1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: Let us pray. The Lord will give strength unto his people. 2 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:09,039 Speaker 1: The Lord will bless his people with peace, Psalm twenty 3 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: nine eleven, My God and my Father, to day, I 4 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: will cast all my cares and concerns on to you. 5 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 1: I give to you everything that is weighing my mind 6 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: and heart down. Help me to seek you when clouds 7 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: begin to form in my day. Allow me to praise 8 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: you as the rain starts to fall, and guide me 9 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 1: when the winds begin to rage. I know that I 10 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: can find peace in you even in the darkest of days. 11 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: You provide comfort in every area of my life. I 12 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: rejoice in your word to day as you allow me 13 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: to find peace among all the ups and downs. Amen. 14 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening to to day's daily prayer for 15 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: more inspiration and an incredible message from our feature pastor. 16 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: Stay tuned to pray dot COM's Sunday service. 17 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 2: You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram 18 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 2: here on pray dot Com. The goal of this teaching 19 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 2: and discipleship ministry is to encourage and help Christians live 20 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 2: like Christians. Today, we're highlighting the first part of CHIP series, 21 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 2: The Power of Prayer. Let me ask you when you 22 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 2: talk to God. Do your words feel a bit dry, 23 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 2: maybe even weak or ineffective. If that's where you are, 24 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 2: this teaching from Chip will help You'll begin learning how 25 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:40,319 Speaker 2: to develop a deeper connection to your heavenly Father and 26 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 2: bring his authority directly into your life and circumstances. So 27 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 2: with that, go in your Bible to Acts chapter twelve 28 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 2: or Chip's talk how to bring God's power into your 29 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 2: impossible situation. 30 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 3: I like you to think of a metal chalk board 31 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 3: in your mind, and I'll like you to think for 32 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 3: a second, what's the most impossible situation. I would like 33 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 3: to see God change? What relationship, what finances? 34 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 4: What about me? 35 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 3: That you can't change. You've tried to change, it hasn't happened. 36 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 4: It's impossible. Well, j ask. 37 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 3: You drop that on the chalkboard of your mind, will you? 38 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 4: You got it? 39 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,679 Speaker 3: Because I want you to read this passage and hear 40 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 3: what God's going to say on the basis of him 41 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 3: actually wanting to move in in that impossible situation. Now, granted, 42 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 3: sometimes God says no, and I understand all that, But 43 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 3: what I'd like to suggest is that God would like 44 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 3: to say yes a lot more than any of us 45 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 3: would ever dream. Let's pick up the situation in Acts 46 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 3: Chapter twelve, Verses. 47 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 4: One through nineteen. 48 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 3: It was about that time that King Herod arrested some 49 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 3: who belonged to the Church, intending to persecute them. He 50 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 3: had James, the brother of John, put to death with 51 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 3: the sword, and when he saw that that pleased the Jews, 52 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 3: he proceeded. 53 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 4: Also to seize Peter. 54 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 3: This happened during the feast of unleavened Bread, and after 55 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 3: arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over 56 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 3: to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each 57 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:10,079 Speaker 3: sixteen guys to guard one guy. Herod intended to bring 58 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 3: him out for public trial after the passover. That's the situation, 59 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 3: verse five. So Peter was kept in prison. Sounds pretty impossible, 60 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 3: doesn't it. You're a brand new, multiplying church. You're against 61 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 3: the entire Roman army, the fighting force of the land 62 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 3: that controls the known world, and they have sixteen soldiers 63 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 3: surrounding your leader, and we're going to find at night. 64 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,119 Speaker 3: They put him in a cell, and they have one 65 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 3: man on one side and one on the other, and they. 66 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 4: Have him chain. 67 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 3: They don't want this felly getting away. 68 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 4: So Peter was kept in prison. 69 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 3: But how did the church respond. The church was earnestly 70 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 3: praying unto God for him. They didn't have any weapons, 71 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 3: They didn't have any armies. They said, we have an 72 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 3: impossible situation. He's a bully leader greatly is by God. 73 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 3: We will earnestly pray specifically for Peter unto God for 74 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 3: his deliverance. Let's find out if God hears the prayers 75 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 3: of people when the church gathers That night before Herod 76 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 3: was to bring him to trial. Night before his execution, 77 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 3: Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, 78 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 3: and Sentry stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly, an angel 79 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 3: of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. 80 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 3: He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. Quick, 81 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 3: get up, he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists. 82 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 3: Then the angel said to him, put on your clothes 83 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 3: and sandals, and Peter did so. Wrap your cloak around you, 84 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 3: and follow me, the angel told him. 85 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 4: Peter followed him out of. 86 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:45,480 Speaker 3: The prison, but he had no idea what the angel 87 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 3: was doing was really happening. 88 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 4: He's a little groggy right now. 89 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 3: He thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the 90 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 3: first and the second guards. They came to an iron 91 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 3: gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, 92 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 3: and they went through it. When they walked the length 93 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 3: of one street, suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter 94 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 3: came to himself. You know, you can almost see him 95 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 3: rubbing his eyes. The cold air hits his face. Now, Peter, 96 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,799 Speaker 3: first of observation, how many of us would be asleep 97 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 3: on the night before our execution? 98 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 4: This guy's resting in Christ. 99 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 3: Secondly, how many of us if there was a crisis 100 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 3: in this church? How many of us in the middle 101 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 3: of night, two am, three am would think to themselves, all, 102 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 3: if I'm here, I'm sure there's a prayer meeting going 103 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 3: on praying for me. You see, the early Church was 104 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 3: built around an absolute commitment to corporate prayer. 105 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 4: Crisis problem need prayer. It's all through the scriptures. 106 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 3: And so Peter ends up meeting where a large group 107 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 3: is already praying. He knocks on the outer entrance and 108 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:55,239 Speaker 3: a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 109 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 3: When she recognized his voice, she gets so excited and 110 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 3: overjoyed she runs back with opening it and exclaims Peter's 111 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 3: at the door. You're out of her mind, they told her. 112 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 3: When she kept insisting it was so, they said, well, 113 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 3: it must be his angel. But Peter kept on knocking, 114 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 3: and when they opened the door and saw him, they 115 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 3: were astonished. 116 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 4: God had done the impossible. 117 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 3: Peter motioned with his hands for them to be quiet, 118 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 3: and then he described how the Lord had brought him 119 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 3: out of prisons. And then he told him tell James 120 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 3: and the brothers about this, and he left for another place. 121 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 3: An impossible situation. The church responds in prayer. God responds 122 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 3: through sending an angel for deliverance. The faith of those 123 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:40,919 Speaker 3: people that grew a little bit that night, just so 124 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 3: it could be in the annals of history. The author 125 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 3: Luke writes, in the morning, there was no small commotion 126 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 3: among the soldiers as to what become of Peter. Kind 127 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 3: of epilogue, you know, back at the ranch. What happened 128 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 3: at prison? After Herod had a thorough search made for 129 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,039 Speaker 3: him and didn't find him, he cross examined the guards 130 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 3: and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from 131 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 3: Judea to cesarea and stayed for a while. It's a 132 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 3: pretty simple story, isn't it. And by the way, This 133 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 3: isn't about signs and wonders. This isn't about apostolic issues. 134 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 3: This isn't about gifts. This isn't about things that may 135 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 3: have happened in the first century that don't necessarily, norminatively 136 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 3: happen today. This is about an impossible situation and a 137 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 3: group of people who took it seriously and prayed. Now, 138 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 3: what I'd like to suggest is that there's four key 139 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 3: principles we can learn from the early Church so that 140 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 3: we can bring God's power into our impossible situation. And 141 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 3: all four of those I think are found in verse five. 142 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 3: Flip back the page or look in your Bible. Notice 143 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 3: the impossible situation is Peter in prison. But now look 144 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 3: at these four phrases. But here's the first phrase. Number one, 145 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 3: the church, the gathering of God's people. Number two was 146 00:07:55,960 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 3: earnestly praying. It's continuous action, and that word is a 147 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 3: very specific word that we'll look at. Number three they 148 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 3: prayed unto God, and number four they prayed for him. 149 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 3: Now I like to take these in the order of 150 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 3: I think priority, not as they're here, but in priority 151 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 3: of learning how to pray to bring God's power, supernatural 152 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 3: power into your impossible situation. The first thing I think 153 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 3: we learned is that we must learn to pray unto God. 154 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 3: The little word two or unto it's a little preposition 155 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 3: in Greek. It means before or before the face of God. 156 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 3: It means motion towards access to or nearness at something. 157 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 4: Now, some of you at this point are saying, Chip, 158 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 4: who do you think we're praying to? 159 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 3: I mean, we pray to God. What do you mean 160 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 3: we must learn to pray unto God? 161 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:54,839 Speaker 4: You know what? I like to suggest this. 162 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 3: Has been the most profound difference that I've learned in 163 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:01,079 Speaker 3: my own prayer life. I like to suggest that maybe 164 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 3: fifty to seventy five percent of the time in your 165 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:09,679 Speaker 3: prayers and mind, we don't really pray unto God. Now 166 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 3: I don't mean you're praying to some false God, but 167 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 3: I like to suggest that most of the time, when 168 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 3: we're really not conscious, that when we pray, our focus 169 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 3: is on our words, our focus is on what we 170 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 3: are saying, our focus is on other people in the 171 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:30,680 Speaker 3: room and how they might think about what we are saying, 172 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 3: or our focus is on pure autopilot. Have you listened 173 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,079 Speaker 3: to your kids and selves pray in groups? How these 174 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 3: little phrases keep popping up. Oh Lord, keep us safe, 175 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 3: protect all those d D D. You know what I mean. 176 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:47,439 Speaker 3: And I think what this passage means that the early 177 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 3: Church did when they prayed unto God is they came 178 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 3: and they knew and were conscious of they were in 179 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 3: the very presence of God, and their focus was on 180 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 3: to whom they were speaking, and they were at absolutely 181 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 3: certain that they were talking to him. Now think of 182 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 3: the difference. Think of the difference. Instead of bowing your 183 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 3: head and just letting your mouth start to go, if 184 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 3: you stopped and somehow, like the picture in Revelation five 185 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 3: or Isaiah six, you realize, here's the throne room of God, 186 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 3: and there's Seraphim flying holy holy Holy, and he's an 187 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 3: unapproachable light and he's all powerful. And then combined with 188 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 3: that the lamb of God and his goodness and his 189 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 3: tenderness and his love and his desire to bless and 190 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 3: draw you near. What if in your mind, before you 191 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 3: said a word, you realize who God really was. I 192 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 3: tell you it will transform your prayer life when you 193 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 3: consciously become aware and take time to focus on who 194 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 3: it is you're speaking to. 195 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 4: All of a. 196 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 3: Sudden, the size of your problems begin to shrink, and 197 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 3: your emotional struggles begin to shrink. Because it's like bringing 198 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:03,319 Speaker 3: you know, and nickel and dime issues to a multi 199 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 3: multi billionaire. 200 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 4: Can he change your relationship like that? Can he heal 201 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:12,200 Speaker 4: a body like that? Can he turn a situation around 202 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 4: at work like that? 203 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 3: Praying unto God is coming unto God with an awareness 204 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 3: of who he really is before you say a word, 205 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:25,959 Speaker 3: and then being certain that you're actually talking to him. 206 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 3: Ri Tory writes in his book that I wrote down 207 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 3: a quote we should never utter one syllable of prayer, 208 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 3: either in public or in private, until we are definitely 209 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 3: conscious that we have come into the presence of God 210 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 3: and we are really. 211 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 4: Speaking to him. Can you imagine, if. 212 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 3: You will, regardless of your political persuasion, if the president 213 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 3: of the United States, all the heads of Europe, all 214 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 3: the heads of the entire world, the top ten or 215 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 3: twelve nations came and formed a tribunal. They have the 216 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:08,680 Speaker 3: power to push buttons, They have all the control of 217 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 3: all the resources, and they said, we are going to 218 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:15,079 Speaker 3: give you an audience with the leaders of the top 219 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:18,680 Speaker 3: twelve countries in the world. You can ask whatever you 220 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:22,080 Speaker 3: want for no guarantees of how long you'll be allowed 221 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 3: to talk. But these people have the power to do 222 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 3: anything you want. 223 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:28,839 Speaker 4: How would you prepare for that meeting? 224 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 3: Would you just flippantly walk in and say, well, gosh, 225 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 3: II guys, I'm sure glad you kind of let me 226 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 3: come talk to you, And you know, I don't know 227 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 3: what I really need, but you know, it's just sort 228 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 3: of I'll tell you what. I'd think carefully about every 229 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 3: word that's going to come out of my mouth before 230 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 3: those people, And if they gave me a chance to 231 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:49,680 Speaker 3: ask for something, I would have pondered, what's the most 232 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 3: important thing I really want from them? And if we 233 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 3: would do that before humans, how much more do we 234 00:12:56,280 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 3: need to come before God? Recognizing who he really is 235 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 3: and really aware that you're speaking to him. 236 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 4: That will transform your prayer life. 237 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 3: Really been trying to practice this, and you know, I 238 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 3: try and ponder his attributes, and I remember reading about 239 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 3: Martin Lutheran how he would read through is carefully the 240 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 3: Lord's Prayer and then recite the ten Commandments and a 241 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 3: number of things, just to remember who God was. And 242 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 3: you know, my heart, I just ever get where you 243 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:25,200 Speaker 3: can't kind of get it jump started. I just couldn't 244 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 3: kind of get close to God. And my Bible was open, 245 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 3: and it wasn't where I was normally reading, and Psalm 246 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:33,199 Speaker 3: one twenty one was open, and I thought, maybe I'll 247 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 3: just glance at a psalm before I pray. I need 248 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 3: to remember who God is. I glanced down and says, 249 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 3: I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where 250 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 3: does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, 251 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 3: the maker of heaven and earth. He won't let your 252 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 3: foot slip. He who watches over you never slumbers nor sleeps. 253 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 3: And it goes on talks about his goodness, and he'll 254 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:57,040 Speaker 3: be your shade at your right hand, and how he 255 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 3: longs for you to come in and he'll protect you 256 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 3: and love you. 257 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,080 Speaker 4: And all of a sudden, the lights came on and 258 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 4: I realized God wants me to talk to him. This 259 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,720 Speaker 4: is a safe place. This is one who's holy, an 260 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:08,439 Speaker 4: infinite and. 261 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 3: Powerful, and yet he desires chip Ingram to come today 262 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 3: and talk. And it's like the heaven's opened. Let me 263 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 3: ask you, are you praying unto God? Are you really 264 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 3: aware of who you're speaking to? And are you certain 265 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 3: that as you speak you're really talking to him. That 266 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 3: raises a couple questions, doesn't it. Some of you might say, well, Gosh, 267 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 3: maybe God just works this way for people like Chip, 268 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 3: or for pastors or missionaries or whoever else. How could 269 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 3: I know that I could come into God's presence? And 270 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 3: then how can I know for sure that God is 271 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 3: really going to hear me? Let me give you the assurance. 272 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 4: It has nothing to. 273 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 3: Do with your status. It has nothing to do with 274 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 3: your merit. The basis of our assurance before God's thrown 275 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 3: is the work of Christ on the Cross, the way 276 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 3: that you can know and I can know, and every 277 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 3: single person on this earth who knows Jesus in a 278 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 3: personal saving way, that when you come before God, you 279 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 3: have accessed before the very throne room of God. Look 280 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 3: at the verse I've put down Hebrews ten nineteen. It says, they'refore, brothers, 281 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 3: we have confidence to enter the most holy place, or 282 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 3: the holy of holies, where God's power is, where the 283 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 3: most intimate expression of His person is. 284 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 4: And how do you get there? By the blood of Jesus. 285 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 3: Your merit, your absolute guarantee that you can come into 286 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 3: the presence of the almighty creator of the universe. Isn't 287 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 3: because you've been a good boy or a good girl today. 288 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 4: It's by the blood of Christ. 289 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 3: The problem that keeps me from God and is my sin. 290 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 3: And when He died on the cross for your sin, 291 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 3: when he rose from the dead, and see at the 292 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 3: right hand of God, he pioneered a trail so that 293 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 3: you and I have absolute confidence right before the throne 294 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 3: of God on the basis of not your spirituality, but 295 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 3: on the basis of His finished work on the Cross. 296 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 3: That's powerful people, you can know for sure. Well, the 297 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 3: second question that may come up is that what if 298 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 3: there's some issues in my life that need to be 299 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 3: taken care of? Great First John won mind. First John 300 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 3: teaches that not only did he do that once and 301 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 3: for all, but the blood of Christ keeps on cleansing. 302 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 3: If there's an issue between you and another person or God, 303 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 3: confess your sin and he says he'll cleanse you and 304 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 3: forgive you, and then he'll draw you near. The second 305 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 3: issue is, well, that's how we have basis, but how 306 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 3: does it actually work? You know, and I know, at 307 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 3: least in our experience some of those of you that 308 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 3: have walked with the Lord for a while, there's times 309 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 3: where where you pray and I can't explain it, But 310 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 3: there's times of such intimacy with God with your eyes shut, 311 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 3: I feel like I. 312 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:12,399 Speaker 4: Could almost reach out and touch you. 313 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 3: And there's other times when I pray that I'm trying 314 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 3: as hard as I can try. 315 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 4: Have you been there? 316 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 3: And it's like, I'm not sure my prayers make it 317 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 3: to the ceiling, you know what I'm talking about. And 318 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 3: I don't have any desire to pray, and I feel dry, 319 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:29,439 Speaker 3: and I know I ought to and I know I should, 320 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:32,119 Speaker 3: but I don't want to, and I don't feel close 321 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 3: to God, and I have these vague, dry feelings. 322 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 4: And what do you do? 323 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 3: Then? 324 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 4: How can we know? 325 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 3: And how can we break through? What's the means of access? 326 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 3: The Scripture is very clear here. The means of access 327 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:48,680 Speaker 3: into God's presence twenty four hours. 328 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 4: A day is by his spirit. 329 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:54,439 Speaker 3: You see, the scripture teaches we pray to the Father, 330 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 3: we pray on the basis or through the sun, and 331 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 3: we pray in the spirit. 332 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 4: It's the spirit's ministry. You know what His ministry is. 333 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 3: His ministry and prayer is to take you by the 334 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 3: hand and me by the hand and personally escort us 335 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 3: to the very throng room of God to make God's 336 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:18,440 Speaker 3: presence real in our hearts and in our experiences. It's true, 337 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 3: in reality there's no barriers between us and God because 338 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 3: of the work of the Cross, but in our experience 339 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 3: often that doesn't jive out, and so it's the work 340 00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 3: of the spirit to do that. Notice the verse here 341 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 3: from Ephesians to eighteen, it says for through him Christ 342 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 3: we have access, and that word means introduction into God's 343 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:48,960 Speaker 3: presence to the Father. How by one spirit, the other day, 344 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 3: I was praying and I'm trying to apply this to 345 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 3: my life, and I had one of those bounce off 346 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:55,840 Speaker 3: the ceiling times. 347 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:59,199 Speaker 4: So what do you do? Do you just say, you 348 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 4: know what I've often done? Can I be candid with you? 349 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 3: I prayed a few generic prayers and said, well, I 350 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:06,199 Speaker 3: guess I'm just not into it too much today, and 351 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:08,679 Speaker 3: I'll pray more later today, which I usually don't do, 352 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:11,919 Speaker 3: or I'll pray tomorrow harder, which I usually don't do. 353 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 3: That's when you need to pray the most. And you 354 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 3: know what the spirit's ministry, You know. 355 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 4: What the promise is. The promise is that you can sit. 356 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:24,639 Speaker 3: Quietly and say, Lord, I know that I can't pray 357 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 3: apart from the Holy Spirit's ministry, and you promise that 358 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:29,679 Speaker 3: he will leave me by the hand and take me 359 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 3: to the very throne room of God and make God 360 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 3: real in my experience. And so you can sit quietly 361 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,400 Speaker 3: and say, God, the Holy Spirit, will you please right 362 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 3: now take me to the throne room of God and 363 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 3: make the experience and the reality of God real in 364 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 3: my heart? And then sit quietly, believe and expect that 365 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 3: God will do that. And you know what, he will. 366 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 3: Took me about ten or twelve, maybe fifteen minutes, and 367 00:19:57,119 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 3: I struggled, and I struggled, and then I finally prayed 368 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:03,439 Speaker 3: that and I sat quietly. And you know, in all 369 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:06,360 Speaker 3: the old books, the old books about people who really prayed, 370 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 3: they have a little phrase you don't hear much. It's 371 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 3: called breaking through or praying through. There's many a time 372 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 3: it may take ten, fifteen minutes, maybe even a little 373 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 3: bit more to kind of break through. And most of 374 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 3: us quit before we break through until Heaven opens up 375 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 3: and the spirit of God ushers you in. And God 376 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 3: wants to do that, and he wants us to pray 377 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 3: unto God. And the majority of this message is on this, 378 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:31,879 Speaker 3: because if we don't do this, the rest of these 379 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:36,239 Speaker 3: things don't matter much, do they? Believing first who it 380 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 3: is that we're talking to and being assured that we're 381 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 3: actually talking to him. The basis is the Blood of Christ. 382 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 3: The means of access is the Holy Spirit. And I 383 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:51,199 Speaker 3: would encourage you, before you utter a syllable in prayer, 384 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:55,400 Speaker 3: either publicly or privately, that you stop and say, God, 385 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 3: I want to remember who you are, and I want 386 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:00,879 Speaker 3: to make sure that I'm speaking to you, not to 387 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 3: the people I'm praying, or not. 388 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 4: Just to get my prayers done. 389 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:09,439 Speaker 3: You will experience a radical transformation in your life. The 390 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 3: second thing he says that we need to do is 391 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 3: that we need to pray earnestly. The word earnestly here 392 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:19,919 Speaker 3: is a compound word. It has two parts, the first 393 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 3: act meaning out, and the second half of this word 394 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 3: means stretch. The idea of our English word we get 395 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:29,640 Speaker 3: the word for tension. It's translated in First Peter one 396 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 3: twenty two as deeply or fervently. It's a word used 397 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 3: in Luke twenty two forty four where Jesus is praying 398 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:39,160 Speaker 3: and then he sees the disciples and he goes back 399 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 3: to pray, and it says, therefore in agony he prayed 400 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 3: more earnestly as he was doing battle. The idea here 401 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 3: is focused, intent and passion. It's coming to God with 402 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:54,680 Speaker 3: all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, 403 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:58,720 Speaker 3: saying God, I mean business, I want what I'm asking 404 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 3: of you, going through the motions. Those of you that 405 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 3: have had children, do you remember a time when one 406 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 3: of your little children, when the temperature went to one 407 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:08,680 Speaker 3: hundred and two, and then the temperature went to about 408 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:10,199 Speaker 3: one hundred and three, and then it went to one 409 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:12,359 Speaker 3: hundred and four, and how your prayers changed? 410 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:13,360 Speaker 4: Uh? 411 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 3: You ever sat there with a tiny little baby that's 412 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 3: burning up, or one of your little kids. I'll tell 413 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 3: you what, you don't pray any of this. Well, Lord, 414 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 3: we would really like if it's in your will, according 415 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:25,440 Speaker 3: to your sovereign plan, to bless this child, according to 416 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 3: your divine purposes. Belowney you hear a mom or a 417 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 3: dad next to that baby. 418 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 4: Oh God, God save my child. That's what he's saying. 419 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,200 Speaker 3: He's saying, we need to come to God like we 420 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 3: mean it, and we need to come to who we're 421 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:40,439 Speaker 3: really talking to. 422 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:43,920 Speaker 4: And then earnestly. The word means to be stretched out. 423 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:47,160 Speaker 3: Your soul needs to be stretched out before God. 424 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 4: And say, God, hear our cry. 425 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:52,640 Speaker 3: And you know the evidence of when you really mean business, 426 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:58,400 Speaker 3: the level of your perseverance. The third thing we need 427 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 3: to learn to do is we need to pray corporately. 428 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 3: We need to pray unto God. We need to pray earnestly, 429 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:08,879 Speaker 3: and we need to pray corporately. I get that from 430 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 3: the little phrase the Church earnestly prayed unto God for him. 431 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:17,200 Speaker 4: The Church. The meaning of the word of the Church 432 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 4: means the. 433 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:22,639 Speaker 3: Assembly or the gathered ones the ecclasea. The Church was born, 434 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:26,720 Speaker 3: it grew, and it exploded in the context of a 435 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:32,399 Speaker 3: commitment and belief that the Body of Christ gathered for 436 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:37,479 Speaker 3: intercession is the most powerful force on the earth. I 437 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:39,879 Speaker 3: dare you to read through the Book of Acts and 438 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:43,640 Speaker 3: prove me wrong. The early Church believed that the most 439 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 3: powerful force on this earth. So when the Body of 440 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:51,239 Speaker 3: Christ gathered and approached Jesus and the Father and the 441 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 3: power of the Holy Spirit, and they ask in unity. 442 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 3: And if you don't believe me, to a quick sketch, 443 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 3: the early Church was born where of a prayer meeting 444 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,960 Speaker 3: Chapter one of Acts. When Jesus as said it, he said, hey, 445 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 3: you go wait and go pray right. Chapter two, Pentecost 446 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 3: came during what they were praying. Three the first Miracle? 447 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 3: Where were Peter and John on their way to Peter 448 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 3: and John are on their way to a prayer meeting 449 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 3: when they do the miracle? Chapter four, they get beat up, 450 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 3: thrown into prison. Then they get let out and they 451 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 3: come back to the church. And what do they say? 452 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 3: Who are we to get to suffer like this for Christ? 453 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,919 Speaker 3: And then they prayed for more effectiveness and the ground shook. 454 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 3: By chapter six, the whole structure of the church changed. 455 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:37,680 Speaker 3: They had elders and deacons. Why one simple reason, because 456 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 3: the leadership said, we must give ourselves to prayer and 457 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:45,120 Speaker 3: the ministry of the Word. What was Cornelius doing when 458 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 3: God revealed himself to him? 459 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 4: He was praying. 460 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:51,119 Speaker 3: What was Peter doing when God revealed himself in chapter 461 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 3: ten to go talk to Cornelius? 462 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:53,199 Speaker 4: He was praying. 463 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 3: Where did the first missionaries come from? Acts thirteen? What 464 00:24:57,520 --> 00:24:59,959 Speaker 3: were they doing when they called Paul and Barnabas out? 465 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:07,880 Speaker 3: They're praying historically and globally, you'll find every great movement 466 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 3: of God is tied with people who begin to lay 467 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 3: hold of what's true about prayer. You can look at 468 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 3: the Wesley Brothers, Jonathan Edwards. You can go back to 469 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 3: the Reformation, or you can go over to Korea today, 470 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:24,439 Speaker 3: where God is moving marvelously, and you'll find in the 471 00:25:24,520 --> 00:25:25,400 Speaker 3: churches four. 472 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:27,679 Speaker 4: In the morning, five in the morning, six in the morning. 473 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 3: Hundreds of thousands of people pray daily corporately. 474 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:37,160 Speaker 4: Application. I think we pray as a church, but you. 475 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 3: Know, in terms of real corporate priority coming together to pray, 476 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 3: we're weak. But it would seem to me if our 477 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:47,120 Speaker 3: church believed in prayer and we had the kind of crisis, 478 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 3: there'd be about three hundred people there on Tuesday night 479 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:53,359 Speaker 3: for corporate prayer instead of thirty. Now, if you've got 480 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 3: a commitment and it's God's will, don't come. But if 481 00:25:57,080 --> 00:25:59,600 Speaker 3: you want to see God work in a supernatural way, 482 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:02,480 Speaker 3: then I'll check you on Tuesday, and let's get before 483 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 3: God and let's believe what the New Testament says, and 484 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 3: let's call out to Him, and you will be a 485 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:08,840 Speaker 3: part of the work of God and you'll see things happen. 486 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:12,679 Speaker 3: The final point, not only is it unto God and 487 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 3: earnestly and corporately, we must pray specifically. Did you notice 488 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:21,120 Speaker 3: it's for him? I think that we pray a lot 489 00:26:21,119 --> 00:26:24,440 Speaker 3: of vague generalities about God's will working out all things, 490 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 3: and however you want to work it. 491 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:29,359 Speaker 4: And I know you're sovereign, and you know that's true. 492 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,440 Speaker 3: I think we're bailing out. Oh God, whatever you want 493 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 3: to happen. 494 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:37,399 Speaker 4: What do you want to happen? As a father or 495 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 4: a parent? 496 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 3: How if your kids said, oh, mother and father, whatever 497 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:43,159 Speaker 3: you want for dinner is fine with me. 498 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:45,879 Speaker 4: It's just great. Whatever you want to give me for 499 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:49,879 Speaker 4: my birthday? As a parent, what do you want to know? Hey, son, daughter? 500 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:53,119 Speaker 4: What do you want? What it brings specific joy to 501 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:53,640 Speaker 4: your heart? 502 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:55,879 Speaker 3: And as a parent, you want to do it, don't you. 503 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 3: You'll never see God's power until you start praying specifically. 504 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 3: My top fourteen things, specific things impossible in the life 505 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:07,399 Speaker 3: of members of my family and for my life and 506 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:10,679 Speaker 3: for this church. Write specific things down and put him 507 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:12,840 Speaker 3: before the throne of God and see if the eternal 508 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:15,159 Speaker 3: God of the universe doesn't want to bring his power 509 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:17,320 Speaker 3: into your impossible situation. 510 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:23,480 Speaker 2: You've been listening to living on the edge with chip 511 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 2: Ingram here on pray dot com. The message you just 512 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,720 Speaker 2: heard is from our series The Power of Prayer. To 513 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:32,359 Speaker 2: listen to this entire series, or to learn more about 514 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 2: our ministry, visit Livingontheedge dot org or download the Chipingram Map. 515 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 4: Well. 516 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:40,960 Speaker 2: That wraps up this edition of Living on the Edge 517 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:43,639 Speaker 2: with the chip Ingram. Thanks for listening to this Sunday 518 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 2: service here on pray dot com. 519 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:45,840 Speaker 3: There. 520 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 2: I hope you'll join us again next time. 521 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:54,480 Speaker 5: The podcast The Bible in a Year with Jack Graham 522 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 5: is a moving and inspiring Biblical audio experience that will 523 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:01,119 Speaker 5: help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In 524 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 5: each episode, you'll learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. 525 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:08,880 Speaker 5: Each cinematic episode is a journey through the Bible's most 526 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:12,359 Speaker 5: profound stories that will strengthen your appreciation of the Word 527 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 5: and inspire you to keep learning. Listen to the Bible 528 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:19,480 Speaker 5: in a Year with Jack Graham on the iHeartRadio app 529 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:21,919 Speaker 5: or wherever you get your podcasts.