An Open Door
Series: Prayer Week 2018
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 27th January 2018
Passage: Colossians 4:2-6
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 You'll often hear people say in the media, it's a regular thing in response to some kind of a tragedy.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:10 Our thoughts and our prayers are with their loved ones.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:17 I've heard it even from the mouths of avowed atheists tweeted.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 Our prayers are with you. Our thoughts and our prayers are with you.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:24 And I'm kind of thinking in that moment, what does that mean for you?
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 The word prayer in that moment.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:34 You see, most people on this planet pray at least some time in their lives.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:41 It is true, I think, that prayer is practically a worldwide activity.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:49 But what prayer actually means is vastly different from individual to individual.
00:00:49 --> 00:01:05 The difference in what prayer means or what it is or how you go about it is determined by what we think the God or the being is that we're praying to.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:11 What we think that relationship is with our God will determine what prayer is like for us.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:23 So, in other words, when a Buddhist spins his prayer wheel or the Hindu sits in mystic silence or the Muslim with his prayer mat faces Mecca five times a day,
00:01:23 --> 00:01:36 all are reflecting the character of the God or the gods to whom they're praying to and what that relationship with that God or that being is like.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:40 And it's exactly the same for the Christian.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:45 Our prayer is shaped and defined by the being to whom we pray.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:54 And what the Bible reveals about God shapes our prayer life in two major kind of ways.
00:01:54 --> 00:02:02 First of all, for instance, Jeremiah 32 is a great little passage, 32 verse 17, which says,
00:02:02 --> 00:02:20 That verse alone shapes the way you pray and your expectations when you pray.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:25 Or take it from that and go to, for instance, Romans 8.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:33 And you get this stunning picture in Romans 8 of the Christian life where it says that we were once slaves to sin.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 We were slaves to death and fear.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 We were hostile to God.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 We were unable to please God in any kind of way.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:48 And now we are free sons of the Father and co-heirs of his kingdom in Christ.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:57 That is, through being united with Jesus, who died to free us,
00:02:57 --> 00:03:03 we now live a new life in which God himself dwells with us by his Holy Spirit.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:10 It's because of the saving work of God that we are raised up from our low position of being cut off from God
00:03:10 --> 00:03:17 and being granted free access to the almighty, true and living God,
00:03:17 --> 00:03:21 which Jeremiah says nothing is too hard for him.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 He's the one who creates everything and sustains everything.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:31 And according to Romans 8, there's no barrier between us and this God because of Jesus.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:32 It's been torn down.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:39 It's like Jesus, through his life and death and resurrection, has reconnected the phone lines.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 And we can start communicating with God again.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:50 What that means is that prayer is not an addition.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 It's not an appendix to the Christian life.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:57 It's not sort of sitting over here, one of these things that we get to do when we get around to it.
00:03:57 --> 00:04:03 But our prayer life is, in fact, at the very heart of who we are as Christians.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:08 It's the very heart of who we are as Christians and how we relate to our heavenly Father.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:16 It is phenomenal that the most famous of prayers, the Lord's Prayer,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:22 simply starts with our Father or quite literally, my Dad.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 It's phenomenal.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:38 And our prayer life is, therefore, one of the greatest indicators of our spiritual health,
00:04:38 --> 00:04:39 individually and corporately.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:46 It shines light on whether we know about God through theological concepts
00:04:46 --> 00:04:52 or actually in communion with our Father, our Dad.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:58 That relationship is operating, working, communion with God.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:04 So what an incredible privilege that we have as Christians.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:10 One of the photos I love is JFK in the Oval Office
00:05:10 --> 00:05:14 with a bunch of the heads of the United States at that time,
00:05:14 --> 00:05:15 having obviously a very important meeting,
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 and little John Jr. coming into the Oval Office,
00:05:19 --> 00:05:24 having direct access to the Commander-in-Chief,
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 unquestioned, not stopped by anyone.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 Everyone else in that room needs to make an appointment,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 except the son.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 At any time, he wanders in.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 What a privilege we have in prayer.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:45 And so it is one of the greatest indicators of our spiritual health.
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 Not your Bible knowledge.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 How well are you communing with God?
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 And so as we kick off this new year of ministry,
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 as we do for, and have been doing for a number of years,
00:06:02 --> 00:06:06 we begin the ministry year in a week of prayer.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:11 And it's just a week, and a week of 52 weeks is one thing,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 but I think what I want to do every year
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 is at very least symbolically
00:06:16 --> 00:06:20 to start the ministry year on our knees
00:06:20 --> 00:06:24 and to independence upon God,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:27 seeking His agenda, His will for our church,
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 His enabling for Him to do His work,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:34 and to continue the year on our knees.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:39 So we do this every year to make a statement as a church.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 It's a statement to God.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 It's a statement to this world in which we live.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 It's a statement to our own consciences
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 that we exist as a church
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 to do things that we cannot do
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 without the supernatural grace of God.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 Everything good, everything worthwhile,
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 everything eternal,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:59 and God-glorifying that we seek to do as a church,
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 we cannot do without the supernatural grace of God.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 And so this prayer week, as it does every year,
00:07:08 --> 00:07:13 proclaims that we exist as a church here at St. Paul's
00:07:13 --> 00:07:19 mainly to do the humanly impossible.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 The humanly impossible.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 I love what Jacob said just a moment ago
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 and how that shapes the organisation of IJM.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:34 I communicated at our heartbeat night in November
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 that for the next three years,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 we're going to make a concerted effort
00:07:38 --> 00:07:42 into breaking what is known as the 200 Barrier.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:46 It's details that I'm going to talk about a lot
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 and have talked about a lot,
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 breaking this 200 Barrier.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 We've hovered around as a church
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 for at least a couple of decades,
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 and so we're going to put energy and focus
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 into taking steps, deliberate steps,
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 to move beyond that.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 And the intention and the vision
00:08:02 --> 00:08:05 behind this concerted effort
00:08:05 --> 00:08:09 is to see people know and treasure
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 the Lord Jesus Christ for the first time
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 through the ministry of,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 and the people of this church.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:19 And our vision statement says
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 that we are desperate
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 for people to encounter the Lord Jesus.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 And the word desperate
00:08:27 --> 00:08:31 just implies for me sweat,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 labouring, sacrifice,
00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 change for God to be glorified.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 Our Lord has not called us
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 to an impossible mission.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 He's called us to a demanding mission.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:53 And I chose Colossians 4, 2-4,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 for the beginning of prayer week
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 for this very reason.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 Because we cannot be comfortable
00:09:00 --> 00:09:04 sitting the size of the church we are
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 and not making desperate moves
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 for more people to see Jesus.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 If God chooses not to grow,
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 that's His business.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:14 But it's another thing
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 where there's moral and spiritual apathy
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 not to want to change.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 That's reprehensible
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 as far as I'm concerned.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 And so we're making deliberate changes.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 Nick's alluded to them.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 They're going to start next week
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 of moving forward as a church.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 But I want us to know
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 that we're moving forward,
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 seeking God to do
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 what we cannot do
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 as we work forward.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 Yes, there is sacrifice,
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 there is sweat,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 and there is thoughtful strategy,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 there is risk on our behalf.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 But it is a deeply spiritual
00:09:48 --> 00:09:51 and God-dependent activity
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 that we are doing.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 And so if I understand Colossians 4,
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 which hopefully got in front of you right now,
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 open that is,
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 if I understand this text correctly,
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 the human key
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 that might unlock
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 the blessing of God's power and grace
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 in our mission to Chatswood
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 is devoted,
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 watchful,
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 and thankful prayer.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 You see, this text here
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 gives me a strong hope
00:10:20 --> 00:10:23 that God will open a door
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 to His word in Chatswood
00:10:25 --> 00:10:28 and that faith will come to many people
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 if we pray desperately
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 for Him to do that.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:37 In Colossians 4, 2-4,
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 Paul is urging the Colossians
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 to pray
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 just like I am urging us today
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 to pray.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:44 In fact,
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 to pray for something quite specific.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 And I see two things here
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 in these verses
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 that he wants them to pray for.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 We'll look at those first,
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 those two things first
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 before I will then turn our attention
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 to how it is
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 that we pray
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 for those two things.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 The two things
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 are for an open door
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 and for a powerful word.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 An open door
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 and a powerful word.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 Paul here
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 wants God
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 to work both
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 in the recipients
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 of the message
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 and him,
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 the preacher
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 of the message.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 So in verse 3,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 he says,
00:11:21 --> 00:11:31 Now there are
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 at least
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 three other times
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 in the New Testament
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 that Paul uses
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 this same image
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 that he does here
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 of an open door.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 He uses it
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 in Acts 14, 27,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:47 in 1 Corinthians 16, 8, 9
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 and in 2 Corinthians 2, 12.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 And each time
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 this open door
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 means,
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 seems to be
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 a remarkable set
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 of circumstances
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 that would have been
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 very effective
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 for the gospel.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 That's what he's praying for.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 Remarkable circumstances
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 for the gospel,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 reception of the gospel.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 And so when Paul says
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 in verse 3,
00:12:15 --> 00:12:15 Pray for us too
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 that I may,
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 that God may open a door
00:12:18 --> 00:12:18 for our message
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 so that we may reclaim
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 the mystery of Christ,
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 I take him to mean
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 that God
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 changes
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 things
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 and changes
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 people's hearts
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 and changes
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 circumstances
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 and does a remarkable work
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 when people pray.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 When Christians pray.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 Circumstances
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 and attitude
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 and receptivity
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 of the gospel
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 change
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 so that instead of
00:12:44 --> 00:12:47 hitting a brick wall
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 again and again
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 and again,
00:12:49 --> 00:12:49 the gospel
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 finds an open door
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 and becomes
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 inexplicably
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 effective.
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 Give you some,
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 one example
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 of this
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 was a case
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 of Duncan Campbell.
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 He's a minister
00:13:06 --> 00:13:08 last century
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 in the United Free Church
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 of Scotland.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 And on the Monday
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 of Easter
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 1952,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 Campbell
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 was seated
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 on the platform
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 of Hamilton Road
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 Presbyterian Church
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 in Bangor,
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 Northern Ireland
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 and it's a church
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 that Nat and I
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 have visited twice
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 and I've spoken at
00:13:28 --> 00:13:31 and he had just
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 finished speaking.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 He's sitting on the platform,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 just finished speaking
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 to the Faith Mission
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 Convention
00:13:37 --> 00:13:40 when he
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 sensed
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 an inner voice
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 say to him,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 Bernare.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 Now Bernare
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 is a small
00:13:51 --> 00:13:51 island
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 in the Hebrides
00:13:53 --> 00:13:56 and
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 in that moment
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 Duncan bowed
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 his head
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 and he prayed
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 silently
00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 and again
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 came the name
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 Bernare.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 He prayed on
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 and it came again
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 Bernare.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 And so
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 in that moment
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 sitting on the
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 platform
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 Campbell turned
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 to the chairman
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 of the convention
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 and whispered
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 in his ear
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 brother
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 you'll need
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 to excuse me
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 the Holy Spirit
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 has just told me
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 that I've got to
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 go to Bernare.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 Chairman
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 objected
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 mildly
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 you're the
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 speaker for
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 tomorrow.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 What are we
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 going to do?
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 But nothing
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 would stop
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 Campbell.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 He'd never
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 been to Bernare
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 before.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 He had never
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 known anyone
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 from Bernare
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 before.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 He had
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 never received
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 any correspondence
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 from anyone
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 from there.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 He went
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 straight back
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 walked off
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 the platform
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 went straight
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 back to his
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 hotel
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 packed his
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 two suitcases
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 and contacted
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 the airport.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 The airport
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 said
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 we don't have
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 any connections
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 with that
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 island.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 It's too
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 small.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 It's too
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 far out of
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 the way.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 No one
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 flies there.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 So he said
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 fly me to
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 the nearest
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 island.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 So he flew
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 him to
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 the nearest
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 island and
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 when he got
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 to the
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 nearest
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 island he
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 went down
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 to the
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 coast and
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 asked how
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 do I get
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 to Bernare?
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 And the
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 answer from
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 fishermen was
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 there's no
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 commercial route
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 between here
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 and Bernare
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 but as it
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 happens I'm
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 going that
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 way and I'll
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 take you there
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 on my
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 fishing boat
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 for a
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 certain amount
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 of money
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 and the
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 certain amount
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 of money
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 was exactly
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 what he had
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 in his pocket
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 in that
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 moment.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 Got to
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 Bernare
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 fishermen
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 dumped him
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 on the
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 beach
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 he climbed
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 up a hill
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 on the
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 beach
00:15:46 --> 00:15:49 found himself
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 alone
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 sitting up
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 there
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 except he's
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 on the
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 edge of a
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 ploughed field
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 where the
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 farmer's doing
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 some work
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 he called
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 the farmer
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 over and
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 said can
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 you go and
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 tell your
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 pastor of
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 this island
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 that Duncan
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 Campbell has
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 arrived
00:16:04 --> 00:16:07 and the
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 farmer said
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 we don't
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 have a
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 minister
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 do you
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 have elders
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 Campbell
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 asked
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 yes
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 well then
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 go and get
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 the nearest
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 elder and
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 tell him
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 Duncan
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 Campbell's
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 arrived
00:16:19 --> 00:16:22 so the
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 farmer
00:16:22 --> 00:16:25 somewhat
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 puzzled
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 as you
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 would be
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 headed off
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 across the
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 field
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 and Campbell
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 sat there
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 on his
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 suitcases
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 and waited
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 for him
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 to come
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 back
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 the farmer
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 comes back
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 after some
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 time and
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 says
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 he's expecting
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 you
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 he's been
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 waiting for
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 you to
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 arrive
00:16:44 --> 00:16:47 he has a
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 place ready
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 for you
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 and he's
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 already
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 announced
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 the meetings
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 are beginning
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 at nine
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 o'clock
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 tonight
00:16:54 --> 00:16:57 you see
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 while Campbell
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 had been
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 speaking at
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 that convention
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 in northern
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 Ireland
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 three days
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 earlier this
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 elder had
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 spent his
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 day praying
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 in his
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 shed
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 for God
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 to send
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 revival to
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 this island
00:17:11 --> 00:17:14 and his
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 wife heard
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 him from
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 the house
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 praying in
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 the shed
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 and his
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 wife heard
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 him say
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 Lord I
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 don't know
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 where he
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 is but
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 you know
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 where he
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 is and
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 everything is
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 possible for
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 you according
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 to Jeremiah
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 32 so you
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 send Uncle
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 Campbell to
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 this island
00:17:35 --> 00:17:40 and he
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 knew that
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 God was
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 going to
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 do it
00:17:42 --> 00:17:48 he was
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 so sure
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 of it
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 that he
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 would be
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 there in
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 three days
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 that he
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 made all
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 the arrangements
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 to use the
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 local church
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 and announced
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 all the
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 services
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 and from
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 nine o'clock
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 that night
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 great revival
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 came to the
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 island of
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 Bernare
00:18:01 --> 00:18:04 great door
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 had opened
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 to the
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 word
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 that no
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 man could
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 shut
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 because God
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 had opened
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 it beyond
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 expectations
00:18:12 --> 00:18:15 do you pray
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 like that
00:18:16 --> 00:18:20 desperate
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 for people
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 to know
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 Christ
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 desperate
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 for revival
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 to come
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 to Chatswood
00:18:25 --> 00:18:29 so the
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 first thing
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 we should
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 pray for
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 this year
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 is that
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 God
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 would work
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 in all the
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 circumstances
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 surrounding
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 our people
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 and our
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 ministry
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 including
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 the hearts
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 of everyone
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 who hears
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 the gospel
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 to open
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 wide
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 and effective
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 the door
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 of the gospel
00:18:42 --> 00:18:44 let this
00:18:44 --> 00:18:46 sink into
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 your minds
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 and your
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 hearts today
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 the key
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 to opening
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 the door
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 of God's
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 blessing
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 on our
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 vision
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 is in
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 seeing people
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 come to
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 Christ
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 is that
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 kind of
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 prayer
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 prayer
00:18:58 --> 00:19:02 but it's
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 risky
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 isn't
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 it
00:19:03 --> 00:19:08 it is
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 risky
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 trustful
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 hopeful
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 prayer
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 and that's
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 the first
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 thing
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 that Paul
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 mentions
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 for prayer
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 and the
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 second
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 thing
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 for prayer
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 is for
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 clarity
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 of the
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 message
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 and boldness
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 of the
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 messenger
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 have a look
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 there in
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 verses 3
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 and 4
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 pray for us
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 2
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 that God
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 may open
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 a door
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 to our
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 message
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 so that
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 we may
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 proclaim
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 the mystery
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 of Christ
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 for which
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 I'm in
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 chains
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 and pray
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 that I
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 may
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 proclaim
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 it
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 clearly
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 as I
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 should
00:19:32 --> 00:19:34 so Paul
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 exhorts
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 the
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 Colossians
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 here
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 to persevere
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 in prayer
00:19:38 --> 00:19:40 and follows
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 it immediately
00:19:41 --> 00:19:43 with a request
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 for them
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 to pray
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 for himself
00:19:45 --> 00:19:47 and his
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 co-workers
00:19:47 --> 00:19:50 and the
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 content of
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 his prayer
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 is not
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 for personal
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 benefit
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 for Paul
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 it's not
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 about his
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 retirement plans
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 it's not
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 about his
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 superannuation
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 it's not
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 about his
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 family
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 it's not
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 about
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 you know
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 his
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 work
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 scenario
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 it's
00:20:05 --> 00:20:08 it's for
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 Paul
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11 and his
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 companions
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 to preach
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 the word
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 of God
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 clearly
00:20:14 --> 00:20:16 and he
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 mentions
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 specifically
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 here
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 that he
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 is in
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 chains
00:20:20 --> 00:20:22 for his
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 preaching
00:20:22 --> 00:20:25 but he
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 doesn't
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 ask
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 for prayer
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 to be
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 released
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 from the
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 chains
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 in order
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 to go
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 on
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 preaching
00:20:31 --> 00:20:33 he's not
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 asking for
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 that
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 he's not
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 asking God
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 you know
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 guys pray
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 for me
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 that God
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 will solve
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 all these
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 issues
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 so that I'm
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 now set
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 free to
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 proclaim
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 his gospel
00:20:42 --> 00:20:46 doesn't
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 pray for
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 personal
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 benefit
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 he prays
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 for the
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 effectiveness
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 of the
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 message
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 going
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 out
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 and we
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 see
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 at a
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 number
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 of
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 points
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 in the
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 New
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 Testament
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 that Paul
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 places
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 a great
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 importance
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 on his
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 converts
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 and other
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 Christians
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 partnering
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 with him
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 through
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 prayer
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 as he
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 seeks to
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 win the
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 Gentile
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 world
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 for
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 Christ
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 see that
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 in Romans
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 15
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 Ephesians
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 6
00:21:07 --> 00:21:09 1
00:21:09 --> 00:21:11 he
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 earnestly
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 desired
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 their help
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 and support
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 as he
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 labored to
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 see the
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 gospel
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 spread to
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 the ends
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 of the
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 earth
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 and I
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 want to
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 suggest
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 there is
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 no
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 better
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 way
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 to
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 express
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 this
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 partnership
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 than
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 intercessory
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 prayer
00:21:26 --> 00:21:28 no better
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 way to
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 express
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 this
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 partnership
00:21:31 --> 00:21:34 we
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 exist
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 in a
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 materialistic
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 world
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 that is
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 so
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 obsessed
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 with
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 doing
00:21:40 --> 00:21:42 partnership
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 is me
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 doing
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 stuff
00:21:44 --> 00:21:47 I
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 want to
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 suggest
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 to you
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 if you
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 cannot
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 fill a
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 roster
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 here
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 that
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 in
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 no
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 way
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 is
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 prayer
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 at
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 all
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 a
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 secondary
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 activity
00:21:57 --> 00:22:02 when
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 he
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 calls
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 these
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 Christians
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 to pray
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 for him
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 and his
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 colleagues
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 he's
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 calling
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 them
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 to an
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 ongoing
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 activity
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 this
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 is a
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 prayer
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 for the
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 preacher
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 for the
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 evangelist
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 for the
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 community
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 group
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 leader
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 for the
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 music
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 director
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 for everyone
00:22:13 --> 00:22:15 every
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 Christian
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 who has
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 the word
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 of God
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 on their
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 lips
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 can I
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 say
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 that as
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 your senior
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 pastor here
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 at St.
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 Paul's
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 that I
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 am aware
00:22:25 --> 00:22:27 constantly
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 every day
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 that I
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 need your
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 prayers
00:22:30 --> 00:22:32 the
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 the
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 the
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 longer
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 I
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 have
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 been
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 in
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 pastoral
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 ministry
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 which is
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 over
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 20
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 years
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 now
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 I
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 am
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 becoming
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 more
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 and more
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 aware
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 that the
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 work
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 that God
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 has called
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 me to
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 do
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 is
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 very
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 demanding
00:22:47 --> 00:22:51 and I
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 can't do
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 it
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 I
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 barely
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 know my
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 own
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 heart
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 let alone
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 yours
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 and God
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 is in the
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 business of
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 shifting
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 people's
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 hearts
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 and minds
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 to align
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 themselves
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 to Jesus
00:23:01 --> 00:23:03 that's a
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 work that
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 he does
00:23:04 --> 00:23:07 and so
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 Paul needed
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 their prayers
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 because he
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 could imagine
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 himself
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 speaking the
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 gospel in a
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 way that was
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 not clear
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 that was not
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 bold
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 that was
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 not
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 powerful
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 I
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 got to
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 say how
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 much
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 more
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 can I
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 imagine
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 that for
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 myself
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 of needing
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 that prayer
00:23:24 --> 00:23:27 the greatest
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 preacher
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 and
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 missionary
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 who ever
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 lived
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 said that
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 the
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 effectiveness
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 of his
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 preaching
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 depended on
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 the prayers
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 of the
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 church
00:23:36 --> 00:23:40 so if
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 you're
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 sitting
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 here
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 and you're
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 going
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 I'm not
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 being gripped
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 by this
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 preaching
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 it might
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 be your
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 fault
00:23:46 --> 00:23:52 I'll
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 just put
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 that as
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 a
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 side
00:23:53 --> 00:23:57 if it's
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 true for
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 Paul it's
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 true a
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 hundred times
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 over for
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 me
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 I put
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 that
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 aside
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 slightly
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 as a
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 humorous
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 thing
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 but it's
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 actually
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 true
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 I sort
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 of
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 emphasize
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 that
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 it
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 actually
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 is
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 true
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 preaching
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 is a
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 two-way
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 activity
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 I'll
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 preach
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 on this
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 one day
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 once upon a
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 time
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 one day
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 sometime in
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 the future
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 it's a
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 two-way
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 activity
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 if you've
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 not
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 prepared
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 your
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 heart
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 don't
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 expect me
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 to be
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 able to
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 prepare
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 it for
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 you
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 we're
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 gathered
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 for
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 worship
00:24:20 --> 00:24:22 your
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 heart
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 needs
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 to be
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 prepared
00:24:23 --> 00:24:26 so what
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 what happens
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 right now
00:24:27 --> 00:24:29 even as we
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 have the
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 word of
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 God
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 open in
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 front of
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 us
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 in
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 Colossians
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 4
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 2
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 4
00:24:33 --> 00:24:35 depends
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 in great
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 measure
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 on how
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 you have
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 prayed
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 for me
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 or us
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 as we
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 gather
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 have you
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 ever thought
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 about that
00:24:44 --> 00:24:47 these are
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 Paul's
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 two prayer
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 requests
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 for a
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 door to
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 be open
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 in the
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 lives of
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 unbelievers
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 and secondly
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 for a
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 clear and
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 powerful
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 gospel message
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 to go
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 through that
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 door
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 and it is
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 with a
00:25:00 --> 00:25:02 real sense
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 of urgency
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 that I
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 call you
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 to devote
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 yourselves
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 to those
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 prayers
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 in 2018
00:25:09 --> 00:25:12 so this
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 brings me
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 to how
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 we are
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 to pray
00:25:14 --> 00:25:16 and Paul
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 mentions three
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 things in
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 verse 2
00:25:18 --> 00:25:20 devote
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 yourselves
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 to prayer
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 being watchful
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 and thankful
00:25:24 --> 00:25:26 pray with
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 devotion
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 with watchfulness
00:25:28 --> 00:25:30 and with
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 thanksgiving
00:25:31 --> 00:25:33 the call
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 of God's
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 word here
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 is to
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 devote
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 yourselves
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 to prayer
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 it should
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 not come
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 as a
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 surprise
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 given what
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 Paul has
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 requested
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 we pray
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 for in
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 verses 3
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 and 4
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 if prayer
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 is so
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 great
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 and central
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 to unlocking
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 God's purpose
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 for the
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 universe
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 and for
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 your life
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 and for
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 my life
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 it's not
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 surprising
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 that God
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 would command
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 us to
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 devote
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 ourselves
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 to
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 prayer
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 and to
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 this prayer
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 specifically
00:26:00 --> 00:26:02 the word
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 be devoted
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 to
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 or persevere
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 in
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 or continue
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 in
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 occurs
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 six times
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 in the
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 New Testament
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 in relation
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 to prayer
00:26:09 --> 00:26:11 Acts 1
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 14
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 they all
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 join together
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 constantly
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 in prayer
00:26:15 --> 00:26:17 Acts 2
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 42
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 they
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 that's the
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 early church
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 devoted
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 themselves
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 to the
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 apostles
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 teaching
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 and to
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 the fellowship
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 and to
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 the breaking
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 of bread
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 and to
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 prayer
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 Acts 6
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 4
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 the apostles
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 said that
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 they would
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 devote
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 themselves
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 to
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 prayer
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 and to
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 the ministry
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 of the
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 word
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 Romans 12
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 12
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 be joyful
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 in hope
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 patient
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 in affliction
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 faithful
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 in prayer
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 they go
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 all together
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 those three
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 things
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 can't have
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 one without
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 the other
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 joyful in
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 hope
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 patient
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 in affliction
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 faithful
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 in prayer
00:26:47 --> 00:26:50 Ephesians
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 6
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 18
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 pray in
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 the spirit
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 on all
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 occasions
00:26:53 --> 00:26:55 it means
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 to pray
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 often
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 it means
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 to pray
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 regularly
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 prayer
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 prayer
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 is not
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 infrequent
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 and prayer
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 is not
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 hit
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 and miss
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 being devoted
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 to prayer
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 means that
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 you are not
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 haphazard
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 you're not
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 forgetful
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 it means
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 that you
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 take steps
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 to see
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 that it
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 is part
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 of your
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 regular
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 life
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 in the
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 same way
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 that eating
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 and sleeping
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 and going
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 to the toilet
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 are part
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 of your
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 regular
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 life
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 and I
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 think
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 this is
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 also
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 implied
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 in the
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 word
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 watchfulness
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 to describe
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 the sort
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 of prayer
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 life
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 that we
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 are called
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 to
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 watchfulness
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 is often
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 used
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 in reference
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 to the
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 second coming
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 of Christ
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 and the
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 final judgment
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 in the
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 New Testament
00:27:30 --> 00:27:34 the vision
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 of the future
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36 God's plan
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 his purposes
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 the coming
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 of the Lord
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 Jesus
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 and the
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 final
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 ushering
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 in of the
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 kingdom
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 of God
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 is to
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 govern
00:27:44 --> 00:27:46 not just
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 the content
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 of our
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 prayer life
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 but the
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 devotion to
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 our prayer
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 life
00:27:50 --> 00:27:53 God
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 is working
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 out his
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 purposes
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 and he
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 will bring
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 it all
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 to
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 completion
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 so don't
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 go to
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 sleep
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 at the
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 wheel
00:27:59 --> 00:28:02 direct
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 your mind
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 to Christ
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 and his
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 coming
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 and the
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 fulfillment
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 of all
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 our hope
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 and joy
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 labor
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 against
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 the
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 distractions
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 labor
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 against
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 the
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 hindrances
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 and the
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 temptations
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 towards
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 prayerless
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 praying
00:28:15 --> 00:28:17 prayerless
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 praying
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 is when
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 we go
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 through
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 the motions
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 we're not
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 actually
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 communing
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 with God
00:28:20 --> 00:28:22 we're
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 ticking off
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 a list
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 but we're
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 not actually
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 communing
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 with God
00:28:26 --> 00:28:28 that's
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 prayerless
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 praying
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 and you
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 may as
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 well not
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 pray
00:28:32 --> 00:28:35 be vigilant
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 my friends
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 like a
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 sentry on
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 duty outside
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 the camp
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 at night
00:28:40 --> 00:28:42 knowing that
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 if you go
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 to sleep
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 in this
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 job
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46 the enemy
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 will overthrow
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 the mission
00:28:47 --> 00:28:50 this is
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 the tempo
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 of prayer
00:28:51 --> 00:28:53 that is
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 often
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 missing
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 when the
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 church
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 has settled
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 into the
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 world
00:28:56 --> 00:28:58 and is
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 just
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 using
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 prayer
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 as a
00:29:00 --> 00:29:02 domestic
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 intercom
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 system
00:29:03 --> 00:29:05 instead of
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 a battlefield
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 walkie-talkie
00:29:06 --> 00:29:13 and is
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 so
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 serious
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 the battle
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 is
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 heaven
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 and hell
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 hang
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 in the
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 balance
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 for
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 potentially
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 people
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 sitting
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 in this
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 room
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 right now
00:29:21 --> 00:29:25 but a whole bunch of people who are not sitting in this room right now
00:29:25 --> 00:29:30 and it's hanging the balance for those people this year.
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 This year, it's hanging the balance for them.
00:29:35 --> 00:29:39 So be watchful, awake, vigilant and pray.
00:29:40 --> 00:29:45 Pray the way you would if you knew that two of your unbelieving friends
00:29:45 --> 00:29:50 would hear the gospel for the very last time next Sunday.
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 Pray that way.
00:29:57 --> 00:30:00 And finally, Paul calls us to pray with thanksgiving.
00:30:01 --> 00:30:07 It doesn't seem right to pray for God, to open a door of faith for others
00:30:07 --> 00:30:14 without remembering that that's the very thing he has done for you if you're a Christian.
00:30:15 --> 00:30:17 Through remarkable circumstances,
00:30:18 --> 00:30:21 someone has prayed that you would receive the gospel,
00:30:21 --> 00:30:24 and God has done it.
00:30:26 --> 00:30:28 And you didn't do it.
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 You didn't know about it.
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 God did it.
00:30:31 --> 00:30:35 When we pray for the salvation of others,
00:30:35 --> 00:30:44 isn't the fervency of our prayer a mirror of how thankful that we are of our own salvation?
00:30:44 --> 00:30:55 That is, if there's not fervency in prayer
00:30:55 --> 00:31:00 for the gospel to go out to others,
00:31:00 --> 00:31:05 then maybe the issue is not my prayer schedule or the devotional book I'm using,
00:31:06 --> 00:31:08 but in actual fact, my grasp of the gospel itself.
00:31:08 --> 00:31:12 My own gratitude for it.
00:31:12 --> 00:31:20 I suspect that as we grow in thankfulness for our own rescue, for our own salvation,
00:31:20 --> 00:31:25 we will pray with a new zeal for others.
00:31:27 --> 00:31:33 Now, I wrote a core value of devotion to prayer based on this passage in Colossians 4.
00:31:34 --> 00:31:37 It's a core value for us as a church written on board just outside the door there.
00:31:37 --> 00:31:40 But I want to be honest.
00:31:41 --> 00:31:46 I need this core value to further penetrate my heart and shape my life in 2018.
00:31:47 --> 00:31:51 I've always, in my 20-something years as a Christian,
00:31:51 --> 00:31:53 always found prayer to be hard work.
00:31:54 --> 00:31:57 It's partly because of my sin,
00:31:58 --> 00:32:00 and it's probably mostly because of my sin,
00:32:01 --> 00:32:03 but it's also partly the way God has wired me,
00:32:04 --> 00:32:06 although I'm not blaming him for wiring me in a particular way.
00:32:07 --> 00:32:10 I'm not doing the Eve, Adam and Eve issue there.
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 You gave me that woman.
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 It's your problem.
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 I'm an activist,
00:32:15 --> 00:32:19 which means that when my feet hit the ground first thing in the morning,
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 they generally don't stop.
00:32:21 --> 00:32:23 I get busy on stuff.
00:32:24 --> 00:32:27 And so what I've got to do is I have to take steps
00:32:27 --> 00:32:30 to ensure it is incorporated into my daily life.
00:32:30 --> 00:32:35 And I do this in a number of ways in terms of meetings with staff
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 and other things like that.
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 But for me personally,
00:32:39 --> 00:32:44 there's a window of quietness in my household and in my life
00:32:44 --> 00:32:46 at the beginning of every day,
00:32:47 --> 00:32:49 somewhere between 5.30 and 6,
00:32:49 --> 00:32:52 but definitely by 6.30 when I get up
00:32:52 --> 00:32:55 and the first thing I do is I put the kettle on and get a cup of coffee.
00:32:56 --> 00:33:00 And then I sit in a quiet spot
00:33:00 --> 00:33:03 and I immediately engage with God
00:33:03 --> 00:33:05 through his word and prayer in that moment.
00:33:06 --> 00:33:09 I need it before everything starts happening for me.
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 And I've got a scheduling.
00:33:10 --> 00:33:12 And because it's so crucial,
00:33:12 --> 00:33:14 it's in my diary and alarm goes off.
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 Bing, bing, bing, bing.
00:33:15 --> 00:33:18 To make sure that it's happening every day.
00:33:20 --> 00:33:22 Our core value says that as a church,
00:33:22 --> 00:33:27 we are committed to consistently bringing all things to God in prayer,
00:33:27 --> 00:33:30 intentionally building prayer into the center of our life together,
00:33:31 --> 00:33:34 developing a culture of natural and instructed prayerfulness
00:33:34 --> 00:33:36 when interacting with each other,
00:33:38 --> 00:33:42 encouraging and equipping for prayer on a personal and family level,
00:33:42 --> 00:33:46 and incorporating prayer into every church activity.
00:33:46 --> 00:33:50 So let us join together in seeing this core value,
00:33:50 --> 00:33:52 which is written on the wall,
00:33:53 --> 00:33:56 be written, in fact, into our hearts in such a way
00:33:56 --> 00:33:58 that it shapes our actions and our attitudes,
00:33:59 --> 00:34:01 which is what values actually are meant to do
00:34:01 --> 00:34:03 and do, in fact, do.
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 But in the immediate,
00:34:07 --> 00:34:09 will you join me in this prayer week
00:34:09 --> 00:34:11 and throughout this year
00:34:11 --> 00:34:13 in being devoted to praying
00:34:13 --> 00:34:16 that a door would open to the gospel
00:34:16 --> 00:34:20 among many, many precious unbelievers
00:34:20 --> 00:34:24 and that we would proclaim the gospel
00:34:24 --> 00:34:28 with clarity and with power.
00:34:29 --> 00:34:31 So two very simple things to do this week,
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 this coming week.
00:34:33 --> 00:34:35 Come to Heartbeat on Wednesday night
00:34:35 --> 00:34:37 and be reminded of our vision
00:34:37 --> 00:34:39 and some of the strategies and risks
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 that we're taking to reach people
00:34:40 --> 00:34:43 and then we're going to pray for those things.
00:34:44 --> 00:34:46 So come to Heartbeat this Wednesday night here.
00:34:47 --> 00:34:49 And this week, as Nick has already said,
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 in this coming week,
00:34:50 --> 00:34:52 we're sending out prayer points via email.
00:34:53 --> 00:34:55 The staff are going to be gathering
00:34:55 --> 00:34:58 for prayer at 10 o'clock each day
00:34:58 --> 00:35:03 and if you are here on site,
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 then please come and join us.
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 But if you're not,
00:35:06 --> 00:35:08 which I suspect majority are not,
00:35:08 --> 00:35:10 then set an alarm,
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 put in your diary,
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 do whatever it is that you need to do,
00:35:12 --> 00:35:14 wrap string around your finger
00:35:14 --> 00:35:16 and wherever you are,
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 wherever God has placed you,
00:35:19 --> 00:35:22 stop and pray in that moment
00:35:22 --> 00:35:24 at 10 o'clock each day.
00:35:26 --> 00:35:28 Another thing you could do
00:35:28 --> 00:35:30 is join the team here,
00:35:30 --> 00:35:32 nine o'clock every Sunday morning
00:35:32 --> 00:35:38 and we pray not that the music will go well
00:35:38 --> 00:35:40 or people would come.
00:35:41 --> 00:35:44 We pray for the proclamation of the gospel.
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 Hearts will be open
00:35:46 --> 00:35:49 in all of our corporate gatherings each Sunday.
00:35:49 --> 00:35:51 And so, brothers and sisters,
00:35:52 --> 00:35:57 pray for a door to be opened to the gospel
00:35:57 --> 00:35:59 as we labour,
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 take risks,
00:36:02 --> 00:36:02 sacrifice
00:36:02 --> 00:36:05 to make the gospel known
00:36:05 --> 00:36:07 with clarity and boldness
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 in our mission field in 2018.
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 Amen.
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 Amen.