord and walking worthy
  • 00:39:54.542 --> 00:39:58.646
  • Of our calling.
  • 00:39:58.646 --> 00:40:00.448
  • When we study the word of god, we develop an understanding
  • 00:40:00.448 --> 00:40:03.017
  • Of what really pleases god, and this knowledge enables us
  • 00:40:03.017 --> 00:40:06.821
  • To walk worthy of god.
  • 00:40:06.821 --> 00:40:08.756
  • That's what it means.
  • 00:40:08.756 --> 00:40:10.090
  • Walk in a way.
  • 00:40:10.090 --> 00:40:11.425
  • Walk as if you know who you're with.
  • 00:40:11.425 --> 00:40:12.760
  • You're with god.
  • 00:40:12.760 --> 00:40:14.094
  • Walk in a godly way.
  • 00:40:14.094 --> 00:40:15.429
  • So we can please god continuously.
  • 00:40:15.429 --> 00:40:17.798
  • And then number two, we can produce fruit constantly.
  • 00:40:17.798 --> 00:40:22.303
  • There's a lot in the bible about being fruitful
  • 00:40:22.303 --> 00:40:24.572
  • And a lot of misunderstanding about it.
  • 00:40:24.572 --> 00:40:26.674
  • So i'm gonna, right in the middle of this message,
  • 00:40:26.674 --> 00:40:28.909
  • Give you and us together a little tutorial.
  • 00:40:28.909 --> 00:40:32.112
  • And it's based on places in the bible
  • 00:40:32.112 --> 00:40:34.081
  • Where the word "fruitful" appears.
  • 00:40:34.081 --> 00:40:35.983
  • What does it mean to be a fruitful christian?
  • 00:40:35.983 --> 00:40:38.752
  • And i have a little paradigm, if you write it down
  • 00:40:38.752 --> 00:40:40.921
  • Or think about it later you won't ever forget it.
  • 00:40:40.921 --> 00:40:43.924
  • First of all, what does it mean?
  • 00:40:43.924 --> 00:40:47.294
  • The bible says we're to be fruitful in every good work.
  • 00:40:47.294 --> 00:40:51.665
  • That's what we should pray for.
  • 00:40:51.665 --> 00:40:53.133
  • We should pray for our friends that god would
  • 00:40:53.133 --> 00:40:54.535
  • Make them productive christians.
  • 00:40:54.535 --> 00:40:56.837
  • You know, we need some productive christians
  • 00:40:56.837 --> 00:40:58.239
  • These days.
  • 00:40:58.239 --> 00:40:59.573
  • We need people who aren't just saved and satisfied
  • 00:40:59.573 --> 00:41:01.208
  • And waiting for the rapture.
  • 00:41:01.208 --> 00:41:03.043
  • We need people who'll get busy serving the lord.
  • 00:41:03.043 --> 00:41:05.746
  • And frankly, serving the lord is the only way you can ever
  • 00:41:05.746 --> 00:41:08.382
  • Express your love for the lord in a tangible way,
  • 00:41:08.382 --> 00:41:10.951
  • By serving others.
  • 00:41:10.951 --> 00:41:12.486
  • Galatians 5:22-23 uses the word "fruit," first of all,
  • 00:41:12.486 --> 00:41:16.857
  • To describe our character.
  • 00:41:16.857 --> 00:41:19.793
  • The bible says: "the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace,
  • 00:41:19.793 --> 00:41:24.698
  • Longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
  • 00:41:24.698 --> 00:41:28.102
  • Gentleness, self-control."
  • 00:41:28.102 --> 00:41:31.105
  • So what does it mean to be fruitful?
  • 00:41:31.105 --> 00:41:33.641
  • It means to have good character.
  • 00:41:33.641 --> 00:41:36.377
  • If you're a christian and you have good character,
  • 00:41:36.377 --> 00:41:40.614
  • You're being fruitful.
  • 00:41:40.614 --> 00:41:42.449
  • Second, the conduct of your life is also a fruit.
  • 00:41:42.449 --> 00:41:45.185
  • Romans 6:22 says: "but now having been set free from sin,
  • 00:41:45.185 --> 00:41:49.356
  • And having become slaves of god, you have your fruit
  • 00:41:49.356 --> 00:41:52.459
  • To holiness."
  • 00:41:52.459 --> 00:41:54.228
  • You don't have to be perfect, but as you grow
  • 00:41:54.228 --> 00:41:57.231
  • In the perfection of christ, he uses you better
  • 00:41:57.231 --> 00:42:00.701
  • When you're walking in character and in the right conduct.
  • 00:42:00.701 --> 00:42:04.004
  • We bear fruit through our character,
  • 00:42:04.004 --> 00:42:06.507
  • Which is who we are.
  • 00:42:06.507 --> 00:42:08.776
  • We bear fruit through our conduct, which is what we do.
  • 00:42:08.776 --> 00:42:12.846
  • And the bible speaks of our conversation.
  • 00:42:12.846 --> 00:42:15.516
  • Did you know that how you speak is fruitfulness?
  • 00:42:15.516 --> 00:42:19.119
  • "therefore," hebrews 13:15, "by him let us continually
  • 00:42:19.119 --> 00:42:24.425
  • Offer the sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips,
  • 00:42:24.425 --> 00:42:30.731
  • Giving thanks to his name."
  • 00:42:30.731 --> 00:42:33.200
  • The bible says that when we sing or praise or glorify god
  • 00:42:33.200 --> 00:42:37.838
  • It's the fruit of worship.
  • 00:42:37.838 --> 00:42:39.840
  • When we're worshiping, we're being fruitful.
  • 00:42:39.840 --> 00:42:42.643
  • So we're building a little construct here.
  • 00:42:42.643 --> 00:42:45.446
  • What is fruit?
  • 00:42:45.446 --> 00:42:46.780
  • It's character, who you are.
  • 00:42:46.780 --> 00:42:48.849
  • It's conduct, what you do.
  • 00:42:48.849 --> 00:42:51.418
  • It's conversation, what you say.
  • 00:42:51.418 --> 00:42:53.988
  • And the fourth is, it is monetary contributions to god.
  • 00:42:53.988 --> 00:42:58.359
  • When you give money to the church or to the lord
  • 00:42:58.359 --> 00:43:00.728
  • Through the church, this is what it says.
  • 00:43:00.728 --> 00:43:03.130
  • I'm going to read to you from philippians,
  • 00:43:03.130 --> 00:43:05.265
  • Where paul illustrates this principle.
  • 00:43:05.265 --> 00:43:07.968
  • "for even in thessalonica you sent aid once and again
  • 00:43:07.968 --> 00:43:12.673
  • For my necessities."
  • 00:43:12.673 --> 00:43:14.141
  • He's talking about the offering that they gave him.
  • 00:43:14.141 --> 00:43:16.377
  • "not that i seek the gift, but i seek the fruit
  • 00:43:16.377 --> 00:43:20.914
  • That abounds to your account."
  • 00:43:20.914 --> 00:43:22.816
  • Paul says, "i'm not interested so much in the gift,
  • 00:43:22.816 --> 00:43:24.918
  • But i'm really excited because when you give,
  • 00:43:24.918 --> 00:43:27.488
  • That fruit abounds to your account."
  • 00:43:27.488 --> 00:43:29.657
  • When we fund god's work that's another evidence
  • 00:43:29.657 --> 00:43:32.726
  • Of being fruitful.
  • 00:43:32.726 --> 00:43:34.261
  • As we grow in knowledge and in the wisdom of christ
  • 00:43:34.261 --> 00:43:37.064
  • We become fruitful givers.
  • 00:43:37.064 --> 00:43:40.234
  • We rejoice in worshiping god in our tithes and offerings.
  • 00:43:40.234 --> 00:43:44.872
  • So are you getting all of this?
  • 00:43:44.872 --> 00:43:47.007
  • Character is who you are.
  • 00:43:47.007 --> 00:43:49.309
  • Conduct is what you do.
  • 00:43:49.309 --> 00:43:51.378
  • Conversations is what you say.
  • 00:43:51.378 --> 00:43:53.547
  • Contributions is what you give.
  • 00:43:53.547 --> 00:43:56.316
  • Fifth, the bible speaks of converts, who you win.
  • 00:43:56.316 --> 00:43:59.653
  • Now i'm going to say this, most people think the only way
  • 00:43:59.653 --> 00:44:02.489
  • You can be fruitful as a christian is to win souls.
  • 00:44:02.489 --> 00:44:05.526
  • And i don't want to in any way downgrade the importance
  • 00:44:05.526 --> 00:44:08.462
  • Of doing that.
  • 00:44:08.462 --> 00:44:09.963
  • But winning souls is only one aspect of being fruitful.
  • 00:44:09.963 --> 00:44:13.801
  • It's a very important one and in the respect of cause and effect,
  • 00:44:13.801 --> 00:44:17.705
  • If you win somebody else you add someone else to the family
  • 00:44:17.705 --> 00:44:20.040
  • Of god, that's really true.
  • 00:44:20.040 --> 00:44:22.376
  • But proverbs 11:30 says it this way: "the fruit of the righteous
  • 00:44:22.376 --> 00:44:27.381
  • Is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise."
  • 00:44:27.381 --> 00:44:33.320
  • Paul called the new believers in achaia the first fruits
  • 00:44:33.320 --> 00:44:37.991
  • Because they were the first of many who were coming to christ.
  • 00:44:37.991 --> 00:44:40.928
  • He called them the first fruits, the first christians.
  • 00:44:40.928 --> 00:44:43.797
  • Whenever we're planting gospel seed,
  • 00:44:43.797 --> 00:44:46.366
  • We're always leading to a harvest.
  • 00:44:46.366 --> 00:44:48.368
  • If we put the seed in the ground,
  • 00:44:48.368 --> 00:44:50.070
  • We may not see it be watered,
  • 00:44:50.070 --> 00:44:51.739
  • But we know if god is in it, he will see
  • 00:44:51.739 --> 00:44:53.340
  • That it gets watered and finally harvested.
  • 00:44:53.340 --> 00:44:56.276
  • Early in my ministry i had the opportunity
  • 00:44:56.276 --> 00:44:58.846
  • To lead a certain man to jesus christ.
  • 00:44:58.846 --> 00:45:01.281
  • I'll never forget this man.
  • 00:45:01.281 --> 00:45:02.716
  • He was 6'9" and he weighed 300 pounds.
  • 00:45:02.716 --> 00:45:06.120
  • You should have seen me baptize this dude.
  • 00:45:06.120 --> 00:45:07.821
  • Oh my god, i'll never forget that.
  • 00:45:07.821 --> 00:45:09.890
  • We displaced water into the choir loft.
  • 00:45:09.890 --> 00:45:12.192
  • It was unreal.
  • 00:45:12.192 --> 00:45:13.727
  • But one night, a few months after he got saved,
  • 00:45:13.727 --> 00:45:16.997
  • He called me
  • 00:45:16.997 --> 00:45:18.365
  • And it was at 1 o'clock in the morning, i remember.
  • 00:45:18.365 --> 00:45:20.434
  • He said, "pastor, this is gene mccoy."
  • 00:45:20.434 --> 00:45:22.936
  • I said, "what do you want, gene?
  • 00:45:22.936 --> 00:45:25.339
  • It's kind of late."
  • 00:45:25.339 --> 00:45:26.740
  • He said, "i just want to say congratulations,
  • 00:45:26.740 --> 00:45:28.408
  • You're a grandfather."
  • 00:45:28.408 --> 00:45:30.444
  • I said, "what does that mean?"
  • 00:45:30.444 --> 00:45:32.379
  • He said, "well, i just led a friend of mine to christ.
  • 00:45:32.379 --> 00:45:35.916
  • You led me to christ, that makes you his grandfather."
  • 00:45:35.916 --> 00:45:40.020
  • And, you know, there is some truth in that,
  • 00:45:40.020 --> 00:45:45.592
  • Although god doesn't have any grandchildren,
  • 00:45:45.592 --> 00:45:48.328
  • It is true that when we bear fruit,
  • 00:45:48.328 --> 00:45:52.232
  • It is also not just on us,
  • 00:45:52.232 --> 00:45:54.601
  • It's a glorification of the lord too.
  • 00:45:54.601 --> 00:45:56.270
  • It goes back to the original.
  • 00:45:56.270 --> 00:45:57.704
  • He's the source of the gospel.
  • 00:45:57.704 --> 00:45:59.206
  • We're just the communicators of it.
  • 00:45:59.206 --> 00:46:01.708
  • Now think of how your prayers can begin to prompt these things
  • 00:46:01.708 --> 00:46:05.245
  • In the life of someone else as they grow in knowledge
  • 00:46:05.245 --> 00:46:08.382
  • And spiritual wisdom according to your requests for them.
  • 00:46:08.382 --> 00:46:11.285
  • The result of having knowledge with wisdom
  • 00:46:11.285 --> 00:46:14.988
  • Is that these things happen.
  • 00:46:14.988 --> 00:46:16.423
  • This is what paul says.
  • 00:46:16.423 --> 00:46:18.125
  • We can please god continually.
  • 00:46:18.125 --> 00:46:20.527
  • We can produce fruit constantly.
  • 00:46:20.527 --> 00:46:22.963
  • And now it says we can progress in knowledge, too.
  • 00:46:22.963 --> 00:46:27.534
  • For those for whom we pray, we can pray that god will help them
  • 00:46:27.534 --> 00:46:31.271
  • To "walk worthy of the lord, fully pleasing him,
  • 00:46:31.271 --> 00:46:34.708
  • Being fruitful in every good work
  • 00:46:34.708 --> 00:46:36.510
  • And increasing in the knowledge of god."
  • 00:46:36.510 --> 00:46:40.581
  • That's a pretty good goal to have.
  • 00:46:40.581 --> 00:46:42.583
  • I don't know if you ever do that,
  • 00:46:42.583 --> 00:46:44.084
  • But i do it when i have an anniversary.
  • 00:46:44.084 --> 00:46:47.321
  • Look back over your life and say,
  • 00:46:47.321 --> 00:46:49.756
  • What more do i know about the lord
  • 00:46:49.756 --> 00:46:51.792
  • Than i did last year at this time?
  • 00:46:51.792 --> 00:46:53.994
  • How am i growing in my knowledge of god?
  • 00:46:53.994 --> 00:46:56.363
  • It's easy to just get in and coast,
  • 00:46:56.363 --> 00:46:59.600
  • To know that you're going to heaven
  • 00:46:59.600 --> 00:47:01.101
  • And be thankful for that
  • 00:47:01.101 --> 00:47:02.769
  • And then just go back to kind of a normal life
  • 00:47:02.769 --> 00:47:05.339
  • That doesn't really make a difference.
  • 00:47:05.339 --> 00:47:07.507
  • And that's what most of the world would say would be fine,
  • 00:47:07.507 --> 00:47:11.411
  • But it's not fine according to the scripture.
  • 00:47:11.411 --> 00:47:14.047
  • So we can please god continuously,
  • 00:47:14.047 --> 00:47:16.884
  • We can produce fruit constantly,
  • 00:47:16.884 --> 00:47:19.119
  • We can progress in knowledge consistently,
  • 00:47:19.119 --> 00:47:21.555
  • And here's one for all of us right now:
  • 00:47:21.555 --> 00:47:24.391
  • We can persevere under pressure, cheerfully.
  • 00:47:24.391 --> 00:47:30.063
  • Look at paul's prayer again.
  • 00:47:30.063 --> 00:47:31.398
  • He asked god to fill the colossians
  • 00:47:31.398 --> 00:47:33.433
  • With the knowledge of his will,
  • 00:47:33.433 --> 00:47:35.502
  • With all spiritual understanding
  • 00:47:35.502 --> 00:47:37.204
  • So that "they might be strengthened with all might,
  • 00:47:37.204 --> 00:47:40.774
  • According to his glorious power,
  • 00:47:40.774 --> 00:47:43.043
  • For all patience and longsuffering with joy," wow.
  • 00:47:43.043 --> 00:47:48.415
  • One thing leads to another.
  • 00:47:48.415 --> 00:47:49.850
  • When you pray for someone, it triggers a domino effect
  • 00:47:49.850 --> 00:47:52.486
  • Of grace in their lives, leading to their ability
  • 00:47:52.486 --> 00:47:55.088
  • To persevere under pressure.
  • 00:47:55.088 --> 00:47:57.824
  • Now, in the past when i've seen these words "power" and "might"
  • 00:47:57.824 --> 00:48:01.795
  • And "strength," i've thought, "well, that's for the big test.
  • 00:48:01.795 --> 00:48:04.898
  • When the big test comes, that's what you need."
  • 00:48:04.898 --> 00:48:07.167
  • When i have had to stand up against some daunting problem,
  • 00:48:07.167 --> 00:48:10.337
  • And i've had a few of those in my life,
  • 00:48:10.337 --> 00:48:12.773
  • But i've also been learning something else.
  • 00:48:12.773 --> 00:48:15.342
  • I think where you really need power, might, and strength
  • 00:48:15.342 --> 00:48:20.247
  • Is not for the momentary challenges,
  • 00:48:20.247 --> 00:48:22.749
  • But for the long haul.
  • 00:48:22.749 --> 00:48:25.252
  • The christian life isn't a 100-yard dash, it's a marathon.
  • 00:48:25.252 --> 00:48:30.424
  • And paul's prayer for the patience and endurance
  • 00:48:30.424 --> 00:48:32.592
  • Of the colossian believers, they were having their issues.
  • 00:48:32.592 --> 00:48:35.762
  • And he was praying that god would give them real strength
  • 00:48:35.762 --> 00:48:39.132
  • And power, not so they could get over the hump,
  • 00:48:39.132 --> 00:48:42.269
  • But so they could maintain the ministry and the reality
  • 00:48:42.269 --> 00:48:45.872
  • Of the christ life for a long period of time.
  • 00:48:45.872 --> 00:48:48.976
  • Paul goes on to say that when we are filled with wisdom
  • 00:48:48.976 --> 00:48:53.246
  • And knowledge, we please god continually,
  • 00:48:53.246 --> 00:48:56.783
  • We produce fruit constantly,
  • 00:48:56.783 --> 00:48:59.119
  • We progress in knowledge consistently,
  • 00:48:59.119 --> 00:49:01.421
  • And we persevere under pressure cheerfully.
  • 00:49:01.421 --> 00:49:05.225
  • Note, it's not just get through it, but get through it with joy.
  • 00:49:05.225 --> 00:49:10.063
  • Oh wow, that adds a little to it too.
  • 00:49:10.063 --> 00:49:13.066
  • And number five, we praise god correctly.
  • 00:49:13.066 --> 00:49:16.837
  • He ends this with verse 12 which says:
  • 00:49:16.837 --> 00:49:19.006
  • "giving thanks to the father."
  • 00:49:19.006 --> 00:49:22.109
  • And it brings us all the way back to the praise
  • 00:49:22.109 --> 00:49:23.910
  • And thanksgiving with which the prayer began.
  • 00:49:23.910 --> 00:49:26.780
  • If you study verses 12 through 14
  • 00:49:26.780 --> 00:49:29.483
  • You will see how paul settles into this theme
  • 00:49:29.483 --> 00:49:32.652
  • Giving us four great reasons for praise.
  • 00:49:32.652 --> 00:49:35.856
  • He says: "giving thanks to the father who has qualified us to
  • 00:49:35.856 --> 00:49:39.092
  • Be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
  • 00:49:39.092 --> 00:49:43.263
  • He has delivered us from the power of darkness
  • 00:49:43.263 --> 00:49:46.066
  • And conveyed us into the kingdom of the son
  • 00:49:46.066 --> 00:49:48.535
  • Of his love, in whom we have redemption
  • 00:49:48.535 --> 00:49:50.537
  • Through his blood, the forgiveness of sin."
  • 00:49:50.537 --> 00:49:52.939
  • In my notes, i outline these verses.
  • 00:49:52.939 --> 00:49:56.643
  • These verses are very powerful.
  • 00:49:56.643 --> 00:49:59.079
  • First of all, we thank god because he remade us.
  • 00:49:59.079 --> 00:50:03.216
  • When we were saved, we were remade.
  • 00:50:03.216 --> 00:50:06.453
  • God made us so we could claim our inheritance,
  • 00:50:06.453 --> 00:50:08.622
  • The inheritance of the saints and the light.
  • 00:50:08.622 --> 00:50:11.158
  • Because we've been remade, now we're able to live for god
  • 00:50:11.158 --> 00:50:14.561
  • In the darkness of this world.
  • 00:50:14.561 --> 00:50:16.696
  • We've come out of the world of darkness into the kingdom
  • 00:50:16.696 --> 00:50:19.299
  • Of light and god made us-- he made it possible for us
  • 00:50:19.299 --> 00:50:22.102
  • To live in that kingdom.
  • 00:50:22.102 --> 00:50:24.071
  • We couldn't live in that kingdom the way we were.
  • 00:50:24.071 --> 00:50:26.273
  • There was nothing holy about any of us, let's face it.
  • 00:50:26.273 --> 00:50:29.076
  • You don't live in the kingdom of righteousness
  • 00:50:29.076 --> 00:50:31.378
  • With an unholy life and an unholy heart.
  • 00:50:31.378 --> 00:50:34.247
  • Next, we can praise god because he rescued us.
  • 00:50:34.314 --> 00:50:37.250
  • Paul says: "he has delivered us from the power of darkness."
  • 00:50:37.250 --> 00:50:41.288
  • How many of you remember the day you got rescued, you know,
  • 00:50:41.288 --> 00:50:44.257
  • When god came into your life and he just took you over, amen.
  • 00:50:44.257 --> 00:50:48.028
  • [audience applauding]
  • 00:50:48.028 --> 00:50:50.430
  • Dr. jeremiah: and then the bible says that we praise god
  • 00:50:50.430 --> 00:50:52.966
  • Because he relocated us.
  • 00:50:52.966 --> 00:50:56.036
  • He conveyed us into the kingdom of the son of his love.
  • 00:50:56.036 --> 00:50:59.272
  • We once lived over here, but god came into our lives
  • 00:50:59.272 --> 00:51:03.043
  • And changed everything, and he moved us over here.
  • 00:51:03.043 --> 00:51:05.679
  • Now we live on kingdom of god street, amen?
  • 00:51:05.679 --> 00:51:09.449
  • And all this happens because, as paul told the colossians,
  • 00:51:09.449 --> 00:51:13.386
  • He has redeemed us.
  • 00:51:13.386 --> 00:51:15.522
  • He wrote: "in whom we have redemption through his blood,
  • 00:51:15.522 --> 00:51:19.259
  • The forgiveness of sins."
  • 00:51:19.259 --> 00:51:20.961
  • Now to redeem someone means to buy them back
  • 00:51:20.961 --> 00:51:23.063
  • And to set them free.
  • 00:51:23.063 --> 00:51:25.031
  • Jesus's death was the price that was necessary to buy us back.
  • 00:51:25.031 --> 00:51:29.669
  • We were on the market of sin.
  • 00:51:29.669 --> 00:51:31.471
  • The bible says when we're not saved,
  • 00:51:31.471 --> 00:51:33.507
  • We're like people who are slaves.
  • 00:51:33.507 --> 00:51:35.542
  • And we have no will of our own until jesus comes
  • 00:51:35.542 --> 00:51:37.644
  • And sets us free.
  • 00:51:37.644 --> 00:51:39.346
  • And then we become his people
  • 00:51:39.346 --> 00:51:40.914
  • And we become set free from slavery.
  • 00:51:40.914 --> 00:51:43.316
  • And that's why he has given us this prayer to offer
  • 00:51:43.316 --> 00:51:46.286
  • For ourselves and to others.
  • 00:51:46.286 --> 00:51:48.321
  • If it was good enough for him to pray this prayer
  • 00:51:48.321 --> 00:51:50.056
  • For the colossians,
  • 00:51:50.056 --> 00:51:51.658
  • It's good enough for him to teach us this prayer as well.
  • 00:51:51.658 --> 00:51:56.963
  • I began this chapter with a story about a missionary
  • 00:51:56.963 --> 00:51:59.766
  • Named raymond edman,
  • 00:51:59.766 --> 00:52:01.201
  • And i want to end this chapter and this message
  • 00:52:01.201 --> 00:52:04.671
  • With another missionary story.
  • 00:52:04.671 --> 00:52:07.207
  • In 1908, james fraser left a promising engineering career
  • 00:52:07.207 --> 00:52:13.013
  • To become a missionary to the lisu people of china.
  • 00:52:13.013 --> 00:52:17.384
  • The remote mountainous region made gathering
  • 00:52:17.384 --> 00:52:19.686
  • For church services nearly impossible in winter,
  • 00:52:19.686 --> 00:52:23.089
  • Frustrating his plans,
  • 00:52:23.089 --> 00:52:24.858
  • But he came to believe god was in the obstacle.
  • 00:52:24.858 --> 00:52:28.795
  • Realizing it took three to five days for each church visit,
  • 00:52:28.795 --> 00:52:32.966
  • Fraser asked, what if i spent that time praying instead?
  • 00:52:32.966 --> 00:52:37.804
  • He committed to interceding for the highland believers
  • 00:52:37.804 --> 00:52:40.740
  • During the snowy months rather than trying to get to them
  • 00:52:40.740 --> 00:52:43.710
  • Through the troubling times.
  • 00:52:43.710 --> 00:52:45.812
  • And when spring arrived, fraser climbed the mountains
  • 00:52:45.812 --> 00:52:49.149
  • To find his converts thriving.
  • 00:52:49.149 --> 00:52:51.785
  • Their personal bible study and prayer had strengthened them
  • 00:52:51.785 --> 00:52:54.521
  • More than when he had visited them before.
  • 00:52:54.521 --> 00:52:57.991
  • From that day on, he was determined never to fret
  • 00:52:57.991 --> 00:53:00.594
  • When he could not gather people, but always to seize it
  • 00:53:00.594 --> 00:53:04.364
  • As an opportunity to pray for people instead.
  • 00:53:04.364 --> 00:53:08.268
  • And by the way, today there are 935,000 lisu in southern china.
  • 00:53:08.268 --> 00:53:15.141
  • More than 400,000 are christians.
  • 00:53:15.141 --> 00:53:19.079
  • [audience applauding]
  • 00:53:19.079 --> 00:53:23.250
  • Dr. jeremiah: raymond edman, the apostle paul, and james fraser
  • 00:53:23.250 --> 00:53:27.087
  • Were all convinced of the power of intercessory prayer.
  • 00:53:27.087 --> 00:53:31.024
  • Take out paul's prayer in colossians 1:9-14
  • 00:53:31.024 --> 00:53:34.728
  • And make it your own.
  • 00:53:34.728 --> 00:53:36.663
  • Ask god to give you the name of someone for whom you can pray
  • 00:53:36.663 --> 00:53:39.199
  • And then put their name in colossians 1
  • 00:53:39.199 --> 00:53:43.036
  • And you will never know what will happen.
  • 00:53:43.036 --> 00:53:45.305
  • We believe in the power of prayer,
  • 00:53:45.305 --> 00:53:46.740
  • We just don't believe in the practice of it.
  • 00:53:46.740 --> 00:53:49.909
  • And you know, it's one thing to say, "oh yeah,
  • 00:53:49.909 --> 00:53:51.578
  • Prayer's wonderful," until you don't do it.
  • 00:53:51.578 --> 00:53:54.147
  • And i'll be honest with you, becoming active and religious
  • 00:53:54.147 --> 00:53:58.485
  • And disciplined in that prayer discipline
  • 00:53:58.485 --> 00:54:03.123
  • Is one of the hardest things you do as a christian.
  • 00:54:03.123 --> 00:54:05.792
  • But once you get there and you get in the right place, you'll
  • 00:54:05.792 --> 00:54:08.828
  • Discover there is a sanctuary in your prayer time with the lord
  • 00:54:08.828 --> 00:54:14.034
  • That takes you away from every pressure
  • 00:54:14.034 --> 00:54:16.603
  • And burden in this world.
  • 00:54:16.603 --> 00:54:18.305
  • And for a short time, you can understand sweet hour of prayer,
  • 00:54:18.305 --> 00:54:22.409
  • Sweet hour of prayer.
  • 00:54:22.409 --> 00:54:24.711
  • That's what the bible teaches.
  • 00:54:24.711 --> 00:54:26.813
  • We believe it.
  • 00:54:26.813 --> 00:54:28.181
  • Now let's go and practice it, okay?
  • 00:54:28.181 --> 00:54:30.216
  • Amen.
  • 00:54:30.216 --> 00:54:31.685
  • [audience applauding]
  • 00:54:31.685 --> 00:54:38.325
  • Announcer: thank you for watching "turning point."
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  • Dr. jeremiah would like to offer you his new book,
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  • From "turning point" today.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Announcer: if you have never taken the step to believe in
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  • Jesus christ as your lord and savior, you can do that today.
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  • The first is a booklet called "your greatest turning point,"
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  • Announcer: if you enjoyed today's message,
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  • Announcer: next time on "turning point."
  • 00:56:32.005 --> 00:56:33.440
  • Dr. jeremiah: ask god to give you a forgiving heart,
  • 00:56:34.707 --> 00:56:36.910
  • Breathe out your prayers in an atmosphere of grace.
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  • You will be so surprised if you do this,
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  • How wonderful it will be to pray again in the right way.
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  • Announcer: thank you for being with us today.
  • 00:56:48.521 --> 00:56:50.223
  • Join dr. jeremiah next time for his message,
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  • "why don't my prayers get answered?"
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  • Here on "turning point."
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