Devotion to Prayer
Series: Prayer Week 2014
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 1st February 2014
Passage: Daniel 6:1-10
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 an atheist was taking a walk, hiking in fact, out in the Canadian wilderness,
00:00:05 --> 00:00:12 standing in awe as he walked, and of just the natural beauty that was there,
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 that was there by a freak of nature, an accident,
00:00:15 --> 00:00:22 when all of a sudden in his delight of daydreaming as he wandered,
00:00:22 --> 00:00:28 this huge grizzly bear was belting down towards him, down the trail,
00:00:28 --> 00:00:33 and he realised he had no chance, and before he knew it, he was flat on his back,
00:00:33 --> 00:00:38 pinned to the ground by this huge bear, and this bear, one paw on his chest,
00:00:38 --> 00:00:42 the other one up, ready to strike him, and without a thought,
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 he blurted out at the top of his voice,
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 Oh God, help me!
00:00:47 --> 00:00:52 And the bear was momentarily startled by such a scream.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 Everything went into slow motion at that point,
00:00:56 --> 00:01:00 and the atheist all of a sudden realised the inconsistency of living his life confident
00:01:00 --> 00:01:06 that God doesn't exist, and then calling out to him when he had his time of need,
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 and so he calls out a second time,
00:01:09 --> 00:01:13 I don't believe you exist, God, and I don't care if you do,
00:01:13 --> 00:01:17 but if you do, prove that you are good, and that you are powerful,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:21 as people say you are, and make this bear a Christian.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:26 He thought that was a pretty good move,
00:01:26 --> 00:01:27 because if the bear was a Christian,
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 then he'd have to obey the command to turn the other cheek and not kill him.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 And to his great surprise, in that instant,
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 the bear's demeanour just changed,
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 and he pulled back his paw,
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 and he knelt down beside him,
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 he clapped his paws together,
00:01:46 --> 00:01:47 and he started to pray.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 For what? I'm about to receive.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 May the Lord make me truly thankful.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 Now I'm pretty sure that story's not true.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 Bears don't speak English.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 And I'm not convinced bears pray,
00:02:07 --> 00:02:10 but most humans on this planet,
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 at least some time in their lives, pray.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:19 While it's true that prayer is practically a worldwide activity,
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 what we actually mean by prayer
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 is vastly different from group to group,
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 individual to individual.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:33 The difference in what prayer is or means or how we go about it
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 is in what we think God is like,
00:02:37 --> 00:02:41 and what we think our relationship with him is like.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:45 You see, when a Buddhist spins his prayer wheel
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 or a Hindu sits in mystic silence
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 or the Muslim with his prayer mat
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 facing Mecca five times a day,
00:02:52 --> 00:02:56 they are all reflecting the character of the God
00:02:56 --> 00:02:57 or the gods they're praying to
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 and what they think their relationship with that God is like.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:04 It's no different for the Christian.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:08 Our prayer is shaped and defined
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 by the God to whom we are praying.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:13 And so there are many Bible references
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 and multitude of Bible references
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 that shape the Christian prayer life.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:19 And I'll just give you a couple.
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 Jeremiah 32, 17.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:32 That shapes your prayer life,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:37 as does the whole chapter of Romans 8.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 It's the stunning picture of the Christian life
00:03:40 --> 00:03:41 that is laid out before us,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 where it says that we were once slaves to sin
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 and death and fear.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:48 We were hostile to God.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 We were unable to please Him.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 There was a gap that we could not communicate with Him.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 But we are now free,
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 sons of the Father,
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 co-heirs in His kingdom with Christ
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 through being united with Jesus
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 who died to free us.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 We are now new.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:07 We have a new life
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 which God Himself dwells in us by His Spirit.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 It's because of the saving work of the Lord Jesus
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 that we are raised up from our low position
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 of being cut off from any access to God.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 And have been granted free access
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 to the God who rules all things.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:28 Or Psalm 145.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:34 God, my translation of Psalm 145,
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 God bends His ear and delights to hear your prayers.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:44 You see, prayer is not an addition or an appendix
00:04:44 --> 00:04:45 to the Christian life.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 It is the heart of who we are as Christians
00:04:47 --> 00:04:51 and how we relate to the God
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 who is in charge of all things.
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 It's crucial for us because we sit in a room here
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 and I imagine most people say that they pray in this room.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:07 But so does a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist,
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 as I've already said.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 Multitude of people, many people,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 most people in this world pray.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 But how does the Christian pray?
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 Today is the first Sunday in February
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 and it traditionally signals the start of ministry programs
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 as we've just seen a moment ago in the new year.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 And as we kick off this new year of ministry,
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 we are doing what we've done in the previous two years.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 And we're beginning the ministry year with a week of prayer.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 And we do this to make a statement as a church.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 It's a statement to God, to the world,
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 and to our own consciences
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 that we exist as a church
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 to do things that we cannot do
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 without the supernatural grace of God.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 Everything good and worthwhile and eternal
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 and God glorifying that we want to do as a church,
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 we cannot do without the supernatural grace of God.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 And so Prayer Week proclaims St. Paul's exists
00:05:56 --> 00:06:00 mainly to do the humanly impossible.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 And that's written on the back wall of our church
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 as you exit.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 We have a stated objective to grow,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 to be a healthy church with 150 call members
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 and 500 attending by the end of this year.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 That is humanly impossible.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:23 Our corporate objective was set at the end of 2011
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 for the three years up to the end of this year.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:30 And the intention and vision behind our objective
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 is to see people know and treasure the Lord Jesus
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 for the very first time
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 through the people in the ministry of St. Paul's Chatsworth.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 And here we are now.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 Two thirds of that time is gone.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:48 It's 2014 and January is over already.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 And we have a fair way to go.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:56 But our Lord has not called us to an impossible mission.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 He's called us to a demanding one.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:04 And I chose Colossians 4.2.4 for the beginning of Prayer Week
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 for that very reason.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 Because if I understand this text correctly,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 the human key that might unlock
00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 the blessing of God's power and grace
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 in our mission to Chatswood
00:07:17 --> 00:07:21 is devoted, watchful and thankful prayer.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:25 This text gives me strong hope
00:07:25 --> 00:07:28 that God will open a door for the word in Chatswood
00:07:28 --> 00:07:31 and faith will come to many people
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 if we pray for him to do it.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:39 In Colossians 4.2.4, Paul is urging the Colossians
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 to pray just like I'm urging us to pray today.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 In fact, to pray for something quite specific.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 I see two things that he wants them to pray for.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 And we'll look at those first
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 before we turn our attention to
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 how to pray for them.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 The two things are an open door
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 for the word of God
00:07:57 --> 00:08:01 and for a powerful word to go through that open door.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 Paul wants God to work both
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 in the recipients of the message
00:08:05 --> 00:08:10 and in him, the proclaimer of the message.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 So in verse 3 he says,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 And pray for us too
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 that God may open a door for our message
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 And there are at least three other times
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 in the New Testament
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 that Paul uses the exact same image
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 of an open door.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:33 In Acts 14.27, in 1 Corinthians 16, verses 8 and 9,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 in 2 Corinthians 2.12.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 Each time the open door
00:08:38 --> 00:08:42 seems to be a remarkable set of circumstances
00:08:42 --> 00:08:46 that would have been very effective for the gospel.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 And so when Paul says in verse 3,
00:08:50 --> 00:08:50 Pray for us too
00:08:50 --> 00:08:53 that God may open a door for our message
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.
00:08:56 --> 00:09:00 I take into mean that God changes things
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 when his people pray.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 Circumstances and attitudes
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 and receptivity of the gospel
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 change
00:09:08 --> 00:09:12 so that instead of hitting a brick wall,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 the gospel finds an open door
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 and becomes unusually effective.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 Such as in the case of Duncan Campbell,
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 a minister of the United Free Church of Scotland.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:29 On the Monday after Easter in 1952,
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 Campbell was seated on the platform
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 of Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 in Bangor, a Northern Ireland.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 I apologise
00:09:36 --> 00:09:39 if I've murdered that.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:42 Particularly to you, Katrina.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 It's a church that Nat and I have visited twice
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 and a dear close friend of mine
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 was on staff there for a number of years.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 He had just finished speaking
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 to the Faith Mission Convention
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 where he sensed the inner voice
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 say to him,
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 Bernare.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 And I apologise again
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 if I've murdered that.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 He bowed his head
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 while he sat on the platform
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 and he prayed.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 Again, the name came to him, Bernare.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 He prayed again
00:10:14 --> 00:10:17 and the name came to him a third time, Bernare.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 And so Campbell turned
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 while he was sitting on the platform
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 to the chairman of the convention
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 and said to him,
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 Brother, you're going to need to excuse me.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 The Holy Spirit has just told me
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 that I'm to go to Bernare.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 And the chairman objected.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 You're the tomorrow speaker.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 But he couldn't convince him
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 and off he got from the platform
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 and away he went.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 Went to his hotel,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 packed his two suitcases,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 contacted the airport
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 and he'd have a flight to Bernare.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 They said, no thing exists.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 They said, well get me,
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 how do I get there?
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 Here's one island which is close.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 He caught a flight to that island,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 walked down to the,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 the fishing port,
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 asked the fisherman,
00:10:59 --> 00:10:59 how do I get there?
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 He said, there is no commercial way
00:11:01 --> 00:11:01 to get there
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 but you can get on my boat
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 and I'll take you there.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 It'll cost this amount of money
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 and it's almost exactly
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 what he had in his pocket.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 Fisherman took him,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 dropped him on the beach
00:11:11 --> 00:11:14 and he was there
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 with his two suitcases,
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 climbed over a little bit of a hill
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 and thought, what do I do next?
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 He came to the edge
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 of a cultivated paddock,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 saw a farmer work in the paddock.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 He called the farmer over
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 and he says,
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 go to your pastor
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 and tell them
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 that Uncle Campbell has arrived.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 We don't actually have a minister right now
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 was the reply.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 He said, do you have elders?
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 Yes we do,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 we'll go and tell your nearest elder
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 that Uncle Campbell has arrived.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 Farmer looked at him quite quizzically
00:11:47 --> 00:11:50 then amazingly started off
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 across the field,
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 left his work,
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 came back after some time,
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 Duncan Campbell sitting there
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 on the hillside,
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 sitting on his suitcases.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:00 Farmer says,
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 the elder's expecting you.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 He has a place ready for you
00:12:05 --> 00:12:05 and he has announced
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 that the meetings will begin
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 at nine o'clock tonight.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 While Campbell was speaking
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 in Bangor, Northern Ireland,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 this elder had spent the day
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 praying in his shed
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 for God to send revival
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 to the island.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 His wife in the house
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 overheard him pray,
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 Lord, I don't know where he is,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 but you know where he is
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 and all things are possible to you,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 so send Uncle Campbell
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 to Burneray.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:43 And he was so sure
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 that God would do that
00:12:45 --> 00:12:49 and that he would do it
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 in three days,
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 that he made all the arrangements
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 for the local church
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 and announced all the services
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 across the island
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 and great revival
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 broke out
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 across Burneray.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 A great door
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 for the word
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 was opened,
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 a door that no person
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 could shut
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 because God had opened it.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 And so my friends,
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 the first thing
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 we should be praying
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 for this year
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 is that God
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 would work in
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 all the circumstances
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 surrounding our people
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 and our ministry,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 including the hearts
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 of everyone
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 who hears the gospel
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 to open a wide
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 and effective door
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 for that gospel.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 Let this sink
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 not just into your minds,
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 but into your hearts.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 The key to opening
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 the door of God's blessing
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 on our vision
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 to see people come to Christ
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 will be prayer
00:13:40 --> 00:13:43 if God so chooses.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 That's the first thing
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 that Paul mentions for prayer.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 The second thing
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 to pray for
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 is the clarity
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 of the message
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 and boldness
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 of the messenger.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 Verses 3 and 4,
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 pray for us too
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 that God may open
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 a door for our message
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 so that we may proclaim
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 the mystery of Christ
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 for which I am in chains.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 Pray that I may proclaim
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 it clearly
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 as I should.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 And so Paul exhorts
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 the Colossians here
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 to persevere in prayer
00:14:09 --> 00:14:12 and follows it immediately
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 with a request
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 to pray for him
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 and for his co-workers.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 The content of the prayer
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 is not for the personal benefit
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 of Paul
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 or his companions,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 but for the preaching
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 of the gospel.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 He mentions
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 he's in chains
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 for his preaching,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 but he doesn't ask
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 for prayer
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 to be released
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 from those chains
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 in order to keep preaching.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 He doesn't pray
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 for personal benefit,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 he prays
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 for the effectiveness
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 of the message going out.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 And we see here
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 at a number of points
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 in the New Testament
00:14:45 --> 00:14:48 that Paul places
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 a significant importance
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 on his converts
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 and other Christians
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 partnering with him
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 in prayer
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 as he seeks
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 to win the Gentile world
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 for Christ.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 He sees them
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 as partners
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 with him
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 in that task.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 He earnestly desired
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 their help
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 and their support
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 as he laboured
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 to see the gospel
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 spread to the ends
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 of the earth.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 And there is no better way
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 to express this partnership
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 than in accessory prayer.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 When he calls
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 these Christians
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 to pray for him
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 and his colleagues,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 he is calling them
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 to an ongoing activity.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 This is a prayer
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 for the preacher,
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 for the evangelist,
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 for the community group leader,
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 for the music director
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 and for every Christian
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 who has the word of God
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 on their lips.
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 Friends,
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 let me say
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 how consistently aware
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 I am
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 that I need your prayers.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:50 if Paul needed
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 their prayers
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 because he could
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 imagine himself
00:15:54 --> 00:15:57 speaking the gospel
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 in such a way
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 that was not clear
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 or bold
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 or powerful,
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 how much more
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 can I imagine
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 that for myself?
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 The greatest preacher
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 and missionary
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 who ever lived
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 said that the effectiveness
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 of his preaching
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 depended on the prayers
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 of the church.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 And if that's true
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 for Paul,
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 that's true for me.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 100,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 200,
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 300 times over.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 What happens right now?
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 Right now
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 is the Bible's open
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 in front of you.
00:16:36 --> 00:16:39 even as this word
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 of Colossians 4
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 is right in front of us
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 depends in great measure
00:16:43 --> 00:16:46 on how you have prayed
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 up to this point.
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 And so there are
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 two prayer requests,
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 one for an open door
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 in the lives
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 of unbelievers
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 and for a clear
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 and powerful gospel message
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 to go through that door.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 And it is with a real
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 sense of urgency
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 that I called you
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 to devote yourself
00:17:07 --> 00:17:10 to pray like that
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 in 2014.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 And this is,
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 brings me to how
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 we are to pray.
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 Paul mentions three things
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 in verse 2.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 Devote yourselves to prayer,
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 being watchful
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 and thankful.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 Pray with the devotion,
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 with watchfulness
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 and with thanksgiving.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 The call of God's word here
00:17:32 --> 00:17:34 is to devote yourself
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 to prayer
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 and it shouldn't come
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 as a surprise to us
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 given what he requests
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 prayer for
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 in verses 3 and 4.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 If prayer is so great
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 and central to us
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 unlocking God's purpose
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 for the universe
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 and your life,
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 it is not surprising
00:17:49 --> 00:17:51 that God would command us
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 to devote ourselves
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 to prayer.
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 The word be devoted to
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 or persevere in
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 or continue in
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 occurs six times
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 in the New Testament
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 connected to prayer.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 Acts 1.14,
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 they all joined together
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 constantly in prayer.
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 Acts 2.42,
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 they, that is the early church,
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 devoted themselves
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 to prayer.
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 Acts 6.4,
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 the apostles said
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 that they would devote
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 themselves to prayer
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 and the ministry
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 of the word.
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 Romans 12.12,
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 be joyful in hope,
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 patient in affliction,
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 faithful in prayer.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:24 Ephesians 6.18,
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 pray in the spirit
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 on all occasions.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:30 It means to pray regularly
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 and to pray often.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 Prayer is not infrequent
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 and prayer is not meant
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 to be hit and miss
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 for the Christian.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 Being devoted to prayer
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 means that we are
00:18:38 --> 00:18:40 not to be haphazard,
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 we are not to be forgetful.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 It means that we take steps
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 to see that it is part
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 of our regular life
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 the same way that
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 eating and sleeping is.
00:18:50 --> 00:18:54 I think it's also implied
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 in the word watchfulness
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 to describe the sort
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 of prayer life
00:18:58 --> 00:19:00 that we are called to have.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:04 Watchfulness is often used
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 as a reference in the Bible
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 to particularly
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 in the New Testament
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 the second coming of Christ
00:19:08 --> 00:19:11 and the final judgment,
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 the end of all things.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 The vision of the future,
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 God's plan and purposes
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 coming to their final end
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 in Christ,
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 is to govern not just
00:19:21 --> 00:19:24 the content of our prayer life
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 but our devotion to it.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 God is working out
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 his purposes
00:19:28 --> 00:19:30 and he will bring it
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 all to completion
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 and so don't go to sleep
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 at the wheel.
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 Direct your mind to Christ
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 and his coming
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 and the fulfillment
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41 of all our hope
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 and our joy.
00:19:43 --> 00:19:45 Labor against distractions
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 and hindrances
00:19:45 --> 00:19:47 and the temptation
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 towards prayerless praying.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 Be vigilant,
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 my friends,
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 like a sentry on duty
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 outside the camp
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 at night
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 knowing that
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 if you go to sleep
00:19:58 --> 00:20:00 the enemy
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 can overthrow
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 your mission.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 This is the tempo
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 of prayer
00:20:04 --> 00:20:06 I think that is often
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 missing
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 when the church
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 has settled
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 into the world
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 and is just using
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 prayer as
00:20:11 --> 00:20:14 a domestic intercom
00:20:14 --> 00:20:16 rather than a battlefield
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 walkie-talkie.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 Paul urges the church
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 to be devoted to prayer
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 because of how
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 tremendously serious
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 the battle is
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 that we're involved in.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 Heaven and hell
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 hang in the balance
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 for many people
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 this year
00:20:31 --> 00:20:33 and so be watchful,
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 awake,
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 vigilant
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 and pray.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 Pray the way
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 you would
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 if you knew
00:20:40 --> 00:20:42 that two of your
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 unbelieving friends
00:20:43 --> 00:20:45 would hear the gospel
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 for the last time
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 next Sunday.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 And finally
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 Paul calls us here
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 to pray with thanksgiving.
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 It doesn't seem right
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 to pray
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 for God
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 to open a door
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 of faith
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 for others
00:21:02 --> 00:21:04 without remembering
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 that he did
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 that very thing
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 for you.
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 Does it?
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 When we pray
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 for the salvation
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 of others
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 isn't the fervency
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 of our prayer
00:21:15 --> 00:21:17 a mirror
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 of how thankful
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 we are
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 for our own salvation?
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 If we don't feel
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 thankful
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 for our own salvation
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 for the time
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 when God
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 opened the door
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 of our hearts
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 and unlocked it
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 so that we saw Christ
00:21:30 --> 00:21:33 in all his glory
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 and beauty
00:21:33 --> 00:21:36 then how can we pray
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 with devotion
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 and watchfulness
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 and urgency
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 for the salvation
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 of others?
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 I suspect
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 that we
00:21:42 --> 00:21:44 grow in thankfulness
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 for our own rescue
00:21:45 --> 00:21:47 as we do that
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 we will pray
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 with a new zeal
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 for the rescue
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 of others.
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 So friends
00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 go to your word
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 and remind yourself
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 of the gospel
00:21:55 --> 00:21:57 every day.
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 Amen.
00:21:57 --> 00:22:03 On the back wall
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 of our church
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 just as you leave
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 in our welcome centre
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 downstairs
00:22:06 --> 00:22:08 a bunch of stuff
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 that I've written
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 around the place
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 we have a core value
00:22:11 --> 00:22:14 called devotion
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 to prayer
00:22:14 --> 00:22:17 and I wrote it
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 and it's based
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 on this passage
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 Colossians 4
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 2
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 4
00:22:21 --> 00:22:25 but I
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 the one who
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 penned those words
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 need
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 this word
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 from Colossians 4
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 to penetrate
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 my heart
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 and to shape
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 my life more
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 in 2014.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 Prayerlessness
00:22:38 --> 00:22:40 or haphazard
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 prayer life
00:22:41 --> 00:22:43 makes me feel
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 like a hypocrite
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 more than anything
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 else.
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 More than anything
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 else.
00:22:51 --> 00:22:53 I've always found
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 prayer to be
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 hard work.
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 I'm an activist
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 which means
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 I don't often stop
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00 and for me
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 I've had to learn
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 to pray and walk
00:23:01 --> 00:23:05 and I have to
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 take steps
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 to ensure
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 that prayer
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 deliberate steps
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 to ensure
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 that prayer
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 is incorporated
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 in my daily life.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:20 our core value
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 says that as a
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 church we are
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 committed to
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 consistently bringing
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 all things to God
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 in prayer
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 intentionally
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 building prayer
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 into the centre
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 of our life
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 together
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 developing a
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 culture of
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 natural
00:23:30 --> 00:23:32 and instructed
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 prayerfulness
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 when interacting
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 sorry
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 unstructured
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 prayerfulness
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 when interacting
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 with each other
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 encouraging
00:23:39 --> 00:23:41 and equipping
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 for prayer
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 for personal
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 and family level
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 and incorporating
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 prayer into
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 every church
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 activity.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 So friends
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 can I encourage
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 you to join
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 together in
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 seeing this
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 core value
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 written on our
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 hearts in such
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 a way that it
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 shapes our
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 actions and our
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 attitudes
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 into 2014.
00:23:58 --> 00:24:01 in the immediate
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 can I call you
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 to join with me
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 in this prayer
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 week
00:24:04 --> 00:24:08 in being devoted
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 to praying
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 that a door
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 would be open
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 for the gospel
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 among many
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 precious
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 unbelievers
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 and that we
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 would proclaim
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 the gospel
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 with clarity
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 and with power
00:24:19 --> 00:24:23 and can I call
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 you to be
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 committed to that
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 devoted to that
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 throughout the
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 course of this
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 year here's a
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 really simple
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 way of going
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 on this
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 in terms of
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 the gospel
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 going out
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 pray one
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 plus one
00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 plus one
00:24:36 --> 00:24:39 one plus
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 one plus
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 one
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 equals one
00:24:42 --> 00:24:45 it's bad
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 mathematics
00:24:45 --> 00:24:48 but it's a
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 good point
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 commit to
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 praying for
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 one person
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 for one
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 minute
00:24:52 --> 00:24:54 once a
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 day
00:24:54 --> 00:24:57 and pray
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 that God
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 would bring
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 that one
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 person into
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 his kingdom
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 one plus
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 one plus
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 one equals
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 one
00:25:02 --> 00:25:05 I've got
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 one plus
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 one plus
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 one in my
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 diary
00:25:08 --> 00:25:11 in my
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 electronic diary
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 it pops up
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 every day of
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 the year
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 as a reminder
00:25:15 --> 00:25:18 and my
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 one plus
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 one plus
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 one equals
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 and I've got
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 the initials of
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 the person
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 that I'm
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 praying for
00:25:23 --> 00:25:27 brothers and
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 sisters pray
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 for a door
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 to be open
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 to the gospel
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 as we labor
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 to make it
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 known with
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 clarity and
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 with boldness
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 and with power
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 in our mission
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 field here at
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 St Paul's
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 let's pray
00:25:37 --> 00:25:48 Father
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 you're
00:25:49 --> 00:25:52 you're a God
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 who controls
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 all things in
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 this world
00:25:54 --> 00:25:56 you have all
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 the power
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 where we have
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 none
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 and it is
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 your plan
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 and purposes
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 to call people
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 from every tribe
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 and language
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 and nation
00:26:04 --> 00:26:06 under the
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 lordship of
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 the Christ
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 and we pray
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 Father
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 that you
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 would do
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 that in
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 our midst
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 and we pray
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 Father
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 that we
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 would not
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 sit back
00:26:14 --> 00:26:18 in comfortable
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 mediocrity
00:26:19 --> 00:26:22 but that we
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 would see
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 the mission
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 that you
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 put before
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 us as a
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 demanding
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 mission
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 but you
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 are an
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 even greater
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 God
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 and we
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 pray Lord
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 that you
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 would help
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 us to pray
00:26:29 --> 00:26:31 in the same
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 way that the
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 Lord Jesus
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 taught his
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 disciples to pray
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 men who had
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 prayed all
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 their life
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 I pray
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 that you
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 would teach
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 us to pray
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 in a new
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 way
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 to pray
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 for your
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 kingdom
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 to come
00:26:41 --> 00:26:43 to pray
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 for your
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 kingdom
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 to come
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 in the
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 hearts
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 of many
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 and so
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 Lord
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 as we
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 move into
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 2014
00:26:49 --> 00:26:51 we pray
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 for every
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 instance
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 where your
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 word
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 will be
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 proclaimed
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 and I
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 pray Lord
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 it will be
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 done with
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 boldness
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 and with
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 clarity
00:26:56 --> 00:26:58 and with
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 power
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 and we
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 pray Father
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 that you
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 would send
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 your spirit
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 and you
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 would unlock
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 the doors
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 of people's
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 hearts
00:27:05 --> 00:27:07 so that
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 they not
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 just understand
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 the gospel
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 but they
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 see the
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 beauty of
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 it and
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 they would
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 receive the
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 Lord Jesus
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 with joy
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 and we ask
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 it for your
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 sake
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 Amen
00:27:16 --> 00:27:18 for Lord
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 O43
00:27:18 --> 00:27:20 o43
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 p outfits
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 o43
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 o100
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 o100
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 ou
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 o
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 or