1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:05,960 S1: Broadcasting from Chicago, across North America and beyond its cast 2 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:10,680 S1: and crew. Come as you are an experienced guide. Overcome 3 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:15,440 S1: what seems impossible and live. As you never imagined. Start 4 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:16,880 S1: your morning with a laugh. 5 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:22,119 S2: Practical from the Bible. Tips and tricks to kill. Not tricks, 6 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:23,600 S2: but tips and tricks. 7 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:28,400 S3: Tips and tricks to kill. Tips and tricks. 8 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:30,400 S1: Delivering the truth daily. 9 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,280 S4: All of my attempts to, you know, prop myself up 10 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:36,760 S4: with achievement in good works. Well, God wasn't impressed by that. 11 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:38,239 S4: Even if other people were. 12 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,040 S2: The gospel changes everything. 13 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,519 S5: Freedom in Christ. Man, it's like that backpack of cement 14 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:46,559 S5: just falling to the ground. 15 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:50,920 S1: Now, from the call of Hope Studios, this is Carl 16 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,640 S1: and crew. It is Ask the Experts. 17 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:55,760 S6: Week and quite a week we've had here. If you 18 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:59,000 S6: did not get the link for Doctor Sauer and his wife, Sue, 19 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,340 S6: they've got a podcast that is pretty epic. Just text 20 00:01:02,340 --> 00:01:08,860 S6: the word quiet to 800 555 7898. Quiet to 800 21 00:01:08,900 --> 00:01:15,179 S6: 555 7898. So I know, Ali, you've got prayer figured out. 22 00:01:15,180 --> 00:01:18,380 S6: When you talk to God, you get those answers and 23 00:01:19,140 --> 00:01:21,979 S6: you have all all those really, we don't need an 24 00:01:21,980 --> 00:01:24,979 S6: expert for the topic of prayer because, Ali, you've got it. 25 00:01:24,980 --> 00:01:28,260 S6: So go ahead and just share with us in about 30s. 26 00:01:28,500 --> 00:01:28,940 S3: Wow. 27 00:01:29,020 --> 00:01:32,940 S6: Um, why you pray, what you pray, how you pray. 28 00:01:32,940 --> 00:01:35,819 S6: That's always going to have deliverables in your lap. Go 29 00:01:35,819 --> 00:01:36,540 S6: ahead Ali. 30 00:01:36,660 --> 00:01:40,260 S4: And this is where we go to 30s of radio silence. 31 00:01:41,420 --> 00:01:42,100 S3: That's great. 32 00:01:43,620 --> 00:01:45,900 S4: Oh boy, do I wish that that were the case. 33 00:01:46,140 --> 00:01:48,980 S6: Yeah, a lot of us have questions and it revolves 34 00:01:48,980 --> 00:01:53,780 S6: around prayer. And most questions around prayer deal with why 35 00:01:53,780 --> 00:01:58,220 S6: in the world doesn't God answer my prayers? Coming up 36 00:01:58,220 --> 00:02:00,240 S6: here in just a moment, we are going to have 37 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,560 S6: Doctor Erwin Lutzer with us here. Guys. 38 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:05,720 S4: I'm excited. I'm surprised you didn't say. The man, the myth, 39 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:06,160 S4: the legend. 40 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,799 S6: The man, the myth, the legend. You're right. I should 41 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,680 S6: have done that. Now, doctor Erwin Lutzer is going to 42 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,040 S6: be with us, so buckle up. This is Forrest. Frank. 43 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:18,160 S6: Your ways better. It's Carl and crew. Ask the experts. 44 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:19,920 S6: Doctor Lutzer straight ahead. 45 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,840 S1: Standing on the rock each and every day. You're listening 46 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:26,040 S1: to Carl and crew. 47 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,239 S6: And a wise man told me one time. Seems like 48 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:31,280 S6: knowing the will of God. And we can find that 49 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:35,440 S6: first Thessalonians four three be sanctified in Christ Jesus. Knowing 50 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,240 S6: the will of God is one thing, knowing the way 51 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:41,560 S6: of God, that's another thing. And when it comes to prayer, 52 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,160 S6: some of the ways of God we don't understand. Why 53 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:49,560 S6: doesn't God answer my prayers? Doctor Lutzer is with us 54 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:51,919 S6: right now. Good to have you with us, pastor. Uh, 55 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:55,680 S6: this is an important work that you've done, and let's 56 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,720 S6: get into it a little bit here. At first blush, 57 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,250 S6: why doesn't God answer our prayers? 58 00:03:02,490 --> 00:03:04,970 S7: Well, you know, there are many different ways that I 59 00:03:04,970 --> 00:03:08,210 S7: could answer that except to say this. That God hears 60 00:03:08,210 --> 00:03:13,250 S7: our prayers even when sometimes they are not answered. And 61 00:03:13,250 --> 00:03:17,490 S7: so to ask the question the way you did, sometimes 62 00:03:17,490 --> 00:03:21,810 S7: it's because we regard iniquity in our heart. For example, 63 00:03:21,810 --> 00:03:25,049 S7: David said that when I regard iniquity in my heart, 64 00:03:25,050 --> 00:03:28,450 S7: the Lord doesn't hear me. But also it may not 65 00:03:28,450 --> 00:03:32,050 S7: be God's will at all. And you know, one of 66 00:03:32,050 --> 00:03:34,370 S7: the things that I'd like to point out, and I 67 00:03:34,370 --> 00:03:38,370 S7: know that we may reference a book I've written entitled God, 68 00:03:38,770 --> 00:03:41,610 S7: Why Doesn't God Answer My Prayers? One of the points 69 00:03:41,610 --> 00:03:46,290 S7: I like to make is that we sometimes claim promises 70 00:03:46,290 --> 00:03:52,290 S7: which aren't ours. This particularly happens in the name it 71 00:03:52,290 --> 00:03:56,450 S7: claim it area. And so I remember a woman coming 72 00:03:56,450 --> 00:03:59,390 S7: to me and say, God has abandoned me, you know, 73 00:03:59,430 --> 00:04:02,990 S7: because she was listening to a television preacher who said 74 00:04:02,990 --> 00:04:06,589 S7: that if you aren't healed, it's your lack of faith. 75 00:04:06,990 --> 00:04:10,830 S7: And so her husband wasn't healed, and so she believed 76 00:04:10,830 --> 00:04:15,270 S7: it was all her fault. So actually, Carl and I 77 00:04:15,270 --> 00:04:17,590 S7: know that we're going to be getting into this as 78 00:04:17,589 --> 00:04:21,030 S7: we discuss these things, but it's a very complex issue. 79 00:04:21,589 --> 00:04:24,350 S7: And one of the points I want to make, really 80 00:04:24,390 --> 00:04:27,710 S7: out of the gate is when Jesus was in the 81 00:04:27,710 --> 00:04:33,909 S7: Garden of Gethsemane, according to Mark chapter 14, he prayed 82 00:04:33,910 --> 00:04:38,390 S7: three times that God would remove the cup from him. 83 00:04:39,029 --> 00:04:42,270 S7: Aren't you glad God did not answer that prayer? 84 00:04:43,710 --> 00:04:48,510 S4: Doctor Erwin Lutzer that's probably a rhetorical right. Doctor Erwin Lutzer, 85 00:04:48,550 --> 00:04:51,469 S4: our guest right now, pastor emeritus of Moody Church, going 86 00:04:51,470 --> 00:04:54,870 S4: to be taking your questions this morning. Our topic he's 87 00:04:54,870 --> 00:04:57,469 S4: got a book out. Why doesn't God answer my prayers? 88 00:04:57,510 --> 00:05:00,170 S4: A Biblical Guide to God's Hidden Purposes. If you want 89 00:05:00,210 --> 00:05:02,610 S4: to throw a question to Doctor Lutzer, you can call 90 00:05:02,610 --> 00:05:10,729 S4: or text (800) 555-7898. 800 555 7898. Doctor Lutzer. One of 91 00:05:10,730 --> 00:05:15,930 S4: the most unhelpful quotes that's repeated so often is this one. 92 00:05:16,210 --> 00:05:20,330 S4: You know, everything happens for a reason that's offered up 93 00:05:20,330 --> 00:05:22,810 S4: as a way I think, of making sense of things 94 00:05:22,810 --> 00:05:25,010 S4: that don't make sense. And I guess it's true to 95 00:05:25,050 --> 00:05:28,650 S4: a certain extent. But when we think about God's purposes, 96 00:05:28,650 --> 00:05:32,770 S4: God's hidden purposes, everything happens for a reason seems to 97 00:05:32,810 --> 00:05:34,650 S4: fall kind of short. Speak to that. 98 00:05:36,010 --> 00:05:39,130 S7: Well, you know, it is true that everything does happen 99 00:05:39,410 --> 00:05:42,370 S7: for a reason. But, Ali, our challenge is we don't 100 00:05:42,370 --> 00:05:45,570 S7: know what that reason is, right? And what we have 101 00:05:45,570 --> 00:05:47,690 S7: to do is there are times when we just have 102 00:05:47,690 --> 00:05:51,290 S7: to trust God. You know, I'm thinking, for example, of 103 00:05:51,290 --> 00:05:53,210 S7: Martin Luther. He said, what do you do when you 104 00:05:53,210 --> 00:05:55,770 S7: look around and see no reason that God is on 105 00:05:55,770 --> 00:06:00,390 S7: your side? You continue to trust his bare word. But 106 00:06:00,390 --> 00:06:02,510 S7: I want to say this to all those who are listening, 107 00:06:02,510 --> 00:06:06,070 S7: and I hinted at it already in the book of revelation. 108 00:06:06,070 --> 00:06:09,390 S7: The Bible says that our prayers are offered unto God 109 00:06:09,710 --> 00:06:14,950 S7: as a sweet incense to him. So to go back 110 00:06:14,950 --> 00:06:19,750 S7: to Jesus in the garden, even though God didn't answer 111 00:06:19,750 --> 00:06:24,550 S7: that prayer, the good news is that he God, heard 112 00:06:24,950 --> 00:06:28,909 S7: Jesus prayer. And that's a very positive word in Hebrews 113 00:06:28,910 --> 00:06:32,230 S7: chapter five. Maybe we're getting off on it a little bit, 114 00:06:32,230 --> 00:06:34,150 S7: but one of the things we have to do is 115 00:06:34,190 --> 00:06:39,390 S7: is say this the reason for prayer is not just 116 00:06:39,390 --> 00:06:42,229 S7: that we come before God and give him a list 117 00:06:42,430 --> 00:06:44,310 S7: and say, well, this is what I'd like you to 118 00:06:44,310 --> 00:06:48,310 S7: do for me today. The reason for prayer is that 119 00:06:48,310 --> 00:06:52,110 S7: we might get beyond that to God Himself. And what 120 00:06:52,110 --> 00:06:55,430 S7: we have to do is to recognize that in the end, 121 00:06:55,910 --> 00:07:00,609 S7: we need God more than we probably need our answers. 122 00:07:00,650 --> 00:07:04,210 S7: You know, the prodigal son. He came home because he 123 00:07:04,210 --> 00:07:07,930 S7: was hungry. But I suspect he needed his father more 124 00:07:07,930 --> 00:07:11,370 S7: than he did his dinner. And so the the needs 125 00:07:11,370 --> 00:07:17,010 S7: of life and everybody's fighting something. Life is hard everywhere. 126 00:07:17,610 --> 00:07:22,610 S7: Those needs keep driving us Godward. And so we come 127 00:07:22,610 --> 00:07:27,890 S7: with our need. But in the end, we're occupied with God, 128 00:07:27,890 --> 00:07:34,170 S7: worshiping him and saying, thy will be done. So that's 129 00:07:34,170 --> 00:07:36,130 S7: the way in which we have to handle this. You 130 00:07:36,130 --> 00:07:38,930 S7: know the reason I talk about this and I look 131 00:07:38,930 --> 00:07:43,730 S7: forward to further questions, is this so many people deconstruct 132 00:07:43,930 --> 00:07:48,970 S7: from the Christian life, they leave it behind because they 133 00:07:49,090 --> 00:07:53,690 S7: prayed for healing. It didn't happen. They prayed for deliverance 134 00:07:53,690 --> 00:07:57,220 S7: during a time, maybe even of abuse or persecution. And 135 00:07:57,220 --> 00:07:59,980 S7: then they say, God's not worth anything to me. I'm 136 00:07:59,980 --> 00:08:02,420 S7: out of here. So what we have to do is 137 00:08:02,420 --> 00:08:06,500 S7: to try to help these people sympathize with them, but 138 00:08:06,500 --> 00:08:08,860 S7: also draw them back to the father. 139 00:08:09,060 --> 00:08:12,060 S6: Love it. Doctor Erwin Lutzer is our guest right now. 140 00:08:12,060 --> 00:08:16,180 S6: And ask the experts. Phone lines, wide open. Text as well. 141 00:08:16,340 --> 00:08:19,860 S6: Phone or text. Your question for doctors. We're focusing on 142 00:08:19,860 --> 00:08:29,620 S6: prayer right now. 800 555 7898 800 555 7898. There 143 00:08:29,620 --> 00:08:33,220 S6: are no dumb questions. I want to just say that. 144 00:08:33,660 --> 00:08:38,860 S6: Bring them to them. 805 55 7898. You know, I've 145 00:08:38,900 --> 00:08:41,380 S6: we've been looking about a week ago. We're looking at 146 00:08:41,380 --> 00:08:45,420 S6: George Mueller's prayer as outlined in James five and Spurgeon 147 00:08:45,420 --> 00:08:49,380 S6: and Swindoll. Um, many have said and gone to that 148 00:08:49,380 --> 00:08:52,179 S6: passage as a template for prayer. It's a beautiful one. 149 00:08:52,179 --> 00:08:54,580 S6: It has to do with healing of people that are 150 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,600 S6: troubled and sometimes sin in their life. But the the 151 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:01,280 S6: question this leads me to is a lot of people say, 152 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:05,359 S6: and it's true. Prayer is taking hold of the willingness 153 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,760 S6: of God. That's what Mueller said. I love that quote. 154 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:13,400 S6: But pastor, my question for you is this simple. Does 155 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:17,559 S6: prayer move God or does it move us closer to God? 156 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:19,760 S6: Which one is more dominant? 157 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:24,400 S7: Well, probably both, but I want to say this it 158 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:29,280 S7: should draw us toward God and closer to God. So, 159 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:33,160 S7: you know, you've you've really entered into the realm of 160 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:37,199 S7: mystery here, because on the one hand, nothing surprises God. 161 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:42,040 S7: God sees around corners. I was counseling somebody who wanted 162 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,760 S7: a certain position, and he didn't get it and was 163 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,760 S7: so disappointed. And I said, you have no idea what 164 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:52,120 S7: God has kept you from by closing that door. God 165 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,620 S7: can see around corners, but we can't. So at the 166 00:09:55,620 --> 00:09:58,780 S7: end of the day, we do trust him. But more specifically, 167 00:09:58,780 --> 00:10:03,100 S7: in answer to your question, there's a sense in which, yes, 168 00:10:03,580 --> 00:10:09,260 S7: prayer changes things that moves the hand of God, but 169 00:10:09,260 --> 00:10:15,820 S7: at the same time, God sees everything simultaneously. Everything is 170 00:10:15,820 --> 00:10:21,140 S7: in his hands. So from an ultimate perspective, all that 171 00:10:21,140 --> 00:10:24,260 S7: we have to keep coming back to is that God 172 00:10:24,260 --> 00:10:29,459 S7: ultimately is in control. But and I hope I going 173 00:10:29,500 --> 00:10:32,460 S7: to take a moment here, Karl, many people say, well, 174 00:10:32,500 --> 00:10:35,460 S7: God already knows what we need. And and he's got 175 00:10:35,460 --> 00:10:40,740 S7: everything buttoned down. Why should I pray? Isn't this interesting? 176 00:10:41,260 --> 00:10:44,420 S7: In Matthew chapter six, Jesus said, when you pray, don't 177 00:10:44,420 --> 00:10:47,860 S7: pray like the heathen. You know they repeat themselves and 178 00:10:47,860 --> 00:10:50,979 S7: think that they shall be heard because of their much speaking. 179 00:10:51,540 --> 00:10:57,960 S7: Your father knows Already what your needs are. Does Jesus say, okay, 180 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:03,400 S7: so don't pray? No. In this manner, therefore pray. Our 181 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:06,880 S7: father who art in heaven. So what Jesus is saying, 182 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:12,040 S7: just because God has everything in control, the first thing 183 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:14,120 S7: we should do when we come before God is to 184 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:17,880 S7: give him praise. Our father who is in heaven, hallowed 185 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:22,760 S7: be thy name. Why? Because prayer is drawing our hearts 186 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:26,839 S7: toward the father. And in the midst of that, we 187 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:30,400 S7: ask him to meet our needs. We commit things to him, 188 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:32,880 S7: and maybe I'll get a chance to talk about what 189 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:36,400 S7: that means in a few moments. But what we're doing 190 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:41,360 S7: is ultimately we're submitting to him and coming to him 191 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:45,440 S7: and saying, father, I need you. And he may not 192 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,080 S7: answer the prayer like he did. The Apostle Paul, who 193 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,400 S7: prayed three times that the thorn might go, But God says, 194 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,410 S7: I don't just leave you alone. I'm going to give 195 00:11:54,410 --> 00:11:57,610 S7: you a substitute. I'm going to give you grace. And 196 00:11:57,610 --> 00:12:01,370 S7: Paul says, okay, if that's the case, I'll glory in 197 00:12:01,370 --> 00:12:06,090 S7: my infirmities so that the power of Christ remains in me. 198 00:12:06,090 --> 00:12:08,490 S7: So there's the Apostle Paul, who didn't get an answer 199 00:12:08,490 --> 00:12:11,250 S7: to the prayer that he wanted, but he did get 200 00:12:11,250 --> 00:12:12,050 S7: an answer. 201 00:12:12,250 --> 00:12:12,730 S6: Yeah. 202 00:12:13,010 --> 00:12:15,890 S4: Doctor Erwin Lutzer, our guest this morning, our guest expert 203 00:12:15,890 --> 00:12:19,010 S4: for this hour. If you have a question specifically taking 204 00:12:19,010 --> 00:12:23,930 S4: questions around prayer this morning with Doctor Lutzer 800 555 205 00:12:23,970 --> 00:12:30,050 S4: (789) 880-0555 7898. Coming up, we're going to tackle some of 206 00:12:30,050 --> 00:12:33,850 S4: the basics. Is there a right way to pray. Is 207 00:12:33,850 --> 00:12:36,490 S4: it really just talking to God? Is it that simple. 208 00:12:36,610 --> 00:12:37,290 S4: Coming up. 209 00:12:37,890 --> 00:12:41,010 S1: Get your info from a source you can trust. It's 210 00:12:41,050 --> 00:12:43,530 S1: Ask the Experts week with Carl and crew. 211 00:12:43,850 --> 00:12:46,250 S8: Ask the expert this morning taking your questions. 212 00:12:46,250 --> 00:12:52,630 S4: On prayer for Doctor Erwin Lutzer. 855 five 7898 800 213 00:12:52,630 --> 00:12:57,550 S4: 555 7898. Misty calling in this morning from Dayton, Tennessee. 214 00:12:57,590 --> 00:12:59,470 S4: Go ahead with your question for Doctor Lutzer. 215 00:13:00,870 --> 00:13:03,829 S9: Good morning. My question is, and it's ironic that you 216 00:13:03,830 --> 00:13:07,750 S9: mentioned it before the break about how to pray. Um, 217 00:13:07,790 --> 00:13:10,750 S9: is it I mean, when I pray, I just pray 218 00:13:10,750 --> 00:13:12,950 S9: like I'm just talking to my best friend. I mean, 219 00:13:12,990 --> 00:13:17,630 S9: is that wrong? Is there a proper way to pray? 220 00:13:18,590 --> 00:13:20,750 S6: That's a great question. What do you say, pastor? 221 00:13:22,270 --> 00:13:26,590 S7: You know, prayer is talking to your great friend. But 222 00:13:26,590 --> 00:13:28,790 S7: there's a sense in which what we need to do 223 00:13:28,830 --> 00:13:32,670 S7: is to recognize who this friend is. I'm a little 224 00:13:32,710 --> 00:13:35,830 S7: bit troubled by those who just jump into the presence 225 00:13:35,830 --> 00:13:39,310 S7: of God. Hey, sometimes this happens before a church service. 226 00:13:39,350 --> 00:13:43,229 S7: Let's have a quick word of prayer. Lord bless this, etc. 227 00:13:43,630 --> 00:13:46,830 S7: there's no problem with that except this. We should take 228 00:13:46,870 --> 00:13:50,510 S7: a few seconds and realize who is it that we're 229 00:13:50,510 --> 00:13:54,410 S7: talking to? I mean, we're coming into the presence of 230 00:13:54,410 --> 00:13:57,890 S7: the Almighty. This is not a small matter. And sometimes 231 00:13:57,890 --> 00:14:02,650 S7: we trivialize prayer that way. On the other hand, to 232 00:14:02,690 --> 00:14:06,890 S7: this dear sister who called, I always love to refer 233 00:14:06,890 --> 00:14:11,850 S7: to Peter. He's drowning because he's walking toward Jesus. He 234 00:14:11,890 --> 00:14:14,930 S7: no longer is looking at Jesus. He's looking at the wind, 235 00:14:15,290 --> 00:14:20,530 S7: and he doesn't have time for a formal introduction. He 236 00:14:20,530 --> 00:14:24,690 S7: just simply shouts, Lord, save me! Now when you're going 237 00:14:24,730 --> 00:14:29,490 S7: under in a lake, you don't have time to think 238 00:14:29,490 --> 00:14:33,610 S7: about a lot of things and be very formal. You're 239 00:14:33,610 --> 00:14:36,970 S7: just desperate. So I don't think that we should say 240 00:14:36,970 --> 00:14:42,090 S7: there's just one way to pray. Except that I like 241 00:14:42,090 --> 00:14:44,650 S7: to begin my day in. That happened again this morning 242 00:14:44,650 --> 00:14:48,250 S7: where I. I give God praise. Sit back in my chair, 243 00:14:48,290 --> 00:14:51,750 S7: remind myself of who God is and who it is 244 00:14:51,750 --> 00:14:56,590 S7: that I'm talking to. So that's the way to pray. 245 00:14:56,590 --> 00:15:01,910 S7: But after that, yes, read the Psalms. David just shared 246 00:15:01,910 --> 00:15:05,270 S7: his heart, and sometimes he unloaded at God, you know. 247 00:15:05,310 --> 00:15:08,670 S7: Where are you? Um. You know I trust you. Are 248 00:15:08,670 --> 00:15:12,350 S7: you always going to turn against me? God can handle 249 00:15:12,390 --> 00:15:17,350 S7: our honesty. He really can. So we should come reverently, 250 00:15:17,350 --> 00:15:22,510 S7: but come honestly because he knows the truth anyway. And 251 00:15:22,550 --> 00:15:25,950 S7: as a result of that, I think it will enhance 252 00:15:25,950 --> 00:15:27,790 S7: our fellowship with the Almighty. 253 00:15:28,310 --> 00:15:31,270 S6: A lot of questions coming in here. Ask the expert 254 00:15:31,350 --> 00:15:39,510 S6: doctor Lutzer with us right now. 800 555 7898. Uh, pastor, 255 00:15:39,510 --> 00:15:44,070 S6: with regard to praying the will of God, someone asked, 256 00:15:44,070 --> 00:15:48,390 S6: how do we know to pray the will of God? 257 00:15:48,430 --> 00:15:51,410 S6: This must be directly linked to the Word of God. 258 00:15:51,450 --> 00:15:52,250 S6: What do you say? 259 00:15:53,370 --> 00:15:56,090 S7: Yes, indeed. And you know, if you're looking for the 260 00:15:56,090 --> 00:15:59,610 S7: will of God, there are 5 or 6 passages in 261 00:15:59,610 --> 00:16:03,010 S7: the New Testament that tell you exactly what the will 262 00:16:03,050 --> 00:16:06,970 S7: of God is. Here is the will of God, your sanctification. 263 00:16:06,970 --> 00:16:09,770 S7: Give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God. 264 00:16:10,010 --> 00:16:14,010 S7: And I've always maintained, Carl, that if we obey the 265 00:16:14,010 --> 00:16:17,530 S7: will of God that is revealed, God will guide us 266 00:16:17,530 --> 00:16:19,770 S7: in those matters that are unrevealed. 267 00:16:19,810 --> 00:16:21,010 S6: Oh that's beautiful. Yeah. 268 00:16:21,050 --> 00:16:24,850 S7: You have to make a decision. Okay. And you don't know. 269 00:16:24,890 --> 00:16:28,130 S7: And I've had to do this many times. Is it 270 00:16:28,130 --> 00:16:30,210 S7: going to be a or is it going to be B. 271 00:16:30,610 --> 00:16:33,250 S7: So what I try to do is to say, Lord, 272 00:16:33,530 --> 00:16:36,010 S7: you know that I'm leaning toward this way, but if 273 00:16:36,010 --> 00:16:39,450 S7: I'm wrong, please close the door. You would be surprised 274 00:16:39,890 --> 00:16:43,770 S7: at the number of ways that God has to lead us. 275 00:16:44,170 --> 00:16:48,130 S7: The question is a matter of our hearts. Think of 276 00:16:48,130 --> 00:16:51,220 S7: all the creative ways in which God led Jonah back 277 00:16:51,220 --> 00:16:53,860 S7: to Nineveh. I mean, you know, he prepared a fish. 278 00:16:53,860 --> 00:16:56,900 S7: He prepared a wind. He prepared all this stuff because 279 00:16:56,940 --> 00:17:00,580 S7: God says, even though he's out of my will, I'm 280 00:17:00,620 --> 00:17:04,020 S7: going to get him back. So the problem isn't with God. 281 00:17:04,340 --> 00:17:07,100 S7: Do the six things. I don't have all of them 282 00:17:07,100 --> 00:17:10,580 S7: in my mind right now. But do those things that say, 283 00:17:10,580 --> 00:17:12,420 S7: this is the will of God. 284 00:17:12,460 --> 00:17:12,900 S6: Yeah. 285 00:17:13,300 --> 00:17:16,780 S7: And obey those, and you'll be surprised at how God 286 00:17:16,780 --> 00:17:19,939 S7: will lead you in matters that are unrevealed. 287 00:17:20,220 --> 00:17:26,020 S4: Taking your questions for Pastor Erwin Lutzer. 855 five 7898. 288 00:17:26,220 --> 00:17:29,380 S4: Drawing from his book, Why Doesn't God answer my prayers? 289 00:17:29,619 --> 00:17:32,419 S4: If you want more, just text the word oh, what 290 00:17:32,420 --> 00:17:35,100 S4: word do we have for media? Media? Text media to 291 00:17:35,140 --> 00:17:42,620 S4: 800 555 7898. Text media to 800 555 7898. Let's 292 00:17:42,619 --> 00:17:45,460 S4: go to Bert calling in this morning from Forest Park, Illinois. 293 00:17:45,500 --> 00:17:47,300 S4: Give us your question for Pastor Lutzer. 294 00:17:48,180 --> 00:17:50,760 S10: Yeah. Thank you pastor. And a big fan. If this 295 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:52,560 S10: is my last day on Earth, I want you to know. 296 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:55,240 S10: Thank you for your ministry and your service. Um, here's 297 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:58,200 S10: my question. If I'm on a prayer team at church 298 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:01,200 S10: and prayed for somebody and the person they prayed for died. 299 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:03,360 S10: How do you keep them encouraged? Because what I said 300 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:07,400 S10: to them, because this is in my spirit. Um, God 301 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:09,160 S10: is going to heal either on this side of heaven, 302 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:11,879 S10: on the other side of heaven. But the answer came. 303 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:14,159 S10: And so while they're gone, you know, and they were 304 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:16,280 S10: saved and all those pieces. So we know they're in heaven. 305 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,600 S10: But the person was still discouraged. So how do you 306 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:22,600 S10: pray through something like that when that request comes up 307 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:24,440 S10: and then keep that person encouraged? 308 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:29,320 S7: And that's an excellent question. And every pastor has had 309 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:32,320 S7: to ask that question and answer it in some way. 310 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:38,679 S7: It's not easy. But the truth is this ultimately, God 311 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:42,400 S7: is God and we aren't. And we have to tell 312 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:47,440 S7: him that there are many unknowns, but in the end, 313 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:51,300 S7: things are going to look differently in the end. What 314 00:18:51,300 --> 00:18:55,620 S7: we'll discover is that God did all things well. The 315 00:18:55,619 --> 00:18:58,380 S7: reason it's so difficult for us to say that on 316 00:18:58,380 --> 00:19:02,060 S7: this side is we only you know, the other day 317 00:19:02,060 --> 00:19:05,780 S7: somebody was giving an illustration of, uh, flying on a plane, 318 00:19:05,940 --> 00:19:08,540 S7: and I think he was flying into San Francisco, though 319 00:19:08,540 --> 00:19:11,380 S7: I could be wrong. But anyway, all that he could 320 00:19:11,380 --> 00:19:14,420 S7: see is water, and the plane is getting lower and 321 00:19:14,420 --> 00:19:16,900 S7: lower and lower, and he thinks we're going to crash. 322 00:19:17,220 --> 00:19:21,700 S7: But then suddenly, you know, I guess the, uh, runway 323 00:19:21,700 --> 00:19:24,540 S7: appeared and all was well. Now, this is what he said. 324 00:19:25,140 --> 00:19:29,419 S7: I could only see out of the window. The pilot 325 00:19:29,900 --> 00:19:34,220 S7: had a windshield, and he could see things that I 326 00:19:34,220 --> 00:19:37,980 S7: couldn't see. And, you know, ultimately, that's what it comes 327 00:19:37,980 --> 00:19:42,899 S7: down to. God sees things we don't see. And, uh, 328 00:19:43,260 --> 00:19:46,340 S7: you say, well, that takes a lot of faith. Exactly. 329 00:19:46,780 --> 00:19:49,920 S7: And the trial of your faith is more precious than 330 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:53,000 S7: gold that perishes, even though it be tried with fire. 331 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:55,639 S7: So there are many comforts that you can give to 332 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:58,840 S7: people like this, and if they are in emotional distress, 333 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:04,560 S7: expect that life is hard. Sorrow is fine. Yeah, but 334 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:06,720 S7: we don't sorrow as those who have no hope. 335 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:09,520 S6: Amen. Thank you for that question. Going back to the 336 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:13,240 S6: phone lines. Jacob, first time caller in Chattanooga, Tennessee. What's 337 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:14,879 S6: your question for Pastor Lutzer? 338 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:20,879 S11: Hey, Colin. Uh, thank you guys for taking my call. 339 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:23,680 S6: What's your question, Jacob? 340 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:29,360 S11: Uh, my question is about surrendering to God's will and, um, 341 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:32,560 S11: struggling with that. And what kind of, I guess, praying 342 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:36,119 S11: for that. Um, to help, um, the heart be submitted 343 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:36,760 S11: to that. 344 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:44,719 S7: Ultimately, if I understand your correct your question correctly, you know, 345 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:48,139 S7: I'm thinking of Romans chapter 12. Present yourself to God, 346 00:20:48,140 --> 00:20:52,420 S7: a living sacrifice. And I think in that context, again, 347 00:20:52,420 --> 00:20:56,540 S7: it does talk about the perfect will of God. So, 348 00:20:56,580 --> 00:21:01,380 S7: my brother, you'd be surprised at the number of ways 349 00:21:01,380 --> 00:21:04,899 S7: that God has to finally get us to say yes. 350 00:21:05,700 --> 00:21:08,900 S7: And what he does is he often has to show 351 00:21:08,900 --> 00:21:11,020 S7: us that our way is not as good as his. 352 00:21:11,340 --> 00:21:14,220 S7: And at the end of the day, what we have 353 00:21:14,220 --> 00:21:17,740 S7: to do is to say, not my will, but thine 354 00:21:17,780 --> 00:21:22,340 S7: be done. And whatever that means, that's what you have 355 00:21:22,340 --> 00:21:23,260 S7: to accept. 356 00:21:24,460 --> 00:21:27,179 S6: I love that coming up here, pastor. We want to 357 00:21:27,220 --> 00:21:31,740 S6: tackle this one. It comes in different forms. Prayer has 358 00:21:31,740 --> 00:21:34,899 S6: been commonly seen in the West as a one way 359 00:21:35,180 --> 00:21:42,220 S6: proposition and intercom. But God paints it as conversation. We 360 00:21:42,220 --> 00:21:47,030 S6: talk with him and he prompts us. What does that 361 00:21:47,030 --> 00:21:50,550 S6: look like in my life? We'll get that question answered 362 00:21:50,550 --> 00:21:54,310 S6: with Doctor Lutzer. You got a question? He's got answers 363 00:21:54,310 --> 00:21:58,590 S6: 800 555 7898. What a week. 364 00:21:59,830 --> 00:22:04,030 S1: You've got questions. They've got answers. It's Ask the Experts 365 00:22:04,070 --> 00:22:05,510 S1: week with Carl and crew. 366 00:22:05,710 --> 00:22:08,910 S6: Important question here. Asks the experts all week long. And, boy, 367 00:22:08,910 --> 00:22:11,470 S6: we're in the middle of it here with Doctor Erwin Lutzer. 368 00:22:11,510 --> 00:22:14,629 S6: Great questions coming in. All we are lacking is yours. 369 00:22:14,670 --> 00:22:19,310 S6: 800 555 7898 pastor, a question that came in. And 370 00:22:19,310 --> 00:22:21,870 S6: let me just frame it. This is multiple people have 371 00:22:21,869 --> 00:22:25,670 S6: this perspective. A lot of people wonder, uh, have I 372 00:22:25,710 --> 00:22:29,390 S6: been missing something in prayer? And that is prayer is 373 00:22:29,390 --> 00:22:32,350 S6: often seen, I think, in the West, more so than 374 00:22:32,350 --> 00:22:36,710 S6: other regions around the globe. As a intercom system, we're 375 00:22:36,710 --> 00:22:40,910 S6: talking to God. Whereas one great spiritual man recently said, no, 376 00:22:40,910 --> 00:22:43,990 S6: it should be more like a walkie talkie. How do 377 00:22:43,990 --> 00:22:47,129 S6: we release the button and listen to God, pastor. 378 00:22:48,570 --> 00:22:51,650 S7: You know, that's an excellent question. And as I have 379 00:22:51,650 --> 00:22:54,970 S7: frequently heard you say, there are two different ways to 380 00:22:55,010 --> 00:22:58,290 S7: fall off of a log because it has two ends. 381 00:22:58,850 --> 00:23:01,250 S7: On the one hand, you find those who think that 382 00:23:01,250 --> 00:23:04,970 S7: they have direct access. God talks to them and gives 383 00:23:04,970 --> 00:23:09,729 S7: them messages, verbal messages that are unfiltered. You know, God 384 00:23:09,770 --> 00:23:15,290 S7: told me this about you. That is very dangerous. I've 385 00:23:15,290 --> 00:23:18,050 S7: known people who thought that they were speaking on behalf 386 00:23:18,050 --> 00:23:22,210 S7: of God, and it's very clear they were not. On 387 00:23:22,210 --> 00:23:25,690 S7: the other hand, what you have is God, the slot machine. 388 00:23:26,050 --> 00:23:29,050 S7: I come before you and hear my needs for today. 389 00:23:29,050 --> 00:23:32,250 S7: I want you to do six things for me. Goodbye. 390 00:23:32,570 --> 00:23:36,970 S7: And I'm going to work. Here's here's the way in 391 00:23:36,970 --> 00:23:41,210 S7: which I see it. God does respond to us, and 392 00:23:41,210 --> 00:23:46,150 S7: we should expect a response, but it may not be verbal. 393 00:23:46,550 --> 00:23:49,750 S7: In fact, as I say, that could lead into some 394 00:23:49,750 --> 00:23:54,230 S7: dangerous waters. But it is a sense of his presence. 395 00:23:54,710 --> 00:23:58,149 S7: You know, you think, for example, of Paul's words in Philippians. 396 00:23:58,190 --> 00:24:02,109 S7: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, 397 00:24:02,109 --> 00:24:04,869 S7: let your requests be made known unto God. And the 398 00:24:04,869 --> 00:24:09,270 S7: peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your 399 00:24:09,270 --> 00:24:12,629 S7: heart and mind. So there are times when the response 400 00:24:12,630 --> 00:24:17,510 S7: of God is just a sense of the deep confidence 401 00:24:17,710 --> 00:24:22,190 S7: of his presence, and a deep sense of peace, that 402 00:24:22,190 --> 00:24:26,670 S7: this is in his hands. And for me, that is sufficient. Yeah, 403 00:24:26,710 --> 00:24:32,270 S7: but exactly. We should expect to hear from him, but 404 00:24:32,270 --> 00:24:36,469 S7: not verbally, but according to his promises. And then there 405 00:24:36,510 --> 00:24:38,750 S7: are times when we speak to God and we feel 406 00:24:38,750 --> 00:24:41,590 S7: that the heavens are silent. And we may not know 407 00:24:41,590 --> 00:24:44,430 S7: the reason for this, but we have to analyze our 408 00:24:44,570 --> 00:24:48,330 S7: own lives. You know, James says, he says you offer 409 00:24:48,330 --> 00:24:51,130 S7: requests to God and you don't get it so that 410 00:24:51,130 --> 00:24:54,210 S7: you might consume it on your own lusts. In other words, 411 00:24:54,210 --> 00:24:58,730 S7: it's possible that we have prayed a prayer that is 412 00:24:58,730 --> 00:25:03,210 S7: so selfish and so, so self centered. If I could 413 00:25:03,210 --> 00:25:06,250 S7: put it that way, with all kinds of sin in 414 00:25:06,250 --> 00:25:10,970 S7: our lives. And so we can't really expect the blessings 415 00:25:10,970 --> 00:25:15,770 S7: of prayer. And sometimes it is just a sense of 416 00:25:15,770 --> 00:25:19,689 S7: his presence and saying, yes, Lord, I see your hand 417 00:25:19,690 --> 00:25:23,650 S7: in this. Now, in addition to this I frequently seen 418 00:25:23,650 --> 00:25:25,490 S7: in my life, and I'm sure that this is true 419 00:25:25,490 --> 00:25:29,290 S7: of everyone who's listening. We look back and we see 420 00:25:29,330 --> 00:25:33,409 S7: ways in which God led us that we didn't know about. 421 00:25:33,890 --> 00:25:38,649 S7: And so there's that confidence that he's leading us, even 422 00:25:38,650 --> 00:25:41,610 S7: though sometimes the way is unclear. Going forward. 423 00:25:41,970 --> 00:25:45,220 S4: Doctor Erwin Lutzer with us this morning taking your questions 424 00:25:45,220 --> 00:25:51,740 S4: on prayer. (800) 555-7898 CTV first time caller from Chicago. Go 425 00:25:51,780 --> 00:25:53,180 S4: ahead with your question. 426 00:25:54,740 --> 00:25:58,780 S12: Um, my question is, um, I have read a lot 427 00:25:58,820 --> 00:26:04,020 S12: of books on prayer. I go to prayer services and 428 00:26:04,940 --> 00:26:08,659 S12: I really would love to have a better prayer life. 429 00:26:09,140 --> 00:26:13,580 S12: But when I read the books, I just get fired 430 00:26:13,580 --> 00:26:16,220 S12: up a few days, and then later on it dies down. 431 00:26:16,220 --> 00:26:21,260 S12: So do you have any tips or what do I 432 00:26:21,260 --> 00:26:24,220 S12: do to improve my my prayer life? 433 00:26:25,340 --> 00:26:27,900 S7: I think that's really an excellent question. And I would 434 00:26:27,900 --> 00:26:31,580 S7: say this, that when you want to give, you improve 435 00:26:31,580 --> 00:26:35,619 S7: your prayer life, God will probably bring enough trouble into 436 00:26:35,619 --> 00:26:38,580 S7: your life to help you to recognize that you need 437 00:26:38,580 --> 00:26:43,020 S7: him every day. But the other thing is, and there's 438 00:26:43,020 --> 00:26:45,760 S7: a lot of mystery here. And I know that the 439 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:49,960 S7: name of this segment is called Ask the Experts. And 440 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:53,480 S7: I think to myself, my, you know, you should be 441 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:57,640 S7: calling somebody else. But here's the point. What we have 442 00:26:57,640 --> 00:26:59,840 S7: to do is to realize there are times when God 443 00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:04,040 S7: gives us a burden, and we pray for that burden. 444 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:07,160 S7: And when the answer is no, we keep praying and 445 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:10,920 S7: keep seeking God. I mean, this certainly happened to Daniel 446 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:15,679 S7: in the Old Testament, many other illustrations. Sometimes God just 447 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:18,000 S7: you know, there's a verse in Isaiah that says, give 448 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:22,080 S7: me no rest. In other words, keep coming. So to 449 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:27,639 S7: those who are disappointed with God, begin with worship. All 450 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:33,199 S7: the time. You know that word acts. How does it go? Adoration, confession, 451 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:37,760 S7: thanksgiving and supplication. That actually is a good way to 452 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:41,280 S7: remember it. So you always begin by giving God praise. 453 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:44,780 S7: You always begin by submitting to him, because that's the 454 00:27:44,780 --> 00:27:49,900 S7: main thing. You persist in the concern that he has 455 00:27:49,900 --> 00:27:53,620 S7: laid on your heart and you don't give up. So 456 00:27:53,619 --> 00:27:57,020 S7: you keep going. Why? God just wants us to go 457 00:27:57,020 --> 00:28:01,180 S7: deeper into him, if I might use that kind of terminology. 458 00:28:01,660 --> 00:28:05,260 S7: He wants to keep us on a short leash. And 459 00:28:05,260 --> 00:28:09,860 S7: so why? Because he wants us in his presence. And 460 00:28:09,859 --> 00:28:12,899 S7: if we can begin to think of prayer as being 461 00:28:12,900 --> 00:28:16,140 S7: in the presence of God and think of it that way, 462 00:28:16,140 --> 00:28:18,900 S7: rather than just, here's what I want you to do today, 463 00:28:18,900 --> 00:28:20,460 S7: it changes everything. 464 00:28:21,580 --> 00:28:24,899 S6: Pastor Lutzer, our guest right now, asked the experts coming 465 00:28:24,900 --> 00:28:26,540 S6: up here in a moment. I'm going to ask Steve 466 00:28:26,540 --> 00:28:28,340 S6: in Florida to stay on the horn. He's got a 467 00:28:28,340 --> 00:28:33,100 S6: great question. It deals with depression, mental illness, even suicidal 468 00:28:33,100 --> 00:28:36,660 S6: thoughts and others and questions on how to pray for that. 469 00:28:36,700 --> 00:28:39,260 S6: I'll let him pitch it to you. Pastor. That's coming 470 00:28:39,260 --> 00:28:45,040 S6: up straight ahead. Your questions for Pastor Lutzer 800 555 471 00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:50,360 S6: 7898 800 555 7898. 472 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:54,800 S1: When you don't know who's better to ask than an expert. 473 00:28:55,040 --> 00:28:56,920 S1: You're listening to Carl and crew. 474 00:28:57,080 --> 00:28:59,680 S6: Yeah. Ask the experts here with Carl and crew. What 475 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:05,960 S6: a week we're having Doctor Lutzer with us right now. (800) 555-7898. 476 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:08,959 S6: Time is going by fast here, Steve. Thanks for holding on. 477 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:10,840 S6: What's your question for Pastor Lutzer? 478 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:17,440 S13: Hi. Good morning, pastor. And I have a question. How 479 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:22,880 S13: do we pray to God for ourselves and for others 480 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:28,800 S13: and with others that are dealing with depression, mental illness, 481 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:33,480 S13: or really in the deep darkness of suicidal thoughts? 482 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:36,160 S6: Thank you for the question, Steve. What do you say, pastor? 483 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:39,320 S7: Well, Steve, first of all, I'm not an expert in this, 484 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:42,220 S7: so I speak with hesitation, but I hope I'm also 485 00:29:42,220 --> 00:29:44,500 S7: going to be able to speak with a word of 486 00:29:44,500 --> 00:29:48,460 S7: encouragement and hope. There was a man by the name 487 00:29:48,460 --> 00:29:53,860 S7: of William Cooper, sometimes pronounced Cooper in England. He wrote 488 00:29:53,860 --> 00:29:57,420 S7: the song there is a fountain filled with blood. He 489 00:29:57,460 --> 00:30:00,700 S7: wrote the words God moves in a mysterious way, his 490 00:30:00,700 --> 00:30:05,300 S7: wonders to perform. And yet six times he tried to 491 00:30:05,300 --> 00:30:09,580 S7: commit suicide. He obviously had a mental illness. He lived 492 00:30:09,580 --> 00:30:13,540 S7: with depression. But in the book of Habakkuk, there's a 493 00:30:13,540 --> 00:30:18,420 S7: prayer that the prophet prays at the end after devastating 494 00:30:18,420 --> 00:30:24,260 S7: news about Israel going to be consumed by Babylon. And 495 00:30:24,540 --> 00:30:28,860 S7: Cowper took those words and wrote them and put them 496 00:30:28,860 --> 00:30:32,460 S7: into a song. And I do quote them, by the way, 497 00:30:32,460 --> 00:30:35,220 S7: in the book that we're talking about. But here's what 498 00:30:35,220 --> 00:30:38,660 S7: I want to say. Cowper wrote The Vine or Fig 499 00:30:38,700 --> 00:30:41,990 S7: should neither their vaunted fruit should bear. Though all the 500 00:30:41,990 --> 00:30:46,590 S7: fields should wither, nor flocks be in be there. Yet God, 501 00:30:46,590 --> 00:30:50,070 S7: the same abiding his praise shall tune my voice. For 502 00:30:50,070 --> 00:30:54,190 S7: while in him confiding, I cannot but rejoice. Here's what 503 00:30:54,190 --> 00:30:58,110 S7: I want to say to those who are depressed. They 504 00:30:58,110 --> 00:31:00,910 S7: may go for counseling and all, and that may be helpful. 505 00:31:00,950 --> 00:31:04,950 S7: I'm not opposed to that. But if you have a pulse, 506 00:31:05,790 --> 00:31:09,510 S7: you still have a praise. And what we need to 507 00:31:09,550 --> 00:31:15,270 S7: do is to look beyond our feelings, beyond our circumstances, 508 00:31:16,150 --> 00:31:19,350 S7: beyond what we want to do. And we have to 509 00:31:19,390 --> 00:31:24,030 S7: live a life of praise. And when we do that, 510 00:31:24,830 --> 00:31:29,190 S7: it so often lifts our spirits and helps us to 511 00:31:29,230 --> 00:31:34,350 S7: know that even in my depression, God is here and 512 00:31:34,350 --> 00:31:38,310 S7: I can honor him. And when I honor him, I 513 00:31:38,310 --> 00:31:42,730 S7: begin to experience his sense of help and peace now. 514 00:31:42,970 --> 00:31:45,650 S7: Beyond that, there are many things that I don't know 515 00:31:45,650 --> 00:31:49,010 S7: about mental illness and all that. But I want to 516 00:31:49,010 --> 00:31:52,170 S7: say to everyone listening, no matter where you are in 517 00:31:52,170 --> 00:31:57,850 S7: your prayer life, begin with praise. Always begin with praise. 518 00:31:57,850 --> 00:32:02,450 S7: Begin with thanksgiving. Find things for which you can be thankful. 519 00:32:02,610 --> 00:32:06,250 S7: And it's amazing how this will change your attitude. 520 00:32:06,570 --> 00:32:10,170 S4: Great question Steve. Thank you so much, doctor Erwin Lutzer, 521 00:32:10,210 --> 00:32:15,170 S4: our guest expert this morning. 805 55 7898 taking your 522 00:32:15,170 --> 00:32:17,730 S4: questions on prayer. Coming up. This one came in by 523 00:32:17,730 --> 00:32:19,970 S4: text message. I think it's a good one. How does 524 00:32:19,970 --> 00:32:23,370 S4: someone who gets nervous and tongue tied when praying in 525 00:32:23,370 --> 00:32:26,930 S4: front of people improve that coming up? 526 00:32:28,090 --> 00:32:31,330 S1: Get in the know with life's biggest questions. It's Ask 527 00:32:31,370 --> 00:32:33,450 S1: the Experts week with Carl and crew. 528 00:32:33,690 --> 00:32:36,290 S4: I remember going to a new church, and I noticed 529 00:32:36,290 --> 00:32:39,790 S4: early on that when the offering would come around, Sometimes 530 00:32:39,790 --> 00:32:42,430 S4: they would ask someone from the congregation to take the 531 00:32:42,430 --> 00:32:45,750 S4: microphone and just pray for the offering. And I remember 532 00:32:45,790 --> 00:32:48,910 S4: it didn't take many Sundays before I started to have 533 00:32:48,910 --> 00:32:51,910 S4: a sense of panic when that time was coming. Boy, 534 00:32:51,910 --> 00:32:54,190 S4: I hope he never passes that mic to me because 535 00:32:54,190 --> 00:32:56,910 S4: I certainly don't want to pray in front of everybody. 536 00:32:57,350 --> 00:33:00,550 S4: Doctor Erwin Lutzer. This question came in by text message, 537 00:33:00,550 --> 00:33:02,990 S4: but many people feel like this. Like I can pray 538 00:33:02,990 --> 00:33:05,910 S4: in my prayer closet, but in on a mic or 539 00:33:05,910 --> 00:33:07,790 S4: in front of a group of people in a small 540 00:33:07,790 --> 00:33:10,790 S4: group that can feel very intimidating. What do you say? 541 00:33:11,670 --> 00:33:14,430 S7: Well, Ali, I think you're the one to answer that question. 542 00:33:14,430 --> 00:33:16,190 S7: You seem to have come a long way. 543 00:33:16,190 --> 00:33:16,670 S3: From. 544 00:33:16,990 --> 00:33:20,230 S7: Being fearful that you would pray in public to be 545 00:33:20,230 --> 00:33:23,230 S7: on a national program, so I think you're the one 546 00:33:23,230 --> 00:33:26,470 S7: that should answer. But here's the point. It's okay if 547 00:33:26,510 --> 00:33:32,350 S7: you feel uncomfortable praying in public, and I hope that 548 00:33:32,350 --> 00:33:36,430 S7: you aren't forced to if that's the case. But at 549 00:33:36,430 --> 00:33:40,210 S7: the same time, you know there is growth here and 550 00:33:40,250 --> 00:33:43,250 S7: there is prayer that happens in the heart. There's prayer 551 00:33:43,250 --> 00:33:46,250 S7: that happens in your private life. And even if you're 552 00:33:46,250 --> 00:33:49,770 S7: uncomfortable in praying out loud, you also may be uncomfortable 553 00:33:49,770 --> 00:33:52,810 S7: just speaking out loud. That's okay. You may grow in 554 00:33:52,850 --> 00:33:56,210 S7: that department, or you may not. It's your heart that 555 00:33:56,210 --> 00:33:57,050 S7: God wants. 556 00:33:58,370 --> 00:34:02,090 S6: I love that Pastor Lutzer is our guest right now. Uh, 557 00:34:02,170 --> 00:34:05,530 S6: there's a lot of questions coming in with regard to 558 00:34:05,570 --> 00:34:11,049 S6: spiritual trajectory and prayer for this sanctification, which is a big, 559 00:34:11,050 --> 00:34:14,529 S6: fancy word for growing up in Christ Jesus. Uh, what 560 00:34:14,530 --> 00:34:17,330 S6: are we looking for when we pray that way? Let's 561 00:34:17,330 --> 00:34:20,810 S6: say we're praying to overcome a temptation. What are we 562 00:34:20,810 --> 00:34:22,089 S6: looking for, pastor? 563 00:34:24,010 --> 00:34:28,370 S7: Well, what we're looking for is, yes, in the Lord's Prayer. 564 00:34:28,410 --> 00:34:32,650 S7: You know, lead us not into temptation. Deliver us from evil. 565 00:34:33,010 --> 00:34:35,450 S7: So that is a legitimate prayer. But there are also 566 00:34:35,489 --> 00:34:38,390 S7: other things in the Word of God that we need 567 00:34:38,390 --> 00:34:42,350 S7: to be obedient to, to see that prayer fulfilled. We 568 00:34:42,350 --> 00:34:45,230 S7: can't simply say, okay, God, I've prayed about that. Now 569 00:34:45,230 --> 00:34:49,230 S7: I'm okay. I mean, the Bible talks about spiritual warfare. 570 00:34:49,430 --> 00:34:53,590 S7: It speaks about guarding our hearts and so forth. So 571 00:34:53,750 --> 00:34:56,790 S7: I hope I'm answering your question, Karl. I'm not entirely 572 00:34:56,790 --> 00:34:59,430 S7: sure that I am, but that's what comes to mind. 573 00:34:59,630 --> 00:35:03,350 S6: Well that's good. Um, how? Just a quick follow up 574 00:35:03,350 --> 00:35:06,870 S6: to that. I have found that when I'm listening to 575 00:35:06,910 --> 00:35:09,910 S6: the Lord in prayer, he brings Scripture to mind. In 576 00:35:09,910 --> 00:35:14,150 S6: the absence of Scripture, creates a vacuum for which almost 577 00:35:14,150 --> 00:35:17,670 S6: any of my own wisdom could come in. How central 578 00:35:17,670 --> 00:35:20,989 S6: is the Word of God? And I mean, this is 579 00:35:20,989 --> 00:35:24,030 S6: a softball, right, pastor? It's central, isn't it, to prayer. 580 00:35:24,390 --> 00:35:27,109 S7: Well, it is, and even this morning, before I got 581 00:35:27,110 --> 00:35:29,950 S7: out of bed, I was praying. And what was I praying? 582 00:35:29,950 --> 00:35:33,710 S7: I was actually praying Scripture. And what people need to 583 00:35:33,750 --> 00:35:35,830 S7: know is, if you're new in the prayer life and 584 00:35:35,830 --> 00:35:38,680 S7: you don't know how to pray for your child or whatever. 585 00:35:38,719 --> 00:35:43,759 S7: Look at the promises of God. Look at Paul's prayers 586 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:47,240 S7: and pray those. And when you pray a prayer that 587 00:35:47,239 --> 00:35:51,959 S7: Paul gives, I was actually praying. Ephesians chapter one. When 588 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:54,719 S7: you pray a prayer like that, you don't even have 589 00:35:54,719 --> 00:35:56,840 S7: to add at the end if it be thy will. 590 00:35:56,960 --> 00:36:01,480 S7: That is the will of God. The Apostle Paul constantly 591 00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:03,759 S7: you know that your that the eyes of your heart 592 00:36:03,800 --> 00:36:05,840 S7: may be enlightened, that you might know what is the 593 00:36:05,840 --> 00:36:09,480 S7: hope of your calling and the inheritance of the saints. 594 00:36:09,719 --> 00:36:14,359 S7: Those prayers are always God's will. So if you know 595 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:17,040 S7: where to begin, that's a great place to begin. Paul 596 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:22,520 S7: prays about 12 different prayers in the epistles. The letters 597 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:24,400 S7: that he wrote begin there. 598 00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:27,840 S4: Doctor Erwin Lutzer, our guest this morning. This one came 599 00:36:27,840 --> 00:36:31,120 S4: in and could have come in many times over. Someone says, 600 00:36:31,120 --> 00:36:35,000 S4: I'm constantly praying for my son's salvation, but I've not 601 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:37,300 S4: seen a change. What do I do now? 602 00:36:38,219 --> 00:36:42,700 S7: Uh, just keep praying and make sure that you, uh, 603 00:36:43,140 --> 00:36:47,060 S7: provide an environment where the prodigal son is willing to 604 00:36:47,100 --> 00:36:51,700 S7: come home. And, uh, all that you can do is parents. 605 00:36:51,700 --> 00:36:55,740 S7: You can't convert your child. You can pray that God 606 00:36:55,739 --> 00:37:00,819 S7: would convert them, but you can't. Conversion is of God. So, 607 00:37:00,860 --> 00:37:05,259 S7: my dear mother, my dear father, whoever you are, keep praying, 608 00:37:05,420 --> 00:37:09,819 S7: keep interceding. Many illustrations come to mind that we don't 609 00:37:09,820 --> 00:37:14,100 S7: have time to give right now of parents who kept praying, 610 00:37:14,660 --> 00:37:18,380 S7: and God eventually answered their prayers, but it didn't happen 611 00:37:18,380 --> 00:37:19,180 S7: right away. 612 00:37:19,580 --> 00:37:22,580 S4: Doctor Lutzer, this is a heartfelt question from someone who 613 00:37:22,580 --> 00:37:25,940 S4: says they've gotten really frustrated with God with my life, 614 00:37:25,940 --> 00:37:28,860 S4: I've talked to him angrily. I believe suffering from chronic 615 00:37:28,860 --> 00:37:31,819 S4: anxiety and dealing with despair has led me there. My 616 00:37:31,820 --> 00:37:33,859 S4: question is, how can I know God will still hear 617 00:37:33,900 --> 00:37:37,400 S4: me and see me since I fear I have offended him. 618 00:37:38,520 --> 00:37:43,240 S7: I go to Psalm 77 and read it there. The 619 00:37:43,239 --> 00:37:46,480 S7: author I think it may be Asaph. He just pesters 620 00:37:46,480 --> 00:37:50,720 S7: God with one question after another just spills out his disappointment. 621 00:37:50,719 --> 00:37:55,080 S7: But the psalm does end with praise. So to this 622 00:37:55,080 --> 00:38:00,600 S7: dear person, God can handle whatever you have done. And 623 00:38:00,719 --> 00:38:04,080 S7: if you are upset with him and you tell him that, 624 00:38:04,080 --> 00:38:07,560 S7: don't worry, he can handle it. But what he wants 625 00:38:07,760 --> 00:38:13,080 S7: ultimately is praise and submission. And when you're brought to 626 00:38:13,120 --> 00:38:18,319 S7: that point, God, of course forgives and he understands. So 627 00:38:18,320 --> 00:38:19,640 S7: we keep going on. 628 00:38:20,080 --> 00:38:23,400 S6: I love it. Some of you are just maybe getting 629 00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:27,120 S6: a portion of this, and I want you to take 630 00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:30,640 S6: a deeper dive. If you text the word media, you'll 631 00:38:30,640 --> 00:38:35,660 S6: get linked up with great resources, including Pastor Lutzer latest book. 632 00:38:35,700 --> 00:38:40,500 S6: Why doesn't God answer my prayers? Why doesn't God answer 633 00:38:40,500 --> 00:38:47,180 S6: my prayers? Text media to 805 55 7898. Text media 634 00:38:47,180 --> 00:38:52,219 S6: to 805 55 7898. Although there have been a ton 635 00:38:52,219 --> 00:38:56,060 S6: of questions, we've just barely scratched the surface and in 636 00:38:56,060 --> 00:38:59,660 S6: his work, why doesn't God answer my prayers? It's going 637 00:38:59,700 --> 00:39:02,379 S6: to plumb the depths of Scripture and give years of 638 00:39:02,380 --> 00:39:09,340 S6: wisdom from Pastor Lutzer. Text media to 805 55 7898. 639 00:39:10,020 --> 00:39:12,380 S6: You know, pastor, I just want to take a moment here. 640 00:39:12,420 --> 00:39:16,580 S6: Give us your best 60s on this question, because next 641 00:39:16,580 --> 00:39:19,100 S6: week we start in earnest on share. We're actually going 642 00:39:19,100 --> 00:39:21,859 S6: to have a full hour here coming up that we 643 00:39:21,860 --> 00:39:23,940 S6: call it jump start, just to get a little bit 644 00:39:23,940 --> 00:39:27,980 S6: of a head start on what's happening next Tuesday. And 645 00:39:28,020 --> 00:39:31,460 S6: it's a daunting thing. $4 million is our goal. Why 646 00:39:31,660 --> 00:39:34,420 S6: give to Moody Radio? Why, pastor? 647 00:39:35,110 --> 00:39:37,710 S7: Because your gift is going to do more than you 648 00:39:37,750 --> 00:39:40,590 S7: will ever see on earth, but you may indeed see 649 00:39:40,590 --> 00:39:43,589 S7: it in heaven. You know, Carl, the more I've been 650 00:39:43,590 --> 00:39:46,830 S7: on radio and you as well, of course, and the 651 00:39:46,830 --> 00:39:52,029 S7: whole media thing, I am truly amazed at its impact. 652 00:39:52,030 --> 00:39:55,030 S7: But we don't know that impact all the time, because 653 00:39:55,030 --> 00:39:58,510 S7: there are so many people who listen that we never meet. Uh, 654 00:39:58,510 --> 00:40:01,790 S7: there are changes that are made, and best of all, 655 00:40:02,270 --> 00:40:05,870 S7: people are listening and they hear the gospel. So if 656 00:40:05,870 --> 00:40:08,710 S7: you want to make an investment that is going to 657 00:40:08,750 --> 00:40:13,150 S7: go on and meet you in eternity, you can give 658 00:40:13,150 --> 00:40:15,989 S7: to Moody Radio, you can give to share. And you 659 00:40:16,030 --> 00:40:20,870 S7: know that the gift will be very wisely and widely used. 660 00:40:22,270 --> 00:40:24,589 S4: Pastor Lutzer been such a delight to have you with 661 00:40:24,590 --> 00:40:30,390 S4: us this morning. Text media to 800 555 7898. If 662 00:40:30,390 --> 00:40:33,630 S4: you want more more resources, online sermons. And again, that 663 00:40:33,630 --> 00:40:36,290 S4: book we've been featuring, why doesn't God answer my prayers? 664 00:40:36,290 --> 00:40:40,410 S4: Just text media to 800 555 7898. 665 00:40:40,850 --> 00:40:44,810 S6: This has been an amazing week. This has been an 666 00:40:44,810 --> 00:40:49,649 S6: amazing week. And there's some of you that are wondering, well, 667 00:40:49,650 --> 00:40:52,009 S6: what kind of a week has it been? I've just 668 00:40:52,010 --> 00:40:55,570 S6: been here for this. We have had guests. I mean, 669 00:40:55,610 --> 00:40:59,610 S6: AI experts in Drew Dickens, Greg Dempster, Robert Lewis on manhood, 670 00:40:59,650 --> 00:41:03,170 S6: Sam Storms on the power of the Holy Spirit. We've 671 00:41:03,170 --> 00:41:07,210 S6: had Cathy Cook. I mean, the list goes on. Abdu Murray, 672 00:41:07,610 --> 00:41:11,130 S6: we've had an incredible week here. So we're doing something 673 00:41:11,130 --> 00:41:14,810 S6: very different. We're taking each of these segments of experts 674 00:41:14,810 --> 00:41:19,090 S6: and we're creating its own episode. So when you grab 675 00:41:19,090 --> 00:41:22,250 S6: this link, you're going to be linked to everything for 676 00:41:22,250 --> 00:41:22,890 S6: this week. 677 00:41:22,930 --> 00:41:27,370 S4: Just text show to 800 555 78, 98. Just text 678 00:41:27,370 --> 00:41:31,969 S4: that one word show to 800 555 7898 the word 679 00:41:32,050 --> 00:41:33,530 S4: text here is show.