Prevailing Prayer
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 17th October 2009
Passage: Luke 11:1-13
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Let's pray.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 Gracious God, as we come to look at your word now,
00:00:07 --> 00:00:10 and particularly as we look at the issue of prayer
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 and as Jesus has taught his disciples,
00:00:13 --> 00:00:14 taught us how to pray,
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 we pray, Father, that we would model that,
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 model a prayer of discipleship of the Lord Jesus,
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 that the priorities that have been outlined here in this prayer
00:00:23 --> 00:00:24 will be our priorities,
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 and we ask it for your sake.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:26 Amen.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:31 One day out in the Canadian wilderness,
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 an atheist was taking a walk,
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 admiring the amazing wilderness
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 that was, in his mind, a freak of accident.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:41 It was an accident.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 It was a freak of some random causes.
00:00:44 --> 00:00:47 The wildlife that were there because of some random chance,
00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 the pristine stream that flowed beautifully by
00:00:50 --> 00:00:51 thanks to a bunch of molecules
00:00:51 --> 00:00:56 somehow mistakenly colliding many, many, many, many years ago.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 When all of a sudden he was awoken out of his godless dreaming
00:00:59 --> 00:01:03 by a grizzly bear charging at him straight down the trail.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:06 He had no chance.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:06 He knew it.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 And before he realized that he was on his back,
00:01:10 --> 00:01:11 pinned to the ground,
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13 with his huge grizzly bear,
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 one paw on his chest,
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 another one raised,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:18 ready to strike.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 And without even giving it a thought,
00:01:21 --> 00:01:22 he cried out in a loud voice,
00:01:22 --> 00:01:23 God, save me!
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 Of course, then he realized the inconsistency
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 of living a life confident that God didn't exist
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 and then in a moment of need,
00:01:33 --> 00:01:34 decided to call out to him for help.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:36 And so he had a brainwave.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 Instead of saving me, God,
00:01:40 --> 00:01:41 what he decided was,
00:01:42 --> 00:01:42 God, if you're there,
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 make the bear a Christian.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:49 And he figured if the bear was a Christian,
00:01:49 --> 00:01:50 then the bear would need him.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:51 And pretty smart.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:53 He thought it was a pretty smart move
00:01:53 --> 00:01:57 and he was quite surprised
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 when all of a sudden the bear pulled down its paw,
00:02:01 --> 00:02:02 stepped back,
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 put his paws together
00:02:04 --> 00:02:05 and said,
00:02:05 --> 00:02:06 for what we're about to receive,
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 may the Lord make me truly thankful.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:16 When difficulty or danger strikes,
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 the immediate response of many people is to pray.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 Most humans at some point on this planet
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 will pray at some point in their lives,
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 usually without giving it much thought at all
00:02:28 --> 00:02:29 about what they are doing.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 We notice that children often pray
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 with a real simplicity and an ease
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 which adults can't muster up.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 And yet I want to say that
00:02:40 --> 00:02:44 prayer for me
00:02:44 --> 00:02:48 is the one thing that exposes my ungodliness.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 There is nothing quite like a lack of prayer
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 or even the kind of prayers that I pray
00:02:56 --> 00:03:00 that really expose what my heart truly is.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 I want to be a man of prayer.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:03 Prayer.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 And it's the one area in my life
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 where if it's not humming,
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 if it's not working,
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 I feel like a fraud like nothing else.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 Prayer, as I said,
00:03:16 --> 00:03:17 is something that we all might do,
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 even the ungodly do,
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 but it does expose our ungodliness.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:30 I think that this is a particularly difficult passage for us.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 It's a passage that we know so well,
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35 and yet it's a passage which reveals our ungodliness.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 Ungodliness in the sense that we go about our daily business,
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 even good people,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:43 moral people,
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 religious people go about their daily business
00:03:45 --> 00:03:49 and give no or little thought whatsoever
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 to the purpose of God,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 the glory of God,
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 or our dependency upon Him day by day.
00:03:57 --> 00:03:58 We attack our work,
00:03:58 --> 00:03:59 we attack our retirement,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:00 we attack our education,
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 just like anyone else.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 We may begin the day in a bit of prayer,
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 we may end the day with a bit of prayer,
00:04:07 --> 00:04:08 but daily,
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 as we move from that point,
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 we give little regard to God's purpose,
00:04:14 --> 00:04:14 His will,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 our dependency upon Him,
00:04:17 --> 00:04:18 and His glory.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:24 And that's what I think the Bible calls ungodliness,
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 going about as if God doesn't exist.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 Or our prayers themselves reflect our ungodliness.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 Do we pray for kingdom purposes,
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 or do we have a long list of things
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 that are just the things
00:04:41 --> 00:04:42 which are troubling us at the moment?
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 The content of our prayer
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 can reveal whether or not
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 we are actually human-centered,
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 or we're actually God-centered.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 You might remember that we are traveling with Jesus,
00:04:56 --> 00:05:00 having resolutely set His face for Jerusalem to die,
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 and on the way there,
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 He is clarifying with His disciples
00:05:04 --> 00:05:05 the misconceptions they have
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 of what it means to follow Him.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 And today we see His teaching
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 on one of the essentials of Christian discipleship,
00:05:13 --> 00:05:13 a life of prayer.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 We are looking at the famous,
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 the most famous of all prayers.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:19 We know it.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 We've said it again and again and again
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 throughout the centuries.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 We say it most week in this church.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:31 In fact, we say it in most services most week in this church.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 I think that it's ironic that when Matthew records
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 Jesus' teaching on prayer,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 this very passage here in Matthew's Gospel,
00:05:41 --> 00:05:45 he does it in the context of telling Jesus' disciples,
00:05:45 --> 00:05:46 of Jesus telling His disciples
00:05:46 --> 00:05:50 not to go on mindless babbling with words
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 and not to be like the hypocrites.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 And so we have taken Jesus' prayer
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 and throughout the centuries
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 have mindlessly babbled His prayer
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 and not actually understood
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 what is behind His prayer
00:06:05 --> 00:06:10 instead of just repeating the prayer
00:06:10 --> 00:06:14 but actually seeing it as a model of prayer.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:20 What we know is that Jesus Himself was a man of prayer.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:25 He was praying when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 like a dove in Luke 3, verse 21.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:32 He began His ministry with a 40-day fast in the wilderness
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 in chapter 4, verses 1 to 15.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 Other times He withdrew into the wilderness to pray
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39 in chapter 5, verse 16.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 He prayed all night before choosing the 12,
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 chapter 6, verse 12.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:50 He was praying alone just before He asked Peter,
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 who do you say that I am?
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 In chapter 9, verse 18.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 And just before He was transfigured,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 He took Peter, James and John on the mountain
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 to pray in chapter 9, verse 28.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:06 And He was praying here at the beginning of our text
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 in Luke 11, verse 1.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 As a man, Jesus sought His strength
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 and His guidance from His Father in prayer.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 From this alone,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 we should feel motivated to make prayer
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 more central in our lives.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:26 I want to be a man of prayer more than ever.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 Jesus also taught us to pray.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 It's an amazing thing, isn't it?
00:07:34 --> 00:07:37 His disciples, religious people themselves,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 go to Jesus and said, teach us to pray.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 I mean, haven't you guys been doing that all of your life?
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 Isn't that what you do?
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 Isn't that what you do?
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 And they said to Jesus, you need to teach us to pray.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 In other words, teach us the priorities of prayer.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:55 Jesus taught us to pray.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 He made amazing promises to us about prayer.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 And so He lived a life of prayer
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 and He taught us a life of prayer.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:05 It is the will of the Lord Jesus
00:08:05 --> 00:08:09 that St. Paul's be a church of prayer.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:15 That this building that we're seated in now
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 be a house of prayer.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:22 That our people be given daily to prayer.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 Prevailing prayer for personal needs,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 for the power of the Spirit,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 for the progress of the Gospel
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 and for the glory of God's name.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 They're the things that Jesus teaches us here.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 The first thing Jesus teaches us
00:08:38 --> 00:08:41 is to make our praying God-centered.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:44 When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 in verse 1,
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 He says in verse 2,
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 When you pray, say,
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 Father, hallowed be your name,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 your kingdom come.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 Notice here that these are requests.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:02 All of the Lord's prayer is actually requests.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 It's not prayer, thanks, it's not praise.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 Jesus says,
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 Our first desire,
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 our first request,
00:09:10 --> 00:09:14 should be that God's name be hallowed or glorified
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 and that His kingdom be advanced
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 and that His kingdom would come.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 That's what I mean when I say God-centered prayer.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:26 The glory of God's name and the advancement of God's kingdom
00:09:26 --> 00:09:29 are the primary concerns of this prayer.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:34 The God-centeredness or lack of it
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 has to be the difference between mature prayer
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 and immature prayer.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:44 I know plenty of non-Christians who pray.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 But the difference is between God-centeredness
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 and human-centeredness
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 in their praying.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:57 The plea is that we have Jesus' priorities in praying,
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 namely that the Father's name be hallowed
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 and that His kingdom come.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 If this feels foreign to you,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:09 if you have never pleaded for the name of God to be hallowed
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 or the kingdom of God to come,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 then I want to say to you,
00:10:13 --> 00:10:13 don't be content.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:17 Don't be content today to stay stuck
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 at an immature level of prayer.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 Don't be content with that.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 Instead, say in a fresh new way to God,
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 this week, today,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 this coming week,
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 for the rest of this year,
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 Father, hallowed be your name
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 in my life and in my prayers
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 for this coming year,
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 for the year to come,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 change my prayer life
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 so that it becomes God-centered.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 God's name will be vindicated
00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 among the nations as true and glorious.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 His kingdom will come.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 But He has decreed
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 that we will have a hand
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 in His triumph
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 through our prayers.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 So make the glory of God
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 the center of your prayers.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:09 Pray again and again and again
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 with as many different words
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 as you can think of.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:12 Father,
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 let your name be hallowed
00:11:14 --> 00:11:17 and let your kingdom come.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:22 Jesus also teaches us here
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 to pray with a sense of security
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 in the Father's love.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 Jesus doesn't want us
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 to feel insecure in our prayers.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 He shows this mainly
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 by teaching us
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 to call God Father
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 when we pray to Him.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 Then in verses 11 to 13,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 if you have a look at that,
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 He unpacks for us
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 some of the security
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 implied in this word.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 Father,
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 which of you fathers,
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 if your son asks you for a fish,
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 will give him a snake instead?
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 Or if he asks for an egg,
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 will give him a scorpion?
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 If you then,
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 though you are evil,
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 know how to give good gifts
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 to your children,
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 how much more
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 will your Father in Heaven
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 give the Holy Spirit
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 to those who ask Him?
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 The words,
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 how much more,
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 mean that God
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 is much more inclined
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 to hear us
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 and help us
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 when we pray
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 than our earthly fathers are.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 Jesus wants us
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 to feel secure
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 in the Father's love
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 when we come
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 to Him in prayer.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 He does not want us
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 to feel precarious
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 or unsure
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 of our acceptance
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 or fearful
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 that we will find
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 the Father
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 out of sorts
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 or unconcerned
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 with the aspects
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 of my daily life.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 This sense of security
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 is utterly crucial
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 in the life of prayer
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 and the life of worship.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 You cannot sustain
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 a life of prayer
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 if you believe
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 that God is angry with you
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 or you believe
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 that He just does not care.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 Prayer is sustained
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 by the confidence
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 that God
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 is our Father
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 and that He
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 is concerned
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 and that
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 His disposition
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 is just what
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 Jesus says it is.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 He is more
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 inclined
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 to give
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 what we need
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 than the best
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 human father
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 is.
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 That's incredible.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 That's incredible
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 that God
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 would be that disposed
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 positively
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 towards me.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 But we need
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 to remember
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 that if we're
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 going to be
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 people of prayer.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 It's what I've
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 written on the
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 bulletin blurb
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 on the front
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 of your bulletin
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 this morning
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 about the four
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 points
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 for significant
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 things that
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 Jerry Bridges
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 outlines
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 and one of those
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 things that he says
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 is we need to
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 daily appropriate
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 the gospel
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 to ourselves
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 or as another
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 way I've heard
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 him put it
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 we need to
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 daily preach
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 the gospel
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 to ourselves
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 to remind us
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 to remind us
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 again and
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 again and
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 again
00:14:05 --> 00:14:08 God's disposition
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 towards me
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 and the Lord
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 Jesus Christ.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 Jesus also
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 teaches us
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 to prevail
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 in prayer
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 without doubting
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 the Father's
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 love.
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 He teaches
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 us to hang
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 in there
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 persevering
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 persisting
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 not giving
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 up
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 keep on
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 asking
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 and seeking
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 and knocking
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 at heaven's
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 door
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 until the answer
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 comes
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 or until
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 God says
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 stop praying
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 it feels
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 inconsistent
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 though doesn't
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 it?
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 I mean
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 if God
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 is more
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 caring
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 than the
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 best
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 heavenly
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 father
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 then why
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 why would
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 he sometimes
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 be so slow
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 to respond
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 to my
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 prayer
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 if he's
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 such a
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 good God?
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 Jesus
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 tells the story
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 in verses
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 five to
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 eight of the
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 man who
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 goes to
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 his friend's
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 house in
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 the middle
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 of the
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 night
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 to say
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 that a
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 guest has
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 just arrived
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 there isn't
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 enough
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 in the
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 house
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 to feed
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 him
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 could
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 you
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 please
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 give
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 me
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 three
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 loaves
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 of
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 bread
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 the
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 man
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 says
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 the
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 door's
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 locked
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 he must
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 look out
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 of his
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 bedroom
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 window
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 the
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 door's
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 locked
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 children
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 are asleep
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 in his
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 room
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 don't bother
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 me
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 anymore
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 but his
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 friend
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 keeps
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 knocking
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 and keeps
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 asking
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 until the
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 man gets
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 up
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 not because
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 of his
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 friendship
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 notice
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 this
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 it's not
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 because
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 of his
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 friendship
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 but because
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 of the
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 man's
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 prevailing
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 and persisting
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 and persevering
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 in knocking
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 in other
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 words he
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 annoyed
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 him
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 until he
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 got out
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 of his
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 bed and
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 went
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 downstairs
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 and opened
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 the door
00:15:32 --> 00:15:36 it seems
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 an unpleasant
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 image of the
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 matter of
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 prayer doesn't
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 it
00:15:38 --> 00:15:41 but immediately
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 in verse
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 nine
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 Jesus says
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 there is a
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 lesson for us
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 to learn
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 ask and it
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 will be given
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 you
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 seek and you
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 will find
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 knock and
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 it will be
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 open to you
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 three things
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 here stress
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 the importance
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 of prevailing
00:15:57 --> 00:15:59 and not
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 giving up
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 in our
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 prayer life
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 one is
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 that the
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 tension
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 the original
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 language
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 means to
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 keep on
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 asking
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 to keep
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 on seeking
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 to keep
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 on knocking
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 the second
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 is the fact
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 that Jesus
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 commands
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 this continuous
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 action
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 three times
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 and he
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 even repeats
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 it again
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 in verse
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 10
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 the third
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 thing that
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 stress is
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 prevailing
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 is that the
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 three words
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 used get
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 increasingly
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 close to
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 the answer
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 and show
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 a pressing
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 in on
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 God
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 ask
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 as it
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 were
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 for the
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 guy in
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 the house
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 seek until
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 you find
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 it
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 and then
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 knock until
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 the door
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 is opened
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 ask it
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 seek until
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 you find
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 it and
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 then knock
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 until the
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 door is
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 open
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 asking is
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 the simplest
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 and requires
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 no movement
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 seeking
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 turns
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 asking into
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 an activity
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 of pursuit
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 knocking on
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 and on
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 and on
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 the door
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 again and
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 again and
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 again signifies
00:17:03 --> 00:17:05 utter earnestness
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 and perhaps
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 even a sense
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 of desperation
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 temptation
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 and so
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 Jesus clearly
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 wants us to
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 be like
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 this friend
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 who just
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 kept knocking
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 he wants us
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 to prevail
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 in our
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 prayers
00:17:17 --> 00:17:20 but then he
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 makes a sudden
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 turn in verse
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 11 and
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 shifts from
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 the image
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 of the
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 grumpy
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 friend
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 to the
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 image of
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 the caring
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 father
00:17:28 --> 00:17:31 the point
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 Jesus is
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 getting across
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 is that
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 prevailing
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 prayer
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 persisting
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 persevering
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 in prayer
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 is utterly
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 important for
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 us
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 utterly
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 important for
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 us
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 and he
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 stamps this
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 truth on
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 our memories
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 with a
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 shocking image
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 of a friend
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 who won't
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 help without
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 being bothered
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 enough to
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 help
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 but then
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 Jesus qualifies
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 his point in
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 verses 11 to
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 13 by saying
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 that God is
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 not like that
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 friend
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 God is not
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 like that
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 friend
00:18:02 --> 00:18:05 he's like
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 the most
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 caring
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 father
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 imaginable
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 so yes
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 God
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 sometimes
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 gives us
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 what we
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 need
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 only after
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 a long
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 season
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 of prevailing
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 and persisting
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 in prayer
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 but no
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 it's not
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 because he's
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 uncaring
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 it's not
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 because he's
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 insensitive
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 it's not
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 because he's
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 unable
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 so why
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 why does
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 he postpone
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 it for so
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 long
00:18:27 --> 00:18:30 I think
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 Jesus gives
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 us some
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 clues
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 indirectly
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 in verses
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 11 to
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 13
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 it says
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 in verse
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 11 that
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 a good
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 father will
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 not give
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 his son a
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 serpent if
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 he asks
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 for a
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 fish
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 in other
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 words
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 the good
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 father only
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 gives his
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 children what
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 is good
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 for them
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 he only
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 gives them
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 what is
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 good for
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 them
00:18:51 --> 00:18:55 so this
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 morning
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 6.30
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 Isabel
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 gets up
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 take her
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 downstairs
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 she heads
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 straight
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 for where
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 she knows
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 the biscuit
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 tin is
00:19:04 --> 00:19:07 and goes
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 biscuit
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 biscuit
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 biscuit
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 biscuit
00:19:09 --> 00:19:14 and if
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 Natalie
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 wasn't
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 there
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 maybe I
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 might have
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 given in
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 but
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 but no
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 we have
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 breakfast
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 first
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 and then
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 she doesn't
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 want the
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 biscuit
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 anymore
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 I didn't
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 give in
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 and give
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 it to
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 her
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 because I
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 know it's
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 not good
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 for her
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 right there
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 and right
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 then
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 it doesn't
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 mean I
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 never give
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 her
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 biscuits
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 but not
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 first thing
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 in the
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 morning
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 it's not
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 what I
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 have for
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 breakfast
00:19:34 --> 00:19:37 it's the
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 only answer
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 that Jesus
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 gives to our
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 question in
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 this text
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 when the
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 father in
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 heaven gives
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 us a slow
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 answer
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 when he
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 wills that
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 we prevail
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 for a
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 season
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 it is
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 because he
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 is giving
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 us a fish
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 and not a
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 serpent
00:19:52 --> 00:19:55 he is
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 giving us
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 what is
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 good for
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 us
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 there is
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 something in
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 the prevailing
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 there is
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 something in
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 the asking
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 the seeking
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 the knocking
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 that we
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 frankly need
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 as his
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 disciples
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 we need
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 that prevailing
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 it is good
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 for us
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 he knows
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 what's best
00:20:12 --> 00:20:15 the promise
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 that will
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 encourage us
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 in prevailing
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 in prayer
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 is verse
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 10
00:20:19 --> 00:20:21 I'll read
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 it with a
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 little bit
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 of a twist
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 based on
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 the original
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 language
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 everyone who
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 goes on
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 asking
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 receives
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 and he
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 who goes
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 on seeking
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 finds
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 and to him
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 who goes
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 on knocking
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 it will be
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 opened
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 God is not
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 unresponsive
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 to prevailing
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 prayer
00:20:39 --> 00:20:42 the final
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 teaching that
00:20:42 --> 00:20:44 Jesus gives
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 us on
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 prayer is
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 in
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 it's if you
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 like a
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 circling back
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 to the very
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 beginning
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 to the first
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 point of
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 God
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 centeredness
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 in our
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 prayer
00:20:52 --> 00:20:54 and if I
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 understand
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 Jesus here
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 he means
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 for us
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 that the
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 prevailing
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 heartbeat
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 of our
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 life here
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 as a
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 church
00:21:02 --> 00:21:05 he means
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 for us
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 to be
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 prevailing
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 in our
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 prayer
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 in Jesus
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 teaches
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 in verse
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 13
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 that our
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 prevailing
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 in prayer
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 should be
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 prevailing
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 for the
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 Holy Spirit
00:21:14 --> 00:21:18 if you
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 then
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 even though
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 you are
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 evil
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 know how
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 much
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 how to
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 give good
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 gifts to
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 your
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 children
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 how much
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 more will
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 your
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 Father in
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 heaven
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 give you
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 the Holy
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 Spirit
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 to those
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 who ask
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 him
00:21:28 --> 00:21:30 it's a
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 prevailing
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 prevailing
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 asking
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 seeking
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 knocking
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 that we
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 might receive
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 the Spirit
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 it is no
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 accident that
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 Luke tells
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 us in
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 chapter 3
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 verse 21
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 that while
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 Jesus was
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 praying
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 the Holy
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 Spirit
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 descended on
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 him like
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 a dove
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 or that
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 the
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 outpouring
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 of the
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 Spirit
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 at
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 Pentecost
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 came
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00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 or in
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 Acts
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00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 verse 31
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00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 gathered
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00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 and they
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 were filled
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 with the
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 Holy
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 Spirit
00:22:02 --> 00:22:05 prevailing
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 prayer
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 is the
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 pathway
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 to the
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 outpouring
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 of the
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 Holy
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00:22:09 --> 00:22:11 when you
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00:22:11 --> 00:22:14 in prayer
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00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 happening
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00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 than you
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00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 ever
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00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 without
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 doubting
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00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 love
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 and let
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00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 specifically
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 in praying
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00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 in our
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 lives
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 we pray
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 that your
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 kingdom
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 rule
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 would come
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 in each
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 one of
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 these
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 hearts
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 that are
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 here
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 right
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 now
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 that your
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 kingdom
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 will come
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 and it
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 will rule
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 we also
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00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 Lord
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 that your
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 kingdom
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 will be
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 established
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 here on
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00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 we pray
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00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 speedy
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 coming
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 of the
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 Lord
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 Jesus
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 Christ
00:24:20 --> 00:24:23 we
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 ask
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 Lord
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 that your
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 kingly
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 rule
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 would be
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 taken up
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 here more
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 and more
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 fully
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 over our
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00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 over our
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00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 our
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 families
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00:24:34 --> 00:24:37 speed the
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 day we
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00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 final
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 appearing
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 we ask
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 Lord
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 that you
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 would meet
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 our
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 physical
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 needs
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 so that
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00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 press on
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 with joy
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 in the
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 work
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 you've
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 called
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 us
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 to
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 for your
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 namesake
00:24:49 --> 00:24:52 forgive us
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 oh Lord
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 where we
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 have sinned
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 and fallen
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 short of
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 your glory
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 where we
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 have gone
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00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 day
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 in
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 ungodliness
00:25:01 --> 00:25:03 without reference
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 to you
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 your purposes
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 your name
00:25:06 --> 00:25:10 keep us
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 Lord as
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 well from
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 entangling
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 temptations
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 that are
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 in this
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00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 that are
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 designed
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00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 us up
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 and that
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 will bring
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 criticism
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 to your
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00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 and your
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 people
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 and we
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 ask this
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 through
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 Jesus
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 Christ
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 our
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 Lord
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 Amen