WEBVTT 00:01:50.319 --> 00:01:52.959 Today I'm preaching on this question. 00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:58.159 Does prayer really work? 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:05.680 Perhaps you're saying, why, that's a silly question. 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:12.960 Every Christian in the world knows that prayer is effective. 00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:15.840 That prayer really works. 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:18.400 Well, are you sure? 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:31.120 If that's true, why do so many people confide to me that they're having great difficulty in their prayer life? 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:38.560 Many are saying to me, I don't believe that God is hearing my prayer. 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:48.000 Some are even saying, it seems to me that my prayers get no further than the ceiling. 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:59.680 And others confide to me that if I pray more than ten minutes, that's almost a miracle. 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:03.840 Let's be honest today. 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:10.639 We live in a world that's lost faith in the miracle of prayer. 00:03:11.199 --> 00:03:12.800 Even the church. 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:19.360 If prayer really works, why is the prayer meeting the most unpopular service in the church and the least attended? 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:27.520 If prayer really works, why would any Christian question giving up an hour's sleep to pray? 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:39.599 Jesus raises the question in Luke 18, 8, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:52.479 And in the context, Jesus is asking, when the Son of Man comes, will there be faith enough that man will be praying? 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:56.000 That's a prayer passage. 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:58.080 And that's what he's asking. 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:07.759 When I come again, Jesus says, will there be enough faith in the world that men will really believe that I hear and answer prayer? 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:11.759 Does prayer really work? 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:17.519 The best answer I know is my text today, Jeremiah 33, 3. 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:42.319 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and I will show thee great and mighty things, miraculous things, hidden, fenced in, miraculous things, which thou knowest not. 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:49.199 There are three thrilling, encouraging truths about prayer in the text. 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:52.000 I want us to look at them very carefully. 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:56.480 First of all, prayer is commanded by God. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:05.120 God does not merely hold up prayer as something that's nice, something to do when you have nothing else to do. 00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:14.560 But God commands prayer upon his people as a sacred duty. 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:21.920 When you read the Bible, you're amazed at the number of times we're commanded to pray. 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:32.079 For instance, Psalm 50, verse 12, call unto me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee. 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:34.720 Psalm 62, 8. 00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:40.639 Ye people, pour out your hearts before me. 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:46.000 Isaiah 55, 6, seek ye the Lord while he may be found. 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:49.360 Call upon him while he is near. 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:54.639 Matthew 26, 41, watch and pray. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:58.879 That ye enter not into temptation. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:04.800 Romans 12, 12, continue an instant in prayer. 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:10.639 Hebrews 4.16, come boldly to the throne of grace. 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:15.600 James 4.8, draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:22.240 1 Thessalonians 5.17, pray without ceasing. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:26.240 Now, why does God command his people to pray? 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:27.759 For two reasons. 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:34.000 God knows unless you pray, you are facing spiritual disaster. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:36.399 Are you listening? 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:43.199 Unless you are on praying ground, you're facing spiritual trouble on every hand. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:46.319 But there's another reason. 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:52.000 God knows that prayer is unnatural. 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:56.639 Now you don't have to tell a man to eat, not an average man. 00:06:56.800 --> 00:06:58.800 He'll just naturally eat. 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:02.160 You don't have to tell him to sleep, he'll just naturally sleep. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:04.000 You don't have to tell him to rebel. 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:06.560 Why? 00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:09.040 Because these are natural acts. 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:12.959 But prayer is supernatural. 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:16.399 Prayer is spiritual. 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:21.040 And there is nothing in the world that has as many enemies as prayer. 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:22.079 Nothing. 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:27.600 Prayer is opposed by more forces than anything in the universe. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:31.839 Unless it would be soul winning or something like that. 00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:35.199 Prayer is opposed by Satan. 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:44.560 The poet spoke very well when he says that Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees. 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:51.199 And Satan will do everything within his power to keep you off your knees and to keep you out of real prayer. 00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:54.959 And then prayer is opposed by an unbelieving heart. 00:07:55.199 --> 00:08:09.839 Hebrews 11, 6 says, without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that cometh to him must believe that he is and is a rewarder of them who diligently seek it. 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:14.240 And then prayer is opposed by a guilty conscience. 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:16.319 You commit a sin. 00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:20.720 Satan will say, Well, you're a fool to ask God for anything. 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:22.800 That's the time to pray. 00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:27.360 That's the time to come in repentance and keep on praying. 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:32.480 But many people with a guilty conscience don't pray. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:36.320 And then prayer is opposed by a materialistic heart. 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:41.840 There's no praying in that heart that's centered upon things. 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:46.080 You can't pray. 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:54.639 If your heart's centered upon material things and upon the pursuit of your business and making money rather than God. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:09:01.440 And then prayer is opposed by a crowded life. 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:06.559 And unless it has a priority in your life, it has no place in your life today. 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:11.600 Unless it's important enough to give it a time and give it a place. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:18.159 Unless it's important enough for discipline, it's not important and you're losing it and you're not doing it. 00:09:18.320 --> 00:09:19.919 It's got to have priority. 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:23.039 The crowded schedule is a great enemy. 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:27.519 And then a false, a false theology about the sovereignty of God. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:29.600 A lot of people have that. 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:31.200 He indeed is sovereign. 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:34.240 I preach it all the time from the pulpit. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:41.039 But that does not mean that you're not to pray and that God's going to do everything he's going to do, whether you pray or not. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:44.960 Don't you cop out on that false theology. 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:49.039 Many enemies of prayer. 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:58.399 And because prayer is so vital to our lives, and unless we're engaging in it, we're facing spiritual disaster on every hand. 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:02.960 And because it has so many enemies, God doesn't leave it hanging up in the air. 00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:04.720 It's not an option. 00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:07.279 It's not just something nice to do. 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:09.279 God says, do it. 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:14.000 It's a commandment of the Lord to pray. 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:17.279 And when we pray, we're obedient. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:20.480 When we fail to pray, we are disobedient. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:24.879 And when we fail to pray, we commit one of the greatest sins in the world. 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:26.720 We sin against God. 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:28.879 We sin against ourselves. 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:30.799 We sin against our family. 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:37.919 We sin against our church, our Sunday school class, that we're trying to lead, our schools, our nation, our whole world. 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:41.919 God says to pray. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:44.799 Prayer is commanded. 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:47.679 He doesn't intend for us ever to quit praying. 00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:53.759 In Luke 18, 1, he says that men ought always to pray and not to faint. 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:57.279 And the Greek says men ought always to pray and not fall out. 00:10:57.360 --> 00:11:01.120 And I tell you, unless you pray, you're going to fall out. 00:11:02.559 --> 00:11:08.000 If you haven't learned to pray, you've already lost the battle, my friends. 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:12.720 Only those who can pray are able to stay in the battle today. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:16.879 Prayer is commanded in the text. 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:20.080 But prayer is not only commanded in the text. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:22.720 An answer is promised. 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:24.559 Praise the Lord. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:26.399 Does prayer really work? 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:33.519 God says, call unto me, and I will answer your prayers. 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:34.799 No, that's not what it says. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:35.840 Read the text. 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:38.799 Always read the scripture like it says. 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:48.639 It's written minutely and with accuracy, and to miss one pronoun sometimes is to miss the text. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:52.000 Most people miss this text. 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:57.360 God does not promise to answer our literal prayer. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:02.799 He says, I will answer thee. 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:09.759 In other words, when you pray, I am going to answer you. 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:14.799 I know exactly what your need is. 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:19.519 I'm going to meet you at the level of your need. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:23.519 I'm going to intervene with my sovereign grace and power. 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:25.840 I'm going to answer you. 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:33.759 And sometimes it's much greater than your literal prayer could ever be. 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:37.200 God answers men in prayer. 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:48.320 Now, since God is committed to our highest welfare, He answers our prayer according to His wisdom and not according to our whim. 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:56.159 This is where many people misunderstand the miracle of prayer. 00:12:56.320 --> 00:13:07.919 And so God's answer to prayer takes several forms according to where we are in our spiritual life and according to God's wisdom and according to his dealing with our hearts. 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:14.960 In the first place, God's answer to your prayer may be a direct answer. 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:17.440 It often is in my life. 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:18.639 Sometimes it is. 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:52.320 But he doesn't always answer it that way. 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:56.159 But that doesn't mean he doesn't work, and he's not answering me. 00:13:56.799 --> 00:14:02.000 In the second place, God's answer may be a different answer. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:07.600 The classic example of this is Paul in 2 Corinthians 12. 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:11.279 Paul had a painful thorn in the flesh. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:16.080 Paul thought the thorn was his problem, but that wasn't. 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:19.679 And sometimes we think it's something that it didn't at all. 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:22.240 Why did Paul think the thorn was a problem? 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:29.440 Well, he thought that if he was going to minister for the Lord, that that painful thorn had to be taken out, but it was just the opposite. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:37.360 And the Lord said to Paul, he says, Paul, I cannot remove the thorn and do what you really want done in your life. 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:56.559 So what I'm going to do, Paul, is to leave the thorn, and I am going to give you grace sufficient to bear the pain, and my power is going to rest upon you because this is going to demolish your pride, which would take the power. 00:14:57.279 --> 00:15:01.039 Paul didn't get his prayer answered, but Paul was answered. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:04.240 Paul wanted to be used of God. 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:07.519 Paul wanted to be a vessel of God. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:13.840 And the Lord heard Paul and he came to his rescue. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:16.080 And what was the net result? 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:18.559 We read it in 2 Corinthians 12, 9. 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:22.240 Paul is no longer saying, Lord, remove the thorn. 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:27.120 He's saying, most gladly, therefore, will I glory. 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:29.679 Will I glory? 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:34.879 In my infirmities, I'm glorying in that which I thought ought to be removed. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:39.679 Most gladly, therefore, will I glory in my infirmities? 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:40.320 Why? 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:44.720 That the power of Christ may rest upon me. 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:47.039 That was what he wanted all the time. 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:52.799 A different answer, and yet precisely the answer that he wanted. 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:57.840 But he didn't have enough wisdom, even the apostle, to pray the prayer. 00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:00.559 Now there's a third answer that may come. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:04.080 The answer may be a delay. 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:08.960 Now God promises to answer a prayer, but nowhere in Scripture does he say when he'll answer them. 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:16.639 You see, the timing of God's dealing with your heart is absolutely fundamental. 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:21.440 For instance, one time in my life I prayed this prayer with all earnestness. 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:30.000 Lord, enable me to share the word of God with every tight person in the city. 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:32.159 God didn't hear me. 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:34.639 Yes, he did hear me. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:37.840 As a matter of fact, he smiled on the prayer. 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:41.679 It went to heaven, but he wrote, hold on it. 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:48.399 I wasn't ready to share the gospel with all kinds of people. 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:51.200 But he didn't hold it forever. 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:56.240 He answered that prayer in a marvelous way. 00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:59.120 He answered that prayer. 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:03.279 That was an answer of a prayer that was prayed years ago. 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:09.920 One day a couple called Zechariah and Elizabeth prayed a prayer. 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:13.200 They said, Lord, give us a baby. 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:15.839 Give us a baby boy. 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:21.200 And the prayer went to heaven, and when it got to heaven, the Lord smiled at it and said, This is a good prayer. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:23.359 It's just not the time for me to answer. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:28.240 Later on, the time came. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:33.599 And the King James Version in Luke 1.13 says, the angel said to them, Thy prayer is heard. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:34.240 Oh no. 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:35.920 That's a past tense. 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:38.799 Thy prayer was heard? 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:41.440 Heard when you prayed it. 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:44.400 But when I got it, I could not fulfill it. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:46.400 I put hold on it. 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:48.880 The prayer was answered. 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:50.160 And what was the answer? 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:51.440 A boy, yes. 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:53.759 But a thousand times more than a boy. 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:55.440 John the Baptist. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:59.039 Are you ready to wait for the John the Baptist? 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:01.039 Or do you want your own way? 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:08.559 Jesus says in Matthew 11, 11, not a greater ever born of woman than John the Baptist. 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:16.480 Because that prayer was delayed, God was able to send John the Baptist into their lives. 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:24.079 God knows exactly when to move in on the scene, and you and I have very little understanding the wisest of. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:28.160 And there is a fourth answer that God may give. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:33.440 God may say a denial. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:35.680 It must just be a denial. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:37.759 That's quite conceivable. 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:50.160 You see, in our childishness and foolishness, we can pray things that God, in his love and wisdom, simply cannot bestow upon us. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:54.079 And so he says no. 00:18:55.759 --> 00:19:01.200 The little girl prayed, Oh Lord, make Boston the capital of Vermont. 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:04.640 Oh Lord, make Boston the capital of Vermont. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:07.519 Well, God didn't answer that prayer. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:09.200 He said no. 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:13.200 Why did she want Boston to be the capital of Vermont? 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:16.960 Because she put it that way on her paper and she wanted it to be correct. 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:26.240 Now there are some people that would think that God would have to make Boston the capital of Vermont to be God and answer prayer. 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:28.400 They haven't read all their Bible. 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:33.680 You say, well, when God denies, does that mean he doesn't love us and doesn't hear our prayer? 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:37.839 That means he loves us and heard our prayer more than he ever heard him in his life. 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:47.519 With all honesty, I can say to you here tonight, I thank God for the times that he said, No, I simply cannot answer that prayer. 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:50.640 That's not an evidence that he doesn't love us. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:54.880 That's the evidence he loves us so much that he's willing to hurt us. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:03.279 Just like if I love my boy, I love him so much that I'm willing to whip him if he does wrong. 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:11.200 God loves us so much that he's willing to say no sometimes and has to say no to our prayer. 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:15.279 But he answers me every time I pray. 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:23.119 Every time I pray, and the text says, Call unto me, and I will answer thee. 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.039 Thee. 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:35.759 God has pledged himself to come to me and to meet my personal need, the way that I need it, not the way I understand it, but the way that I need it. 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:43.359 And I can see it, and you can too, if you're trying to be obedient and you're really a prayer warrior, you can write a book on it today. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:46.240 It's one of the most amazing things of the saints. 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:52.079 I can write a whole book on how God has answered my prayers in these four ways. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.440 But listen. 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:57.920 Does God really answer prayer? 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:01.200 Does prayer really work? 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:03.039 Is it worthwhile? 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:06.880 Is it worth losing an hour's sleep? 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:09.680 Is it worth setting a time every day? 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:13.759 Is it worth staying there when the words won't come until they do come? 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:17.279 Is it worth sticking with it through thick and thin? 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.319 Listen. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:24.720 When you pray, God does a great deal more than answer. 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:26.160 That's what they take. 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:32.960 Call unto me, and I will answer thee. 00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:34.480 There's the answer. 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:39.279 And in addition, I will show thee. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:45.759 Great and miraculous things, which thou knowest not. 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:48.480 There's the joy of prayer. 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:56.960 The text goes on to say when you really pray, miracles will be forthcoming. 00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:59.359 Miracles that you can see. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.319 Says, and I will show you. 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:04.799 Now God knows how dense we are. 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:08.480 He knows how dumb we are. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:12.000 He knows how simple we are. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:14.000 We're all so simple. 00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:20.400 I don't care if you have ten PhDs, you're so simple. 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:23.519 I'm so simple when it comes to God. 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:28.079 But God says, I know how simple you are. 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:30.559 I'll show you. 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:34.480 In other words, I'll let it be known to you. 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:39.039 You can see it and experience it until you can't miss it. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:41.759 I'll show you what? 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:52.000 Great and miraculous things which you've never thought of in your life and which you've never experienced in your life. 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:53.519 That's what he said. 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:56.480 Just think about it. 00:22:57.599 --> 00:23:03.200 And the scriptures and the Christian experience are documented with hundreds of these things. 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:19.440 In 2 Kings 4, verses 1 through 7, a little widow is in debt, and she comes to Elisha and she says, My husband is dead, and my creditors are threatening to sell my two sons as slaves. 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:23.759 And she thinks Elisha will say, Well, what is the debt and pay it? 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:32.000 She has a little bit of oil in the house, and Elisha tells her how she can take that oil and multiply it. 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:38.480 And then Elisha says to her, Go and pay thy debt. 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:39.680 That was her prayer. 00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:41.440 That's all she ever prayed. 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:47.680 Then he said, Go thou and live and thy children on the rest. 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:51.039 That's the great and miraculous thing. 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:53.519 She just wanted her death paid. 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:55.039 That's all she wanted. 00:23:55.519 --> 00:24:00.400 But because she prayed and trusted God, God showed her a miracle. 00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:04.640 He showed her a great and mighty things, a living for life. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:13.759 In the sixth chapter of John, the disciples find themselves in a vicious storm. 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:18.960 Jesus comes walking on the water, and they say, Jesus calmed the storm. 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.480 And that's all they pray. 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:22.240 And Jesus calms it. 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:27.279 But verse 21 says, immediately the ship was at the land. 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:34.000 That's the great and miraculous thing which they'd never thought of and never experienced in all their lives. 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:39.759 The ship taken completely out of the storm and out of any threat, and there it lands in a moment. 00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:46.640 A praying church experiences this all the time. 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:56.720 A person who's a prayer warrior sees exceedingly far more than he's ever prayed for or ever been able to understand. 00:24:58.640 --> 00:25:01.759 We've seen it as a church, we'll see it more. 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:07.680 A dozen years ago, a lot of us prayed for a fellowship hall in First Baptist Church. 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:10.079 That's all we prayed for. 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:13.279 Back then, that's all I prayed for. 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:19.599 God gave us a fellowship hall and gave it to us debt-free. 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:22.559 We never thought of it. 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:31.119 And in addition to this, he's giving us a magnificent preschool building that will come to us debt-free to the obedience of God's people. 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:33.039 That's because we prayed. 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:37.039 The prayer will simply give us a fellowship hall. 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:39.359 We got the fellowship hall debt-free. 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:45.200 We'll get the great pre-school building, and it'll be debt-free, and the many other things in that building over there. 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:52.960 And that happens all the time to people who pray. 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:54.480 Does prayer work? 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:56.799 My does it work? 00:25:57.920 --> 00:26:01.759 It works like nothing on the face of this earth works. 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:08.799 It deserves your time more than anything on the face of this earth, my friends. 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:10.960 Prayer unto God. 00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:16.799 Unceasing will bring an answer to you and will bring a miracle. 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:22.559 Besides, and when the whole church is praying, the church will be filled with the miracle of God. 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:26.160 Absolutely. 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:31.359 We insult God with our puny prayers. 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:40.000 I get the distinct impression in prayer meetings that people are afraid to pray. 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:44.160 They just kind of sit there. 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:46.960 Sometimes like dead people. 00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:49.920 Afraid to pray. 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:52.720 Afraid to ask God. 00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:58.000 And yet God is so hurt with our little puny prayer. 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:07.519 You, there's no way that you can hurt God more than not to pray and to pray a little old puny, Mickey Mouse prayer. 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:10.319 That's the way you're hurt. 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:19.119 When his great heart yearns to give us something worthy of his love and worthy of his sovereignty. 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:29.920 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and in addition, I will show you glory and miraculous things which you've never thought of in your life and which you've never experienced in your life. 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:31.279 That's what he said. 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:39.599 The old Moody visited with a pastor one time in the home of a wealthy member. 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:43.359 And Moody said, How much do you expect this brother to give? 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:45.519 He said, A thousand dollars. 00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:53.440 They got him the house, and the pastor was astonished when he heard Moody asking for 50,000. 00:27:56.079 --> 00:28:01.200 And he was dumbfounded and almost had five heart attacks when the man gained it. 00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:10.640 Listen, some of us pray prayer so little that God's disgusted with us. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:16.640 Pray from a man like Spurgeon who moved a country for God. 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:17.920 Where did it come from? 00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:19.920 Through the power of prayer. 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:33.279 And after he died, history tells us that somebody came by the tabernacle and encountered the janitor. 00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:36.880 And said to him, What's the difference in Mr. 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:39.519 Spurgeon and this young preacher who's come? 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:42.799 He said, I'll tell you the difference. 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:48.240 Spurgeon prayed for things that this young preacher doesn't even know God has. 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:56.799 Oh my God, listen! The saints of God have prayed for the miracle of God. 00:28:56.960 --> 00:29:04.400 I read of the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida this week, praying for 5,000 tithers in that congregation. 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:06.319 And I praise God for that. 00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:09.920 5,000, not a thousand. 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:17.599 There's where we're limited when we limit God and when our concept of God is so small. 00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:20.720 Does prayer really work? 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:25.519 More than I could ever say today. 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:28.559 Does God want to hear your prayers? 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:30.480 Indeed he does. 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:34.799 Does he want you to set some time aside to pray? 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:36.000 Indeed he does. 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:38.240 Does he want you to lose some sleep to pray? 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:39.920 Indeed he does. 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:45.359 God wants you to pray as you've never prayed in this day of the apocalypse. 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:49.839 In this day of the last day, God wants his people to pray. 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:55.440 And when they do it, listen, he's going to answer you and his people. 00:29:56.640 --> 00:30:04.160 If not, we just will close this church and we better renounce what we say we believe. 00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:15.279 If God does not hear prayer, I read that the Senate of ancient Athens was meeting in the open air. 00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:34.160 And suddenly a little sparrow, being pursued by a hawk, flew in the direction of that deliberative open air as Synod in ancient times. 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:40.960 And that little sparrow took refuge in the bosom of a sinner. 00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:51.279 And that senator was angered and grabbed that sparrow out of his bosom and dashed it to the ground and killed it. 00:30:51.519 --> 00:31:00.079 And the whole Athenian Senate, with not one dissenting vote, just rose right up and condemned this man to death. 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:11.039 Saying, you're not worthy to be a senator in our land if you don't have compassion upon a poor sparrow being pursued by a hawk. 00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:17.839 Oh, I ask you today, does Jesus, who died on an old rugged cross? 00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:31.359 Does Jesus, who came from heaven to earth, and Jesus who loves us with an everlasting love, when we fly to his bosom and when we seek his help, does he cast us aside? 00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:37.119 Never, never in your life will he do it. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:40.480 To believe that is to misread Calvary. 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:52.960 Romans 8 32 says, He who spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not, by him, freely give us all things? 00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:59.680 If he heard my cry when I was a guilty sinner, will he not hear me today that I'm justified? 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:07.759 If he heard my cry when I was a child of the devil, will he not hear me today since I'm a child of his? 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:14.319 Oh, yes, he's waiting to hear your earnest prayers, and he will answer you. 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:21.920 Every time you pray exactly according to your need. 00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:27.680 And when you keep on in faithfulness, you'll see the miracle. 00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:34.000 Until you wouldn't miss it, you'd miss your breakfast before you'd miss prayer. 00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:34.640 I would. 00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:36.240 I'm not being self-righteous. 00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:40.480 I'd miss my breakfast tomorrow and my dinner before I'd miss prayer. 00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:45.759 It's my life, my protection. 00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:53.039 It's my miracle, it's what God has given me, and it's what He's given the church in this hour. 00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:55.839 May we use it today. 00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:58.799 He's inviting us to prayer. 00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:01.279 Prayer, prayer. 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:05.279 How much are you praying today? 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:14.480 I hope today the Holy Spirit has called you to a renewed prayer life. 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:20.079 You and you and you and you, where are you in your prayer life? 00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:23.599 You in the choir, where are you today in your prayer life? 00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:27.039 Do you really think that it makes a difference that it works? 00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:38.960 If you're praying today and really staying with it, you need it to be deepened, every one of us does. 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:43.839 I hope you'll come this morning saying, Oh, I've tasted. 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:47.680 I've tasted of it, and I want to go deeper. 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:50.079 Lord, teach me. 00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:54.960 Maybe you're here and you're praying some, but it's kind of spasmodic. 00:33:55.920 --> 00:33:58.000 You can leave it or take it. 00:33:58.960 --> 00:34:03.279 You need to stay with it day in and day out. 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:09.039 Come today and say, Lord, Lord, I'm coming to this thing of prayer. 00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:17.679 Not just occasionally when it's convenient, but I'm willing, Lord, to put it on my calendar and I'm willing to pay a price.