WEBVTT 00:00:02.010 --> 00:00:04.250 Welcome to the Quality Christian Living Podcast. 00:00:04.309 --> 00:00:06.730 I am your host David Friend. As you may know, 00:00:06.730 --> 00:00:09.250 we are continuing a series today dealing with 00:00:09.250 --> 00:00:12.050 the Holy Spirit, and today's topic is Holy Spirit 00:00:12.050 --> 00:00:14.369 -led prayers. Now, this could be one of the more 00:00:14.369 --> 00:00:17.170 important messages, teachings, if you will, or 00:00:17.170 --> 00:00:18.670 whatever it might be, or whatever you want to 00:00:18.670 --> 00:00:21.329 call it, of how we can get the Holy Spirit to 00:00:21.329 --> 00:00:23.489 help us have stronger, greater prayers. So I 00:00:23.489 --> 00:00:26.589 just pray that you will receive this. We're going 00:00:26.589 --> 00:00:29.329 to talk about how we can be led by the Spirit 00:00:29.329 --> 00:00:32.310 to pray, and are Holy Spirit -led prayers greater 00:00:32.310 --> 00:00:34.899 than our prayers. Does the Holy Spirit decide 00:00:34.899 --> 00:00:37.880 who he helps and who he will not help to pray? 00:00:38.060 --> 00:00:40.219 I think some people feel that way, but that's 00:00:40.219 --> 00:00:43.240 just something we need to discuss. How do I know 00:00:43.240 --> 00:00:45.780 my prayers are led by the Holy Spirit? Well, 00:00:45.799 --> 00:00:48.140 let's get started by asking the Holy Spirit to 00:00:48.140 --> 00:00:49.899 guide and direct us. Heavenly Father, I thank 00:00:49.899 --> 00:00:52.140 you for who you are. I pray now the Holy Spirit 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:54.240 would guide and direct us through this podcast. 00:00:54.380 --> 00:00:56.719 Help those who are listening in to receive exactly 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:58.820 what you have in store for them. I pray, Lord, 00:00:58.939 --> 00:01:01.520 that they're trying to receive a touch from the 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:04.079 Holy Spirit for strong prayer life that you would 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:06.459 bring that upon them and father these scriptures 00:01:06.459 --> 00:01:08.620 I use and the comments you've given me I pray 00:01:08.620 --> 00:01:11.079 that they would bless individuals to have stronger 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:13.480 prayers and more powerful more effective fervent 00:01:13.480 --> 00:01:15.599 prayers I thank you for it in advance and I believe 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:17.260 you're going to do a great work today and I'll 00:01:17.260 --> 00:01:19.379 give you praise in advance for it and I ask these 00:01:19.379 --> 00:01:22.379 things in Jesus name I pray amen well you know 00:01:22.379 --> 00:01:25.340 in my introduction today I listed four significant 00:01:25.340 --> 00:01:28.060 questions on the Holy Spirit leading our prayer 00:01:28.060 --> 00:01:30.040 life and so let's just take them one at a time 00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:31.959 I think this is might be the way to best way 00:01:31.959 --> 00:01:34.739 to cover this one. First, how can we be led by 00:01:34.739 --> 00:01:37.060 the Holy Spirit to pray? Well, a lot to be said 00:01:37.060 --> 00:01:39.280 there, but let me just share a few thoughts about 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:41.840 that. We need to surrender to the Holy Spirit 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:44.299 in everything that we do. It's not our will, 00:01:44.379 --> 00:01:46.859 but God's will. It's not how we want to pray. 00:01:46.939 --> 00:01:48.819 It's how the Holy Spirit wants us to pray, and 00:01:48.819 --> 00:01:51.379 we can surrender to Him before we take on any 00:01:51.379 --> 00:01:53.780 type of prayer activity. I like to start the 00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:55.959 day off with, Holy Spirit, will you guide me, 00:01:56.040 --> 00:01:58.500 guide my thoughts and my actions? And when I'm 00:01:58.500 --> 00:02:00.819 in the garage and driving out of my garage, I 00:02:00.819 --> 00:02:02.920 ask the Holy Spirit to guide the direction that 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:05.540 I drive and my conversations and if you just 00:02:05.540 --> 00:02:07.239 do that and I'm not saying I have all the answers 00:02:07.239 --> 00:02:09.439 I'm just saying that we need to start off the 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:11.819 day seeking for help from the Holy Spirit and 00:02:11.819 --> 00:02:14.840 asking him to help us in our life in our prayer 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:17.699 times and the actions that we take the key word 00:02:17.699 --> 00:02:21.180 is surrender in this the word surrender is in 00:02:21.180 --> 00:02:24.000 reference to the Holy Spirit we need to ask his 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:26.400 will and not ours you know sometimes we pray 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:29.180 and we got a predetermined idea of how we should 00:02:29.180 --> 00:02:31.569 pray and what we should pray and what the results 00:02:31.569 --> 00:02:33.469 will be in that prayer. Sometimes it's good, 00:02:33.469 --> 00:02:35.849 sometimes it's not very good, but if we surrender 00:02:35.849 --> 00:02:38.310 to the Holy Spirit and ask for His leading, His 00:02:38.310 --> 00:02:40.750 guidance, His direction, our prayers will be 00:02:40.750 --> 00:02:43.150 consistently strong, they'll be focused, they'll 00:02:43.150 --> 00:02:44.990 be led by the Spirit of God, and we're going 00:02:44.990 --> 00:02:47.229 to see greater results in our prayer life. So 00:02:47.229 --> 00:02:49.969 the word surrender is really very powerful in 00:02:49.969 --> 00:02:52.150 surrendering our will to the Holy Spirit's will. 00:02:52.229 --> 00:02:56.449 We should ask the Spirit what we must pray. Now 00:02:56.449 --> 00:02:58.969 sometimes when I take off in prayer I have a 00:02:58.969 --> 00:03:01.530 list of people pray for but before we get into 00:03:01.530 --> 00:03:03.830 that I like the Holy Spirit to guide and direct 00:03:03.830 --> 00:03:06.030 my prayer. It could be that there's people that 00:03:06.030 --> 00:03:08.729 are on that list that it's time for me to then 00:03:08.729 --> 00:03:11.169 ease up and maybe not continue to pray for them 00:03:11.169 --> 00:03:13.469 or there's new people he wants to put on or he 00:03:13.469 --> 00:03:15.770 wants to just basically have me add new people 00:03:15.770 --> 00:03:17.270 and pray for all the other ones that are there. 00:03:17.409 --> 00:03:19.270 Now let me give you an example and please forgive 00:03:19.270 --> 00:03:21.189 the personal reference but just it's something 00:03:21.189 --> 00:03:23.689 that works for me. I have a list of prayer requests 00:03:23.689 --> 00:03:25.849 every single day when I start to pray in the 00:03:25.849 --> 00:03:27.590 morning and don't get me wrong I don't get up 00:03:27.590 --> 00:03:29.560 and pray for three or four hours I probably should, 00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:31.560 but I don't pray for that long. I get up and 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:34.060 I look at my list and I ask the Holy Spirit to 00:03:34.060 --> 00:03:36.620 help me in my prayer time. The list includes 00:03:36.620 --> 00:03:38.979 a number of nurses that have ministered to me 00:03:38.979 --> 00:03:41.060 and helped me and taken care of me over at the 00:03:41.060 --> 00:03:43.379 Mayo Clinic during the battles I've had, the 00:03:43.379 --> 00:03:45.740 cancer battles and the spinal problems I've had 00:03:45.740 --> 00:03:47.800 and how God has healed me on every single one 00:03:47.800 --> 00:03:50.039 of them. So I want to give God praise for that, 00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:52.560 but I also want to lift up the names of those 00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:55.379 individuals who are doing a great service for 00:03:55.379 --> 00:03:57.800 our city, for our community, and I just want 00:03:57.800 --> 00:03:59.979 to lift up and pray for them. So every day I 00:03:59.979 --> 00:04:02.620 speak their names out and pray for God to intervene 00:04:02.620 --> 00:04:04.439 and help them. It's just something that wrote 00:04:04.439 --> 00:04:06.560 up on my heart. Now, how long do I pray for that? 00:04:06.620 --> 00:04:08.860 I don't know. I may continue to pray for another 00:04:08.860 --> 00:04:10.939 year, for two years or three years, or maybe 00:04:10.939 --> 00:04:12.860 a month. I don't know. I want the Holy Spirit 00:04:12.860 --> 00:04:15.300 to let me know when it's time for me to slow 00:04:15.300 --> 00:04:17.939 down or bring other people into the prayer group 00:04:17.939 --> 00:04:20.779 or just basically cease from praying for that 00:04:20.779 --> 00:04:23.759 group of people. So I won't stop until I truly 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:26.879 believe in my heart and my mind, my spirit, that 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:29.379 it's time to either stop or change the way I 00:04:29.379 --> 00:04:31.060 pray for them. In addition to that, there's a 00:04:31.060 --> 00:04:33.019 number of people in our church who have physical 00:04:33.019 --> 00:04:35.980 problems. So then the Lord has directed me, I 00:04:35.980 --> 00:04:37.800 believe, to ask for the divine healing touch 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:39.939 of the Lord Jesus Christ to heal these individuals. 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:42.060 I like to say their names. I like to mention 00:04:42.060 --> 00:04:43.810 that what they're going through, the battle they're 00:04:43.810 --> 00:04:46.009 going through, and the Lord's just kept those 00:04:46.009 --> 00:04:47.689 on my heart. And then there's a list of people 00:04:47.689 --> 00:04:49.889 that in our church, our friends, and it's just 00:04:49.889 --> 00:04:52.170 a whole bunch of people that God puts upon my 00:04:52.170 --> 00:04:54.389 heart. I don't pray for them all every single 00:04:54.389 --> 00:04:56.730 morning, but I pray for most of them every single 00:04:56.730 --> 00:04:58.670 morning. And then if I haven't completed them 00:04:58.670 --> 00:05:00.649 all, then in the evening before I go to bed, 00:05:00.730 --> 00:05:02.790 I like to spend a little more time lifting up 00:05:02.790 --> 00:05:04.910 those individuals that the Lord has put up on 00:05:04.910 --> 00:05:06.870 my heart, but I can't even go to bed or can't 00:05:06.870 --> 00:05:09.899 go to sleep unless I... I lift up those individuals 00:05:09.899 --> 00:05:12.759 to the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to help them, 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:15.000 bless them, answer their prayers and their needs, 00:05:15.060 --> 00:05:18.120 and then guide me in my prayers. We need to ask 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:21.079 the Holy Spirit to direct our thoughts during 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:23.680 our prayer time. We can't let our mind drift 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:27.660 when we are praying and seeking God to do something 00:05:27.660 --> 00:05:29.660 special in our life or someone else's life. If 00:05:29.660 --> 00:05:31.639 we're allowing our mind to start thinking about 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:33.459 things that we need to do that day, we need to 00:05:33.459 --> 00:05:36.180 get that stuff out of our mind and ask Him to 00:05:36.180 --> 00:05:38.310 direct our prayer times. Ask Him to to pray, 00:05:38.310 --> 00:05:41.290 even pray for us. I think that's just incredible 00:05:41.290 --> 00:05:43.730 because that's why we have the gift of the baptism 00:05:43.730 --> 00:05:45.670 of the Holy Spirit because then we can start 00:05:45.670 --> 00:05:47.810 praying in the Spirit. And when we pray in the 00:05:47.810 --> 00:05:49.889 Spirit, we are praying the divine will of God 00:05:49.889 --> 00:05:52.449 and the Holy Spirit is praying for us. So I've 00:05:52.449 --> 00:05:55.290 gone into all of those issues about the baptism 00:05:55.290 --> 00:05:57.889 and on prior podcasts. So I'm not gonna take 00:05:57.889 --> 00:05:59.589 the time now to go there because I just wanted 00:05:59.589 --> 00:06:01.910 to focus on this particular question right now. 00:06:01.970 --> 00:06:05.009 How can we be led by the Spirit to pray? I hope 00:06:05.009 --> 00:06:07.069 that's helpful to you. Let's go to the second. 00:06:06.990 --> 00:06:09.170 question now, and see how we deal with this one. 00:06:09.269 --> 00:06:12.569 Are the Holy Spirit's lead prayers greater than 00:06:12.569 --> 00:06:15.069 ours? Well, you might want to ask the question, 00:06:15.209 --> 00:06:17.670 is He greater than us? Well, He lives in us and 00:06:17.670 --> 00:06:19.870 He certainly is the Spirit of God, so He obviously 00:06:19.870 --> 00:06:21.910 is more powerful than us, has greater prayers 00:06:21.910 --> 00:06:24.730 than we have, and yes, they are stronger than 00:06:24.730 --> 00:06:27.129 or greater than ours, but He can bring our prayers 00:06:27.129 --> 00:06:30.370 into a level that comes up to His prayer level, 00:06:30.430 --> 00:06:32.990 because Jesus said that greater works we will 00:06:32.990 --> 00:06:35.269 do. Jesus said that when the Spirit comes, He'll 00:06:35.269 --> 00:06:37.319 comfort us. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit is 00:06:37.319 --> 00:06:39.680 there, our advocate, and will bless us and guide 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:42.040 us and direct us. And we can then receive the 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:44.220 power of the Holy Spirit's prayers in our prayer 00:06:44.220 --> 00:06:46.300 life, and so it will increase the strength and 00:06:46.300 --> 00:06:48.199 the greater results of our prayers. Now, let's 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:50.500 always remember that the Holy Spirit has the 00:06:50.500 --> 00:06:53.220 gift of greater prayers, and He can give that 00:06:53.220 --> 00:06:56.680 gift out. He can give us that gift if we ask 00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:58.800 for Him and seek for it. Now, He's the final 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:01.600 say on it, that He's the one that decides who 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:04.579 gets the nine power gifts, and one of them is 00:07:04.579 --> 00:07:07.360 faith. greater faith and He's the one that can 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:09.980 give us greater prayers. The gift of faith is 00:07:09.980 --> 00:07:13.040 listed with the eight other power gifts of the 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:14.980 Holy Spirit. Let me read a couple of scriptures 00:07:14.980 --> 00:07:17.500 that will help us stay on track in this question 00:07:17.500 --> 00:07:20.120 about can the Holy Spirit's prayers be greater 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:22.680 than ours and basically can He give us the gift 00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:25.439 of prayer, the gift of faith. 1 Corinthians chapter 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:28.300 12 verse 4 in the New International Version says 00:07:28.300 --> 00:07:30.839 this, there are different kinds of gifts but 00:07:30.839 --> 00:07:33.439 the same Spirit distributes them all. I'm just 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:35.899 saying this so we keep in proper context what 00:07:35.899 --> 00:07:37.740 I'm talking about here in prayer and the gifts 00:07:37.740 --> 00:07:39.839 of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:42.399 9 the New International Version says to another 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:45.300 faith he gives that gift by the same spirit so 00:07:45.300 --> 00:07:47.399 I could go down all and read them now but I don't 00:07:47.399 --> 00:07:48.819 want to take the time to do that because I've 00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:51.740 done it several times in these podcasts but one 00:07:51.740 --> 00:07:54.319 of the gifts of the Spirit is faith and faith 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:56.480 is the difference between having greater prayers 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:59.019 are ineffective prayers that the prayers of a 00:07:59.019 --> 00:08:02.040 righteous man are led of God And we want to have 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:04.120 strong prayers, greater prayers, and prayers 00:08:04.120 --> 00:08:06.959 that can be increased by the power of the Holy 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:09.160 Spirit working in our life. The gift of faith 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:11.779 is listed, remember, in all the power gifts. 00:08:11.899 --> 00:08:14.379 But it's one of the most important ones, I believe, 00:08:14.519 --> 00:08:16.519 because without faith, there's not a whole lot 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:18.379 we will accomplish in our prayer life. Matter 00:08:18.379 --> 00:08:19.980 of fact, there's nothing we'll accomplish in 00:08:19.980 --> 00:08:22.040 our prayer life without faith. Therefore, the 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:24.740 Holy Spirit gives us the gift of greater faith. 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:28.279 So never forget that the gift comes from the 00:08:28.279 --> 00:08:31.060 Holy Spirit. That's why it's so important to 00:08:31.060 --> 00:08:33.799 understand the Holy Spirit -led prayers because 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:37.200 the gift of faith is absolutely crucial to have 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:40.399 successful effective prayers and that gift comes 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:43.000 from the Holy Spirit and that's when we receive 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:45.779 faith for a purpose and that is when our prayers 00:08:45.779 --> 00:08:49.840 become equivalent or equal to the prayers that 00:08:49.960 --> 00:08:52.440 the Holy Spirit has. I'm not saying we become 00:08:52.440 --> 00:08:55.399 on His level. I'm just saying that we can increase 00:08:55.399 --> 00:08:57.659 our prayers based upon the gifts that He gives 00:08:57.659 --> 00:09:00.860 us. Our gift of faith to pray is God's Spirit 00:09:00.860 --> 00:09:03.620 to pray. Remember, it's God's Spirit who dwells 00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:06.299 inside of us. The Holy Spirit is. God's Spirit 00:09:06.299 --> 00:09:09.419 and we have that operating in us on a daily basis. 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:11.639 Just stop for a second and think about that. 00:09:11.720 --> 00:09:14.159 I mean that is just overwhelming to think about 00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:16.460 it and we've got to remember to call upon the 00:09:16.460 --> 00:09:18.539 Holy Spirit. Why would we want to spend our time 00:09:18.539 --> 00:09:20.440 praying all these big long lists and whatever 00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:22.980 without asking for the Holy Spirit's guidance 00:09:22.980 --> 00:09:25.379 and direction? That's the Spirit of God living 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:28.240 and dwelling inside of us. We need to call upon 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:30.340 Him. We need to ask for His direction. We need 00:09:30.340 --> 00:09:32.759 to know how we should pray, what we should pray, 00:09:32.899 --> 00:09:34.879 when we should pray, who we should pray for. 00:09:34.789 --> 00:09:38.070 and when it's time to move on to other people 00:09:38.070 --> 00:09:40.370 because we can do that. You know, I've had some 00:09:40.370 --> 00:09:42.210 people I have prayed for and I'm not boasting. 00:09:42.330 --> 00:09:44.549 Please forgive me if you think I am. I'm not 00:09:44.549 --> 00:09:46.870 boasting. I have had people that I have prayed 00:09:46.870 --> 00:09:50.110 for sometimes as long as 20 years or more. Just 00:09:50.110 --> 00:09:52.490 simply every day I have to lift them up and I'm 00:09:52.490 --> 00:09:55.009 saying to the Lord, is it time now to move on? 00:09:55.049 --> 00:09:57.350 I had one particular person I was praying for. 00:09:57.669 --> 00:09:59.850 He gave me a very difficult time in business 00:09:59.850 --> 00:10:01.850 and I'll never forget that. It was just extremely 00:10:01.850 --> 00:10:03.809 difficult. He was a Christian guy but he just 00:10:03.809 --> 00:10:06.389 gave me terrible time building him a home and 00:10:06.389 --> 00:10:08.649 so when the home was finished we got it completed 00:10:08.649 --> 00:10:10.750 we we parted his friends everything was fine 00:10:10.750 --> 00:10:13.049 but then the Holy Spirit told me keep praying 00:10:13.049 --> 00:10:15.110 for him I won't give you his name, but bottom 00:10:15.110 --> 00:10:17.470 line, I said, Lord, would you bless, and I would 00:10:17.470 --> 00:10:19.990 say his name and help him and bless his family. 00:10:20.129 --> 00:10:22.409 And I thank you for him, Father. And I would 00:10:22.409 --> 00:10:24.090 just say something very simple like that. But 00:10:24.090 --> 00:10:26.990 that went on for over 20 years, take the list 00:10:26.990 --> 00:10:31.370 or not. And bottom line, it was no, not yet. 00:10:31.490 --> 00:10:34.289 Well, I can remember the years went by. One night, 00:10:34.629 --> 00:10:36.629 my wife and I went to a banquet where they were 00:10:36.629 --> 00:10:38.690 raising funds for a charity in our community. 00:10:38.809 --> 00:10:40.169 And we're sitting here through the whole banquet. 00:10:40.210 --> 00:10:42.250 It was like a two -hour meeting, maybe longer. 00:10:42.889 --> 00:10:44.970 the meeting I pushed my chair back and when I 00:10:44.970 --> 00:10:46.950 did my chair banged into somebody who was sitting 00:10:46.950 --> 00:10:49.250 behind me into their chair and I turned on said 00:10:49.250 --> 00:10:51.490 oh I'm sorry I turned on and there he was that's 00:10:51.490 --> 00:10:53.870 the man I had been praying for for over 20 years 00:10:53.870 --> 00:10:57.129 and I thought oh my Lord this is kind of awkward 00:10:57.129 --> 00:10:59.470 and I said hey how are you doing and he looked 00:10:59.470 --> 00:11:01.269 at me he says here just second come here and 00:11:01.269 --> 00:11:03.750 he grabbed my arm and he walked and he asked 00:11:03.750 --> 00:11:05.450 attention to the people at his table there's 00:11:05.450 --> 00:11:06.950 probably eight or ten people there and he looked 00:11:06.950 --> 00:11:08.750 he says I just want you guys to know you know 00:11:08.750 --> 00:11:10.950 the home that we live in most of you have been 00:11:10.950 --> 00:11:12.789 there I just want to let you know This is the 00:11:12.789 --> 00:11:15.110 man that built that home and we have loved our 00:11:15.110 --> 00:11:17.590 home We have been blessed by our home And I just 00:11:17.590 --> 00:11:19.350 want you to know if you need to have a good home 00:11:19.350 --> 00:11:21.429 built then go to this man because he's a good 00:11:21.429 --> 00:11:23.470 home builder now think of that think of that 00:11:23.470 --> 00:11:26.049 it was that the Lord getting that prepared and 00:11:26.049 --> 00:11:28.789 for that time had to be and for this man to be 00:11:28.789 --> 00:11:31.850 that strong and that powerful and in that much 00:11:31.850 --> 00:11:34.929 kindness to me was just simply a result of the 00:11:34.929 --> 00:11:37.330 Lord keeping him on my heart and we chatted a 00:11:37.330 --> 00:11:38.669 little bit and he says things are good he says 00:11:38.669 --> 00:11:40.750 I've gone through a lot of difficult times physically 00:11:40.750 --> 00:11:42.860 and I thought There we go. That's why the Holy 00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:45.360 Spirit is still having me pray for him. So I 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:46.919 just thought I'd give you that story. It's a 00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:49.379 very powerful story on being led by the Holy 00:11:49.379 --> 00:11:51.820 Spirit and also in knowing that the Holy Spirit 00:11:51.820 --> 00:11:53.960 has great things in store for our prayers and 00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:56.480 he wants to increase our prayers. to be greater 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:58.519 than they are today. Okay, here's the third point 00:11:58.519 --> 00:12:01.019 I made in my introduction. Does the Holy Spirit 00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:05.580 decide who helps and who He does not help? Well, 00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:07.080 this question is kind of interesting. It has 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:10.460 two parts. Part one is, I think, found in 1 Corinthians 00:12:10.460 --> 00:12:13.059 chapter 12 verse 11 in the New International 00:12:13.059 --> 00:12:16.240 Version. It refers to the nine gifts of the Spirit. 00:12:16.299 --> 00:12:19.980 Verse 11, all these are the work of one and the 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:22.639 same Spirit, and He distributes them to each 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:24.960 just as He determines. Well, the Holy Spirit 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:27.389 determines who he blesses and helps in their 00:12:27.389 --> 00:12:29.590 prayers, and he also can determine who he's going 00:12:29.590 --> 00:12:31.769 to hold off on until they're either ready or 00:12:31.769 --> 00:12:34.190 prepared or praying in the right direction. And 00:12:34.190 --> 00:12:35.610 we'll talk about that in a little bit. What's 00:12:35.610 --> 00:12:37.029 the right thing to pray for and the right way 00:12:37.029 --> 00:12:40.330 to pray. Verse 11 tells us the Holy Spirit has 00:12:40.330 --> 00:12:43.629 final say over who gets the individual prayer 00:12:43.629 --> 00:12:46.730 power gifts and who does not. Who gets the gifts 00:12:46.730 --> 00:12:49.169 of faith, who gets the gifts of healing and all 00:12:49.169 --> 00:12:52.100 the other power gifts of miracles and... Oh, 00:12:52.659 --> 00:12:55.379 wisdom and knowledge and discerning of spirits 00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:57.379 and just all the wonderful power gifts, the Holy 00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:59.720 Spirit makes that decision, so therefore that's 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:01.879 why we need to invite Him into our prayer time. 00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:04.139 He's the one that has the decision -maker, is 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:06.379 the decision -maker. Now part two of that question 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:09.019 on if the Holy Spirit helps some and doesn't 00:13:09.019 --> 00:13:11.299 help others is answered, I believe, in Hebrews 00:13:11.299 --> 00:13:14.379 chapter 13 verse 5 in the New International Version. 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:17.779 Listen to this. God has said, never will I leave 00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:19.940 you or forsake you. Well, that to me answers 00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:22.179 the question that God God is telling us He will 00:13:22.179 --> 00:13:24.460 not forsake us. He's not going to hold back blessings 00:13:24.460 --> 00:13:27.279 from us as long as we are operating in His will 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:30.399 and living a godly life, a righteous life, a 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:32.299 holy life, not a perfect life, because we can't 00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:34.360 do that. The only one that ever walked this earth 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:37.460 perfect was Jesus Christ. And so we can't live 00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:39.860 a perfect life, but we can live a good life, 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:42.620 a godly life, a righteous life, a life that is 00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:44.639 surrendered to God and to His will. And when 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:46.960 we do that, when we do that, God doesn't pick 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:48.639 and choose who He'll bless and who He won't. 00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:50.450 He's not going to say, well, okay. I'm going 00:13:50.450 --> 00:13:52.509 to bless you today, but not you today, because 00:13:52.509 --> 00:13:55.750 you're both good people and all that good stuff, 00:13:55.769 --> 00:13:58.190 but I just kind of feel like I only want to bless 00:13:58.190 --> 00:14:00.830 you. That isn't how God works. It says, God has 00:14:00.830 --> 00:14:04.070 said, never, he says the word, never will I leave 00:14:04.070 --> 00:14:08.009 you or forsake you. God does not forsake us in 00:14:08.009 --> 00:14:10.710 our times of prayer. If we have a difficult time 00:14:10.710 --> 00:14:12.549 getting through to the Holy Spirit, or feel like 00:14:12.549 --> 00:14:14.350 our prayers are not being heard, it has something 00:14:14.350 --> 00:14:16.809 to do with us, nothing to do with him. The Bible 00:14:16.809 --> 00:14:18.889 says that if you want to get close to God, then 00:14:18.889 --> 00:14:20.809 you need to draw to him and then when you do 00:14:20.809 --> 00:14:23.429 that he'll draw near to you. He doesn't say he'll 00:14:23.429 --> 00:14:25.690 think about drawing near to you, no he says I 00:14:25.690 --> 00:14:29.090 will draw near to you. God always hears our prayers 00:14:29.090 --> 00:14:31.870 and he's always ready to listen to them. So let's 00:14:31.870 --> 00:14:33.809 make sure we understand that the Holy Spirit 00:14:33.809 --> 00:14:37.210 helps everyone equally and how our prayers get 00:14:37.210 --> 00:14:40.450 answered has a great impact on how we're living 00:14:40.450 --> 00:14:42.190 our life and what our prayer is about. So I'm 00:14:42.190 --> 00:14:44.049 going to address that a little bit in just a 00:14:44.049 --> 00:14:45.850 moment about what we should pray and what we 00:14:45.850 --> 00:14:47.690 shouldn't. Okay the fourth question is this, 00:14:47.730 --> 00:14:50.960 how do I know my prayers are led by the Holy 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:53.139 Spirit. Now that's really important. A lot of 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:55.240 people say, I don't know how to pray. Well, that's 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:57.120 when I tell them, have you received the baptism 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:59.080 of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking 00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:01.120 in your heavenly language? And if they haven't, 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:03.080 I want to pray with them and will pray with them 00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:05.860 to receive the baptism, the infilling of the 00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:07.799 Holy Spirit with the evidence of having their 00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:09.840 prayer language that's different than tongues 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:12.080 and interpretation in the nine power gifts. This 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:14.659 is simply the Holy Spirit moving into our life 00:15:14.659 --> 00:15:17.200 and changing our prayer life. And then he prays 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:19.460 according to the divine will of God when he's 00:15:19.460 --> 00:15:22.179 praying through us. And so how do I know if my 00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:24.080 prayers are led by the Spirit? Then start off 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:26.779 maybe by praying in the Spirit and asking him 00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:30.120 to lead you into your English or Spanish or whatever 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:32.120 your language is as you go through your prayer 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:34.120 time. There are a number of ways that we'll know 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:36.460 that our prayers are led by the Holy Spirit. 00:15:36.539 --> 00:15:38.120 Here's a few. Let me just give you a couple of 00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:40.320 points I think that are helpful. Our prayers 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:43.600 are in agreement with God's Word. Then we know 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:46.980 that he's hearing our prayers and that they're 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:49.899 being led by the Holy Spirit if they're in agreement 00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:52.759 with God's Word as the example. We cannot pray 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:55.100 something like, God, give me revenge over that 00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:57.080 person. That is not according to God's Word. 00:15:57.200 --> 00:16:00.899 We can't pray, God, give me money so I can go 00:16:00.899 --> 00:16:03.360 and gamble it away to make more money. I mean, 00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:05.139 those are things I've actually had people come 00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:06.899 to me and say, Pastor, would you pray for me 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:10.200 that when I go to the casino today that God will 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:12.320 bless me and so I can gain the finances I need 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:14.559 to get out of trouble. That is not a prayer that's 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:16.259 acceptable to God because you're trying to use 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:18.429 the the world system to receive a blessing from 00:16:18.429 --> 00:16:20.509 God, and that just doesn't work. So our prayers 00:16:20.509 --> 00:16:23.250 must be in agreement with God's word in order 00:16:23.250 --> 00:16:25.830 for our prayers to be led by the Holy Spirit. 00:16:25.929 --> 00:16:28.549 Number two, when we have peace, we know the Holy 00:16:28.549 --> 00:16:31.370 Spirit led our prayers. You know, if you're struggling 00:16:31.370 --> 00:16:33.669 in your prayer time and you're struggling over 00:16:33.669 --> 00:16:35.389 what you're praying for and how you're praying 00:16:35.389 --> 00:16:37.809 for things and how long you should pray, those 00:16:37.809 --> 00:16:39.990 types of things, it's good to just stop. Bible 00:16:39.990 --> 00:16:42.149 says, be still and know that I'm God. Sometimes 00:16:42.149 --> 00:16:43.950 we need to just stop as we're going through all 00:16:43.950 --> 00:16:47.049 these things and just ask the Lord help me guide 00:16:47.049 --> 00:16:49.769 me Holy Spirit lead my prayer time take me in 00:16:49.769 --> 00:16:52.230 the direction that I should go and when we pray 00:16:52.230 --> 00:16:55.279 that A peace of God will come over our heart. 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:57.519 Remember, it's so important that we have the 00:16:57.519 --> 00:17:00.559 peace of God that guides our hearts and guides 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:03.740 our mind and protects us in our thought process 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:05.960 and protects our direction that we're going in 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:07.859 our prayer life. So we've got to understand that 00:17:07.859 --> 00:17:10.559 when we have peace during our prayer time, that 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:12.940 we know that we bring lead of God. Now, I'm not 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:14.880 saying if we're lazy, because the difference 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:17.720 between lazy and peace, it's a huge difference 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:20.460 between them. Lazy is things that are people 00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:23.109 that don't accomplish much. lazy person kind 00:17:23.109 --> 00:17:25.650 of gives up a lot, but a person who's at peace 00:17:25.650 --> 00:17:28.210 will move on to do things even though on the 00:17:28.210 --> 00:17:30.369 outside it doesn't look like it's gonna work. 00:17:30.450 --> 00:17:32.609 Let me give an example. There are two great scriptures 00:17:32.609 --> 00:17:34.589 that kind of give an example of when you know 00:17:34.589 --> 00:17:36.130 you're praying in the right direction. The first 00:17:36.130 --> 00:17:38.269 one is in Proverbs 3 .5 where it says, trust 00:17:38.269 --> 00:17:40.130 in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on 00:17:40.130 --> 00:17:42.230 your own understanding and all your ways acknowledge 00:17:42.230 --> 00:17:44.650 him and he will direct your paths. Now, that 00:17:44.650 --> 00:17:46.849 means don't lean on your own understanding. If 00:17:46.849 --> 00:17:48.650 we're leaning on our own understanding, we can 00:17:48.650 --> 00:17:51.089 sometimes never receive the peace that we need 00:17:51.089 --> 00:17:53.200 to know. that our prayers are being led by the 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:55.440 Holy Spirit. Another scripture that is so powerful 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:57.559 to me, and I've used it many, many times, is 00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:59.900 Philippians chapter four, verse six, to be anxious 00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:02.400 for nothing but everything through prayer, petitions 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:04.440 with thanksgiving. Let your requests be made 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:06.480 known to God. And the peace of God that passes 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:08.460 all understanding will guard our hearts and guard 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:11.480 our minds in Christ Jesus. Now, those two scriptures 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:13.920 tell us how to have peace, tell us that don't 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:15.660 lean on our own understanding. And then the other 00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:18.200 one says to not to be anxious, but to continue 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:20.539 to press into God. And when you pray and thank 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:22.779 Thank God during your prayer time, then you will 00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:25.180 receive the peace of God that passes all understanding 00:18:25.180 --> 00:18:27.400 and will guard our heart and will guard our mind 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:30.039 in Christ Jesus and we will know that the Holy 00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:32.119 Spirit is leading our prayer time. Here number 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:35.500 three, we simply need to yield to the Holy Spirit 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:37.700 to direct our prayers. Now, I've covered that 00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:40.140 a little bit earlier, but that's so important. 00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:42.299 You know, you've probably heard me say this before, 00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:44.799 but I don't ever like to start a podcast without 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:47.700 stopping and inviting the Holy Spirit in to take 00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:50.940 control and run this prayer. meeting and help 00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:53.740 me in my prayer times and help me in this podcast 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:55.519 and help me when I'm praying around the table. 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:57.839 Those are things that just has become a part, 00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:00.519 I think, of my life because God has placed it 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:02.799 there. Once again, forgive the personal reference, 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:05.359 but this is what works for me. And when something 00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:07.200 works for me, I want to share that with other 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:09.720 people. If we want to be led by the Spirit of 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:12.140 God, then we've got to yield to the Holy Spirit. 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:14.579 I know that when we do these podcasts, I always 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:16.400 start off in the middle of it and thank God for 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:18.339 the podcast and thank Him for what He's done. 00:19:18.380 --> 00:19:20.910 But now, Holy Spirit take over, take control, 00:19:20.990 --> 00:19:23.569 I submit to you, I yield to you. When we do that, 00:19:23.670 --> 00:19:25.369 I'm telling you, you get the attention of the 00:19:25.369 --> 00:19:27.089 Lord, you get the attention of the Holy Spirit 00:19:27.089 --> 00:19:29.430 who dwells inside of us, and He's going to direct 00:19:29.430 --> 00:19:31.990 our prayers. I believe that because so many times 00:19:31.990 --> 00:19:33.990 when I say that, there'll be a time during the 00:19:33.990 --> 00:19:36.329 prayer meeting where I'll change direction, or 00:19:36.329 --> 00:19:38.490 a time during the podcast where I'll change direction, 00:19:38.509 --> 00:19:41.289 and I know it's the Holy Spirit guiding and directing 00:19:41.289 --> 00:19:44.130 where He wants us to go. Number four, our prayers 00:19:44.130 --> 00:19:47.670 are based on the truth in our circumstances. 00:19:48.109 --> 00:19:51.890 means that you can't be praying and covering 00:19:51.890 --> 00:19:54.190 up a truth. God certainly knows our ways. He 00:19:54.190 --> 00:19:55.849 knows our hearts. He knows what we're thinking. 00:19:55.910 --> 00:19:57.549 He knows what we're going to say before we say 00:19:57.549 --> 00:20:00.009 it. But bottom line, we cannot try to hide from 00:20:00.009 --> 00:20:03.309 the truth in our prayer time. John 16 and verse 00:20:03.309 --> 00:20:06.930 13 says, the Spirit leads us into all truth. 00:20:07.109 --> 00:20:09.329 Prayers will be led by the Spirit of God when 00:20:09.329 --> 00:20:12.109 they are prayers that are truthful, prayers that 00:20:12.109 --> 00:20:14.430 reveal the truth. If someone's offended you or 00:20:14.430 --> 00:20:16.769 you're having a conflict with someone, make sure 00:20:16.769 --> 00:20:19.099 you admit where you've gone wrong or the areas 00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:20.460 that you've gone wrong, or if you don't feel 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:22.640 you've gone wrong, then ask God to help you and 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:24.980 reveal to you what you said wrong or did wrong 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:28.420 to help you so that then we're operating in truth 00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:30.680 when we go to the Holy Spirit and ask for Him 00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:33.660 to lead our prayer time. All right, Zechariah 00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:35.839 4 .6 says this in the New International Version. 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:39.319 It's not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:42.380 says the Lord. This verse, I believe, tells us 00:20:42.380 --> 00:20:44.819 that and kind of summarizes everything that I'm 00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:47.640 talking about today. It tells us that God's work 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:51.000 can be successful because God is doing it and 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:53.160 not us. It's not our own strength. It's not by 00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:55.519 what we know or what we think we know. It's by 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:58.380 His Spirit that truly gets great results in our 00:20:58.380 --> 00:21:00.819 times of prayer. The Holy Spirit has power and 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:03.660 He wants to share that power with us. Holy Spirit 00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:06.799 -led prayers take us from natural to supernatural 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:09.220 prayers. You know, I hope that this podcast has 00:21:09.220 --> 00:21:11.180 been a blessing to you. I've certainly enjoyed 00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:13.559 doing this. And I want to close with just a couple 00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:15.700 of comments I think that really kind of helps 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:18.259 us solidify what we're getting into today. The 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:21.400 Holy Spirit leads us to pray if we submit to 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:23.640 Him and surrender to Him. The Holy Spirit takes 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:26.579 our prayer deeper and deeper than we've ever 00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:28.819 thought possible. The Holy Spirit wants to guide 00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:31.019 us. He wants to direct us. He wants to lead our 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:33.400 prayers. Does the Holy Spirit help us? Yes, He 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:36.200 does. Does He? Think of one person as being more 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:38.400 important than another. No, he does not. And 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:40.019 it's important that we understand that we can 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:42.880 be led by the Holy Spirit to pray as long as 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:44.880 we put him first, as long as what we're praying 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:46.940 is truthful, and as long as what we pray about 00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:49.220 will glorify God and give him thanks. And that 00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:52.700 the Holy Spirit -led prayers are so great and 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:55.440 so powerful that why would we not want to be 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:57.839 led by the Spirit of God to have prayer? So with 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:59.940 that, I'm going to close by praying for you. 00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:02.160 And I believe that God wants to touch you and 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.980 help you. For those of you who are maybe struggling 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:06.480 with your prayer life or you're struggling, wondering 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:08.259 whether your prayers are being led by the Spirit 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:10.259 or being led by the flesh, let me just pray for 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:12.240 you right now and ask the Holy Spirit to help 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:14.259 you. Heavenly Father, for those who are listening 00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:16.380 in and maybe are challenged with some of the 00:22:16.380 --> 00:22:18.180 things I just mentioned, Father, I pray that 00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:19.839 you would bless them. I pray that they would 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:22.240 be faithful to prayer. They would pray without 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:24.920 ceasing. That doesn't mean 24 -7. It simply means 00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:26.819 they'll pray continually in their heart and their 00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:29.839 mind as they go through the day and give praise 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:31.859 to the Lord and ask for guidance and pray for 00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:33.990 other people and just simply make it a way of 00:22:33.990 --> 00:22:36.769 life to let prayer just flow through us. That 00:22:36.769 --> 00:22:39.250 will increase our faith and then to invite the 00:22:39.250 --> 00:22:41.450 Holy Spirit to lead us and direct us in our prayer 00:22:41.450 --> 00:22:43.269 time. For those people who have not received 00:22:43.269 --> 00:22:45.089 the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence 00:22:45.089 --> 00:22:46.950 of praying in their heavenly language, I pray, 00:22:46.990 --> 00:22:49.069 Lord, that the Holy Spirit would then bring that 00:22:49.069 --> 00:22:51.089 forth in them so they could have prayers that 00:22:51.089 --> 00:22:53.089 can go on and on. Lord, that they'll be able 00:22:53.089 --> 00:22:56.089 to pray for an hour and it seemed like two minutes. 00:22:56.190 --> 00:22:58.009 Lord, just bless them and help them in their 00:22:58.009 --> 00:23:00.329 prayer life, I pray. I thank you, Lord, for their 00:23:00.329 --> 00:23:03.349 desire to learn from you. from your word and 00:23:03.349 --> 00:23:05.150 I pray that you bless each and every one of his 00:23:05.150 --> 00:23:07.109 father to have stronger prayers that will be 00:23:07.109 --> 00:23:09.289 more faithful to prayer will be more faithful 00:23:09.289 --> 00:23:11.490 to lead as the Holy Spirit to lead us and direct 00:23:11.490 --> 00:23:13.990 us that we will invite him in to do things his 00:23:13.990 --> 00:23:16.789 way and not our way that will we surrender ourselves 00:23:16.789 --> 00:23:19.549 to him and that he will be glorified and all 00:23:19.549 --> 00:23:21.670 that takes place I believe great things are going 00:23:21.670 --> 00:23:23.470 to take place for those who are listening today 00:23:23.470 --> 00:23:25.809 their prayers will increase they'll be more powerful 00:23:25.809 --> 00:23:27.690 they'll be more effective and that you'll receive 00:23:27.690 --> 00:23:29.650 the glory you'll receive the praise and honor 00:23:29.650 --> 00:23:32.660 for it these things I ask now in Jesus Amen. 00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:34.960 Well, thank you for listening to this podcast. 00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:37.799 I can make a couple comments about the podcast 00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:39.500 series that we're in, the Holy Spirit. We're 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:41.960 going to continue on in that for a while. And 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:44.920 my next podcast, I believe, unless the Holy Spirit 00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:47.859 changes us, is going to be called Holy Spirit 00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:49.900 Gives Comfort. And that's something that was 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:52.720 well received several months ago when I spoke 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:55.500 on it. I really believe I need to get into that 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:57.819 in a little deeper and see how the Lord guides 00:23:57.819 --> 00:24:00.700 us and directs us. So I hope that you would be 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:02.819 interested in getting to know quality Christian 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:04.200 living a little better. If you'd like to know 00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:07.559 more about us, you can go to my webpage at davidcfriendauthor 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:09.579 .com. When you get there, on the front page, 00:24:09.619 --> 00:24:11.480 there'll be a link to all the podcasts we've 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:14.420 done. I think this is the 25th or 26th podcast 00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:16.539 that we've done on the Holy Spirit, and we're 00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:18.440 gonna continue as the Spirit of God leads us. 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:20.599 If you'd like to know more about my writings 00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:21.960 and what the things that we've done that the 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:24.099 Lord's given me, you can scroll down on my webpage 00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:26.099 and you'll see a list of books that are on Amazon 00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:28.000 dealing with faith, dealing with how to handle 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:30.339 your finances, just some general help. that'll 00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:32.359 be a blessing and pray for me if you would. I'm 00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:34.420 trying to put together a new book on the Holy 00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:37.200 Spirit and I think I might want to call it the 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:40.119 Experience the Holy Spirit because that has been 00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:42.640 a very powerful on my mind lately so I hope that 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:44.900 you would just pray for me that God would direct 00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:47.099 me in that area and if you'd like to subscribe 00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:50.839 to my podcast you can do that by going to cpnshows 00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:53.960 .com or wherever you listen to your podcast. 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:56.599 I pray that the Lord will bless you. I thank 00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:59.079 you once again for listening in. Thank you for 00:24:59.079 --> 00:25:02.150 taking time out of your day and taking 25 -30 00:25:02.150 --> 00:25:04.710 minutes with me so that we can cover these topics 00:25:04.710 --> 00:25:06.890 and I know that the Lord is pleased. I know the 00:25:06.890 --> 00:25:08.789 Holy Spirit wants to work in each and every one 00:25:08.789 --> 00:25:11.329 of us. He loves all of us the same. He doesn't 00:25:11.329 --> 00:25:14.349 have favorites. He blesses us and helps us and 00:25:14.349 --> 00:25:16.089 sometimes I think we sit back and say, well how 00:25:16.089 --> 00:25:18.009 come that guy's getting blessed so much and how 00:25:18.009 --> 00:25:20.329 come that person is or that girl is or their 00:25:20.329 --> 00:25:22.930 business is doing well or they've got lots of 00:25:22.930 --> 00:25:24.970 money and God must like them best. That's just 00:25:24.970 --> 00:25:27.809 not true. God loves all of us equally. He loves 00:25:27.809 --> 00:25:29.609 each and every every person on earth, whether 00:25:29.609 --> 00:25:32.450 we're following him or not, he still loves us. 00:25:32.529 --> 00:25:35.009 And he'll continue to love us until he brings 00:25:35.009 --> 00:25:37.809 us into his kingdom. And I just pray that all 00:25:37.809 --> 00:25:39.430 of us would think about people who don't know 00:25:39.430 --> 00:25:41.490 Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and we should share 00:25:41.490 --> 00:25:43.730 our faith with them. The Holy Spirit came upon 00:25:43.730 --> 00:25:46.029 us. One of the greatest challenges that we were 00:25:46.029 --> 00:25:48.289 given was that we would be witnesses, which means 00:25:48.289 --> 00:25:50.329 we would share our faith and talk about Jesus 00:25:50.329 --> 00:25:52.230 to others. So I hope that you will be led by 00:25:52.230 --> 00:25:54.589 the Spirit of God to witness your faith to other 00:25:54.589 --> 00:25:56.789 people and lead people to Jesus Christ. There's 00:25:56.789 --> 00:25:59.700 really nothing than that. Honestly, it's one 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:02.559 of the most joyful things that the Lord has shown 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:04.799 me to do, is to take every opportunity that I 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:06.940 have to lead people to Jesus. So I pray that 00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:08.740 you'll be blessed with that. If you'd kind of 00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:10.380 like to know what we're going to talk about in 00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:12.559 the next upcoming podcast, let me just share 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:14.500 a couple thoughts before I close this up today. 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:16.680 I mentioned the podcast will be on the comfort 00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:18.380 of the Holy Spirit, but we're going to base it 00:26:18.380 --> 00:26:20.759 upon a scripture that's so wonderful. The Spirit 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:23.400 is upon me. It's in Luke chapter 4 and verse 00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:25.880 18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. What does 00:26:25.880 --> 00:26:29.079 that mean? I'm not even change the title from 00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:33.119 comfort to the Holy Spirit is upon us. And talk 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:35.079 about that. I think it's something that's powerful. 00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:37.799 It'll help us to understand how we can walk in 00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:39.599 the power of the Holy Spirit. And I pray that 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:41.660 you'll listen to that. Let your friends and family 00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:43.160 members know that we're going to be covering 00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:45.740 this in our next coming podcast. In closing, 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:47.720 I'd like to thank you for listening. And if you 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:50.279 enjoyed this podcast, this episode I should say, 00:26:50.359 --> 00:26:53.160 please take a moment and rate it and review the 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:55.660 podcast. It really is helpful to us to be able 00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:57.460 to reach out to more people. You can leave a 00:26:57.460 --> 00:27:01.240 review on Apple Podcasts, on Amazon Music, on 00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:04.500 Charisma Podcast Network, or give us a star rating 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:07.319 on Spotify. However you choose to support us, 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:09.220 we certainly appreciate it. So let me close with 00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:11.319 a blessing. May the Lord bless you and keep you 00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:13.839 and may his face shine upon you. May he be gracious 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:16.559 to you and give you peace. May you prosper and 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:18.660 be in good health even as your soul prospers. 00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:21.400 So until next time, may God richly bless you. 00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:23.380 Thank you once again for listening to Quality 00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:26.029 Christian Living. I'm your host David I look 00:27:26.029 --> 00:27:28.569 forward to seeing you on our next podcast. God 00:27:28.569 --> 00:27:28.950 bless you.