WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.680 Please turn in your Bibles to Mark chapter 9. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:10.960 We're looking the next three weeks at a short series, a life of anticipation. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:19.839 If you've been with us for six months or longer, you know that we kicked off the new theme of anticipation in September. 00:00:20.079 --> 00:00:29.440 We looked at that topic and considered different relevant applications of that to our lives, and we come back to it at the beginning of the new year. 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:40.799 A life of anticipation this morning, what a life of anticipating, a life of growing, of speaking with God, of growing in our prayer life would look like. 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:47.840 Next week we're going to look at a life, anticipating a life of service to God and to others. 00:00:48.079 --> 00:01:00.640 And then the last weekend, the same weekend that we have Randy Newman coming to speak on evangelism, we're going to look at a life of sharing the good news, the gift of eternal life. 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:08.480 This morning we're looking at prayer, and I went back and looked at some other notes from past years. 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:11.359 Some of you remember when the theme was simplicity? 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:13.120 How many of you remember that? 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:21.200 Removing the meaningless to make room for the meaningful. 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:24.480 That was really the subtitle for us that year. 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:29.519 God, how are you going to get rid of the meaningless things in our lives, the things that clutter us? 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:31.920 Our minds, our schedules. 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:34.560 I went back and looked at some notes. 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:47.120 And Dallas Willard put it like this: the main thing that God gets out of your life is not the achievements that you accomplish, it's the person that you become. 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:51.439 I found that refreshing to come back and to reconsider. 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:57.040 It's not what you do, it's who you're becoming in Christ. 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:03.280 What clutters the soul does not mainly come from the outside, but from the inside. 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:06.319 You believe that? 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:11.599 What clutters the soul does not mainly come from the outside. 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:14.159 It's not what happens to you. 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:20.560 It's not your circumstances, as troubling as they can be. 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:27.199 It's what God does in our heart when those circumstances come. 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:30.000 Simplicity. 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:39.599 Simplicity is not so much about putting a schedule together as it is determining who you're trying to become. 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:45.520 Not what you're trying to get done so much as deciding who you want to become. 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:48.240 That's good, right? 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:51.599 Who do I want to become in 2020? 00:02:52.639 --> 00:03:01.199 I'm going to order my time, I'm going to order my life, I'm going to order my schedule around the person that I'm asking God to make me more into. 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:06.400 And so we talk about that in the context of prayer as we should. 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:08.960 And so this is a familiar story. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:13.039 It's one of my favorite stories in the New Testament. 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:20.879 When Jesus met a very anxious father, a father that was scared. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:25.360 Really scared because he had a son he didn't know what to do with. 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:29.439 This boy just suffered greatly. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:33.039 And Jesus knew what to do with them. 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:35.680 And so we read about that. 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:42.560 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:49.439 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:53.360 And he asked them, What are you arguing about with them? 00:03:53.759 --> 00:04:01.759 And someone from the crowd answered him, Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:09.360 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:14.159 So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able. 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:20.480 And he answered them, O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:22.959 How long am I to bear with you? 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:24.800 Bring him to me. 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:27.040 And they brought the boy to him. 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:35.040 And when the spirit saw him, he immediately convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:40.160 And Jesus asked his father, How long has this been happening to him? 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:43.040 And he said, From childhood. 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:47.680 And it has often cast him into fire and into water to destroy him. 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:53.040 But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. 00:04:53.680 --> 00:05:00.079 Jesus said to him, If you can, all things are possible for one who believes. 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:04.240 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, I believe. 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:06.000 Help my unbelief. 00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:18.720 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, You mute and deaf spirit, I command you come out of him and never enter him again. 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:28.720 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, He's dead. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:33.680 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:40.800 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could we not cast it out? 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:46.720 And he said to them, This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer. 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:53.360 This is the reading of God's holy, infallible, inerrant word. 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:56.000 Would you please pray with me? 00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:08.480 Father, we are asking that your son's power be poured out in this sanctuary this morning. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:18.879 And Jesus, just as on that occasion you rebuked, would you rebuke us where we need to be rebuked? 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:23.920 And just as you challenge them, would you challenge us? 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:37.920 But Jesus, just as you poured out grace and power and healing, would you pour out grace and power and healing among us this morning? 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:39.680 We pray in Christ's name. 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:40.560 Amen. 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:55.040 The story is chilling, isn't it? 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:58.959 Just imagine yourself the Father. 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:06.319 And you can maybe many of us can fill in our own blanks. 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:08.800 Your problem may not be his problem. 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:10.480 It probably isn't. 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:13.279 But you can put yourself in the Father's place. 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:24.160 It's interesting that his only son, I'm struck at how many times in the Gospels, the Gospels tell us her only daughter, his only son. 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:28.399 It happens quite often in the Gospels. 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:38.319 I don't confess to know all the reasons why that God chose these people, but it certainly brings my mind back to God's only son. 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:51.279 God's only son was the only answer for the loss or the concern and the fears of many people for their only child, or for all of our children for that matter. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:08:01.600 The passage doesn't tell us how long this was going on, but it had been going on long enough, and I'm pretty sure that this was one discouraged, exasperated father. 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:08.639 I've got to believe he spent a lot of time praying about it. 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:13.519 He spent a lot of time thinking, he spent a lot of time researching. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:21.519 One difference, he wasn't all he wasn't up all night googling these diseases. 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:27.759 That could be helpful, I think. 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:31.199 But hear me. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:33.200 That's not your answer. 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:38.080 That's not the ultimate answer. 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:41.200 Do it if it's helpful. 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:45.360 But that's not the solution. 00:08:46.639 --> 00:09:07.200 He did everything he could to free his son of this possession, this evil possession that overtook him, that would try to literally kill him, throwing him in fire. 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:13.679 Can you imagine seeing your son throwing himself into a fire? 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:14.960 Or water? 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:18.799 Or just this evil spirit was terrorizing him. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:20.960 We get it. 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:24.559 It doesn't have to be your son. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:26.480 It may be. 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:29.200 It doesn't have to be your daughter. 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:40.480 It could be a spouse, it could be a friend, it could be your health, it could be your finances, it could be relational destruction. 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:49.039 Look, the enemy has many options on his venue. 00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:54.639 The enemy comes against us in many ways. 00:09:55.360 --> 00:10:01.279 But what it all has in common is he wants to terrorize us. 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:04.879 He wants to exasperate us. 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:14.159 He wants to render us feeling useless and powerless, that there's nothing that we can do except worry. 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:23.840 And accept and try other secondary and rely on secondary resources. 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:26.799 That's what it has in common. 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:31.840 And so Jesus has just been on the Mount of Transfiguration. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:32.879 We didn't read that. 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:36.240 He was up there on the top of the James and John. 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:45.519 And so I wonder, was the glory, because remember the glory of the Lord shone upon Jesus and it just enveloped Jesus. 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:48.000 Was some of that glory still shining on Jesus? 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:49.200 I don't know. 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:53.840 But they just came down from the mountain, just having heard the voice of God. 00:10:54.399 --> 00:11:02.000 And the other nine disciples are left in the village with this father with this urgent need. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:09.360 And the father has come to the nine disciples, and he's pleading with them, please heal my son. 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:11.919 I can't take this any longer. 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:13.440 He can't. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:17.600 Did you catch how the father made the petition? 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:19.200 Help what? 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:20.960 Us. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:32.879 When you have that kind of a desperate condition for a loved one, it's always us, isn't it? 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:39.120 Because your heart is just wrapped up in that, like the other person that you're praying for. 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:40.480 Help us. 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:48.000 And we, you know, this is just, this doesn't require a lot of sanctified imagination, just a little bit. 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:51.679 But the other nine, it's like, well, yeah, we can do this. 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:53.600 Why do I say that? 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:56.960 Because they had already been sent out on preaching missions by Jesus. 00:11:57.039 --> 00:12:02.080 And Jesus had already invested them with spiritual power to cast out demons. 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:04.480 See, that's why they thought they could do it. 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:09.759 He gave them spiritual authority to cast out demons. 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:12.159 He gave them spiritual authority to heal diseases. 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:16.879 He gave them spiritual authority to bring people to a knowledge of God for salvation. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:20.639 Do you remember how Luke puts it in Luke chapter 10? 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:29.120 They came back rejoicing because God's power flowed through them. 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:31.919 And do you remember what Jesus said to them? 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:36.399 Rejoice not that the demons submit to you. 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:41.120 Rejoice that your names are written in the book of heaven. 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:45.759 And so you see what's going on here. 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:47.919 They thought, well, no, we've done this before. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:49.120 We can do this. 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:51.120 But they couldn't. 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:59.279 And so now they're just really all bound up, like, why can't we exercise this demon from this boy? 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:02.240 We've done it before. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:05.519 And Jesus says, for a very simple reason. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:13.039 This kind doesn't come out by that kind of prayer. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:16.480 Did you hear that? 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.559 This kind of evil. 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:22.240 Do you know that there are different gradations of evil in this world? 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:25.120 Do you know that there were different satanic forces? 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:39.440 When you get to the armor of God in Ephesians chapter 6, in the book of Ephesians, you have, for quite a while, you have the flesh in the world. 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:52.799 Paul is telling us how to battle the flesh, and he's telling us how to battle the world, but then you get into chapter 6, and he tells us more specifically how we battle satanic forces and demons. 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:56.799 They're not all alike. 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:58.720 They're all hard. 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:02.159 Fighting the flesh is not easy, is it? 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:05.279 Fighting the world is not easy. 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:11.039 I think that's why, and some of you remember our series in the book of Ephesians a few years ago. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:19.600 That's why five times in the book of Ephesians, five times, the apostle Paul reminds us that we are not seated here on earth, our souls. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:22.720 Where are we seated right now, friends? 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:25.759 In the heavenlies. 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:31.600 That makes all the difference in the world to see where you are. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:44.480 Five times in the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul shows us, you may be sitting in a pew at 2405 Russell Road, Alexandria. 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:51.120 You may be sitting here, physically, your body, but that's not where your heart is. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:53.039 That's not where your soul is. 00:14:55.200 --> 00:15:03.120 Your soul is seated in the heavenly courts with King Jesus in the mighty one that we were beholding at the beginning of this worship service. 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:06.960 And if you lose sight of that, you're in trouble. 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:22.879 Do you fight your battles here looking up, or do you fight your battles from heaven, seated there in the heavenlies with Christ, looking down, aware of the heavenly spiritual resources that God has given you? 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:27.360 Are we fighting these battles in our strength? 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:30.559 Or are we fighting these battles in his? 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.639 That's the question. 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:34.879 Jesus says to his disciples afterwards. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:40.159 So again, we read the story, and Jesus has a conversation with the Father. 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:42.960 He says, How long has it been like this? 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:46.000 Now, did Jesus know that? 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:48.320 Yeah, I think Jesus probably knew that. 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:51.600 Did Jesus have to engage in this conversation with the Father? 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:53.600 I mean, the Father probably is just agonizing. 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:54.639 Please don't talk. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.519 Heal. 00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.000 Please. 00:15:58.320 --> 00:15:59.600 Conversation later. 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:02.639 Do you see he's trying to kill himself again by going to the fire? 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:04.080 Please, just intervene. 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:06.720 I think that probably would have been me. 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:13.120 What Jesus engages him in a conversation. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:18.559 I think it was out of sympathy and pity. 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:23.919 I think Jesus was expressing his deep concern. 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:28.879 I think Jesus was saying, I care. 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:34.720 And tell me about it. 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:39.840 Can you do that? 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:43.360 I care. 00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:48.080 Please tell me about it. 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:51.919 Can you tell them about it? 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:57.440 I'm not going to go into the notes because of time. 00:16:57.519 --> 00:17:00.399 You know, I've talked about this stuff before when I preach on this sermon. 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:03.519 It's easy to try it's easy to spiritualize this stuff. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:05.599 It's easy to rationalize this stuff. 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:08.559 And I think we do this stuff all the time. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:11.359 Well, why pray? 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:14.319 It doesn't seem to help. 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:16.000 Why pray? 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:18.720 I'm not sure he does see what's going on in my life. 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:20.559 I'm not sure he really does care. 00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:23.359 I'm here to tell you this morning he does. 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:27.119 You're not waiting on him. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:29.039 He's waiting on you. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:36.720 Don't rationalize away your pain. 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:39.039 Spiritualize away your pain. 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:47.119 We ought to be listening to what he has to say to this father. 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:57.519 The father asked the question, if you can do anything about this, Father, Jesus, if you can do anything about this, would you please? 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.599 And what does Jesus say? 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:05.440 If you can, do you know who you're talking to? 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:07.440 If I can? 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:11.519 If you believe I can do all things. 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:17.359 Jesus is clarifying. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:22.640 Jesus is turning the dial so that the reception comes in clearer. 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:25.920 I want you to understand who I really am. 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:30.880 I want you to understand what I can really do before I heal your boy. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:39.599 All things are possible for the one who believes. 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:42.640 Immediately the father of the child cried out. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.559 That's a strong verb. 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:48.160 I believe. 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:50.319 Help my unbelief. 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:57.920 And when Jesus saw the crowd coming together, a commotion starting, he says, okay, this is not going to be a circus. 00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.359 I'm not going to do that. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:00.000 No. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:08.720 He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying, You mute and deaf spirit, I command you come out of him and never enter him again. 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:14.319 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out and the boy was like a corpse. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:17.519 The boy wasn't dead, it appeared to be dead. 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:22.559 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up. 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:30.880 That was a good day for that father. 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:33.680 That was a good day for that son. 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:42.559 What was it like as they had dinner together that night? 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:47.200 What was it like as they were around the table together that night? 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:53.839 Both of them knowing clearly that only Jesus could have done this, and Jesus did. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:57.599 That was a good day. 00:19:58.079 --> 00:20:00.079 After a lot of bad days. 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:08.799 So the nine disciples are now in a private room conversation with Jesus. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:11.680 Jesus, we don't get it. 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:14.799 How come we couldn't heal him? 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:18.319 Because there's two kinds. 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:30.880 There is a kind of evil and oppression and misery. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:41.680 There is a kind that opposes us, that we see God deliver us from. 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:45.839 And then there's another kind. 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:48.640 There's another kind. 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:52.720 And let me tell you what Jesus is saying to him. 00:20:53.599 --> 00:21:00.799 If you don't really learn how to pray, if you don't really learn how to pray, you're never going to see that kind come out. 00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:03.200 Are you okay with that? 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:07.599 Are you okay with that? 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:14.319 Are you okay being a Christian that says, no, you know what? 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:18.799 Give me the fifth tier below. 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:22.799 But don't give me the first tier. 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:25.599 Don't give me that. 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:29.039 Give me the easy ones, God. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:35.200 Give me the ones that I can I give me the ones I can deal with. 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:37.359 With a little bit of prayer. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:40.799 Don't you dare settle for that. 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:46.400 Don't you dare settle for that. 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:47.839 You can. 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:50.799 Here's my question. 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:52.240 Why would you? 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.960 Why would you? 00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:59.759 Are you gonna go through the rest of your life? 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:10.240 Taking on the problems that you can deal with with a little bit of prayer? 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:13.440 With a little bit of faith? 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:17.039 Martin Luther said about this text. 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:20.240 When our faith is little, our prayer is little. 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.519 He was right. 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:25.119 Why would you settle? 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.960 Why would I settle? 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:30.720 I'm not going to settle. 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:36.880 I'm going to keep asking God to grow my faith. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:46.400 I'm going to keep asking God to grow my belief in the power of the King that we sang to at the beginning of this service. 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:51.759 I'm going to keep asking God to grow my vision of the King of glory. 00:22:51.920 --> 00:23:00.480 And I'm going to continue to ask God to grow my faith in the power that flows from the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:06.720 And I'm going to ask, I'm going to continue to ask God to grow my understanding that I'm seated in the heavenlies. 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:10.720 I am. 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:14.079 And it's not always easy. 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:18.000 I'm just being honest with you. 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:21.279 There were a couple times this week when I was just really discouraged. 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:28.960 There were a couple times this week when I just felt my heart just discouraged. 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:35.200 And I prayed the other night in our Wednesday night prayer meeting. 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:38.240 God forgive me for my anxious heart. 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:42.720 Do you ever ask God to forgive you for your anxious heart? 00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:46.640 He says, I just felt my heart was anxious. 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:53.279 And I've seen God meet me this week. 00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:56.240 And I've seen God refresh me this week. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:24:00.160 I've seen God give me fresh faith this week. 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:03.279 And he can do it for you too. 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.759 This kind. 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:10.559 This kind. 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:15.920 You know, again, I went back to Ephesians chapter 6, and I was looking at the armor. 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:20.960 Put on the whole armor of God, including the sword of the spirit. 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:27.119 That's the only offensive weapon in the armor that Paul talks about in putting on the whole armor of God. 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:30.000 Put on the sword of the spirit. 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:33.440 Strap it on your side, the sword of the spirit. 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:35.759 It was a short sword. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:40.400 It was used for hand-to-hand combat in Paul's day. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:44.000 Let me tell you what that means, I think. 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:47.920 The Holy Spirit cuts through our defenses. 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:50.799 The Holy Spirit pricks our consciences. 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:53.759 The Holy Spirit cuts to the heart. 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:57.440 The Holy Spirit takes the Word of God. 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:02.880 The Spirit of God takes the Word of God and He makes thrust. 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:11.519 And you and I both need those thrusts, dear ones. 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:27.759 Because we can wrap ourselves around a lot of anxiety and fear and apathy and laziness, and just little faith. 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:31.839 The Holy Spirit takes this word of God. 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:37.039 And if you open up to Him, He's going to thrust. 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:41.039 Remember what happened the day of Pentecost? 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:48.960 3,000 people were cut to the heart through the preaching of Peter because the Spirit of God used the Word of God. 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:53.200 And he still is doing that today. 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:58.400 But you've got to offer up and you've got to open up. 00:25:58.559 --> 00:26:01.440 And you've got to invite him in to do his work. 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:05.119 It's his sword, not yours, not mine. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:17.680 Jesus says to the disciples, this kind only comes by prayer. 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:23.759 Now some of you are used to your King James Bibles and other translations, maybe. 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:28.160 And you say, well, I thought it said in fasting in prayer. 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:36.799 Well, the oldest, most reliable manuscripts don't say and fasting, but so what? 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:39.920 We all know that fasting is good. 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:42.880 We all know that the Bible commends fasting. 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:50.240 Just because it may not have said it here doesn't mean that it's not something that we should engage in. 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:59.200 It's just this kind only comes by that kind of prayer. 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:02.079 Oh Hallisby. 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:04.720 I don't know. 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:06.799 This is a raising of hand Sunday. 00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:08.400 How many of you remember? 00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:10.960 How many got a copy of the book, Prayer, by O. 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:11.920 Hallisby? 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:13.200 You remember that? 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.559 Not many of you. 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:21.839 I highly recommend that prayer by O. 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:24.079 Period Hallisby. 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:30.799 We gave every person in this church a copy of that book. 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:33.279 I don't know, ten years ago. 00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:38.559 This is how he defines prayer. 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:42.880 A cry in faith. 00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:49.200 This little Greek word that the Father used, help, guess what it means? 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:50.480 Run? 00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:52.079 It's a compound word. 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:56.319 To run to a cry. 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:03.200 Will God run to your cry? 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:12.480 This kind of prayer. 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:23.119 Hallisby said, prayer is the conduit through which power from heaven is brought to earth. 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:34.559 The greater the volume of prayer to be transmitted from above, the stronger must be the prayer cable which unites the soul with God. 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:37.440 Can I say that again? 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:43.039 Prayer is the conduit through which power from heaven is brought to earth. 00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:54.799 The greater the volume of power to be transmitted from above, the stronger must be the prayer cable which unites the soul with God. 00:28:57.920 --> 00:29:00.079 Can you relate to the Father? 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:02.079 I believe, help my unbelief. 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:06.319 Does that resonate with you? 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:10.640 Lord, I believe. 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:14.079 Help my unbelief. 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.720 Would you give me more faith? 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:17.759 Would you grow my faith? 00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:22.319 Would you clear my vision to the King and to His power and to His glory? 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:25.279 May my faith be a prayer of faith. 00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:28.240 May my prayer be a prayer of repenting faith. 00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:29.039 I believe. 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:30.400 Help my unbelief. 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:33.920 May my prayer be a prayer of persevering faith. 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:37.440 Isn't that it? 00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:47.759 Pick up that sword of the Spirit. 00:29:49.599 --> 00:30:07.359 Ask the Spirit to give you the sword of the Spirit and have it on your side, by your side, so that there will be some deep thrust in your life. 00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:18.559 And that will cut away the things in your life. 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:22.480 To cut away our unbelief. 00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:26.559 To cut away our apathy. 00:30:31.599 --> 00:30:33.200 Now I'm preaching, right? 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:35.920 Why aren't you going to be here tonight? 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:45.759 Why aren't you going to be here tonight if you're not coming? 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:53.839 You know something powerful happens? 00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:59.039 When the people of God come together simply to pray. 00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:04.880 I think prayer is wonderful at CMG. 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:06.400 I highly commend it. 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:35.359 But when you come together with other people to pray, anxiety. 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:47.839 And that's why I pray. 00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:54.319 But God can. 00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:57.680 Come. 00:31:58.640 --> 00:31:59.200 Jesus. 00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:00.640 Come to Jesus. 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:03.119 Where two or three are gathered in my name. 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.079 There I am. 00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:06.640 There my power is unleashed. 00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:13.359 Let me just say one thing in closing. 00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:18.480 Satan is always going to try to get you to focus on the battles that you've lost. 00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:21.680 Not the war that Jesus has won. 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:26.000 That's why we're coming to this table. 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:30.559 Satan is always going to try to get you to focus on the battles that you've lost. 00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:33.759 You hear me? 00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:36.480 Can you see a lot of battles that you've lost? 00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.720 Why pray? 00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:42.960 Look at all the battles I've lost. 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:55.599 He's going to, when you meet Jesus, he is always going to point you to the war he won more than the battles that you've lost. 00:32:56.559 --> 00:33:01.680 And what a privilege I have now to lead us to this table. 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:08.480 This is the table that points to the victory that he won. 00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:12.319 And that's why our prayers are precious to him. 00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:15.039 Pray with me. 00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:23.680 Oh Father, thank you. 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:27.519 Thank you for the saving, cleansing, healing power of your son. 00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:31.039 And thank you for the way that you healed that boy. 00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:35.279 And thank you for the glad reunion you gave that boy and his father. 00:33:35.920 --> 00:33:45.759 And I thank you, Jesus, that you're still healing and you're still saving and you're still cutting the hearts of your people as well as others. 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:51.119 Cut, Lord Jesus, this day. 00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:54.720