WEBVTT 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:03.919 That was just really, really good. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:05.280 You guys want to come to Geneva? 00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:07.360 Man, seriously, man. 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:09.759 We have nothing like that at all. 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:11.439 It would be really cool, man. 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:11.919 Seriously. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:13.439 But anyway, one thing at a time. 00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:16.879 Anyway, it's a great privilege to be with you again this evening. 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:29.199 And um as I shared with Jesse some of the thoughts of what uh he wouldn't be to do tonight, he felt it would be really good to share about how to pray for your missionaries. 00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:38.399 And um that's a really great thing for me to be able to speak on because we really you're missionaries, but we do too, really need your prayers. 00:00:38.479 --> 00:00:41.439 And I would like to thank you already for having prayed for us this evening. 00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:46.560 So I've titled my sermon tonight, Brethren, pray for us. 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:48.399 Brethren, pray for us. 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:52.000 First Thessalonians 5, 25. 00:00:56.799 --> 00:01:02.240 About 30 years ago, something maybe 25 years ago, something rather startling happened to us. 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:07.439 Um we were in a pretty difficult situation. 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:10.879 We were in Paris, big problems, you know how it is. 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:29.040 And uh we were home on furlough, we were with team at the time, and um Meg and I were extremely hurt, down, beat up, discouraged, and we came back, frankly, wondering if we were gonna go back to the field or not. 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:32.239 It was really a bad situation that we'd had in Paris. 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:38.560 So, as missionaries do, we were you know visiting our churches, supporting churches and stuff, and it was in 1995. 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:42.480 We had a church at the time that supported us in Modesto, California. 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:50.959 And um so we were just passing through for a day or two, and they said, John, you know, can you uh come to our pastors' meeting? 00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:54.799 It was kind of a large church, a lot of pastors, and um we have an 8 a.m. 00:01:54.959 --> 00:01:56.079 pastor's time Monday morning. 00:01:56.239 --> 00:01:56.959 Would you please come? 00:01:57.200 --> 00:01:57.680 I said, sure. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:04.640 So we went over there, and um all the pastors are there, and they said, Can you just kind of share what's going on? 00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:10.159 So I like and I was like, Well, just kind of beat up and discouraged and down and just like everything. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:10.879 They said, Okay. 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:12.639 We get it. 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:13.840 We'll stop right there. 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:16.800 They said, Would you like to pray for you? 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:19.199 I didn't really share that much with them. 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:20.080 I said, Okay. 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:23.439 So they said, just sit here and we're gonna start praying for you. 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:24.960 So they started praying. 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:29.680 Started praying for me, for the church, one pastor after another. 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:31.039 Five minutes. 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:34.400 Ten minutes, they began to pray for Meg. 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:48.159 Fifteen minutes, then for each of our children, John William, Kimberly, James, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five minutes, one after another, thirty minutes. 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:55.520 Kept praying thirty-five minutes, forty minutes, forty-five minutes. 00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:59.039 These guys prayed for us. 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:03.680 And I remember at about minute twenty or something. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:11.280 I mean, I was just sitting there, just like I started crying, just just sobbing, really. 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:22.479 And it was like I felt like these guys were literally taking this burden on me that was almost visible, and just lifting it up. 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:26.800 What they were doing is they were praying, they were saying, John, look, we we get it. 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:27.759 You're hurt. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:32.800 So we're gonna take that burden and take it on us through prayer. 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:36.000 It was incredible. 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:42.240 I I I've never I'd never been prayed for 30 minutes, 45 minutes straight in my life, and I never have since. 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:43.840 Just me, just us. 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:44.560 That's it. 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:46.879 16 pastors just praying like that. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:50.400 They prayed fervently. 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:54.560 And you know what? 00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:55.840 I needed that. 00:03:56.240 --> 00:04:00.240 I needed for people to pray for me. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:03.759 Now, that might surprise you, saying, need it? 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:04.319 John. 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:07.039 You're missionaries. 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:08.319 You're a missionary. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:10.879 Do missionaries really need to be prayed for? 00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:13.680 I mean, I thought missionaries were kind of had it made. 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:19.839 They were like the Rambos, the Schwarzenegger's of the Christian faith. 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:26.079 I mean, we send you out as giants of the faith to go out and win the world for Christ. 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:31.199 We are autonomous ministry machines, trained, ordained, tested. 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:36.639 We're amazing fundraisers, world travelers, evangelists, teachers, preachers, we're naturals. 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:40.480 We're tempted to say that. 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:43.360 Well, folks, I'd like to burst your bubble tonight. 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:45.839 The answer is no way. 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:49.680 No, there's nothing special about missionaries. 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:52.079 Missionaries are people just like you. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:54.240 Okay, let me just paint your portrait here. 00:04:54.399 --> 00:04:56.399 Weak sinners, amen. 00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:59.360 Saved by the pure grace of God, amen. 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:05.600 Set out to the impossible task of reaching the world for Christ. 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:10.800 Missionaries are just weak sinners trying to be obedient to the Lord in the area of missions. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:12.240 We have a call, sure. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:17.439 We're trying to do the best we can with the best of our abilities to fulfill that call. 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:23.199 But it's hard, it's brutal, it's tough, sometimes discouraging. 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:24.480 Now, some days it's great. 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:27.199 When you're skiing in the Alps, you go, oh, wow, this is good, you know. 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:29.759 No, but I mean there's a lot more than just skiing in the Alps. 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:32.720 And we've seen some wonderful things happen, but it's also difficult. 00:05:32.959 --> 00:05:34.879 Like anywhere else in the world. 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:37.040 Okay, let me ask you this question. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:38.560 This is a really tough one. 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:43.199 In your opinion, who is the greatest missionary that ever lived? 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:46.879 Paul. 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:49.279 That's what most people answer, and that's what I would answer too. 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:50.639 Paul, of course, right? 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:52.720 So now think about Paul for a minute. 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:57.040 When you say that Paul was the perfect missionary, here are some of his credentials. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:05.040 He was bicultural, Jewish and Roman, probably trilingual, Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic, very biblical. 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:06.959 He actually wrote inspired scripture. 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:08.720 Okay, that's pretty biblical. 00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:13.040 He was single and thus low cost. 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:18.399 Do you know how much it costs to send a family of missionaries overseas these days? 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:19.600 It's really expensive. 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:22.160 He was a tent maker, thus self-supported. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:23.040 That's good. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:28.959 Hypermotivated, a natural leader, a preacher, a teacher, an evangelist, a church planter. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:35.360 He willingly suffered, unmoved, committed, dedicated, mobilized, bold, fearless, a writer, a pastor, an author? 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:36.000 Wow. 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:40.720 I mean, this guy was the kind of missionary you want to send out there. 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:51.519 And yet, and yet, can I show you one of the most amazing verses that Paul wrote himself in the New Testament? 00:06:52.399 --> 00:07:03.600 Amazing because however gifted he was, this short verse reveals to us that he was just a normal man who had great needs, just like you and me, and he cries this need out in 1 Thessalonians 5.25. 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:05.279 It's not a very long verse. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:10.399 He says this brethren, pray for us. 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:20.959 This is Paul, the giant of the faith, saying, please pray for us. 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:23.680 So why is this little verse so amazing? 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:33.040 It's amazing because this great, mature apostle Paul is asking a young church to pray for him. 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:35.279 Look at the verse. 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:36.319 Brethren. 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:38.319 Who is he asking to pray for him? 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:39.279 Brethren. 00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:41.360 The term generally means Christians. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:44.879 Here specifically, he's addressing the believers in the Thessalonian church. 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:48.959 They were brethren, and that they were all brothers, they had the same spiritual father. 00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:52.160 So he's calling upon the believers of the church to pray for him. 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:55.519 Pray, to speak to or to make requests to God. 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:58.319 It's the most common word in the New Testament for the word prayer. 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:04.560 It embraces all that includes the idea of prayer, thanksgiving, requesting special things from God for oneself or for others. 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:06.879 It's a general word for prayer. 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:12.879 It's the same word used in 1 Thessalonians 5, 17 just before. 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:16.399 This does not mean, he says in verse 17, pray without ceasing. 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:25.040 That does not mean that you have to be praying 24 hours a day, but regularly and persistently praying to God and doing what you usually do in your prayer. 00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:27.759 Praise, confess, ask. 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:32.399 So he says, brethren, pray for who? 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:33.279 For us. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:40.080 Well, in 1-1, it tells you who the us is: Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:45.360 Present tense shows that Paul did not want this to be a once and for all thing. 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:47.759 Please pray for us on a regular basis. 00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:48.960 Make it habitual. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:51.200 So what's the context of this verse? 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:58.480 Well, you may remember Paul, Silas, and Timothy first went to Thessalonica on their second missionary journey in Acts 17. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:04.240 This was actually the second place in Europe where the gospel had been preached, Philippi being the first in Acts 16. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:11.279 Actually, we can go to Acts 17 and read verses 1 through 4. 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:20.480 Now, when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:34.720 And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned from them with them from the scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ. 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:42.799 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a great multitude of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women. 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:51.600 Now the gospel had been received so enthusiastically in Thessalonica, as we just read, that the synagogue had pretty much been depleted of Jews. 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:57.440 So the authorities blame Jason, a Jew, who had lodged the missionaries, of harboring traitors to Caesar. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:00.799 Jason was held a security while the missionaries fled the city. 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:04.000 They went to Berea and then to Athens, then Corinth. 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:10.799 So Paul gets to Athens, he sends Timothy back to Thessalonica to encourage the believers and get news from them. 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:16.399 Meanwhile, Paul travels on to Corinth, where Timothy returns with the good news about the church. 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:24.080 So with this good news of the church, Paul sits down and writes two epistles to the Thessalonians. 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:29.840 Now the question I want to ask is: how old is this church in Thessalonica? 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:31.279 How old? 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:37.200 Well, Acts 17 tells us that Paul spent three Sabbaths in the synagogue reasoning with the Jews. 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:41.279 Some feel he spent three weeks there, others feel, well, he must have spent longer. 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:44.320 I mean, it takes a little longer than three weeks to start a church. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:49.840 Regardless, it can be affirmed quite convincingly that Paul did not stay in Thessalonica very long. 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:52.399 A few weeks, a few months at most. 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:54.799 So let's just stretch it all out. 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:59.039 Let's say the church is maximum six months old. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:09.600 So Paul is writing to a church that is six months old, and he's saying, Please pray for me. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:11.679 I think that's cool. 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:15.840 Now, wouldn't you have expected it the other way around? 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:20.879 Humanly speaking, don't we expect the mature believers to pray for the young believers in the Lord? 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:22.559 Should not Paul be praying for them? 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:23.200 Well, he does. 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:25.919 In chapter 1, verse 2 and 3, he prays for them. 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:29.120 He says, I'll pray for you, but you pray for me too. 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:32.240 It's a two-way street. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:33.519 But why? 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:37.519 Why does he ask them to pray for him? 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:39.200 I'll tell you why. 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:48.720 Just read the book of Acts, and you will see that Paul, the mighty evangelistic machine, was constantly being attacked. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:12:00.320 Folks, it's amazing to see how often and how violently Paul is attacked, verbally, spiritually, and physically for proclaiming the gospel. 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:10.879 And Paul knew full well, better than most, that being a missionary and trying to penetrate enemy territory with the saving gospel of Jesus Christ is outright war with the enemy. 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:19.919 Jesus said in Matthew 16, 18, I also say to you that you, Peter, upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:22.080 Friend, this is the bottom line. 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:28.639 Death and hell are the ultimate weapon of Satan to destroy us. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:30.399 He hates us. 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:46.240 Sure, we are guaranteed ultimate victory, but we're not spared the battle. 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:49.759 In fact, we're trying to snatch souls out of hell. 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:52.480 I mean, granted, we're the agent through which that is done. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:55.600 I mean, do you think the enemy is just going to stand by and look? 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:56.480 No way. 00:12:56.720 --> 00:13:00.879 He's going to try and find the kink in our armor, and he's going to try and get us. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:05.440 The more active you are, the more evangelistic you are, the more he's going to attack you. 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:07.200 The more biblical you are. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:10.559 The less biblical you are, you'll be fine. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:11.519 Fine. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:23.759 So, realizing this very reality, that's why Paul asks this young church to pray for him. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:33.200 In fact, so if you look up every reference where Paul asks for prayer, it really boils down to five prayer requests. 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:35.919 That's what I'm going to just go over real quickly right now, okay? 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:38.399 He basically asks them to pray for five things. 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:40.159 So you can jot these down, okay? 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:45.759 And these could become your guide as you pray for the missionaries that you guys have sent out in support. 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:48.399 Okay, this is really to help you pray for them. 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:51.679 Five specific prayer requests. 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:54.720 And these are the ones that Paul asked for himself. 00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:58.799 Number one. 00:13:59.120 --> 00:13:59.919 Number one. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:03.600 His first prayer request was for prospects. 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:06.639 Prospects, or put another way, for opportunities. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:10.399 Look at 2 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians 3.1. 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:15.440 2 Thessalonians 3.1, he says, Finally, brethren, pray for us. 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:16.480 Okay, there it is. 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:28.240 Pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you, and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men, for not all have faith. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:32.399 So in verse 1, what is Paul asking them to pray first? 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:36.399 That the word of the Lord may spread rapidly. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:40.960 The word spread literally means to run, rush forward. 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:49.600 It's like the gospel, it's like you got to visualize the gospel running, progressing, spreading rapidly. 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:51.279 Just kind of imagine that. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:55.440 Pray that the gospel will run forward. 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:57.519 That's a wonderful image. 00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:01.039 And be honored in verse one. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:06.080 That the word of the Lord may be spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you. 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:09.600 That it would be praised and honored and glorified and exalted. 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:14.960 See, Paul is in Corinth, and he's having a hard time convincing them to come to Christ. 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:18.080 They resisted him and blasphemed him. 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:22.240 And look what he says in verse 1 of chapter of 2 Thessalonians 3:1. 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:26.480 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:31.440 Look at this, just as it did also with you. 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:33.919 So you know what Paul's doing? 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:36.720 He's in Corinth, kind of having a hard time in Corinth. 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:42.240 And he's looking back and he's he's looking at Thessalonica and he's going, wow, I was there just for three weeks. 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:45.759 In less than six months, this church is thriving. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:51.039 So you know what he's doing? 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:54.559 He's comparing, actually. 00:15:57.440 --> 00:16:07.279 And he's basically saying, Man, pray that Corinth would have the same fruit experience that it did in Thessalonica. 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:14.080 Pray that the same thing would happen here that happened there. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:15.840 Okay, I'm gonna confess something. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:20.480 Today I walked into your church and I told Jesse this. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:23.120 I broke the 10th commandment today. 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:26.639 I looked at it and I coveted. 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:30.879 I thought, man, how can you have such a cool church? 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:32.480 The music was incredible. 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:39.200 The people are super nice, they're all committed, they all carry Bibles, they're all like smiling. 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:42.480 And I'm going, Lord, I'm going back tomorrow. 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:46.879 We're going back tomorrow on the airplane, and we're going to a church that went from 200 to 100. 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:50.000 At 200, we were one of the largest churches in Geneva. 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:51.120 Now we're half that size. 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:51.600 Problems? 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:52.720 Church problems, okay? 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:56.399 So we're only 100 people, and we just got two emails, and we're going back to problems. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:17:00.480 And I'm going, Lord, would you pray? 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:05.839 Would you guys pray that what God has done here, He would do for us? 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:07.599 I'm jealous, but I confessed it. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.240 I confessed it. 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:08.799 Okay, I did. 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.480 But I am jealous. 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:12.000 It's a good jealousy. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:14.079 I mean, it's like unbelievable. 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.440 I'd like to bring my whole church here. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:17.839 They'd like just be blown out of the water. 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:24.000 I mean, right here, this is like an incredibly awesome pack Sunday for us right here. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:27.920 I mean, we'd feel like we're having revival if we had this many people in our church on a Sunday morning. 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:31.680 That's after like 12 years of hard work. 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:36.960 Lord, will you please do for us what you did here? 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:39.599 That would be so cool. 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:41.599 Pray hard. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:43.440 France is a tough place. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:48.720 They say it takes 10 to 12 to 15 years to plant a church of 100 people. 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:50.319 That's what it takes there. 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:53.039 So I often tell people who say, Hey, can I come and serve in France? 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:53.839 I say, sure. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.519 I need 10 years of your life. 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:59.279 It's going to take five to six years to learn French, sort of. 00:17:59.599 --> 00:17:59.920 Okay? 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:01.200 It's a hard language. 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:03.440 There's a lot of exceptions in grammar and stuff, you know? 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:08.880 And then another four years to start a church, and you might start and see a church of 50 people before you leave. 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:12.240 And once you leave, you'll think, oh man, I wonder if it's going to survive. 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:16.240 I'm recruiting 10 people for 10 years. 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:20.880 That's a hard thing to commit yourself to, right? 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:29.119 But we're praying that people would just realize and pray for us that the same thing would happen to us that has happened to you. 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:33.279 In Colossians 4, same point still. 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.720 Look what he says here. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:40.880 He kind of the same, it's the same prayer request, just kind of said differently. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:43.200 Colossians 4 2. 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:48.799 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:51.359 Uh am I right here? 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:56.000 For oh, I'm in the wrong book. 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.839 That usually does not work. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:17.759 Colossians 4 2, devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it, with an attitude of thanksgiving, praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:21.039 Would you pray that God would just open a door? 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:23.519 That God would just open a door. 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:28.240 In 1 Corinthians 8 8, we read this. 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.440 I got that one wrong too. 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.079 Why is that? 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.200 It doesn't matter. 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:34.000 Okay, we just said it. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:34.880 Open door. 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:37.759 Lord, please open a door. 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:44.559 You know, some years back, uh, we had the Gulf War that broke out, you know, uh in the Gulf, obviously. 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:46.640 And so in our church in Geneva, we had three camps. 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:50.720 We had those people who were pro-Americans, those who were anti-Americans, and those who were neutral. 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:51.759 The Swiss are neutral. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:54.160 And so we had this kind of battle in our church about this battle. 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:55.119 I mean, no one knew. 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:59.519 You know, we had we had these not fights, but verbal problems over this war. 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:05.359 So I just did a series of sermons on what the Bible teaches about war, and it turned out to be a little book. 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:07.920 Okay, and it's called A Christian Perspective on War. 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:10.319 So this was sold, and one day I get this phone call. 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:11.039 It's incredible. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.079 This guy calls me up. 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:15.119 He says, Hi, I'm a soldier in the French Navy. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:18.640 I live down in Toulon, France, where all the porters and all the military ships are. 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:20.079 He says, I just read your book. 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:26.400 Would you please come down and do a conference on war for the Department of the Navy? 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:28.400 I'm going, Excuse me? 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:29.119 Are you kidding? 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:30.400 He goes, No, no, no, no, no. 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:32.319 He says, I've already checked with all the top brass. 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:35.200 We're asking you to come down, do a one-hour conference. 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:38.319 Tell us what the Bible says about war. 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:42.880 Folks, that's the kind of opportunity that just blows my mind. 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:45.279 Okay, someone was praying that day for sure. 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:48.720 So I went down there and I thought, what, what, what's gonna happen? 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:51.039 So I get there and it's packed. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.319 Just packed with people. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:55.279 And he had the pro-wars and the anti-wars, okay? 00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:56.160 They're all there. 00:20:56.319 --> 00:21:04.640 So I gave my sermon, stepped back, and watched the place begin to just debate and get mad at each other and scream and yell at each other. 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:06.160 It was incredible, man, you know? 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:07.680 But I preached the gospel. 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:11.440 See, opportunities that you can't even imagine would ever happen. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:14.160 So that's what you need to pray for. 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:18.640 For prospects, for these opportunities. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.640 Number two. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:25.039 Not just for prospects, but pray secondly for power. 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:26.559 For power. 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:30.480 Colossians 4, 3. 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:31.680 Verse 2. 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:35.039 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert with it in the attitude of thanksgiving. 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:49.200 Paul is writing, praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ for which I have also been in prison, in order that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:51.680 This is very cool. 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:54.079 You know what he's saying? 00:21:54.240 --> 00:22:01.920 Not only pray for an open door, that's good, but pray that I would make It's clear in the way I ought to speak. 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:06.319 In other words, would you pray for the power of my mouth? 00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:14.000 Yes, pray for the open door, but pray for the boldness to preach the gospel clearly and accurately. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:15.920 It's sort of like this morning what we were talking about. 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:17.440 It's the courage part. 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:24.880 Lord, the opportunity is there, but now I need to use my mouth. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:31.519 In fact, Ephesians 6.18 says this. 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:45.599 With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf. 00:22:45.839 --> 00:23:00.880 Look, that utterances may be given to me in the opening of my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel for which I'm an ambassador in chains, that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak. 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:05.519 Folks, this is Paul, the mighty missionary, asking for people to make him bold. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:08.079 I don't know if you ever saw these verses before like this. 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:09.759 It's like you'd think he's a natural. 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:11.599 Well, he was, but he wasn't. 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:13.839 He was just like everybody else. 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:18.960 In the context of your spiritual warfare. 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:24.160 And you know where he is when he's writing this? 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:25.839 In prison. 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:35.359 So he's in prison and he's asking people to pray for him that he would be bold and open his mouth and speak the gospel in prison. 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:37.599 Now tell me that's not cool. 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:46.480 So you know what we're asking here? 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:55.200 Would you please pray that your missionaries would not wimp out in preaching the gospel? 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:55.680 Really? 00:23:58.240 --> 00:24:00.640 Because when you hesitate, they hesitate too. 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:01.839 We all hesitate. 00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:03.759 It's hard sharing the gospel. 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:05.759 I mean, you kind of, you know, you know what it's like. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:06.400 It's hard. 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.440 It's scary. 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:10.240 And you feel like your reputation can go in a second. 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:17.279 It's an amazing prayer request for this evangelistic tank called Paul. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:21.200 So we find out that Paul is just like you and me, like all missionaries. 00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:22.880 Sharing the gospel is not easy. 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:23.119 No. 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:25.200 Romans 1.16 says I'm not ashamed of the gospel. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:27.279 I've often thought to myself, why did he write that? 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:29.279 Maybe he was ashamed occasionally. 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:31.279 I am confession time. 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:33.839 I sometimes am ashamed of sharing the gospel. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:38.160 Because I want to be seen as a good guy. 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:43.599 John the Baptist. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:47.359 Man, you know, he could have saved his life so easily. 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:51.359 He dared confront Herod of his adultery. 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:53.599 I mean, if you want to lose your head, that's what you do. 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:55.119 You go confront a king of his adultery. 00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:55.920 That's what he did. 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:59.599 He preached the gospel and it cost him his life. 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:04.160 So that's what we're asking. 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:05.759 Pray for boldness. 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:10.400 By the way, the word mouth, you know, he says, please that pray for the opening of my mouth. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:21.039 Quote, an external this is what the dictionary says, an external opening in the head through which most animals and all humans admit food and emit communicative sounds. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:21.599 Okay. 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:25.759 So we have a mouth to eat, but a mouth to talk. 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:29.839 And here the context is talk the gospel, like John 3.16. 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:30.160 Okay? 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:32.559 So he's basically he's really really simple here. 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:38.400 Please pray that I would dare open my mouth and explain the gospel to people. 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:40.400 And not wimp out. 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.200 Three. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.079 Three. 00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:48.240 Pray for prospects. 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:50.319 Power number three for protection. 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:52.559 Now let me tell you something. 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:57.680 If a missionary plans to proclaim the gospel faithfully with his mouth and with power, you know what's gonna happen? 00:25:57.839 --> 00:26:03.839 He will be attacked by all the combined forces of Satan, demons, and hell. 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.960 Bottom line. 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:10.960 Satan, Satan and his celestial agents hate gospel proclaiming messengers. 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:13.440 That's why you need to pray for them. 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:17.200