WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:01.520 Amen and amen. 00:00:01.760 --> 00:00:05.599 Turn with me this morning in your Bibles to Acts chapter 4. 00:00:05.919 --> 00:00:09.839 Boy, we've been so excited about this new series on prayer. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:20.000 And you know, as the young people were doing their skin, I thought to myself, what we need in America today, right now, is we need to raise up an army. 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:21.519 Can I get an amen? 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:25.120 We need to raise up an army of Christians. 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:35.920 And this army, their greatest defense against the enemy, their greatest weapon against the enemy is prayer. 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:38.640 I promise you, it's prayer. 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:44.560 And we started this series looking on problem praying. 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:50.560 And today we're going to be looking at be looking at pressure praying. 00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:54.320 Do you ever have any pressure placed upon you? 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:55.520 Anybody? 00:00:56.960 --> 00:00:58.560 Only a fourth of us? 00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:03.439 Man, all you that don't have any pressure, would you tell us your secret? 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:11.120 I mean, we all are under pressure sometimes in our lives. 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:15.519 Actually, I would say most of the time of our lives. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:21.359 I mean, especially when you're in the, I call it the heat of the battle. 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:29.280 And if you are a church or a Christian that is spirit-filled, you are in the heat of the battle. 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:34.400 Now, therefore, endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:37.040 2 Timothy 2.3. 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:46.079 And 2 Timothy 3, 12, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:47.760 So there's pressure. 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:52.079 And today we're going to be looking at pressure praying. 00:01:52.560 --> 00:02:02.879 And let me remind you, this week, Thursday, if you will please write that down Thursday morning, my uh youngest daughter, Stephanie. 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:04.400 Is it Wednesday? 00:02:04.480 --> 00:02:05.040 I'm sorry. 00:02:05.280 --> 00:02:05.599 Okay. 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:07.280 Wednesday? 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:08.479 I thought it was the 12th. 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:09.759 Is 12th Wednesday? 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:10.319 Yeah. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:10.879 Okay. 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:13.919 I'm a little shook, to be honest with you. 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:15.439 I want you to pray for me. 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:20.400 I am very concerned about this surgery. 00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:22.800 And uh she's my darling. 00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:24.159 She's my little girl. 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:27.199 And uh it's a nine-hour surgery. 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:30.159 And uh it it's all day. 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:34.240 And uh it's the only surgery the doctor will be doing that day in. 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:47.280 So anytime you're messing with the spine and and going in there to move that skeletal uh structure that encompasses the spine, that's a major operation. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:49.520 Now here's what I need you to pray for. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:56.159 Pray that the skeletal well, the cord. 00:02:57.120 --> 00:02:57.439 Okay. 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:02.879 Okay, the cord, that it'll be very flexible. 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:09.680 But that determines how much they can correct that curve in the spine. 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:13.039 And so uh please pray that it'll be flexible. 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:14.879 That's what we need to pray for. 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:25.759 And uh, so again, uh, and then we got a lot uh Deedra's uh mother starts her cancer treatment tomorrow. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:29.120 So we've got a lot of situations in our church. 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:37.840 Uh there was a visiting couple, there's a good friend of Barry, a fireman, uh Danny, that just had back surgery, and but it went well. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:40.000 So we give God already the praise and glory. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:41.599 That was, I think, Tuesday. 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:43.039 So praise the Lord for that. 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:52.240 So it's been a very busy week, but uh I'm excited about hey, what God can do through the power of prayer. 00:03:52.479 --> 00:03:58.240 And uh we had a great, fantastic prayer meeting last at about 25 or 30 here last Sunday night. 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:04.319 We'll be praying again uh, you know, on uh the last Sunday night of this month. 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:08.560 And uh so Susan, I'll be flying out in the morning to be with Stephanie. 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:11.360 We'll be uh next Sunday, though, I'm excited. 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:13.439 Rick's continuing our series. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:19.920 He'll be preaching on public praying and the importance of that out of Timothy. 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:25.199 And then the Sunday I'm back, I will be looking at the pattern of praying. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:27.759 We'll be looking at the disciples' prayers. 00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:40.480 Some call it the Lord's Prayer, but actually the Lord's prayers in John 17, the disciples' prayers in Matthew 6, where God gives them the example and shows them how to pray. 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:44.480 And then on Friend Day, you don't want to miss Friend Day. 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:48.720 That's the first Sunday in November, and we're excited about that. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:50.560 Bring a friend, bring a friend. 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:54.319 There's a lot of people that aren't going to church because the church hadn't started back. 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:55.120 Invite them. 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:58.319 We're not trying to steal the sheep, but invite them to be a part. 00:04:58.399 --> 00:04:59.439 It's gonna be a great day. 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:04.000 We got the Word of Life singers are gonna be here again like they were last year with us. 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:06.079 It's gonna be a great day for all the young people. 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:07.759 Young people, bring your friends. 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:09.600 It's gonna be a huge day. 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:12.319 It really is on November the 1st. 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:14.319 And then that Saturday's trunk or treat. 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:15.199 We need your help. 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:16.720 Anita needs your help. 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:17.600 We need trunks. 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:19.920 We need 20 trunks for candy. 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:24.800 And this is an opportunity, it's our largest event every year here at our church. 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:28.639 I'd like to see all our church people get involved. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:32.000 It's it's really, and it couldn't be set up better. 00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:42.480 Trunk retreat, uh Saturday night, Saturday afternoon, 5:30 to 8, and then Friend Day Sunday morning, and a big youth, big youth thing Sunday morning. 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:50.879 So Saturday and Sunday, that first weekend in November is gonna be huge, and we're always excited about that. 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:55.680 And you always respond, I know you will, but we do need help, so please sign up. 00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:58.240 And a lot of you say, well, I'm gonna help, I'll be here. 00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:01.759 Well, just sign up and just say if, hey, I help anywhere you need me. 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:04.959 That we need several to do that. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:08.319 So please do that if you don't mind. 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:14.720 Well, today, Acts chapter 4, verses 23 through the end of the chapter. 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:20.160 What a setting! I mean, it's an unbelievable setting. 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:28.319 We see that the New Testament church had just been birthed in a few months. 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:33.600 How would you like to be a part of a church where 3,000 people are saved in a day? 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:44.079 How would you like to be a, hey, a member of a church that not only after there was 3,000, then a few chapters over, there's 5,000 saved? 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:52.480 How would you like to be a church where where extraordinary things going on is the normal? 00:06:53.279 --> 00:06:59.439 How would you like to be a part of a church where when you prayed, your prayers were answered immediately? 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:02.480 Can I get an amen, maybe? 00:07:02.720 --> 00:07:05.519 Or some of you say, I've never seen anything like that. 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:09.519 That's mostly true, but there's a reason for that. 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:15.680 But how would you like to be a church where they were witnessing in everything that moved? 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:22.000 How would you like to be a member of a church that, hey, they love God and loved each other? 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:26.560 How would you like to be a member of a church like that? 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:39.279 Hey, how would you like to be a member of a church where the power of God is evident and Jesus Christ is Lord and supreme ruler of a church? 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:42.879 You said, I've never been a part of a church like that. 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:43.759 I know. 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:46.639 But there's a reason. 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:52.000 But this is exactly what took place in the book of Acts. 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:56.560 This is exactly the New Testament birth of the New Testament church. 00:07:56.720 --> 00:08:05.519 And but let me say, with all those exciting things, the miracles happening, hey, miracles happening, hey, were the norm. 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:08.720 Wow. 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:12.639 But it was not all a bed of roses. 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:25.759 Because when you get to chapter three, we call it at the beautiful gate, where the paralyzed gentleman was sitting there begging for arms and been begging for years. 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:32.720 And Peter and John walk by and he often he holds out his little basket. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:37.679 And Peter turns and he says, Hey, gold and silver have I none. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:44.639 But what I give you, hey, is better than silver than gold. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:49.200 Rise and be healed in the name of Jesus. 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:53.279 And boy, did revival break out. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:55.919 Because everybody knew this beggar. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:09:00.799 And people started listening to Peter and John and the apostles preached. 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:02.159 People were getting saved. 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:04.320 They were coming by the thousands. 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:10.720 And because of that, the religious folk got upset. 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:12.159 Can you imagine? 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:17.840 The lost folks got upset. 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:20.559 The scribes, the Pharisees, the Romans. 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:21.919 So you know what they did? 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:34.080 They went and they had Peter and John arrested, brought them, and hey, in chapter three, and beginning of chapter four, they bring them before the Sanhedrin, the religious court. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:38.480 And man, they gave them fits. 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:39.759 They beat them. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:47.120 And then sent them out and said, Don't you speak anymore in the name of Jesus? 00:09:48.960 --> 00:10:04.559 And immediately after that had happened, they returned to their church, where no doubt the church had been praying for their leaders, Peter and John, that had been arrested. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:06.000 No doubt. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:16.559 And so this is the context in which we see the title of the message this morning, pressure praying takes place. 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:25.440 In other words, when you get in a tight, I'd say when they, hey, when you get locked up for witnessing for Jesus, you're in a tight. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:26.879 You're in a tight spot. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:27.759 Amen? 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:37.679 When people start ridiculing and laughing at you, making fun of you because you're standing for Jesus, you're going to have pressure. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:42.559 And I'm telling you, folks, we're beginning to see that like we've never seen it before in America right now. 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:45.519 What I'm preaching is happening right now. 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:47.919 And it's going to get worse. 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:50.480 So you better listen. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:52.559 Because here's the answer. 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:54.240 We've got the answer. 00:10:55.519 --> 00:11:04.480 And we see that the Sanhedrin had issued an order forbidding them to preach in the name of Jesus any longer. 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:24.480 But hey, when the meeting was over, the two disciples returned and noticed, no doubt, praying, hey, to a prayer meeting when John and Peter told these folks, look at it, what had happened, hey, and what had transpired, instead of being upset and fearful, a worship service broke out. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:25.440 Ha! 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:27.039 Look at verse 23. 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:28.399 Pick up with me. 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:29.840 Powerful. 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:37.840 And being let go, they went to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:51.200 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voices to God, with one accord and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that's in them is. 00:11:51.519 --> 00:12:02.399 And then verse 25, who by the mouth of thy servant David has said, Why did he the heathen rage and these people imagine vain things? 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:09.600 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ. 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:18.960 And here we see Pontius Pilate and Herod and the Roman government and the head of the Sanhedrin and all these people against them. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:31.919 Verse 27 for of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together. 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:34.159 In other words, that whole group's against him. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:41.440 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.759 That's a powerful verse, and you'll see that. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:48.080 And now, Lord, behold thy threatenings and grant it to thy servants. 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:52.399 Now they're praying, that with all boldness that we may speak the word. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:53.440 Hallelujah. 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:55.840 They're not saying deliver us from persecution. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:13:01.120 They're saying give us strength to preach the word in the midst of the persecution. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:09.360 By stretching forth thy hand, verse 30, to heal, and thy signs and wonders may be done by the name of the holy child Jesus. 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:11.919 Oh, I love verse 31. 00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:12.720 Ha ha. 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:15.360 Oh, my friends, listen. 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:18.559 And when they had prayed, say that with me, church. 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:20.320 When they had prayed, say it with me. 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:28.159 When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:31.919 And they spake the word of God with boldness. 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:33.519 Wow. 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:36.399 Look, just look at that with boldness. 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:42.000 So today I want us to look as we see how they responded to this situation. 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:50.080 We're given a glimpse into their heart, and we can see why the hand of the Lord was so active in their midst. 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:51.759 And that's what we want to look at. 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:59.440 How can God's hand be so active in the midst of our church, even in the midst of persecution? 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:04.720 How can we see the extraordinary, hey, done consistently? 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:07.919 How can we see miracles performed consistently? 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:11.039 You say, yeah, but Pastor Danny, wait a minute, wait a minute. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:13.360 This is the birth of the New Testament church. 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:16.320 This is the this is not the normal. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:18.559 Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:20.720 We all think that. 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:22.240 That's our problem. 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:23.840 We all believe that. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:25.200 That's our problem. 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:31.519 We really don't have faith to believe that Hebrews 13:8 is real. 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:33.519 What does Hebrews 13:8 say? 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:38.159 He's the same yesterday and today and forever. 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:45.440 He's still the same God today as he was in the birth of the New Testament church. 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:49.919 It's not the, hey, it's not God's problem. 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:51.200 It's our problem. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:56.480 These things don't happen normally. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:15:03.440 And the reason being, we've got to be like the New Testament church. 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:09.840 And boy, what gets me real excited is we know God hasn't changed. 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:12.320 It's the people that have changed. 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:24.559 But if the same thing is true concerning the church here, let me share with you why I'm going to make a profound statement. 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:28.399 I don't know about you, but this church is my kind of church. 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:29.600 Can I get an amen? 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:34.639 This church is the kind of church I want to be a part of. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:39.440 And I still believe we can live in a day that we can see that happen. 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:41.200 And let me tell you when it happened. 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:48.799 In the night in the midst when everything was going well, it was in the midst of unbelievable persecution. 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:57.919 I think God may be setting the stage for us to see this kind of movement of God again. 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:01.519 A lot of people don't believe that. 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:03.200 You may not believe that. 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.799 I do believe that. 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:07.679 I'm tired of average church. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:10.559 I want to see a movement of God. 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:26.320 Not tradition, not ritualism, not traditionalism, not just something we do because we're supposed to, but something that we hunger to do because we want to. 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:36.559 So let's look at the things that made this a pressure praying church. 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:38.799 Number one, in your outline. 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:43.600 They were a praising and praising church. 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:46.480 I'd bring your attention back to verse 24. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:17:08.799 And when they had lifted up their voices to God in one accord, when they were praying, and in verse 31, and when they had prayed, when these early Christians here had the report from the apostles, they reacted not with fear, because they understood 2 Timothy 1 7. 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:12.160 God's not given a spirit of fear, but of power and a love and a semi. 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.119 They understood that. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.400 They weren't afraid. 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:16.799 They didn't respond with fear. 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:21.119 They responded with praise and prayer. 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.319 Wow. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.000 Wow. 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:29.359 When the next time you're placed in a pressure situation, don't get scared. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:34.400 Respond with praise and prayer. 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:37.680 They begin to praise the Lord. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:41.200 And let's look at how they praise the Lord in your outline. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:42.240 A. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:45.440 They praised and prayed with their presence. 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:46.880 Verse 24. 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:50.720 Verse 24 says that they were all there in one accord. 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:52.799 Folks, that's one reason we come to church. 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.319 Can I get an amen? 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.920 They all were here. 00:17:56.640 --> 00:18:05.599 You didn't have to go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in so that the house would be filled, which we do in Luke 14, 23. 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:07.519 People wanted to be at church. 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:08.960 People were at church. 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:10.240 They were faithful. 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:12.240 They were there praying. 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:14.640 They were there worshiping God. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:23.680 Hebrews 10, 25 says, not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together as men or some are, but exhorting one another so much more as you see the day approaching. 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:25.279 They couldn't wait to get there. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.079 You know why? 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:33.599 Because they knew that they were a family and that they loved each other, they helped each other, they encouraged each other, and here's the biggie. 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:35.440 They prayed for one another. 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:42.160 So they prayed and prayed with their presence. 00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:49.279 I was reading Leonard Ravenhill, by the way, who is the guy doing the prayer. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:57.119 And he he was a tremendous. 00:18:57.440 --> 00:19:00.640 I had the chance to meet him one time at Liberty when I was a student. 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:02.640 He believed in revival. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:03.920 He preached on revival. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:07.279 That was his one message all over the world he'd go preach. 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:17.599 But let me tell you the statement he made when uh Adam put up that, I call it, billboard for prayer and used his voice. 00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:20.720 It got me back to his book on revival. 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:22.559 And let me tell you what he said. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:28.640 He said, let me say this, and he said it in that kind of accent that we love. 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:41.119 He said, preaching in one of his messages, let me say that a faith that won't take you to church, now what's this, will not likely take you to heaven. 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:43.279 Ooh. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:44.559 Hello? 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:47.039 And then he went on to say this. 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:52.799 The following statistics reveal church is the safest place of all. 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.119 Hello? 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:32.480 I think we need to tell some people that now. 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:36.400 Don't wait, and then listen to what he said. 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:39.599 Don't wait until the hearse calls you to church. 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:44.160 If you do, you will go regardless of the weather. 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.599 Hello? 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:50.880 There will be beautiful flowers there, but you won't enjoy them. 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:55.839 The preacher may say some good things about you, but you won't be able to hear them. 00:20:56.400 --> 00:21:00.240 There will be beautiful music, but you won't be enjoying it. 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:05.279 There will be heartfelt prayers, but they will not touch your heart. 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:09.759 There will be friends and relatives there, but you will not worship with them. 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:14.000 You will go, no matter how many hypocrites are there. 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:20.160 You will go no matter how much you are needed at home. 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:24.400 You won't be concerned about whether you're dressed right. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:30.559 After that final trip, you will never have to decide whether to attend church or not. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:32.480 You will never get another chance. 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:38.319 So why not go to church while there's time to enjoy it and receive a blessing from it? 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:46.160 Woo! And David said, I was glad when they said, Let us go into the house of the Lord. 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:48.240 Psalms 122 1. 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:51.599 That kind of hit home a little bit, didn't it? 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:53.440 That's why we come to church. 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:58.079 That's why the parking lots ought to be filled with people coming to church. 00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.759 Folks, my goodness. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:07.359 We must get back to God's house if revival is gonna break out. 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.559 We must. 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:09.839 We must. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:15.359 But secondly, they praised and prayed to a personal God. 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:18.319 Verses 24 through 28, we read. 00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:19.839 Look at it. 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:21.039 A personal God. 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.480 Verse 24. 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:25.839 They prayed, hey, to God's person. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:28.559 They began by praising God for who he is. 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:33.200 That is a reason for the praise that will never cease to be. 00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:37.839 Every saint of God should take the time to praise God for who he is and his attributes. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.119 Have you thought about that? 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:52.559 God is holy, God is grace, God is merciful, God is good, God is love, God's presence here, his peace is here, his power is here, his glory is here, his hope is here. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:57.680 All that God is gives us ample reason to praise his holy name. 00:22:57.839 --> 00:23:02.720 I was singing about the Song of Solomon in chapter 5. 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:07.359 The beautiful bride's trying to describe her lovely husband. 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:13.119 And a lot of people use the analogy to the Lord as well as a couple. 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:25.119 But basically, what she was saying, and I thought about this, and it's so true, that he, in fact, she makes this statement he is altogether lovely. 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:28.400 That's what our God is, folks. 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:31.599 He is altogether lovely. 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:32.960 Wow. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:39.359 And that's exactly what they're talking about in verses 25 through 27, because of what he did on Calvary for us. 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:49.039 How he took our debt, how he paid our price, how he took our sin debt and gave us life and gave it more abundantly. 00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:51.119 Is that not exciting? 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:54.799 So that's exactly what we see here. 00:23:55.359 --> 00:24:04.480 That, hey, these verses recount the hatred of the world toward Jesus and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for the sins of the world. 00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:06.640 They praise God for his gift. 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:08.480 2 Corinthians 9, 15. 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:12.400 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.079 Wow. 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:16.000 Unbelievable. 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:24.160 If there was ever a valid reason to praise the Lord, it is the death of Christ on the cross for our sins. 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:34.400 The fact that he took our place, paid our debt, set us free is a reason to praise that will never cease to be. 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:36.640 I was reading. 00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:41.279 I was back in Raven Hill's book on revival. 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:50.799 God just touched me after Adam used him to introduce prayer because he was such a prayer warrior. 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:57.839 He had a little uh example about a country farmer named Jim. 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:01.119 A little country church where he went. 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:06.880 Farmer Jim would sit, kind of like Darren usually does over here. 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:10.240 Everybody's worrying about the chairs this morning. 00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:11.599 Well, we had a skit. 00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:14.400 I I even lost my Bible. 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:20.720 I was getting scared there for a minute, and I thought, all right, which one of these young people playing a joke on the preacher? 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:23.359 Then I found out it was the youth pastor, Rick. 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:36.480 But Farmer Jim would sit right over the corner and the preacher get to preaching on the cross of the blood, and he'd start saying, Amen, hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus. 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:42.720 A lot of people finally went to the preacher and said, Farmer Jim's messing us up. 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:44.400 We can't pay attention. 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:46.480 You need to go say something to him. 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:51.519 So the preacher went to visit Farmer Jim. 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:55.279 Farmer Jim was out in the garden with his mew, plowing. 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:59.440 Saw the preacher, he stopped, took off his old brim hat. 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:03.519 Said, hey preacher, so glad you're here to visit me. 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.559 What can I do for you? 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:06.960 Would you like to go in and get a glass of tea? 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.480 He said, Yeah, I would. 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:09.680 So they sat down. 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:12.559 I said, Farmer Jim, I need to talk to me. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.359 He said, I know. 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:17.279 I know what you're gonna talk to me. 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:21.440 I'm upsetting some of the people in church. 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:25.359 Because I get a little excited. 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:30.160 The preacher said, Yeah, that's true. 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:52.240 And about that time he said, But Pastor, when I think that my sins are gone, when I think that I have been forgiven, when I think that I have a home in heaven, when I think that God is my father, Jesus is my elder brother, and the Holy Spirit is my indwelling comforter. 00:26:52.400 --> 00:27:12.640 And when I think of the price he paid, my Savior, and of the love he showed, and of the gift he gave, I cannot help but hear, preacher, hold my muhle shout! Amen. 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:15.680 Amen, church. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:17.440 Oh my goodness. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:22.960 Oh, do we need a fresh touch of God from on high? 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.720 Oh, we do. 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:25.680 Oh, we do. 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.880 Oh, we do. 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:32.880 God is still worthy of all our praise and honor and glory. 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:35.279 Look at Hebrews 13, 15. 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:37.039 I want you to look at this. 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:40.000 Let us continually offer. 00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:41.519 Now watch. 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:45.519 Hey, offer our what? 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:48.880 Our praise to God continually. 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:52.160 That is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:55.359 He says, let us praise him continually. 00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:57.759 Amen. 00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:01.599 And then I love Psalm 47, one. 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:02.319 You know what? 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:04.640 Clap your hands, all your people. 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:07.759 Shout unto God with a voice of triumph. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.720 Can we do that? 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:10.640 Let's just clap our hands. 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:20.319 And say, praise God! Amen. 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:21.839 Amen. 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:28.160 So we see they praised him for his person. 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:30.960 They praised God for his provisions. 00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:34.640 That was the second thing I forgot to give you to fill in the black. 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:37.839 And then the third thing, they praised, look at verse 28 again. 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:40.079 They praised God for his power. 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:43.839 They mentioned God's hand here in verse 28. 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:51.519 This is a reference to his great power, to his ability to exert supernatural power to accomplish his will. 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:59.039 Can I remind us that that same God that did that then is still here to do it today? 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:02.000 Please understand that. 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:07.680 He still has all power in heaven and earth. 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:09.599 Matthew 28, 18. 00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:11.920 He still is the great I am. 00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:14.799 Exodus 3.14. 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:23.759 And he is still God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:27.039 Ephesians 3, 20. 00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:29.039 Wow. 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:33.759 How many mountains has he moved for you? 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:37.119 Isn't he worthy of your praise? 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.559 Yes. 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:42.400 How many times have you seen God do the impossible? 00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:45.519 Is he worthy of your praise? 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.119 Amen. 00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:54.880 How many times has he, hey, hey, moved in a situation to answer your prayers because you were going under? 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:57.920 Isn't he worthy of our praise? 00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:03.359 When you thought you didn't even have a chance, but yet he intervened. 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:07.759