1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,120 Welcome to NECF sermons. 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:11,200 Each message here is designed to uplift and strengthen you in your walk with God. 3 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:17,640 Don't miss out, stay with us until the end for our rewarding experience. 4 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:18,640 Let's dive right in. 5 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:27,360 Like I said, we look at people that pray a lot as though they have problems, their issues 6 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,300 are beyond solving. 7 00:00:29,300 --> 00:00:30,840 Maybe it's money that they need. 8 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:37,560 Maybe this church is praying too much, they lack finances or maybe he's yet to get married 9 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:38,880 or she's yet to get married. 10 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:43,000 There's a problem that is making them to take time and pray. 11 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:44,600 But is that the reality of the believer? 12 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,080 Is that what the believer is ought to be doing? 13 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,640 That you come to God when you have problems and issues. 14 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:58,080 You're only praying because that's your avenue of solving your problems, solving the things 15 00:00:58,080 --> 00:00:59,360 that you need. 16 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:00,960 Praise the Lord. 17 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:02,800 Solving the issues that you need. 18 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:07,920 It's important as well, the Bible encourages us to pray for our needs. 19 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:11,120 It encourages us to pray for needs. 20 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:17,060 What we need in this life, you need food, you need shelter, you need your school fees 21 00:01:17,060 --> 00:01:18,320 to be paid. 22 00:01:18,320 --> 00:01:21,280 It encourages you to pray about these things. 23 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:22,760 Praise the Lord. 24 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,640 It encourages you to pray about these things. 25 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,880 The Bible readily tells us what we should pray for. 26 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:29,880 Praise the Lord. 27 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:32,200 It readily tells us what we should pray for. 28 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:33,200 Praise the Lord. 29 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:34,200 Mark chapter 11. 30 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:37,960 Mark chapter 11 verse 24. 31 00:01:37,960 --> 00:01:47,400 Therefore, I say to you, whatever thing you ask when you pray, believe that you receive 32 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,760 them and you will have them. 33 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:50,760 Praise the Lord. 34 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:57,040 So clearly, the Bible tells us to pray for the things that we need, for the things that 35 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:58,040 we need. 36 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,640 We should ask God for things that we need. 37 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:01,800 Praise the Lord. 38 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:08,480 Whatever thing you ask when you pray, so you have financial problems, you are sick, it 39 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:13,120 encourages us to pray for one another, to bear one another's burden. 40 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:18,200 So it tells us that whatever we ask when we pray, we will receive it. 41 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:19,200 Praise the Lord. 42 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:20,200 Matthew 21. 43 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:23,320 Matthew 21, 21 and 22. 44 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:28,200 So Jesus answered and said to them, as suddenly I say to you, if you have faith and do not 45 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:34,880 doubt, you will not only do what was done to the victory, but you will also say to this 46 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,640 mountain, be moved and be cast into the sea and it will be done. 47 00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:44,480 And whatever thing you ask in prayer, believe in, you will receive. 48 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:45,560 Praise the Lord. 49 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:49,440 So we see another place where He is telling us to pray for things. 50 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:54,600 To believe that God is going to meet our needs. 51 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:55,600 Praise the Lord. 52 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,360 To believe that God is going to meet our needs. 53 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:02,200 When we pray, we believe that God is going to meet our needs. 54 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,120 Matthew chapter 7, verse 7. 55 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:06,520 Ask and it will be given to you. 56 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:10,360 Seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you. 57 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:11,480 Praise the Lord. 58 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:15,960 So we see here that the Bible encourages us to ask God for things. 59 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:16,960 Praise the Lord. 60 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:22,480 You know there are some people that you are just friends with them because you don't really 61 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:23,480 ask them anything. 62 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:27,680 The day you start asking them for anything, they might say, you have become a liability 63 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,680 to them and then they want to stay away from you. 64 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:31,680 Praise the Lord. 65 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:32,680 God is not like that. 66 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,800 He is saying, ask me for the things that you need. 67 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:37,800 Praise the Lord. 68 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:39,800 Is that the reason why we pray? 69 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:48,160 When you go to the epistle, you will find out that it gradually reduces on the things 70 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:49,960 that we pray for. 71 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:50,960 Praise the Lord. 72 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,840 So the prayer changes form as we go to the epistle. 73 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:54,840 Praise the Lord. 74 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:55,840 Compared to the four gospels. 75 00:03:55,840 --> 00:04:00,320 In the four gospels, you will see, ask for this, ask for that. 76 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:04,320 You will see God telling you to ask things for things. 77 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:07,000 But when you go to the epistle, those things begin to reduce. 78 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,920 It looks like they are no longer asking for things. 79 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,960 They are not necessarily asking for material things. 80 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:18,040 You will find places where it also asks for things, but it reduces compared to what you 81 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:19,040 see in the four gospels. 82 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:20,040 Praise the Lord. 83 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:21,040 Philippians 4. 84 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:28,040 So we will see here as well where he talks about asking for things as well. 85 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:29,040 Philippians 4. 86 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,040 Philippians 4 verse 6. 87 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:39,640 He said, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, 88 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:42,760 let your request be made known to God. 89 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:43,760 Praise the Lord. 90 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:48,400 So he tells us, let us make our request be known to God. 91 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,360 Let our request be known to God. 92 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:54,240 First John chapter 5 verse 14. 93 00:04:54,240 --> 00:05:01,020 Now this is a confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, 94 00:05:01,020 --> 00:05:02,020 he hears us. 95 00:05:02,020 --> 00:05:03,020 Praise the Lord. 96 00:05:03,020 --> 00:05:04,020 Third John 2. 97 00:05:04,020 --> 00:05:05,020 Okay. 98 00:05:05,020 --> 00:05:12,960 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health just as your soul 99 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:13,960 prospered. 100 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:15,400 Praise the Lord. 101 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,960 So we see here as well, he's telling us to pray. 102 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:18,960 Oh, sorry. 103 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:24,280 He's praying that we prosper in all things and be in good health even as our soul prospered. 104 00:05:24,280 --> 00:05:25,280 Praise the Lord. 105 00:05:25,280 --> 00:05:31,560 But you observe that as you go further, that the prayer for things begins to get a bit 106 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:32,560 harder, right? 107 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:36,600 If you want to pray for things, you might go to Matthew. 108 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:37,600 The things begin to reduce. 109 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:42,360 There is a different tone in what prayer is or what you really should be asking for or 110 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,120 what you should be praying for. 111 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:45,120 Praise the Lord. 112 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:50,840 Compared to what we see in the four gospels, the tone of prayer changes, right, as we enter 113 00:05:50,840 --> 00:05:54,200 the epistle, compared to the things, to something else. 114 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:58,200 Maybe the tone changes from things to something else. 115 00:05:58,200 --> 00:05:59,200 Praise the Lord. 116 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:04,200 Philippians chapter 1, verse 4 to 6. 117 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:14,000 It's always in every prayer of mine making requests for you all rejoin for the fellowship 118 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:19,840 in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident that this very thing, that 119 00:06:19,840 --> 00:06:27,320 He who has begun a good work in you, we complete it on today, the day of Jesus Christ. 120 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:28,320 Praise the Lord. 121 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,480 And then let's go to verse 9 to 11. 122 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:36,480 And this I pray that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and in all 123 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:37,480 the time. 124 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:38,480 Praise the Lord. 125 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:43,440 So we see here that the tone of prayer starts to change. 126 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:44,440 Praise the Lord. 127 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:48,400 He's no longer asking you, okay, let's pray for the things that you need. 128 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:52,880 He's saying to you that your love may abound more and more. 129 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,760 Your love may abound more and more in knowledge. 130 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:56,760 Praise the Lord. 131 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:57,760 Verse 10. 132 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:02,400 That you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere without offense until 133 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:10,160 the day of Christ, 11, and be filled with the fruit of righteousness, which are by Jesus 134 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,760 Christ, to the glory and the praise of God. 135 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:13,760 Praise the Lord. 136 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:17,400 We see that the tone of prayer changes. 137 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:22,380 The tone of prayer changes from things, from the things that you need, which we said is 138 00:07:22,380 --> 00:07:23,640 very important. 139 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:24,640 You should do that. 140 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:25,640 Praise the Lord. 141 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:29,880 Colossians chapter 1, verse 9 to 12. 142 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:35,520 For this reason also, since the day we had of it, do not cease to pray for you and to 143 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:41,400 ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. 144 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:42,400 Praise the Lord. 145 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:44,400 These people, do they need food? 146 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,600 Do we think that these people have needs? 147 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:50,400 Do we think they have needs? 148 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:51,400 Praise the Lord. 149 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:57,400 But it's praying for them that they be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom 150 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,120 and spiritual understanding. 151 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:00,400 Verse 10. 152 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:06,040 That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him, being fruitful in every good 153 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:09,000 walk and increasing in the knowledge of God. 154 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:15,280 And strengthen with all might according to his glorious power for all patience and long 155 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:16,880 suffering with joy. 156 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:18,400 Praise the Lord. 157 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:25,400 So we see here that the tone of prayer is changing from things to something much more 158 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:29,440 spiritual, to something that has ethanal value. 159 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:30,440 Praise the Lord. 160 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:34,920 To something that is, you can relate to. 161 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:39,880 Something that is, that should be found in your identity. 162 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:40,880 Praise the Lord. 163 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:44,040 Colossians 4, verse 2 to 4. 164 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:48,920 It's a continual, earnestly prayer, being vigilant in need with thanksgiving. 165 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,040 Let's go back to 2. 166 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,720 It's a continual, earnestly prayer. 167 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,120 What should you be praying for? 168 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:00,040 What are you continually, earnestly in prayer? 169 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,440 It's a continual, earnestly prayer. 170 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:04,560 Let's stay in that. 171 00:09:04,560 --> 00:09:10,240 While praying also for us, that God will open to us a door for the world to speak the mystery 172 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:15,360 of Christ, for which I am also in chains. 173 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:16,840 Verse 4. 174 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:20,400 That I may make it manifest as I ought to speak. 175 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:21,800 Praise the Lord. 176 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,840 As I ought to speak, the prayer changes. 177 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,760 The tone of prayer changes. 178 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:32,120 Ephesians 1, verse 15 to 19. 179 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:38,080 Therefore, I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and your love for 180 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:44,920 all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, 181 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:49,240 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of 182 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:53,600 wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. 183 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:58,320 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that you may know what is the hope of his 184 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:03,720 calling, what is the riches of his glory, of his inheritance in the sense, verse 19 185 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:04,720 on. 186 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:08,520 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power towards all who believe according to 187 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:10,240 the walking of his mighty power. 188 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:11,240 Praise the Lord. 189 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:16,320 Again, we see that the tone of prayer changes. 190 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:23,640 Something much more spiritual, something away from my food, something away from my rent, 191 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:27,360 something away from the necessary things that I need. 192 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:28,360 Praise the Lord. 193 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:31,400 To something that has much more value. 194 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:32,400 Praise the Lord. 195 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:40,200 Then Ephesians 6, verse 18 to 20. 196 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:45,640 Praying always with all prayers and supplication in the spirit, being watchful to the end with 197 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:49,120 all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. 198 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:55,600 And for me that all trance may be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make 199 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,520 known the mystery of the gospel. 200 00:10:58,520 --> 00:10:59,520 Praise the Lord. 201 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:00,520 Verse 20 now. 202 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:06,640 For which an ambassador in chain that in need I may speak boldly as I ought to speak. 203 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:07,920 Praise the Lord. 204 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,280 So do we see what he's praying for now? 205 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:18,440 Did we see the things that the epistle tell us to pray about or to begin to pray about? 206 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:19,440 Praise the Lord. 207 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:24,200 Remember, we're trying to see why we pray. 208 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:28,440 So the epistle was written for men who have the spirit of God in them. 209 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:29,440 Praise the Lord. 210 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:34,920 The epistle was written to men who have the spirit of God in them. 211 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:35,920 Praise the Lord. 212 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:38,080 So their needs are different. 213 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:39,080 They have a need. 214 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:43,120 Like I said, I'm not trying to say that you don't pray for your... 215 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:47,200 I've explained in the beginning that we should absolutely pray for all the things we need. 216 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:49,440 God encourages us to do that. 217 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:50,440 Praise the Lord. 218 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:55,520 The man who is born of God has a different need. 219 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:56,600 Praise the Lord. 220 00:11:56,600 --> 00:12:02,600 He has something much more higher than just praying for his food. 221 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:03,600 Praise the Lord. 222 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:08,200 He has something much more higher than just praying for his daily needs. 223 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:09,200 Praise the Lord. 224 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:12,360 So we drive our prayer life from the epistle. 225 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:16,660 That is why you can pray for one hour. 226 00:12:16,660 --> 00:12:19,240 That is why you can pray for two hours. 227 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:27,280 Because what you're praying for is not necessarily what you can see or what is tangible to you 228 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:28,280 as your need. 229 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:32,120 Praise the Lord. 230 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:33,120 Why do we pray? 231 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:35,080 James chapter one verse five. 232 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:41,920 If anyone lack wisdom, let him ask of God who give to all, liberally and without approach, 233 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:44,240 and it will be given to him. 234 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:45,240 Praise the Lord. 235 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:47,400 It's a pray for wisdom. 236 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:48,880 Pray for wisdom. 237 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:52,320 The man who is born of God has a different need. 238 00:12:52,320 --> 00:13:00,080 This prayer is talking to people who were in trials. 239 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:02,080 Praise the Lord. 240 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:07,680 So he's telling people who are in trials and tribulations to pray for wisdom. 241 00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:08,680 Praise the Lord. 242 00:13:08,680 --> 00:13:10,360 That's the background of this. 243 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:13,520 That these people to whom have trials and tribulations. 244 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:15,440 Do you have trials and tribulations? 245 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:17,480 Do you have trials and tribulations? 246 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:18,480 Okay. 247 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:21,160 So he says pray for wisdom. 248 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:22,160 Pray for wisdom. 249 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:23,880 But let's look at the life of Jesus. 250 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:30,040 Let's look at the life of Jesus as an example of why we pray. 251 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:31,040 Praise the Lord. 252 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:37,240 We follow the prayer life of Jesus to see why we pray. 253 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:40,440 So Jesus as we know, he spends his time praying. 254 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:42,840 He goes to the mountain. 255 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:46,960 He goes to the wilderness. 256 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:48,960 He prays. 257 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:51,480 Praise the Lord. 258 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:56,280 In some occasions to do something, to perform a miracle, he does thank God. 259 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:57,280 Praise the Lord. 260 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:00,200 Why did he pray? 261 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:01,200 Why did he pray? 262 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,280 Let's see some of those examples of where he was praying. 263 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:08,960 Matthew chapter 14 verse 23. 264 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:15,120 And when he ascended the mountain to the way, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. 265 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:20,360 And when the evening came, he was alone there. 266 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:21,800 Praise the Lord. 267 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:26,880 He sent the multitude away and he went to the mountain to pray. 268 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:28,920 What was he praying about? 269 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:33,780 Why was he praying? 270 00:14:33,780 --> 00:14:35,520 You know this is not a disciple. 271 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:36,520 You know this is not Peter. 272 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,840 It was not Peter that was going to the mountain to pray. 273 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:40,840 Praise the Lord. 274 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:45,320 And then chapter 1 verse 35. 275 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:51,880 Now in the morning, having rose a long while before daylight, he went out and departed 276 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:55,720 to a solitary place and there he prayed. 277 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:56,720 Praise the Lord. 278 00:14:56,720 --> 00:15:03,640 So he goes out very early in the morning somewhere, very quiet place, where nobody is, alone, 279 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:04,640 and he prays. 280 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:07,840 The other place we saw that he went to the mountain. 281 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:12,800 This time around he goes to a quiet place early in the morning. 282 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:17,560 And that, the previous verse we read tells us that now the evening has come. 283 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:19,600 Praise the Lord. 284 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:24,760 So his prayer was not in that, okay, maybe I'm here early in the morning. 285 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:27,120 He sent the multitude and he went to pray. 286 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:28,120 Praise the Lord. 287 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:31,040 So he can pray any time of the day. 288 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:32,040 Praise the Lord. 289 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:37,960 This time around he wakes up early to go and pray. 290 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:41,280 Luke chapter 16, sorry, Luke chapter 6 verse 12. 291 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:45,920 Now he came to pass in those days that he went out to the mountain to pray and continue 292 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:48,680 all night in prayer to God. 293 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:49,840 Praise the Lord. 294 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:58,120 So we see another example here that he went out to pray and he stayed all night. 295 00:15:58,120 --> 00:15:59,120 Praise the Lord. 296 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:01,920 We follow the example of Jesus. 297 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:09,240 He went out to the mountain and he continued in prayer to God all night. 298 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:10,600 Praise the Lord. 299 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:17,240 So the person who is praying all night to God, who is God, right? 300 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:18,240 What do you think he's doing? 301 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,560 Do you think he's thinking he's just checking his time, you know? 302 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,280 Why is he still getting, why is it too long? 303 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:25,280 What are we doing here? 304 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:26,640 Praise the Lord. 305 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:27,640 He prays all night. 306 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:30,640 Luke chapter 9 verse 8. 307 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:34,640 Sorry, Luke chapter 9 verse 18. 308 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:40,040 And it happened as he was alone praying that his disciples joined him and he asked them, 309 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:43,800 saying, who did the crowd say that I am? 310 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:44,800 Praise the Lord. 311 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:48,160 As he was praying alone, we see another place where he was praying. 312 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:53,480 So the question is that what was Jesus praying or why was he praying? 313 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:54,640 Praise the Lord. 314 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:56,560 Why was he praying? 315 00:16:56,560 --> 00:17:02,080 Because this is Jesus who became, who was God, who became man, right? 316 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,400 John chapter 1 verse 14. 317 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:09,320 They say, the world became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, the glory 318 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:14,280 as they only begotten, or the Father, full of grace and truth. 319 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:18,280 Luke chapter 4, 18 and 19. 320 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:21,280 Luke chapter 4, 18 and 19. 321 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:23,600 They say, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me. 322 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:30,400 This is when he went to the temple and he opened the scrolls and he began to talk about 323 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:31,400 himself. 324 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:35,800 Say, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to 325 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:36,800 the poor. 326 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:41,440 He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captive and recover 327 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:51,880 the sight of the blind, to serve at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable 328 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:53,880 view of the Lord. 329 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,320 Acts chapter 10 verse 8. 330 00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:02,480 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit, with the power. 331 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:07,040 Who went about doing good and healing all those who were oppressed by the devil? 332 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:08,880 For God was with him. 333 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:10,480 Praise the Lord. 334 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:11,680 Why was he praying? 335 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:18,080 He says that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit, with power. 336 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:28,920 He has power, he has the Holy Spirit and he went about healing those who were possessed 337 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:30,440 for God was with him. 338 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:32,920 So was he praying to get more power? 339 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:35,200 Was he praying to get more power? 340 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:36,200 Praise the Lord. 341 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:38,760 Why did he pray? 342 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:40,840 What was his prayer point? 343 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:43,360 What was his prayer about? 344 00:18:43,360 --> 00:18:45,960 Praise the Lord. 345 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:50,200 So prayer itself is more important than the things we pray for. 346 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:51,200 Praise the Lord. 347 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:57,080 Prayer itself is more important than the things we pray for. 348 00:18:57,080 --> 00:19:08,040 So to come to church and say we have one hour to pray is more important than what, who has 349 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:10,520 a need here that we should pray for? 350 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:11,520 Praise the Lord. 351 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:18,080 The one hour to pray is more important than what we are requesting for. 352 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:19,080 Praise the Lord. 353 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:25,160 The act itself is more important than it because we see an example of Jesus with power, with 354 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:26,160 everything. 355 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:27,160 Right? 356 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:29,280 He still went further to pray. 357 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:31,160 He still continued to pray. 358 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:33,800 He was still praying. 359 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:34,800 Praise the Lord. 360 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:39,840 Somebody of that nature should, you know, if you don't have understanding, would think 361 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:41,760 that he should not be praying. 362 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:43,720 What does he need? 363 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:49,280 Because we have been taught that prayer is as a result you come to pray because you have 364 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:50,640 a need. 365 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:54,560 You come to pray because there is your school fees is hanging somewhere. 366 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:55,560 Praise the Lord. 367 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,460 You come to pray because it is time to get married. 368 00:19:58,460 --> 00:20:03,080 You come to pray because somebody is sick. 369 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:06,320 You come to pray because they are chasing you. 370 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:07,320 Praise the Lord. 371 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:12,080 But we see that Jesus had everything and yet he prayed. 372 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:13,080 Why was he praying? 373 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:14,080 What was his prayer point? 374 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,760 He spent all night praying. 375 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:19,680 What was he praying about? 376 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:20,680 Praise the Lord. 377 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:22,680 What was he praying about? 378 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:26,880 And I'm sure that you would also have the same question. 379 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:30,400 You who is, who just comes and when they are praying, you are looking. 380 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:31,920 I'm sure you have this question. 381 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,560 What are these people praying about? 382 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:36,600 What are they doing? 383 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:37,800 Praise the Lord. 384 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:38,800 What are we doing here? 385 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:39,800 What is this? 386 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:40,800 Why are we taking so long? 387 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:44,080 Just keep speaking in tongues. 388 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:45,080 What are we doing? 389 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:47,400 Are we just finished? 390 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:51,120 Praise the Lord. 391 00:20:51,120 --> 00:20:56,760 Do you know that, I'm sure you know, do you know that the things that you pray for, right? 392 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:59,640 Other people get it without praying. 393 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:05,760 Do you know that your current need now, right, it could be your school fees. 394 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:12,800 It could be, it could be that you want something from the Lord. 395 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:14,960 Other people get it without praying. 396 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:15,960 Praise the Lord. 397 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:21,000 That's why I said to you that prayer is more important than the things that you are asking 398 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:22,000 for. 399 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:26,000 Praise the Lord. 400 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:31,520 So he's desiring something from your heart as you come to pray. 401 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:32,520 Praise the Lord. 402 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:38,360 As we said, we saw places where the Bible readily tells us, there are things, go and 403 00:21:38,360 --> 00:21:39,360 pray for things. 404 00:21:39,360 --> 00:21:41,920 Pray for this, pray for that, pray for your need. 405 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:43,640 I'm going to provide it for you. 406 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:44,880 Pray for this, pray for that. 407 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:46,120 I will meet them for you. 408 00:21:46,120 --> 00:21:47,120 You will receive them. 409 00:21:47,120 --> 00:21:48,120 Praise the Lord. 410 00:21:48,120 --> 00:21:50,680 He says ask and you will receive. 411 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:52,960 Seek and you will find. 412 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:55,280 God will provide you with your needs. 413 00:21:55,280 --> 00:22:00,720 But prayer, when you come to God to pray, God requires something much more than just 414 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:02,480 meeting your needs. 415 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:09,560 There is something more meaningful about prayer than just supplying your needs. 416 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:12,920 It's a thing that the Gentiles ask of him. 417 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:13,920 Praise the Lord. 418 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:15,980 So what is the difference between you and the Gentile? 419 00:22:15,980 --> 00:22:20,520 What is the difference between you and somebody who doesn't know God? 420 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:24,520 If you will come to God and get these things and the Gentile will not come to God and they 421 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:25,520 will get it. 422 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:27,200 Praise the Lord. 423 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:33,920 So he desires something from your heart as you come to pray. 424 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:39,360 So that shows that it is not the things that we get in prayer that is the most important, 425 00:22:39,360 --> 00:22:42,080 but the prayer itself. 426 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:43,080 Praise the Lord. 427 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:49,120 It is not the things that we get from prayers that is the most important, but the prayer 428 00:22:49,120 --> 00:22:51,200 itself. 429 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:55,860 So when you come to pray, you're not thinking, I'm coming to take. 430 00:22:55,860 --> 00:22:56,860 Praise the Lord. 431 00:22:56,860 --> 00:23:00,360 There is something much more important than that. 432 00:23:00,360 --> 00:23:01,360 Praise the Lord. 433 00:23:01,360 --> 00:23:06,400 Because the Gentiles can get it without praying. 434 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:12,520 So that's why people would be writing so many things and saying so many things online about 435 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:16,200 how people are taking a lot of time in church. 436 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:19,240 They are taking too many hours to pray. 437 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:21,720 You should be more productive than that. 438 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:23,760 Your life should be progressing. 439 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:24,760 Look at other countries. 440 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,600 Look at what is going on and all of that. 441 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:28,600 Praise the Lord. 442 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:35,880 And if you see Pastor Victor's recent post, he was talking about something similar, right, 443 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:41,280 of how people are complaining about how much time people take in church. 444 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:47,600 But let's say, according to Pastor Victor, let's say that you spend two hours every day 445 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:48,600 in church. 446 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:52,160 Every day in church, right? 447 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:57,720 This will mean that you are spending just 10% of your time in the entire week. 448 00:23:57,720 --> 00:23:58,720 That's what it means. 449 00:23:58,720 --> 00:23:59,720 What are you doing with 90%? 450 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:03,720 Do you know you can sit down by the riverside? 451 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:07,120 What's the name of that place? 452 00:24:07,120 --> 00:24:14,520 By that spring, for two hours, you can sit down there every day and you will feel refreshed. 453 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:17,880 Do you know that? 454 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:20,120 Or you can go for a coffee with your friend and sit down. 455 00:24:20,120 --> 00:24:26,320 You just discuss, talk for two hours, three hours, or go for a movie, three hours. 456 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:29,360 Why are you not factoring that time into productivity? 457 00:24:29,360 --> 00:24:31,680 Praise the Lord. 458 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:33,800 Because they miss the point of prayer. 459 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:36,760 Those who say such things, they miss the point. 460 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:37,760 Praise the Lord. 461 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:40,820 They miss the point of prayer. 462 00:24:40,820 --> 00:24:46,640 We pray because prayer changes things, right? 463 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:48,120 Prayer changes things. 464 00:24:48,120 --> 00:24:51,160 It changes circumstances. 465 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,880 Praise the Lord. 466 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:59,940 The most important thing about prayer, the most important reason why you pray is because 467 00:24:59,940 --> 00:25:01,620 prayer changes you. 468 00:25:01,620 --> 00:25:02,760 Praise the Lord. 469 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:08,400 Why would Jesus take all night and is praying? 470 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:10,760 Why would he encourage them to wait one hour? 471 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:15,400 Can they keep watch for one hour? 472 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:20,280 Because the most important thing that prayer does is that it changes you. 473 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:21,280 Praise the Lord. 474 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,120 God says he's going to meet your needs. 475 00:25:24,120 --> 00:25:25,120 You believe that. 476 00:25:25,120 --> 00:25:26,120 You have tested it. 477 00:25:26,120 --> 00:25:33,560 Even as maybe you think to yourself, okay, I was not really following God like that, 478 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:35,680 but your needs were still met. 479 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:38,280 The time you came and prayed, it still happened. 480 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:40,400 The prayers that... 481 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:45,760 To tell you how is it, the prayer that you never mentioned, God fulfilled them. 482 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:48,760 The things that you wished in your heart is like, God, I wish... 483 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:49,760 And then he came to pass. 484 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:51,960 You'll be asking yourself, why I didn't pray this prayer? 485 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:55,040 I didn't open my mouth to pray about it. 486 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:57,960 God knows your heart and he answered those prayers. 487 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:03,240 So the most important thing about prayers, the reason why you spend this long time in 488 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:05,840 prayer is that it changes you. 489 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:11,840 And again, I said that it is to people who are born of God. 490 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:13,320 Praise the Lord. 491 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:15,520 It is to people who are born of God. 492 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:19,200 It's a practice of people who are born of God. 493 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:25,360 If prayer does not change you, if you come and you spend three hours, four hours, and 494 00:26:25,360 --> 00:26:30,280 you are not changed, you have missed the point. 495 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:33,640 You have missed productive time. 496 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:37,360 If you want to say that, you have missed productive time. 497 00:26:37,360 --> 00:26:38,360 Praise the Lord. 498 00:26:38,360 --> 00:26:39,360 You have missed productive time. 499 00:26:39,360 --> 00:26:41,640 You have missed the point of prayer. 500 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:45,600 Prayer, the idea is that it changes you. 501 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:46,840 It's what changed you. 502 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:51,360 It's what makes you an effective believer. 503 00:26:51,360 --> 00:26:52,360 Praise the Lord. 504 00:26:52,360 --> 00:26:57,920 So the reason why we pray is more about us than the things that we ask for. 505 00:26:57,920 --> 00:26:59,800 It is more about us. 506 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:02,280 It's more about you. 507 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:08,720 The reason why you take me 20 minutes to pray is about you than the things you ask for. 508 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:14,040 Praise the Lord. 509 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:20,200 The prayer about things would go very little to how it changes you. 510 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:21,280 Praise the Lord. 511 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:24,160 Because sometimes if you get what you need, you will run away. 512 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:28,680 There's some people that they come when they have issues, they come and say, Pastor, this 513 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:29,680 is what I have. 514 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:30,680 This is what I have. 515 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:36,240 You help them, you instruct them, you help them, and then they find a solution and they 516 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:37,240 run. 517 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:40,640 You never see them again until the next time there's an issue. 518 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:43,480 Praise the Lord. 519 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:49,320 But if you know that that communication is about your life improving, you will stay. 520 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:54,040 If you know that that relationship is about your life becoming better, becoming a better 521 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:57,200 person, more effective, you will stay. 522 00:27:57,200 --> 00:27:58,840 You will not use the person that run. 523 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:00,640 Praise the Lord. 524 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:05,840 So the reason for prayer is more about you than the things that you are asking about. 525 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:09,240 It is more about you than the things you are asking about. 526 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:11,000 Praise the Lord. 527 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:14,000 Luke chapter 5 and 6. 528 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:17,400 Sorry, it's his theme. 529 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:19,800 Luke chapter 5 verse 16. 530 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:25,040 So he himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. 531 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:27,760 He's talking about Christ. 532 00:28:27,760 --> 00:28:32,840 He often withdraws into the wilderness and he prays. 533 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:33,840 See he oftens. 534 00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:36,640 What does often mean? 535 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:40,440 So he frequently goes away to pray. 536 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:41,800 Praise the Lord. 537 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:44,560 He frequently goes away to pray. 538 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:46,520 Jesus often withdraws. 539 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:50,440 This is his practice as we have seen from the scriptures we have read that he prays 540 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:55,160 in the morning, he prays in the night, he prays in the daytime, he prays through the 541 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:56,160 night. 542 00:28:56,160 --> 00:29:00,600 And he said this is his habit that he often withdraws and he prays. 543 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:01,600 Praise the Lord. 544 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:07,080 And we still ask him why is he praying? 545 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:10,040 How often do you withdraw to pray? 546 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:14,760 Or you don't even, you don't have a set apart. 547 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:18,760 There is no set apart in your life. 548 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:25,560 You just, you try to go out, you go to church, you pray in the church and receive the word 549 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:26,560 in the church. 550 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:29,200 You don't open your notes after the church. 551 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:32,120 You don't follow the messages after the church. 552 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:36,120 After the church service, my other life continues. 553 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:37,120 Praise the Lord. 554 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:40,360 You see Jesus, he often withdraws and he prays. 555 00:29:40,360 --> 00:29:41,680 How often do you withdraw? 556 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:43,880 Do you stop all your activities? 557 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:51,520 Do you say okay, this period, in this December, right, and some people have really messed 558 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:56,560 you up to the level that they would find out oh it's December, you know you have to pray 559 00:29:56,560 --> 00:29:57,560 into the new year. 560 00:29:57,560 --> 00:29:59,760 And then that's when you withdraw. 561 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:05,160 Because you think that in the new year things might not be the same as this year. 562 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:09,560 Or your life might automatically change in the new year. 563 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:10,560 Praise the Lord. 564 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:18,120 How often do you withdraw to say me, in this month, I'm going to take two days and fast 565 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:19,120 and pray. 566 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:20,120 Praise the Lord. 567 00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:23,360 How often do you do that? 568 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:26,080 Because that is the life of the believer. 569 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:31,120 And we see Jesus who is full of power, who is full of grace and mercy, who is full of 570 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:32,120 truth. 571 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:33,120 He withdraws. 572 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:35,760 This is his usual thing. 573 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:38,880 Praise the Lord. 574 00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:41,000 There is a communion there. 575 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:46,880 Like I said, the all night prayer is something that he's not, he will not be looking at 576 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:47,880 his time. 577 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:48,880 What's going on? 578 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:50,360 We have prayed for one hour. 579 00:30:50,360 --> 00:30:51,840 I think we are done now. 580 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:55,320 The only thing is that we continue tomorrow. 581 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:56,320 Praise the Lord. 582 00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:59,000 How often do you withdraw to pray? 583 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:03,760 So do not trivialize your setting apart. 584 00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:06,580 Don't make light of it. 585 00:31:06,580 --> 00:31:08,560 You need time to pray. 586 00:31:08,560 --> 00:31:11,560 You need time to withdraw and pray. 587 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:12,560 Praise the Lord. 588 00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:18,640 You need time to withdraw and pray. 589 00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:23,400 Be weary of anybody who wants to play with that time. 590 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:28,600 So the day that you said, this Saturday now, be at home, I'll pray. 591 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:32,480 One of your friends will answer, please. 592 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:34,640 There's a movie that just came out. 593 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:37,440 Or, you know what, let's go to Lefkade. 594 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:38,960 Be weary of such people. 595 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:39,960 Praise the Lord. 596 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:44,160 Because you have set your time to pray and or you have set your time to be with the Lord 597 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:49,080 and they have decided to come and take you out of the time that you have set. 598 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:51,080 Be weary of such people. 599 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:52,080 Run away from them. 600 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:53,080 Praise the Lord. 601 00:31:53,080 --> 00:31:56,080 But I tell you, oh, this guy, why are you fasting? 602 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:58,120 You don't want to help your life. 603 00:31:58,120 --> 00:31:59,120 You're looking very slim. 604 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:01,920 You look like somebody who is not. 605 00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:07,440 I mean, I know there's some people we need to tell that one, right? 606 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:10,840 Few people, one or two of them, right? 607 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:14,360 But you, somebody's like, why are you fast? 608 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:16,600 You have seen you're doing 20 days. 609 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:18,600 What are you doing? 610 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:19,600 Why? 611 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:21,160 You don't like your life. 612 00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:22,920 You don't want to grow. 613 00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:24,920 Praise the Lord. 614 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:31,000 Be weary of such people who don't encourage you for spiritual activity, who don't encourage 615 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:37,960 you to help you grow spiritually, to help you exercise your spirit. 616 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:38,960 Praise the Lord. 617 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:40,960 Be weary of such people. 618 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:46,640 Or maybe when you are trying to fast, that's when you are cooking. 619 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:49,200 Praise the Lord. 620 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:54,320 Be weary of those housemates. 621 00:32:54,320 --> 00:33:00,480 As a minister of the gospel, as we know all of us are, right, you need time to withdraw. 622 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:06,160 You need time set apart to pray. 623 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:09,120 You need time set apart to pray. 624 00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:15,120 Isaiah 40 and 31 would tell us that he strengthens us, right? 625 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:19,600 They that wait upon him, he strengthens them. 626 00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:20,600 Praise the Lord. 627 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:22,840 He gives them strength. 628 00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:24,760 He gives them strength. 629 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:26,600 They will renew their strength. 630 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:29,520 That's where you go to renew your strength. 631 00:33:29,520 --> 00:33:30,520 Praise the Lord. 632 00:33:30,520 --> 00:33:33,440 Because this life is very challenging. 633 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:35,840 The life itself is very, very challenging. 634 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:40,240 It has its own challenges, things you don't plan for, things that you might just be on 635 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:42,000 your lane and the thing comes to you. 636 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:43,200 Praise the Lord. 637 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:44,200 Things that you need to pay for. 638 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:46,280 There are so many things that would happen. 639 00:33:46,280 --> 00:33:48,920 You don't have control over those things. 640 00:33:48,920 --> 00:33:53,960 There's nothing in this world that is designed to make you an effective Christian. 641 00:33:53,960 --> 00:34:01,600 There's no design in this world that is saying this design is to help you, believer, thrice. 642 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:05,680 Praise the Lord. 643 00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:08,720 Sin comes to you as you go out. 644 00:34:08,720 --> 00:34:09,720 Praise the Lord. 645 00:34:09,720 --> 00:34:11,880 Sin comes to you as you go out. 646 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:13,840 I remember I was listening to a preacher. 647 00:34:13,840 --> 00:34:16,720 He was, I don't know what the village was talking about. 648 00:34:16,720 --> 00:34:27,480 He was saying, you as a believer, you're staying in one village and you're still battling with 649 00:34:27,480 --> 00:34:28,480 lust. 650 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:32,120 Wait until you go to like Brazil, right? 651 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:36,320 You might just have to drop whatever you're carrying. 652 00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:40,520 Like your locality, there are still issues that are, you are battling so many issues. 653 00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:45,680 Wait until you expose yourself to other different parts of the world. 654 00:34:45,680 --> 00:34:48,880 Sin comes at you as you go out. 655 00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:51,080 They're always trying you. 656 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:53,080 What are you going to do? 657 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:56,040 There's always the presentation of it. 658 00:34:56,040 --> 00:34:57,040 Praise the Lord. 659 00:34:57,040 --> 00:34:59,080 They're all around you. 660 00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:00,240 The presentation of it. 661 00:35:00,240 --> 00:35:01,240 What are you going to do? 662 00:35:01,240 --> 00:35:02,240 Praise the Lord. 663 00:35:02,240 --> 00:35:07,880 So the time set apart is to help you renew your strength. 664 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:11,240 They will not go away or your strength can be renewed. 665 00:35:11,240 --> 00:35:13,160 Praise the Lord. 666 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:17,640 They will not go away or your strength can be renewed. 667 00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:20,080 Praise the Lord. 668 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:24,320 Somebody who is battling with, let's say for example, an alcohol addiction. 669 00:35:24,320 --> 00:35:28,480 Do you think because of you, they will close all the bars? 670 00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:35,480 For your strength, you can grow in strength. 671 00:35:35,480 --> 00:35:39,480 Praise the Lord. 672 00:35:39,480 --> 00:35:42,880 You can grow in strength. 673 00:35:42,880 --> 00:35:47,240 Do you think that they should take away all the women because you are lost? 674 00:35:47,240 --> 00:35:49,480 No, it will not happen. 675 00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:54,080 We reject it. 676 00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:55,880 Praise the Lord. 677 00:35:55,880 --> 00:36:00,120 And you can grow in strength. 678 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:01,120 Praise the Lord. 679 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:04,520 You can grow in strength. 680 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:06,400 You can grow. 681 00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:07,400 Praise the Lord. 682 00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:08,960 The things should remain where they are. 683 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:10,520 You can grow. 684 00:36:10,520 --> 00:36:13,000 Praise the Lord. 685 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:18,360 You can grow in strength. 686 00:36:18,360 --> 00:36:22,920 So if Jesus could go to the wilderness, if he could go to the mountain, if he could go 687 00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:28,000 out early in the morning, if he can do so many things to go and pray, somebody who is 688 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:36,440 full of grace and truth with God himself, what about you? 689 00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:38,200 Praise the Lord. 690 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:39,680 You can do the same. 691 00:36:39,680 --> 00:36:41,240 Praise the Lord. 692 00:36:41,240 --> 00:36:45,400 You can do the same. 693 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:49,160 So why was he going to the wilderness? 694 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:51,280 Does he not have a house to pray? 695 00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:54,520 Does he not have, you know, can't he pray in the house? 696 00:36:54,520 --> 00:36:57,800 Can't he pray where the disciples are? 697 00:36:57,800 --> 00:36:59,400 He could do that. 698 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:00,400 Praise the Lord. 699 00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:07,560 But he knows that he's more effective, right, when he goes apart. 700 00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:10,400 Praise the Lord. 701 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:18,000 So it's not that the prayer is going to be, sorry, it's not that the prayer itself, let's 702 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:24,240 say, when he goes apart, he's going to be more effective than when he's in the house, 703 00:37:24,240 --> 00:37:25,240 right? 704 00:37:25,240 --> 00:37:30,240 It's not like your prayer would be less effective if you are in this church now and we are praying 705 00:37:30,240 --> 00:37:31,720 collectively, right? 706 00:37:31,720 --> 00:37:36,320 And you praying somewhere in your house. 707 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:41,160 It starts, the only thing that happens is that as you go apart, it does change you as 708 00:37:41,160 --> 00:37:44,640 a person because it is you and God. 709 00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:45,640 Praise the Lord. 710 00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:46,640 It changes you. 711 00:37:46,640 --> 00:37:52,160 Do you have areas of your life where you need change? 712 00:37:52,160 --> 00:38:00,440 Do you have, do you know areas of your life where you know that change is needed? 713 00:38:00,440 --> 00:38:05,680 You believe that I can do better than what I am currently now. 714 00:38:05,680 --> 00:38:11,240 I can be more an effective Christian than what I am right now. 715 00:38:11,240 --> 00:38:13,040 Are you growing in the Lord? 716 00:38:13,040 --> 00:38:14,920 Are you growing in the Lord? 717 00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:18,400 Last year until this year, have you grown? 718 00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:20,880 Has anything changed about you? 719 00:38:20,880 --> 00:38:22,600 Has your character improved? 720 00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:24,200 Have you become more loving? 721 00:38:24,200 --> 00:38:28,920 Has malice found no place in your heart anymore? 722 00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:32,000 Has unforgiveness found no place in your heart anymore? 723 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:37,320 The things that you are hooked on, the addictions that you had, have they gone away? 724 00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:40,680 You had them last year, do you still have them today? 725 00:38:40,680 --> 00:38:41,680 Praise the Lord. 726 00:38:41,680 --> 00:38:47,600 Are there areas of your life where you need to change? 727 00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:54,240 Prayer is a tool in which your life can change and will change. 728 00:38:54,240 --> 00:38:55,240 Praise the Lord. 729 00:38:55,240 --> 00:38:58,160 What do you, in what ways do you need to change? 730 00:38:58,160 --> 00:39:03,960 Are you still fighting with your father or your mother or are you still, do you still 731 00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:10,400 have people that you don't want to speak to? 732 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:14,080 Are your desires still what they are previously? 733 00:39:14,080 --> 00:39:18,000 Like I said, the world will always push its idea to us. 734 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:21,600 It will always push the agenda to us. 735 00:39:21,600 --> 00:39:26,400 There's always pushing of those things and when you buy them, they become your own desire. 736 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:28,440 You begin to run with them. 737 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:32,480 Are they still the same? 738 00:39:32,480 --> 00:39:33,480 Praise the Lord. 739 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:36,080 Are they still the same? 740 00:39:36,080 --> 00:39:37,080 Do you need to change? 741 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:40,120 There's a book that I have, right? 742 00:39:40,120 --> 00:39:46,280 It's called, is something how to change or the need to change? 743 00:39:46,280 --> 00:39:47,280 Praise the Lord. 744 00:39:47,280 --> 00:39:48,280 Do you need to change? 745 00:39:48,280 --> 00:39:50,720 Is that something in your life that needs to change? 746 00:39:50,720 --> 00:39:53,480 Are you saying that you're an effective Christian? 747 00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:59,840 That people can look at your life and see the glory of God? 748 00:39:59,840 --> 00:40:06,080 Can your housemates, the people that you live with, testify of the goodness of God in your 749 00:40:06,080 --> 00:40:07,080 life? 750 00:40:07,080 --> 00:40:08,080 Praise the Lord. 751 00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:10,840 He doesn't want you to remain the same. 752 00:40:10,840 --> 00:40:11,840 Praise the Lord. 753 00:40:11,840 --> 00:40:17,120 He doesn't want you to remain the same, to have the same old habits. 754 00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:23,400 Say I'm struggling last year with this and this year I'm still struggling. 755 00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:24,480 Praise the Lord. 756 00:40:24,480 --> 00:40:30,280 He has put in you and he has made provision for you to grow, for you to overcome. 757 00:40:30,280 --> 00:40:31,520 Praise the Lord. 758 00:40:31,520 --> 00:40:34,120 For you to always overcome. 759 00:40:34,120 --> 00:40:36,840 Prayer alters your direction. 760 00:40:36,840 --> 00:40:41,600 You know when you pray that decision will not be the same. 761 00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:42,600 Praise the Lord. 762 00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:44,600 Maybe there's some things you want to do. 763 00:40:44,600 --> 00:40:46,600 You want to go to a country. 764 00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:48,600 You want to start a relationship. 765 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:50,600 You want to travel somewhere. 766 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:53,600 You want to make a decision on this or that. 767 00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:55,600 Have you prayed about it? 768 00:40:55,600 --> 00:40:57,600 Or in your heart, do you know? 769 00:40:57,600 --> 00:41:02,600 You know that if I take this thing to God, direction might change. 770 00:41:02,600 --> 00:41:07,600 Or he might be saying something else and then you say, let me not pray about it. 771 00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:11,600 You just want to, as you have planned it, you will run with it. 772 00:41:11,600 --> 00:41:14,600 Praise the Lord. 773 00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:18,600 Your planning is not, you don't present your planning to God. 774 00:41:18,600 --> 00:41:19,600 Praise the Lord. 775 00:41:19,600 --> 00:41:24,600 You don't present, you make your planning, you make your decision, you execute it, you 776 00:41:24,600 --> 00:41:25,600 run with it. 777 00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:28,600 Praise the Lord. 778 00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:32,600 Prayer alters or guides us. 779 00:41:32,600 --> 00:41:37,600 It alters or guides our direction. 780 00:41:37,600 --> 00:41:43,600 Like I said, the most important thing about prayer is that it changes you. 781 00:41:43,600 --> 00:41:45,600 It is you that is changing. 782 00:41:45,600 --> 00:41:47,600 It is you that is transforming. 783 00:41:47,600 --> 00:41:54,600 It is you that when you come to prayer, as your God, you are going to change your life. 784 00:41:54,600 --> 00:42:01,600 It is you that when you come to prayer, as you are coming to pray, weights begin to go 785 00:42:01,600 --> 00:42:03,600 away. 786 00:42:03,600 --> 00:42:05,600 Weights begin to go away. 787 00:42:05,600 --> 00:42:07,600 Bodies begin to go away. 788 00:42:07,600 --> 00:42:10,600 Or forgiveness begins to leave you. 789 00:42:10,600 --> 00:42:11,600 Praise the Lord. 790 00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:17,600 Because you have come to hear, look at and give you strength. 791 00:42:17,600 --> 00:42:23,600 I always like to read Isaiah chapter 40 because it tells us that even the youth, they will 792 00:42:23,600 --> 00:42:24,600 grow weary. 793 00:42:24,600 --> 00:42:25,600 Right? 794 00:42:25,600 --> 00:42:33,600 To them that supposedly supposed to or should have strength, them will grow weary. 795 00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:37,600 They say, oh, your strength is in your youth. 796 00:42:37,600 --> 00:42:38,600 Right? 797 00:42:38,600 --> 00:42:40,600 They say, them will grow weary. 798 00:42:40,600 --> 00:42:45,600 They say, but they that weight upon the Lord will renew their strength. 799 00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:46,600 Praise the Lord. 800 00:42:46,600 --> 00:42:47,600 They will grow weary. 801 00:42:47,600 --> 00:42:49,600 They will not have direction. 802 00:42:49,600 --> 00:42:55,600 They will hold on to substances to numb themselves and keep going with life. 803 00:42:55,600 --> 00:42:56,600 Praise the Lord. 804 00:42:56,600 --> 00:43:01,600 When they discover that maybe this life is very difficult, they will find something. 805 00:43:01,600 --> 00:43:02,600 They will start smoking. 806 00:43:02,600 --> 00:43:03,600 They will start drinking. 807 00:43:03,600 --> 00:43:09,600 They will start doing so many things to help me cope with the issues of life. 808 00:43:09,600 --> 00:43:11,600 I have some people in my building today. 809 00:43:11,600 --> 00:43:12,600 I want to give one example. 810 00:43:12,600 --> 00:43:14,600 But they are not in that category. 811 00:43:14,600 --> 00:43:19,600 So in my house, my wife sometimes, she comes and closes the bathroom door because there's 812 00:43:19,600 --> 00:43:21,600 always somebody who is smoking something. 813 00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:23,600 I know he's not a cigarette. 814 00:43:23,600 --> 00:43:24,600 And he's a very young person. 815 00:43:24,600 --> 00:43:27,600 I'd be asking him, why do you need to do that? 816 00:43:27,600 --> 00:43:30,600 You would ask yourself, why does the person need to keep? 817 00:43:30,600 --> 00:43:35,600 At least if you're an occasional smoker, somebody might understand what's going on. 818 00:43:35,600 --> 00:43:38,600 But why do you need that? 819 00:43:38,600 --> 00:43:47,600 One of the reasons could be that he has found out or he knows or he has not found God and 820 00:43:47,600 --> 00:43:48,600 he's chasing something. 821 00:43:48,600 --> 00:43:53,600 And the only way to keep chasing what he's chasing is to keep numbing every voice and 822 00:43:53,600 --> 00:43:56,600 every suggestion that something is right or wrong. 823 00:43:56,600 --> 00:43:57,600 Praise the Lord. 824 00:43:57,600 --> 00:44:00,600 So he said the youth will grow weary. 825 00:44:00,600 --> 00:44:05,600 They will find out that you need God and they don't have God and they will hold on to something. 826 00:44:05,600 --> 00:44:06,600 Praise the Lord. 827 00:44:06,600 --> 00:44:09,600 So prayer changes you. 828 00:44:09,600 --> 00:44:12,600 We appreciate you being here today. 829 00:44:12,600 --> 00:44:16,600 We hope you carry this word with you throughout your week. 830 00:44:16,600 --> 00:44:19,600 Don't forget to check the show notes for additional insights. 831 00:44:19,600 --> 00:44:24,600 Stay connected with us through our website or follow us on social media. 832 00:44:24,600 --> 00:44:28,600 If you were encouraged, share this message with someone you care about. 833 00:44:28,600 --> 00:44:36,600 Until next time, stay blessed.