WEBVTT 00:00:11.669 --> 00:00:23.509 Okay, uh Luke chapter eleven, verse five to eight, and it said to them, Which of you shall have a friend and go to him at midnight? 00:00:27.109 --> 00:00:28.070 You changed it. 00:00:28.230 --> 00:00:29.670 I was still reading, you changed. 00:00:31.589 --> 00:00:39.510 Which of you shall have a friend and go to him at midnight and say to him, Friend, lend me three lobes of three lobes. 00:00:40.390 --> 00:00:46.789 A friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him. 00:00:48.310 --> 00:00:58.869 And then he said, He will answer from within and say, Do not trouble me, the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. 00:00:59.109 --> 00:01:01.829 I cannot rise and give it to you. 00:01:04.549 --> 00:01:12.150 Said to you, though he will not rise and give him because he is the friend, yet because of his persistence. 00:01:13.509 --> 00:01:16.469 Another version says, importunity. 00:01:17.670 --> 00:01:18.709 Persistence. 00:01:20.469 --> 00:01:24.790 The prayer of persistence, the prayer of importunity. 00:01:26.709 --> 00:01:28.709 Ephesians chapter 6, verse 18. 00:01:28.790 --> 00:01:43.349 The Bible says, praying with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all. 00:01:44.069 --> 00:01:47.109 You notice how many times he's saying the word or. 00:01:47.670 --> 00:01:53.030 So he said, praying with all prayer and supplication. 00:01:54.629 --> 00:01:55.349 Application. 00:01:55.430 --> 00:01:58.629 Because when he talks about supplication, he's going deeper. 00:02:00.069 --> 00:02:08.150 The prayer of persistence, of importunity, is the prayer of stubborn-hearted. 00:02:08.389 --> 00:02:09.829 He's stubborn hearted. 00:02:11.269 --> 00:02:13.430 It's a prayer that does not give up. 00:02:14.469 --> 00:02:17.269 Because of his importunity. 00:02:17.509 --> 00:02:19.430 Because of his stubbornness. 00:02:19.909 --> 00:02:21.830 Because of his persistence. 00:02:22.389 --> 00:02:31.509 Not because the guy wants to give it to him, but simply because the guy is the one who is asking is stubborn. 00:02:32.310 --> 00:02:33.669 He's persistent. 00:02:34.389 --> 00:02:36.789 He has application. 00:02:38.629 --> 00:02:43.110 That's why the Bible says that don't be anxious of anything. 00:02:43.430 --> 00:02:46.870 But through prayer, thanksgiving. 00:02:48.069 --> 00:02:48.789 Intercession. 00:02:50.150 --> 00:02:51.270 Taplication. 00:02:52.710 --> 00:02:57.030 Because a person is no bigger than his or her prayer life. 00:02:58.550 --> 00:03:01.830 What you are on your knees is what you are. 00:03:04.069 --> 00:03:18.789 First Timothy chapter 2, verse 1, the Bible says, I exhort you therefore that first of all, supplication, prayer, intercession, and giving of thanks. 00:03:18.949 --> 00:03:21.830 Those are different types of prayer, by the way. 00:03:23.590 --> 00:03:26.629 Supplication, prayer, intercession, pray for others. 00:03:26.870 --> 00:03:28.469 Giving of thanks. 00:03:28.629 --> 00:03:31.669 You know, thanksgiving is also a form of prayer. 00:03:32.789 --> 00:03:42.150 You can come to church and for one hour, because most of the time we are turning God into an ATM machine. 00:03:43.909 --> 00:03:46.870 Give me, give me a prayer answering machine. 00:03:50.150 --> 00:03:51.909 Jesus taught about prayer. 00:03:52.150 --> 00:03:58.069 He said, When you pray, say, Our Father, you are in heaven. 00:03:58.310 --> 00:04:00.550 Hallowed be your name. 00:04:01.110 --> 00:04:02.550 Your kingdom come. 00:04:02.870 --> 00:04:04.469 Your will be done. 00:04:04.789 --> 00:04:06.229 You, you, you. 00:04:08.150 --> 00:04:13.590 The focus of the prayer pattern of Jesus is you, your will, your kingdom. 00:04:14.229 --> 00:04:16.949 When we pray, it's about me. 00:04:20.069 --> 00:04:26.069 My back, my stomach, my husband, my husband. 00:04:26.389 --> 00:04:28.790 So we have to shift the focus. 00:04:29.029 --> 00:04:29.670 Yeah? 00:04:29.990 --> 00:04:34.149 So thanksgiving is a form of prayer. 00:04:35.110 --> 00:04:40.149 You can come to church and just thank God for one hour and go away. 00:04:40.709 --> 00:04:43.589 Because what true worship? 00:04:43.829 --> 00:04:47.589 True worship means you tell God who He is. 00:04:48.149 --> 00:04:49.829 And you're thankful to God. 00:04:50.069 --> 00:04:52.389 So many of us here, you're married. 00:04:52.629 --> 00:05:00.230 What if all the time your wife is asking, pay the bill, pay the bill, and they never take time to say thank you to you? 00:05:01.350 --> 00:05:04.310 I've been married for 16 years. 00:05:06.149 --> 00:05:09.110 Five years in marriage, three children. 00:05:09.350 --> 00:05:11.670 Every year, every year, every year, every year. 00:05:14.550 --> 00:05:16.069 Quick, quick, quick. 00:05:16.949 --> 00:05:21.430 But recently, my wife asked me, Do you really love me? 00:05:22.790 --> 00:05:25.509 I said, What do you mean, do you love me? 00:05:26.550 --> 00:05:36.949 Because she said, when she goes to the salon and changes the hairstyle, inside my heart, I say, Wow, you look so beautiful. 00:05:39.029 --> 00:05:42.310 Inside my heart, I you're so beautiful. 00:05:42.629 --> 00:05:45.430 But it will never come out of my mouth. 00:05:47.430 --> 00:05:50.949 She wants to hear something come out of your mouth. 00:05:51.110 --> 00:05:55.189 Even if you're lying to her, just say something. 00:05:57.110 --> 00:06:01.589 Of course, we don't have to lie to God, but you know, thanksgiving, you have to come. 00:06:01.990 --> 00:06:07.269 God is not a prayer-answering machine, He demands relationship. 00:06:07.509 --> 00:06:09.350 He wants relationship with us. 00:06:09.589 --> 00:06:18.550 So that's why the Bible says that let prayer, supplication, thanksgiving be made for all men. 00:06:18.870 --> 00:06:23.670 In Romans chapter 8, verse 26, the Holy Spirit helps us to pray. 00:06:23.829 --> 00:06:29.829 Likewise, the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray. 00:06:30.870 --> 00:06:37.029 Now, brothers and sisters, the Holy Spirit is our intercessor on earth. 00:06:37.350 --> 00:06:39.589 He prays through us and with us. 00:06:39.750 --> 00:06:41.430 He demands our cooperation. 00:06:44.149 --> 00:06:46.149 Hebrews chapter 7, verse 25. 00:06:46.310 --> 00:06:55.029 The Bible says Jesus Christ is therefore he is always also able to serve to the utmost those who come to God through him. 00:06:55.430 --> 00:07:01.829 Since he always lives to make intercession for them, he's making intercession for us. 00:07:02.149 --> 00:07:05.589 So Jesus is praying for the believer in heaven. 00:07:05.829 --> 00:07:08.949 The Holy Spirit is praying for the believer on earth. 00:07:09.750 --> 00:07:20.550 So if you have the Holy Spirit praying for you on earth, and you have Jesus praying for you in heaven, how can you fail? 00:07:21.750 --> 00:07:23.029 You cannot fail. 00:07:23.269 --> 00:07:29.670 So the Holy Spirit praying through us and with us, he demands our cooperation. 00:07:31.589 --> 00:07:33.430 He demands our cooperation. 00:07:33.990 --> 00:07:45.350 Now, brothers and sisters, prayerlessness began in the garden of Eden when man hid away from God. 00:07:47.189 --> 00:07:50.870 Hiding away from God is prayerlessness. 00:07:51.189 --> 00:07:54.310 Hiding in God is prayer. 00:07:54.709 --> 00:08:00.069 God wants us to hide in him and not away from him. 00:08:01.430 --> 00:08:02.629 There's a Bible verse. 00:08:02.870 --> 00:08:04.550 Judges chapter 16. 00:08:06.230 --> 00:08:07.990 Judges chapter 16. 00:08:09.670 --> 00:08:12.470 And she said to him, The Philistines are upon you. 00:08:12.629 --> 00:08:15.589 I want you to go to verse 918. 00:08:16.149 --> 00:08:17.670 Look for verse 18. 00:08:19.430 --> 00:08:21.189 Begin from verse 18. 00:08:23.509 --> 00:08:24.550 Say amen. 00:08:25.829 --> 00:08:29.670 Okay, you know, uh 2016. 00:08:31.189 --> 00:08:33.269 I lost my my dad. 00:08:34.230 --> 00:08:36.230 That time I was I was in China. 00:08:36.309 --> 00:08:37.589 I had gone to China. 00:08:39.350 --> 00:08:41.430 And I tried to find a flight. 00:08:41.509 --> 00:08:43.029 I failed to catch a flight. 00:08:43.190 --> 00:08:46.710 So I arrived in Uganda after they had already buried. 00:08:48.149 --> 00:08:49.909 I arrived at 9 in the night. 00:08:49.990 --> 00:08:51.029 They had buried at 4. 00:08:51.110 --> 00:08:52.549 The funeral was at 4. 00:08:52.789 --> 00:08:53.590 So I missed. 00:08:53.669 --> 00:08:54.789 I could not bury. 00:08:56.070 --> 00:09:02.710 For one week, for the first time, that's when I knew I fear the dead. 00:09:04.070 --> 00:09:07.990 Because in the night I cannot switch on the light. 00:09:08.070 --> 00:09:09.909 I cannot switch off the light. 00:09:11.029 --> 00:09:14.149 One day I sleep with the lights on. 00:09:14.230 --> 00:09:16.149 I don't know what happened. 00:09:17.110 --> 00:09:19.830 And electricity went off. 00:09:20.629 --> 00:09:21.909 It was dark. 00:09:22.230 --> 00:09:25.669 And I'm so afraid, I say, I'm finished. 00:09:27.750 --> 00:09:31.190 In the dark, I saw I saw something moving. 00:09:32.870 --> 00:09:36.149 And in my heart, I say, I did not bury this man. 00:09:37.350 --> 00:09:38.629 He has come back. 00:09:40.710 --> 00:09:45.750 And I began, in the name of Jesus, fire, fire, in the name of Jesus. 00:09:46.309 --> 00:09:53.590 When I called fire, about 10 minutes, thank God the lights came back. 00:09:54.870 --> 00:10:01.590 When I saw it was my jacket that was moving. 00:10:03.909 --> 00:10:07.429 Well, most of the things that we fear, they actually don't exist. 00:10:08.230 --> 00:10:09.269 They don't exist. 00:10:09.830 --> 00:10:21.909 Okay, now when Delilah saw that he had told her his heart, she sent and called for the Lord of the Philistines, saying, Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart. 00:10:22.070 --> 00:10:27.110 So the Lord of Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hand. 00:10:27.350 --> 00:10:28.549 Verse 19. 00:10:29.509 --> 00:10:33.190 Then she lowered him to sleep on her laps. 00:10:33.669 --> 00:10:38.870 You know, Samson lost the power while asleep. 00:10:41.350 --> 00:10:45.269 It was asleep when he lost the power. 00:10:46.309 --> 00:10:47.669 Spiritual sleep. 00:10:47.909 --> 00:10:49.590 Spiritual sleep is very bad. 00:10:49.830 --> 00:10:50.870 Spiritual slumber. 00:10:50.950 --> 00:10:56.309 That's why the Bible says, wake up from your sleep and wake up, rise up from the dead. 00:10:56.710 --> 00:11:04.950 Because Paul equates somebody who is spiritually asleep, like someone who is spiritually dead. 00:11:06.309 --> 00:11:13.990 That's why Jesus, when he's going to raise up Lazarus, he said, our friend Lazarus is asleep. 00:11:15.350 --> 00:11:16.389 The guy is dead. 00:11:16.470 --> 00:11:19.590 He said, Our friend Lazarus is asleep. 00:11:20.389 --> 00:11:22.950 So verse 20. 00:11:27.509 --> 00:11:30.470 And she said, The Philistines are upon you, Samson. 00:11:30.629 --> 00:11:37.590 So he woke from his sleep and said, I'll go out before, as at other times, and shake myself free. 00:11:37.830 --> 00:11:42.389 But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. 00:11:43.590 --> 00:11:48.629 He did not know that the Spirit of the Lord had departed from him. 00:11:49.909 --> 00:11:57.509 Brothers and sisters, most of the times the Holy Spirit will announce his arrival. 00:11:58.470 --> 00:12:02.389 Seldom will he announce his departure. 00:12:03.190 --> 00:12:08.309 Most of the times, the Holy Spirit will announce when he's coming on the day of Pentecost. 00:12:08.470 --> 00:12:10.710 There was quaking, they were speaking in tongues. 00:12:13.029 --> 00:12:20.309 But when the Holy Spirit left, the Bible says he did not know that the Spirit of the Lord had departed from him. 00:12:20.549 --> 00:12:26.230 So the Lord calls upon us to maintain a state of being spiritually awake. 00:12:26.870 --> 00:12:27.509 Amen. 00:12:28.149 --> 00:12:35.429 Because the the the first Adam, as we always say, the first Adam was an eating Adam. 00:12:35.590 --> 00:12:39.269 He began his ministry by eating in the garden. 00:12:40.070 --> 00:12:42.230 He was eating food. 00:12:43.110 --> 00:12:47.590 The last Adam began his ministry by prayer and fasting. 00:12:53.110 --> 00:12:53.750 Amen. 00:12:54.230 --> 00:13:04.149 So fasting, as we talk about the prayer of supplication, the prayer of importunity, the prayer of persistence. 00:13:04.470 --> 00:13:08.230 You have to add some fasting to the menu. 00:13:15.990 --> 00:13:17.509 Praying and fasting. 00:13:17.669 --> 00:13:18.789 I did not die. 00:13:19.750 --> 00:13:20.789 Say amen. 00:13:24.950 --> 00:13:26.950 I was 95 kilo. 00:13:28.070 --> 00:13:30.870 After fasting, I'm 75 kilo. 00:13:31.830 --> 00:13:33.990 You know 25 kilo. 00:13:35.110 --> 00:13:35.830 20 kilo. 00:13:35.909 --> 00:13:40.070 If you go to the supermarket to buy beef, 20 kilo. 00:13:40.149 --> 00:13:42.789 That's how much I lost. 00:13:42.870 --> 00:13:47.269 Because fasting will affect your spirit, your soul, and your body. 00:13:47.669 --> 00:13:52.070 It will weaken your physical body and strengthen your spirit. 00:13:54.070 --> 00:13:55.269 It will affect your spirit. 00:13:56.149 --> 00:14:00.230 Your spirit becomes more sensitive to hear the voice of God. 00:14:01.669 --> 00:14:04.789 Your soul, it heals your emotion. 00:14:05.110 --> 00:14:08.870 Some people are emotional, so emotional. 00:14:09.590 --> 00:14:10.549 Like Elijah. 00:14:10.710 --> 00:14:12.070 Elijah is emotional. 00:14:12.230 --> 00:14:15.590 The Bible says Elijah was a man like us. 00:14:15.830 --> 00:14:17.269 He had like passions. 00:14:17.990 --> 00:14:19.509 But he prayed. 00:14:19.830 --> 00:14:21.830 And then he prayed again. 00:14:22.070 --> 00:14:23.269 That is persistence. 00:14:23.429 --> 00:14:24.870 He prayed seven times. 00:14:25.190 --> 00:14:26.710 He had like passion. 00:14:26.789 --> 00:14:29.669 He's emotional, like every one of us. 00:14:29.990 --> 00:14:32.950 Because Elijah, he called fire from heaven. 00:14:33.750 --> 00:14:41.190 Who in the Bible, how many prophets and apostles and pastors have ever called fire from heaven? 00:14:41.590 --> 00:14:43.110 Only Elijah. 00:14:44.070 --> 00:14:50.230 If I call fire from heaven, I think I would be walking in the in the air like this. 00:14:51.110 --> 00:14:53.590 Elijah called fire from heaven. 00:14:53.909 --> 00:14:58.710 The next day, he killed 450 men. 00:14:59.269 --> 00:15:02.789 Men he killed, slaughtered 450 prophets of Baal. 00:15:03.269 --> 00:15:07.269 The next day, Delilah said, I'm gonna kill you. 00:15:07.509 --> 00:15:09.909 A woman, he killed 450 men. 00:15:10.070 --> 00:15:12.470 The next day, one woman told him, I'm gonna kill you. 00:15:12.629 --> 00:15:14.549 He said, God, I want to die. 00:15:16.470 --> 00:15:17.269 I want to die. 00:15:17.350 --> 00:15:19.350 He said, God, kill me, I want to die. 00:15:20.629 --> 00:15:21.830 And you know what? 00:15:21.990 --> 00:15:27.350 The Bible says, God sent a raven and gave him a piece of bread. 00:15:30.789 --> 00:15:32.149 A piece of bread. 00:15:32.309 --> 00:15:34.950 And for 40 days and 40 nights. 00:15:35.110 --> 00:15:40.470 The Bible says, 40 days and 40 nights, Elijah he moved in the power of bread. 00:15:40.629 --> 00:15:43.590 Not the power of God, the power of bread. 00:15:44.309 --> 00:15:46.629 Bread makes him so excited. 00:15:46.789 --> 00:15:50.789 He's so happy that for 40 days he doesn't even think about what to eat. 00:15:51.429 --> 00:15:54.070 Call fire from heaven, is he wants to die? 00:15:54.309 --> 00:15:55.110 Emotional. 00:15:55.190 --> 00:15:59.590 There are people you cannot understand what makes them happy and what makes them angry. 00:16:03.750 --> 00:16:06.870 But he prayed and then he prayed again. 00:16:07.350 --> 00:16:07.990 Amen. 00:16:09.190 --> 00:16:13.830 So, why do we need to pray this type of prayer? 00:16:15.110 --> 00:16:15.750 Why? 00:16:16.149 --> 00:16:16.789 Three reasons. 00:16:16.950 --> 00:16:24.789 Number one, because this is the prayer that occupied an important part of the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. 00:16:25.029 --> 00:16:28.149 Hebrews chapter 5, verse 7 and verse 8. 00:16:29.269 --> 00:16:41.830 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears to him who was able to save him from death and was hard because of his godly fear. 00:16:41.909 --> 00:16:46.070 The Bible says he offered up vehement cries. 00:16:48.149 --> 00:16:53.590 People teach and say, Oh, when you pray, enter into your closet. 00:16:53.909 --> 00:16:54.710 Very good. 00:16:55.029 --> 00:16:55.509 Very good. 00:16:55.669 --> 00:16:57.909 Enter your closet and pray silently. 00:16:58.070 --> 00:17:02.230 But the Bible says, pray with all kinds of prayer. 00:17:02.470 --> 00:17:04.630 Pray silently, very good. 00:17:04.950 --> 00:17:06.389 How did Jesus pray? 00:17:06.630 --> 00:17:08.389 He prayed vehemently. 00:17:09.029 --> 00:17:14.150 Because some of the things that attack you, they don't need you to pray a silent prayer. 00:17:14.950 --> 00:17:19.109 You the Bible says the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. 00:17:19.269 --> 00:17:20.789 Satan is a thief. 00:17:21.430 --> 00:17:29.670 So if the robber comes to your house and is breaking into your house, you're not going to say, Oh, you thief, get out of my house. 00:17:31.750 --> 00:17:32.630 Get out. 00:17:33.029 --> 00:17:33.349 No. 00:17:33.990 --> 00:17:39.349 Hey! In the name of Jesus, you rebuke the devil. 00:17:39.589 --> 00:17:40.630 So that is the prayer. 00:17:40.710 --> 00:17:41.269 It's a prayer. 00:17:41.670 --> 00:17:43.750 Jesus Christ prayed vehemently. 00:17:43.910 --> 00:17:46.390 He's vehement in his prayer. 00:17:46.549 --> 00:17:47.589 He's passionate. 00:17:47.990 --> 00:17:49.430 You look at the people who pray. 00:17:49.750 --> 00:17:51.589 Prayer and supplication. 00:17:51.829 --> 00:17:55.349 This is what God wants to release in our hearts, brothers and sisters. 00:17:55.589 --> 00:18:00.390 For us to go deeper and deeper and deeper in calling upon the name of the Lord. 00:18:00.549 --> 00:18:07.430 If we want to see revival in our lives, we have to offer our lives as a sacrifice. 00:18:08.069 --> 00:18:10.150 Offer your body as a sacrifice. 00:18:10.309 --> 00:18:14.549 The kingdom of God is discipline, is sacrifice. 00:18:17.750 --> 00:18:23.589 At nine o'clock in the morning, the Bible says, She cried in the temple until the man said, You are you are drunk. 00:18:23.910 --> 00:18:25.109 You are drunk. 00:18:25.910 --> 00:18:26.630 Jabez. 00:18:27.190 --> 00:18:28.710 Oh, that you would bless me. 00:18:28.869 --> 00:18:31.990 Indeed, this is the type of prayer that God wants us to pray. 00:18:32.710 --> 00:18:34.950 Hezekiah, they told him, You're gonna die. 00:18:35.109 --> 00:18:36.789 Prepare your house, you're going to die. 00:18:37.029 --> 00:18:41.509 You think he turned the wall and said, Oh God, I'm going to die, I'm ready to die. 00:18:41.670 --> 00:18:43.750 No, he cried vehemently. 00:18:44.069 --> 00:18:48.549 Elijah, the Bible says, He put his head between his knees. 00:18:49.509 --> 00:18:50.549 That's the position. 00:18:50.630 --> 00:18:53.750 Your head between your knees and produce revival. 00:18:55.190 --> 00:18:59.670 That's the position of the Jewish lady when she's gonna give birth. 00:18:59.990 --> 00:19:02.789 I'm not a woman, I've never given birth. 00:19:03.509 --> 00:19:07.910 But my wife, when she's going to give birth, five children. 00:19:08.309 --> 00:19:09.589 Oh, I'm always love. 00:19:09.670 --> 00:19:11.670 Oh, I love you, I love you. 00:19:12.230 --> 00:19:17.509 When the time for lever pain comes, labor pain, it's not oh, I love you. 00:19:19.829 --> 00:19:21.029 It's not oh I love you. 00:19:21.109 --> 00:19:22.869 Don't touch me, don't touch me. 00:19:25.269 --> 00:19:28.230 Yeah, I try to be a good husband to comfort her. 00:19:28.390 --> 00:19:33.269 Oh, don't worry, don't worry, YouTube, everything will be fine. 00:19:33.430 --> 00:19:34.630 Don't touch me. 00:19:37.670 --> 00:19:44.470 Elijah, he put his head between his legs because that's the passion, that's the passion with which God wants us to pray. 00:19:45.269 --> 00:19:55.750 It's the passion with which God, Jesus, the Bible says Jesus prayed in the garden until his sweat became like drops of blood. 00:19:56.390 --> 00:19:58.549 Have you ever prayed until you sweat? 00:19:58.710 --> 00:20:05.029 In Africa, I pray one time I prayed until I sweat, but because it's hot and there's no SC. 00:20:06.869 --> 00:20:09.829 That is the kind of passion that God wants us to apply. 00:20:09.990 --> 00:20:15.910 So he says that, okay, Mark chapter 1, verse 35, early in the morning. 00:20:16.950 --> 00:20:26.710 Now, in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, he went out and departed to a solitary place and he prayed. 00:20:27.430 --> 00:20:33.910 The Bible says Jesus went up to the mountain to pray because it was his custom. 00:20:34.710 --> 00:20:35.190 Prayer. 00:20:35.349 --> 00:20:38.309 We need to reach a point where prayer is your custom. 00:20:38.470 --> 00:20:41.589 So many people remember to pray when they're in trouble. 00:20:41.910 --> 00:20:44.549 Only when we're in trouble, that's when we remember to pray. 00:20:44.789 --> 00:20:48.150 But God wants us to turn prayer into a custom. 00:20:48.309 --> 00:20:51.670 It should be your custom, it should be the kingdom culture. 00:20:51.829 --> 00:20:55.349 We pray because prayer is should be kingdom culture. 00:20:56.710 --> 00:21:00.150 Different places in the world have different culture. 00:21:01.349 --> 00:21:03.990 The kingdom of God, we have kingdom culture. 00:21:04.150 --> 00:21:06.309 In Africa, we have different culture. 00:21:06.549 --> 00:21:15.430 In Uganda, where I come from, when I go back home, that my daughters and my wife they kneel down to greet me. 00:21:16.470 --> 00:21:17.509 Say amen. 00:21:18.869 --> 00:21:21.829 Of course, I know in Malaysia it's the other way around. 00:21:24.710 --> 00:21:27.269 Even my mama, she's 75. 00:21:27.589 --> 00:21:28.789 I'm 47. 00:21:29.029 --> 00:21:30.150 He said I'm 35. 00:21:30.230 --> 00:21:31.190 I'm 47. 00:21:31.829 --> 00:21:36.230 My mama in the hometown, she'll kneel down because it's our custom. 00:21:36.390 --> 00:21:41.589 It's not a punishment, it's not any because they are happy to do this because this is their culture. 00:21:41.750 --> 00:21:44.309 She feels she's giving respect to her husband. 00:21:44.549 --> 00:21:45.910 It's our culture. 00:21:46.630 --> 00:21:48.789 We have they are okay with it. 00:21:48.950 --> 00:21:50.230 Yeah, they're okay. 00:21:51.910 --> 00:21:57.109 Culture, different culture, different culture in India, in China, everywhere. 00:21:57.349 --> 00:21:58.390 Different culture. 00:21:58.710 --> 00:22:03.430 Our kingdom, kingdom culture must be prayer. 00:22:03.910 --> 00:22:07.269 You don't wait to get into trouble to pray. 00:22:07.670 --> 00:22:09.190 It has to be your culture. 00:22:09.910 --> 00:22:14.950 So Jesus went out to the mountain to pray as was his custom. 00:22:15.910 --> 00:22:23.589 So it occupied very important part of the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. 00:22:24.470 --> 00:22:30.230 Number two, he applauded people who prayed this kind of prayer. 00:22:30.470 --> 00:22:33.750 James chapter 5, verse 13 to 18. 00:22:34.230 --> 00:22:35.109 Two people. 00:22:35.269 --> 00:22:41.269 Number one, the Canaanite woman, the Bible says she came and asked. 00:22:41.430 --> 00:22:45.190 She said, My daughter is greatly vexed by the enemy. 00:22:45.829 --> 00:22:49.670 And Jesus said, No, uh, I cannot give bread to dogs. 00:22:49.829 --> 00:22:54.869 And he said, even the dogs they eat from the crumbs that fall from the master's table. 00:22:55.109 --> 00:22:59.509 And Jesus said, I have never seen such faith because she's persistent. 00:22:59.910 --> 00:23:01.029 She's persistent. 00:23:01.269 --> 00:23:06.309 In Luke chapter 18, the Bible talks about a widow who kept coming to the judge. 00:23:06.549 --> 00:23:15.029 And then the judge said, Even if I don't fear God, I don't fear man, but because she keeps coming to me persistently. 00:23:17.349 --> 00:23:19.509 My mama produced eight children. 00:23:19.670 --> 00:23:20.710 Say amen. 00:23:21.589 --> 00:23:25.109 Because I I try so hard to be like my mama. 00:23:26.390 --> 00:23:29.589 I wanted double portion of her anointing. 00:23:30.470 --> 00:23:31.750 But I fail. 00:23:32.869 --> 00:23:37.029 My elder brother is a pastor in California. 00:23:38.630 --> 00:23:44.309 One time they go to South Africa by bus for four days. 00:23:44.630 --> 00:23:49.430 And then he moved with a family, a little girl, she's called Rose. 00:23:49.589 --> 00:23:51.750 She's about 13 years old. 00:23:52.230 --> 00:23:58.549 Along the way, they are so hungry, they don't have money, enough money to buy food. 00:23:58.789 --> 00:24:01.670 So the girl is so hungry that she collapsed. 00:24:01.990 --> 00:24:08.630 One of the ladies say, give her, give her uh banana, because banana will Kalicia, potassium, I think, potassium. 00:24:09.269 --> 00:24:10.549 Restore the body. 00:24:11.190 --> 00:24:13.029 But she collapsed. 00:24:13.349 --> 00:24:15.910 And then they have to pray for three hours. 00:24:16.150 --> 00:24:17.029 Pray for the girl. 00:24:17.349 --> 00:24:18.309 Pray for the girl. 00:24:19.430 --> 00:24:21.829 This is what she said after she came back. 00:24:22.630 --> 00:24:30.230 She said, when she was hungry in the bus, she saw her spirit coming out of her body. 00:24:30.710 --> 00:24:33.349 And she could see her physical body down there. 00:24:33.430 --> 00:24:35.430 And she said, It looks so ugly. 00:24:36.390 --> 00:24:37.589 She doesn't want to go. 00:24:37.829 --> 00:24:42.869 And then two angels came and took her very fast and entered into a gate. 00:24:42.950 --> 00:24:45.589 And for three hours, she's in heaven. 00:24:45.670 --> 00:24:46.950 It's so beautiful. 00:24:47.269 --> 00:24:49.829 And then Jesus said, You must go back. 00:24:50.230 --> 00:24:53.029 But she said, The earth is so ugly. 00:24:53.829 --> 00:24:55.750 The earth looks so ugly. 00:24:56.230 --> 00:25:00.710 Not because of anything, but because of the hearts of people. 00:25:01.029 --> 00:25:06.309 It's the hearts of people that make the earth to be so dark and ugly, and she doesn't want to come back. 00:25:07.269 --> 00:25:13.910 After three hours, Jesus told her, I also want you to stay in heaven. 00:25:14.230 --> 00:25:16.150 But we have one challenge. 00:25:16.549 --> 00:25:18.470 That man, point to my brother. 00:25:18.630 --> 00:25:23.750 I say, that man has been praying for the last three hours. 00:25:23.990 --> 00:25:27.910 If he keeps quiet after one hour, maybe you can go. 00:25:28.150 --> 00:25:32.150 If he keeps quiet after two hours, maybe you can go. 00:25:32.390 --> 00:25:36.069 But he has been praying for the last three hours. 00:25:36.309 --> 00:25:43.910 And every time he mentions my name, I say, in the name of Jesus, I feel as if there are something is breaking my heart. 00:25:44.150 --> 00:25:49.750 So after three hours, Jesus carried her until I go back and she came back. 00:25:50.069 --> 00:25:52.230 Because of persistence. 00:25:53.109 --> 00:25:54.390 Because of persistence. 00:25:54.470 --> 00:26:03.829 Now, brothers and sisters, today the Holy Spirit is saying to you, if you pray and you don't have the answer, pray again. 00:26:04.630 --> 00:26:06.630 And you don't get, pray again. 00:26:06.869 --> 00:26:11.750 Pray until heaven will hear your cry and answer you. 00:26:12.230 --> 00:26:12.869 Amen. 00:26:13.190 --> 00:26:18.309 Jesus Christ, he applauded people who pray this kind of prayer. 00:26:18.549 --> 00:26:25.750 And it still occupies an important part of the heavenly ministry of Jesus Christ. 00:26:25.990 --> 00:26:28.950 Hebrews chapter 7, verse 25, we read it already. 00:26:29.109 --> 00:26:31.509 And Romans chapter 8, verse 34. 00:26:31.670 --> 00:26:36.390 He's seated at the right hand side of the Father, making intercession. 00:26:36.950 --> 00:26:52.309 So this kind of prayer, the prayer of importunity, the prayer of stubborn-heartedness, the prayer of persistence, must occupy an important part of the New Testament believer. 00:26:52.549 --> 00:26:52.950 Why? 00:26:53.190 --> 00:26:55.829 Number one, because there is a devil. 00:26:57.109 --> 00:26:58.150 There is a devil. 00:26:58.309 --> 00:27:05.109 Secondly, it's because it's the way that the Father has appointed for us to receive mercy and grace. 00:27:07.509 --> 00:27:12.069 Thirdly, it's because it's a system that heaven has set up. 00:27:12.390 --> 00:27:19.109 Heaven has set up a system that makes God dependent on the prayer life of the believer. 00:27:19.430 --> 00:27:20.710 That is the system. 00:27:21.349 --> 00:27:27.750 In James chapter 4, verse 2, the Bible says, You do not have because you do not pray. 00:27:29.910 --> 00:27:32.470 You do not have because you do not ask. 00:27:33.589 --> 00:27:34.230 Simple. 00:27:35.190 --> 00:27:36.789 Ask, you shall receive. 00:27:37.109 --> 00:27:38.309 Seek, you shall find. 00:27:38.549 --> 00:27:40.309 Knock, and the door shall be open. 00:27:40.630 --> 00:27:51.269 In Jeremiah chapter 33, verse 3, the Bible says, Call upon me and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things. 00:27:52.869 --> 00:27:53.509 Amen. 00:27:55.589 --> 00:28:01.990 The first time that I go to China, I went to a deep, deep village. 00:28:03.670 --> 00:28:05.190 Deep in Honan. 00:28:05.269 --> 00:28:06.630 It's called Minchuen. 00:28:08.390 --> 00:28:12.309 In that town, they have never seen a black man. 00:28:14.789 --> 00:28:17.109 It's the first time they see black people. 00:28:17.750 --> 00:28:24.549 And I notice all over the streets, everyone they come out with their with their they want to take my picture. 00:28:26.710 --> 00:28:28.390 So I asked the lady, what's happening? 00:28:28.549 --> 00:28:31.990 Say in this town, they have never seen the black people. 00:28:33.589 --> 00:28:38.869 Then one of the mama, about 80, 90 years, she wants to touch my head. 00:28:40.710 --> 00:28:43.430 Wow, you're so black. 00:28:44.309 --> 00:28:45.910 What happened to you? 00:28:47.750 --> 00:28:49.589 Did the fire burn you? 00:28:51.029 --> 00:28:52.630 But you're so handsome. 00:28:52.869 --> 00:28:55.910 The fire burnt you, but you still stay handsome. 00:28:57.670 --> 00:28:59.430 Oh, you have no hair. 00:29:03.910 --> 00:29:05.829 God performed a miracle. 00:29:06.710 --> 00:29:10.150 Because the first day, about 200 people. 00:29:10.869 --> 00:29:14.869 Third and fourth day, about the the number doubled. 00:29:15.910 --> 00:29:17.829