WEBVTT 00:00:01.360 --> 00:00:15.359 Well this morning we return again to the Gospel of Mark chapter seven verses twenty-four through thirty and uh invite you to follow along in your your Bibles with us, beginning in verse twenty-four. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:22.160 Reading God's holy word. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:30.239 And from there he that is Jesus arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:34.240 And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:36.640 Yet he could not be hidden. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:45.920 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:55.439 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:01:04.719 And he said to her, Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:12.319 But she answered him, Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs. 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:17.760 And he said to her, For this statement, you may go your way. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:20.560 The demon has left your daughter. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:26.719 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:28.640 Let us pray. 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:37.120 Oh Lord, we thank you once again for your word. 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:40.159 We thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:58.319 And we pray and we ask now, Holy Spirit, that you would indeed work in the midst of our midst and in our hearts this morning to take this truth, to take this teaching, to take this woman's faith. 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:04.959 And that, Lord, you would enable us to likewise be emboldened intercessors. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:12.319 We ask and pray, Lord, that you would show us yourself afresh to us and anew this morning. 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:13.520 In Jesus' name. 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:14.400 Amen. 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:47.199 So again, it's been a few weeks since we were in Mark, but this morning we return and we continue finding ourselves in the section of Mark's gospel where the disciples have now left, having had uh this uh exchange, uh maybe to put it uh in the lightest terms, uh, this exchange or this contention with the Pharisees and the scribes, and they enter uh Gentile territory. 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:52.400 Uh the reason being that they needed solitude. 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:57.520 They've been on the road for a while, and they need solitude. 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:09.280 And Jesus also realizes that the time is coming where he is going to need to go to the cross, and so he he's looking to impart some important teaching to the disciples. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:17.759 But up until now and up until this point, the the rest and the space that they've needed for this has kept getting interrupted. 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:20.639 Uh chapter 6, 30 through 34. 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:28.479 They're seeking a place in the wilderness because they haven't had, we read, leisure to even eat. 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:32.719 And so Jesus says, Well, let's let's go and get some rest. 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:34.879 Let's go to a desolate place. 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:46.319 And so they hop on the boat and they voyage across the Sea of Galilee, and here they are anticipating the rest that is spoken of and intended. 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:59.840 But their destination is preempted by the crowds who have run ahead of them, and so they come to the place, and and here they are met with the hunger of many people who have taken a long journey and need to be fed. 00:03:59.919 --> 00:04:06.479 And so we we read of the miracle of Jesus feeding these many, many mouths. 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:14.560 Having uh dismissed the crowd, he then goes on to send his disciples again ahead of him. 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:21.120 And we read uh that they go by boat to to and head for Ginesaret. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:40.959 Uh at this point, they're even more exhausted, having uh spent a lot of time trying to head upwind, uh facing a great storm, and and and not only exhausted, but they've been terrified by Jesus manifesting his glory to them on the waters, walking toward them. 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:45.759 And so here they are, they land at the shore of Ginesaret, looking for that same rest. 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:56.000 But here again, they're met with the crowds, those who recognize who Jesus is, and says, I need to go get my friend, I need to go get my brother or my sister or whatnot. 00:04:56.079 --> 00:05:03.680 And and they bring them to Jesus and and they want him to heal all those that they bring to him. 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:19.439 And so they're met once again with this great need so that wherever they go, whether it's villages, townships, marketplaces, cities, towns, they're met with this great need of people who desire Jesus to heal, which he does. 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:26.639 And so now they travel at this point into Tyre and Sidon. 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:29.040 They're wanting to remain undetected. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:30.800 They want the rest that they need. 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:39.839 And so they're they've found their Airbnb, as it were, and they want to nestle down, and so they want to keep it on the down low. 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:47.519 This is the territory where Jesus intends to expound to the twelve the lessons of the cross. 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:54.800 And so they're in this house, and and Mark includes this striking statement that we read here in verse 25. 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:00.800 Uh I think it's verse 25. 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:06.800 But the statement is, yet he could not be hidden. 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:08.720 Striking statement. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:13.839 I mean, I think we could preach a sermon on that message alone. 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:21.040 Desperate people go to desperate lengths, go to great lengths in order to find relief. 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:24.160 And Jesus wasn't about to hide in the closet. 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:29.199 And Jesus invites that kind of boldness and searching. 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:35.360 And so I wish we could stop at this one statement that he could not be hidden. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:45.120 But it sets the stage for what comes next when this woman comes to Jesus and things unfold with this Gentile woman who has found him. 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:52.720 More personally, she's a mother whose daughter is possessed by an unclean spirit, a demon. 00:06:53.040 --> 00:07:02.319 And we can only imagine what that must have been like had she spent many days trying to figure out how to get her well. 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:09.759 Did her life revolve around minimizing the hostility, putting out fires? 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:24.959 We read in the Gospels of a boy who was also possessed, and we're told that one of the ways that this particular demon manifested itself was in the terrible and distressing harm of throwing him into fires and water. 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:38.399 And so we can only begin to imagine some of this mother's angst and what may have led her to this desperation that led her to seek Jesus. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:47.839 And like others who had shown desperation before Jesus, uh, that we've already read about Jairus being one. 00:07:48.160 --> 00:08:02.240 Uh we we read uh of the Roman centurion, we wrote, we read of those at Genneseret, she comes to Jesus begging, imploring him that he would cast out this demon out of her daughter. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:17.120 And it may appear at first glance that Jesus' response to her was uncharacteristic and even discouraging as he says to her, Yes, but it's not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:24.560 But you see, what we need to understand about this is Jesus is speaking to his purpose, not desire. 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:30.879 And we know that because the term dogs is not the pejorative slang for Gentiles. 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:36.000 It's not the word to express disapproval, but it's the term for house dog. 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:38.879 And so what is Jesus saying here? 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:43.120 Well, he's essentially saying, my purpose is to rest. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:47.759 I must spend time with the disciples instructing them. 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:51.120 The children, as it were, need feeding. 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:58.559 And what she says next is just a remarkable response to her humble yet persistent trust. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:04.559 She says, Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs get the children's crumbs. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:08.320 In other words, yes, I submit to that purpose. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:15.519 But may that not disqualify me from receiving some of the crumbs of your mercy, Jesus. 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:19.600 A humble yet bold response. 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:28.000 And because of this holy persistence, Jesus responds to her and grants her success and what she asked. 00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:35.120 And so she returns home to her daughter who has had this evil spirit removed and gone. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:44.799 A remarkable account of Jesus' power and a humble heart of intercession, looking to Jesus in faith. 00:09:45.840 --> 00:10:05.200 And so it's my hope this morning that we would be led to draw strength from this encounter as we seek Christ's heart to grant her request, that we would, by the Spirit's enabling, be known as those who come ourselves to Jesus as pleaders on behalf of others. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:11.360 And secondly, that it would embolden our prayers for others. 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:17.440 And then third, that we would be spurred on to persist in our intercessions. 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:23.279 And so, first, come to Jesus as pleaders. 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:27.519 It may help to state up front first what is meant by intercession. 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:33.600 Intercession is the simple act of praying on behalf of others. 00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:40.159 It is to plead and seek God for his intervention in the lives of others. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:41.919 Why? 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:43.919 Why is intercession needed? 00:10:44.080 --> 00:11:00.720 Well, because in the kingdom of God there are wars to be won, there are strongholds to be dismantled, there are sins to be killed, there are fleshly desires to be opposed, all of which lead to death and away from life. 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:06.000 There are those who can't help themselves. 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:16.080 And even in those who the Spirit indwells, we aren't so strong as to be without the need of the prayers of others. 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:24.080 I mean, who of us hasn't had the experience of looking back in our lives in the past? 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:33.360 And by grace, the grace that's now been given to us, we can look back and we we can now see that we acted oftentimes in ignorance. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:38.080 The Apostle Paul said that about his own hostility. 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:45.120 Although responsible, we we didn't fully understand what we know now. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:46.799 There was a blindness. 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:58.159 And yet how blessed we were and we are to have people who interceded on our behalf for God's intervention. 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:01.360 The need is great. 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:10.879 And so to pray, to pray and to intercede is not just a good thing to do, it's a lifeline, it's a life source. 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:32.159 But you see, what's absolutely compelling about this encounter between this woman and Jesus is that she comes on behalf of her daughter, and although her own life was very much bound up in her daughter's life, we note that throughout it all, her daughter says and does nothing. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:34.799 She's not even present. 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:40.960 And yet, by the mercy of Jesus, she's rescued from the evil that binds her. 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:47.360 If that isn't a compelling motivation to intercede for others, I don't know what else is. 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:59.279 It chases away, you see, those thoughts that can begin to lurk in our minds that there's no use praying for this person or that person because they just lack this desire or understanding. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:10.000 I mean, what what desire, what understanding did this girl express other than being held under the influence of evil? 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:16.000 What did she understand other than what this demon sought her to carry out? 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:21.039 We could say the same about many other instances in Scripture. 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:25.679 What ability did Peter possess while lying in a prison cell? 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:46.159 And yet the church prayed boldly for Peter and the things they needed for God alone to carry out, and it was all owing to their prayers that the shackles were loosened, and Peter was soon found knocking on the door of those who earnestly sought his release. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:55.600 This is something we can all give ourselves to, no matter our gifting, no matter our station in life. 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:59.679 I like the words of uh Spurgeon on this. 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:03.840 We cannot all argue, but we can all pray. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:09.360 We cannot all be leaders, but we can all be pleaders. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:16.879 We cannot all be mighty in rhetoric, but we can all be prevalent in prayer. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:24.080 And we note again, this woman didn't seek Jesus because she was able. 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:28.000 She sought Jesus because she was desperate. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:38.639 May we never forget that intercession is the means that God has given to us for intervention. 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:48.159 And so when it comes to intercession, there are two simple questions that arise when we seek the help of another. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:51.120 The first is, are they able? 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:54.320 The second is, are they willing? 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:55.600 Are they able? 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:56.720 Are they willing? 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:59.200 Both of which are true in Christ. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:01.120 Is he able? 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:03.279 Well, he occupies the heavenly throne. 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:05.440 All authority has been given to him. 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:08.799 He is not limited by time, he's not limited by place. 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:15.360 His spirit is powerfully moving to renovate and work in the hearts of fallen people. 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:16.960 He is able. 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:26.159 Likewise, having given his life to purchase sinners by his blood, he has certainly showed us he is willing. 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:37.360 It's not owing to us, you see, it's owing to his power, his intercession, his intervention. 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:45.039 It's not owing to our dutifulness, it's not owing to our power, our piety, but his name and his name alone. 00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:49.279 His power, his mercy, his grace. 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:51.519 The name above all names. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:16:01.279 And so knowing that his office in heaven is one of intercession, let's continue to come to Jesus as pleaders. 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:11.440 But I think we also need to understand that if we want to be great interceders, we can't neglect to pray for our own hearts first. 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:19.600 If you're not learning to pray for your own heart, you're not going to be effective at interceding for others. 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:30.799 You see, the reason is that the person who is learning how to keep their own heart to God is the person suited to intercede for the hearts of others. 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:37.679 Alright, so where have you gone in the midst of accusation and a guilty conscience? 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:47.279 To have found peace at the cross means you know what's required to intercede for others. 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:56.879 Have you been fearful and needed to keep your heart to Christ in the face of many fears or even tears? 00:16:57.200 --> 00:17:02.159 Then you can pray effectively for those facing the same. 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:07.759 Has your heart needed Christ and discouragement or setback? 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:13.759 Well, then you have plenty of experience to pray those same comforts for others. 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:18.000 Who are you interceding for? 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:23.680 How has the Spirit brought you comfort and life? 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:30.480 Come to Jesus as pleaders with those same things for others. 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:34.160 Pleading those things on their behalf. 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:37.200 That's the first thing. 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:41.279 The second, may our petitions be humbly emboldened. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:45.599 We know that this woman's faith was a bold faith. 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:54.640 It was humble, it was submitting to the purposes of God, and yet it was also unwilling to leave empty-handed. 00:17:56.079 --> 00:18:04.079 Although her child's case appeared hopeless and desperate, this girl had a praying mother. 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:07.599 And where there's a praying mother, there's always hope. 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:14.640 How many of us, I think, can testify to someone standing in the gap, as it were? 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:19.920 Standing in the gap on our behalf and seeking the Lord for us. 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:24.640 You may not have been aware of it at the time. 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:27.359 You may not have even appreciated it. 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:33.039 But perhaps there were many prayers lifted up for you. 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:40.240 How thankful we can be that there are people who interceded for us. 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:55.200 Even when we wanted nothing to do with Christ, or helpless to do anything for ourselves, he heard their prayers and intervened, and his event intervention brought us life and saving faith. 00:18:57.599 --> 00:19:10.880 Having had the joy of hearing many of your testimonies and after inquires classes with the elders, many of you, that was through a believing parent, the intercession of a parent or parents. 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:21.759 And while Jesus was the one that they came to for help, you were the subject of their prayers as they pleaded your name. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:26.880 We just witnessed that right in the vows this morning in the baptisms. 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:30.240 We heard the parents up here this morning. 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:34.559 One of the vows was to pray with and for their children. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:47.440 In infancy, in youth, and adulthood, again, we see the power here of a praying mother, but not only a praying mother, but a praying father or friend. 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:59.759 19th century uh pastor George Mueller, uh, many of you know of, he established care for many orphans in England. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:08.799 He was known for his bold faith and prayer life, his earnest prayer life that sought to see God's goodness in the land of the living. 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:16.880 And we asked, he was asked toward the end of his life on what grounds he firmly believed that his prayers would be answered. 00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:23.279 The context in this case was uh his continual prayers for the salvation of five friends. 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:32.640 And his answer was this there are five conditions which I always endeavor to fulfill, which I have assurance of an answer to my prayer. 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:39.279 First, I have not the least doubt, because I am assured that it is the Lord's will to save them. 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:50.799 For he wills that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, and we have the assurance that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:21:02.319 Second, I have never pleaded for their salvation in my own name, but in the blessed name of my precious Lord Jesus and on his merits alone. 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:08.799 Third, I always firmly believed in the willingness of God to hear my prayers. 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:26.400 Fourth, I'm not conscious of having yielded to any sin. 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:34.319 For if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me when I call. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:43.279 And fifth, I have persevered in believing prayer for more than fifty-two years for some. 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:49.920 And they shall continue, and I shall continue until the answer comes. 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:59.440 You notice, humble, according to the truth. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:11.039 And a clear conscience, but bold, appealing to the heart of Christ in faith, believing his willingness to hear. 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:20.559 Given that it's Father's Day this morning, may I address the men specifically, and yet this certainly doesn't apply only to the men. 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:25.039 Keep praying for your children. 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:29.519 Keep interceding for your children. 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:31.680 This fellowship. 00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:39.519 Whatever fellowship you might belong, you might not even be a parent at this point in time. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:47.279 But it doesn't mean that you can't pray according to your heavenly father's heart and pray fatherly prayers. 00:22:49.200 --> 00:23:03.680 May we make it our aim that there not be a day there where the Lord doesn't hear from us the names of children, youth, and adult children in our midst and in our homes, lifted up to his ear. 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:07.680 It's true, yes, we can't give them a new heart. 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:16.400 We can show them the way of life, we can educate them, but we can't change their hearts, loves toward God. 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:19.279 But prayer is one thing that we can do. 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:28.799 Even if they won't let us speak to them about God, they can't keep us from speaking for them to God. 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:37.599 And so may we may we pray for those who are responsive, and may we pray for those who are unresponsive. 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:47.440 Keep their names up to the Lord's ear by day as they come across your mind and your heart and you think of them. 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:57.680 As they come upon your thoughts even by night, even though you might be burdened for them. 00:23:58.079 --> 00:24:00.000 Plead their distresses. 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:08.880 And prayers are not only a necessity for children, they're a necessity for adults. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:12.720 Do you have someone fighting for your heart? 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:27.599 Do you have someone who is in your corner, who is going to Jesus, lifting up your name, after going seven, eight, nine rounds in the world? 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:33.839 So that you're not in it, so that you're in it, but not of it. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:39.039 You might be inclined to talk to everyone else. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:42.000 But are you talking to Jesus? 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:45.920 That's infinitely more important, friends. 00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:51.279 Oh, may we make use of our heavenly intercessor. 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:57.519 May your faith be emboldened to pray and to plead the Lord's kindness and mercy upon others. 00:24:57.759 --> 00:25:04.880 Use his promises even as a battering ram to open heaven's doors and to draw down heavenly blessing upon them. 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:06.799 Use the promises of God. 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:09.519 Pray according to his will. 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:19.039 May we not look back in our older years and wish that we had made more use of the office of our heavenly king and brother. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:23.759 Be emboldened to intercede. 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:30.799 And then third, may our request be brought home by persistence. 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:36.799 Jesus honored persistent intercession. 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.240 Right? 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:42.319 This woman didn't give up in despair after Jesus first responded. 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:45.039 She continued to press in and press on. 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:47.119 She prayed on. 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:49.440 She didn't lose heart. 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:56.960 Oftentimes we say in our prayers, your will be done. 00:25:57.839 --> 00:26:03.200 And that's a beautiful statement and heart posture. 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:08.240 We ought to exercise a humble submission before God. 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:20.480 But let's check our intentions when we say those kind of words, because what can lie behind that virtue is a subtle unbelief that keeps us from giving ourselves to persistent prayer. 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:35.200 The problem with the lack of persistent hope is that oftentimes the purposes of God are not known without a period of waiting, of wrestling, of persistent knocking. 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:41.519 When Jesus said the statement of the Father, you remember that he was in the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:44.319 What had taken place prior to that? 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:49.119 Well, he had already spent much time agonizing in prayer. 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:55.599 And likewise, what did this woman before us know of half-hearted intention? 00:26:56.400 --> 00:27:00.559 Desperation, you see, is hungry for answers and relief. 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:05.359 And they know only one place to go, and to Jesus. 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:12.480 It doesn't look to carry out a task or an exercise, it looks for intervention. 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:18.319 And so if we ask, let's be looking for the answer. 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:21.599 Expect great things at the hands of God. 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:29.359 Look out for wonderful blessings from his hand, and you'll find how ready he is to give those blessings for which we ask him. 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:38.880 I say that aware that there remain unanswered petitions in many hearts here this morning. 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:47.839 But you see, the desperate heart that is looking to Jesus and knows him to be the only source of help doesn't let time answer for them. 00:27:50.880 --> 00:28:01.119 Whereas we might fear a missed appointment by having to wait for Jesus' answer, let's not equate waiting with a denial. 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:04.720 All right, continue to persist in faith. 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:20.079 But the waiting may, behind the waiting may actually lie hundreds of communications from Jesus to the Father on our behalf and behalf of those for whom we pray, for our eternal benefit and that of others. 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:33.039 If crumbs of mercy removed an evil spirit for this woman, how much more mercy does he have for us whom he has made as children? 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:42.880 And even as I say that again, let's also remember that deliverance has its depths. 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:48.880 All right, present deliverance from circumstances are one thing. 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:54.880 But the state of our soul with a view toward our final deliverance is another. 00:28:56.240 --> 00:29:05.680 Surely we can trust that if God in his wisdom must delay something in the present, we can trust him that he is working things out for our greater good. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:13.519 A delayed deliverance is working toward even greater deliverance, which we will one day enjoy. 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:23.359 It's because Christ was not delivered that we will one day be completely and fully delivered now that we are found in him. 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:30.240 And so his death was the greatest intercession of all and reminds us of all that still awaits. 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:36.640 And so I come and close back with George Mueller. 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:40.240 And in November 1844, he wrote this. 00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:44.079 He said, I began to pray for the conversion of five individuals. 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:47.200 I prayed every day without a single intermission. 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:54.240 Eighteen months passed by before the first of the five. 00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:56.880 We might say it was his pick five. 00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:59.119 Some of you know that language. 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:04.160 Eighteen months passed before the first were saved. 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:08.319 Five years went by, and another was saved. 00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:15.519 Six years passed before the third came to saving faith in Christ. 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:21.279 And then a long time passed with no sign of change. 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:25.119 The last two still remained unconverted. 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:31.279 And there was a man, uh Pastor Charles Parsons, in an interview toward the end of his life. 00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:32.720 He asked him this question. 00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:35.680 He said, Do you spend much time on your knees? 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:44.960 Mueller's response was, I've been praying every day for 52 years for two men, sons of a friend of my youth. 00:30:45.359 --> 00:30:48.960 They are not converted yet, but they will be. 00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:51.680 How can it be otherwise? 00:30:55.759 --> 00:31:02.319 Shortly before his death, one of the two men that were remaining came to Christ. 00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:14.400 And then in March 10, 1898, Mueller went on to heaven praying firmly in faith, thanking God in advance for the salvation of those for whom he had paid. 00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:24.160 And within months of his passing, the last friend on his prayer list came to rely on God's mercy and grace. 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:34.880 I don't know about you, but that puts energy in my tank. 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:44.319 What more do we need to keep on persisting, to keep trusting, to be, to be fervent and lifting up the names and the needs of others before our Lord. 00:31:44.480 --> 00:32:04.079 And if the day draws long and your time draws short, may it comfort you to know that because our Lord and Savior is still in heaven interceding, even our prayers can outlast us and meet us on that great day with success. 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:09.599 May we come to Jesus as pleaders. 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:19.279 Pray emboldened petitions and persist in faith until we're all delivered home. 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:20.640 Amen. 00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:24.240 Let's pray. 00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:52.319 Thankful for interceders, thankful for your faithfulness, thankful for your Holy Spirit that continues to work in us even in the times when we might lose heart, to continue to press on and intercede for others. 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:58.559 Oh Lord, we pray that you would do a work to make us pleaders and bold interceders. 00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:08.640 That you would strengthen us, Lord, to be faithful and persisting for those who need your intervention. 00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:17.759 Oh Lord, may we see much more of your mercy as we come to your throne of grace. 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:35.920 And Father, we thank you and it all for the greatest and surest hope that gives us confidence when we pray, knowing that you are indeed our faithful and good interceder, and that you ever live to intercede for us. 00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:47.920 We praise you and we thank you for your work and your office that brings us nigh to you and gives us much grace. 00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:50.720 In Jesus' name we pray and thank you. 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:51.680 Amen.