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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
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- Of walking alongside people through life's checkpoints:
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- 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
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- Aren't about this life.
- 00:00:17.634 --> 00:00:18.034
- They're about what comes next.
- 00:00:20.136 --> 00:00:22.639
- 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
- 00:00:27.377 --> 00:00:30.880
- 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.
- 00:00:37.554 --> 00:00:41.558
- Preorder your copy for a gift of any amount.
- 00:00:41.558 --> 00:00:44.027
- Plus, receive exclusive bonus digital access to dr. jeremiah's
- 00:00:44.027 --> 00:00:47.764
- "the promise of heaven" teaching series and study guide.
- 00:00:47.764 --> 00:00:50.733
- Also available for preorder, "the promise of heaven"
- 00:00:50.733 --> 00:00:53.236
- Study set.
- 00:00:53.236 --> 00:00:54.571
- For more details and to preorder,
- 00:00:54.571 --> 00:00:56.606
- 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.
- 00:01:43.353 --> 00:01:46.723
- 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.
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- Announcer: coming up on "turning point."
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- 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.
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- 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
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- With 100 carefully crafted prayers to guide you
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- Through life's challenges and celebrations.
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- When words fail you during times of grief;
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- When your heart is filled with gratitude,
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- But you can't express it; when you're facing decisions
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- That seem impossible, dr. jeremiah helps you
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- Bring everything to god.
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- The bible tells us to go to god in prayer for all things,
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- But sometimes we need guidance on how to pray effectively
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- And specifically.
- 00:03:32.528 --> 00:03:34.197
- Reading and praying these guided prayers by dr. jeremiah will
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- Help you learn to pray with confidence and clarity
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- 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
- 00:03:46.676 --> 00:03:48.144
- 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.
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- Announcer: thank you for watching "turning point."
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- 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.
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- And then a little wistfully she added, "but the other day i came
- 00:04:27.950 --> 00:04:31.054
- 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?"
- 00:04:41.331 --> 00:04:44.434
- 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.
- 00:05:37.653 --> 00:05:39.989
- 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.
- 00:07:09.779 --> 00:07:11.447
- 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."
- 00:07:22.925 --> 00:07:25.194
- 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.
- 00:08:04.500 --> 00:08:08.204
- 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.
- 00:08:17.713 --> 00:08:21.250
- Assuredly, i say to you, they have their reward."
- 00:08:21.250 --> 00:08:26.122
- Hypocrites are more interested in the position than in piety.
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- In jesus's day, jewish pharisees
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- 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.
- 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:05.127
- And the crowd would look on and say,
- 00:09:05.127 --> 00:09:07.630
- "now, that must be a really spiritual person."
- 00:09:07.630 --> 00:09:12.068
- Jesus said, don't pray like that.
- 00:09:12.068 --> 00:09:15.037
- 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.
- 00:09:33.789 --> 00:09:36.192
- 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,
- 00:09:40.529 --> 00:09:43.733
- 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
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- 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
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- 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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- Perfect for your prayer life and a thoughtful gift
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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.
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- 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.
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- And the second is our monthly devotional magazine,
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- "turning points," to give you encouragement
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- And inspiration throughout the year.
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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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- 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."
- 00:54:38.391 --> 00:54:40.493
- Dr. jeremiah would like to offer you his new book,
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- "everything to god in prayer:
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- From "turning point" today.
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- ♪♪♪
- 00:55:24.137 --> 00:55:27.874
- Announcer: if you have never taken the step to believe in
- 00:55:27.874 --> 00:55:29.943
- Jesus christ as your lord and savior, you can do that today.
- 00:55:29.943 --> 00:55:34.481
- If you will allow us, dr. jeremiah
- 00:55:34.481 --> 00:55:36.516
- Would like to send you two resources that will help you.
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- 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.
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- And the second is our monthly devotional magazine,
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- "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,
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- 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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- Of broadcast ministry.
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- On turning point+ you'll find dr. jeremiah's bible-strong
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- And playlists, all on demand and on any screen.
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- Visit turningpointplus.org today.
- 00:56:27.066 --> 00:56:29.903
- 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.
- 00:56:36.910 --> 00:56:40.013
- You will be so surprised if you do this,
- 00:56:40.013 --> 00:56:43.283
- How wonderful it will be to pray again in the right way.
- 00:56:43.283 --> 00:56:47.153
- Announcer: thank you for being with us today.
- 00:56:48.521 --> 00:56:50.223
- Join dr. jeremiah next time for his message,
- 00:56:50.223 --> 00:56:53.226
- "why don't my prayers get answered?"
- 00:56:53.226 --> 00:56:55.762
- Here on "turning point."
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