100:00:00,980 –> 00:00:07,820True prayer is a partnership. There is a sense in which you never truly pray alone. It is200:00:07,820 –> 00:00:12,560a partnership involving Father, Son and Holy Spirit.300:00:12,560 –> 00:00:19,559That sounds marvellous, but the obvious question is OK, where do I begin prayer?400:00:20,120 –> 00:00:23,059Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I am David Pick500:00:23,059 –> 00:00:26,900And Colin I am guessing if you asked a group of Christians to put up their600:00:26,900 –> 00:00:31,680hands if they feel really happy about their prayer life, not many would claim700:00:31,680 –> 00:00:35,959that they are content with it. It seems to be an area where many Christians800:00:35,959 –> 00:00:40,279struggle. But today we are going to tackle the subject head on. It is about900:00:40,279 –> 00:00:42,080praying in the Holy Spirit.1000:00:42,080 –> 00:00:46,040Yes that’s right. And I would hope that not many hands would go up. My hand1100:00:46,040 –> 00:00:50,200would not go up. I think it is part of health in the Christian1200:00:50,959 –> 00:00:54,820to always be in the position of saying, Lord I want to go deeper with you, I want1300:00:54,820 –> 00:01:00,619to go further with you. I want to pray with more faith. This phrase, pray in1400:01:00,619 –> 00:01:06,180the Holy Spirit, that Jude lays before us, isn’t there a whole world of fascination1500:01:06,180 –> 00:01:10,000and that I want to know more of that. I know that the Holy Spirit lives within1600:01:10,000 –> 00:01:14,580me, the Holy Spirit lives in every believer. Everyone who comes to faith in1700:01:14,580 –> 00:01:16,540Jesus Christ has the Holy Spirit.1800:01:16,699 –> 00:01:21,739I know that the Holy Spirit helps me when I pray. Paul talks about that in1900:01:21,739 –> 00:01:27,260Romans, in chapter 8. What does it mean to pray in the Holy Spirit and how can I2000:01:27,260 –> 00:01:33,419cultivate that. How can I grow in my own prayer life. That’s what we’re2100:01:33,419 –> 00:01:38,940focusing on with three really practical steps today and I want to share in the2200:01:38,940 –> 00:01:42,419message something that’s very special to me. The church from which I come2300:01:42,419 –> 00:01:48,120experienced just over a hundred years ago a remarkable revival, it was2400:01:48,120 –> 00:01:53,220part of the Welsh revival that came up to parts of Scotland, and there was a2500:01:53,220 –> 00:01:58,620remarkable movement of the spirit that expressed itself in prayer. That has2600:01:58,620 –> 00:02:04,860always fascinated me. I’ve never seen revival in my lifetime. I hope and pray2700:02:04,860 –> 00:02:09,320that I will. And I long to know more of what it is to pray in the Holy Spirit in2800:02:09,320 –> 00:02:11,699private and in the church.2900:02:11,839 –> 00:02:15,080And today is going to be a very practical one as we take a look at what it means3000:02:15,080 –> 00:02:19,699to pray in the Holy Spirit. So join us in the book of Jude, if you can, as we3100:02:19,699 –> 00:02:23,699continue the message Pray in the Holy Spirit. Here is Colin.3200:02:24,100 –> 00:02:26,520Almighty God comes to every3300:02:26,520 –> 00:02:34,360believer by his Holy Spirit to teach us how to pray. To prompt us of the direction3400:02:34,360 –> 00:02:41,100in which God himself is moving so that we may come into alignment with that and3500:02:41,279 –> 00:02:46,020enter into his purpose so that my prayer is not some kind of vague shot in the3600:02:46,020 –> 00:02:54,119dark but is a reflection of what God himself is doing. It is an entering into3700:02:54,119 –> 00:03:00,960partnership with the living God. That’s why John says in his letter this is the3800:03:00,960 –> 00:03:05,699confidence that we have in approaching God. We ask for anything in his will, he3900:03:05,740 –> 00:03:11,339hears us. And we know that if he hears us whatever we ask we have, what we have4000:03:11,339 –> 00:03:14,820asked of him. We read a verse like that and say I’m not sure I really understand4100:03:14,820 –> 00:03:20,139that. And the reason we find it hard to understand4200:03:20,139 –> 00:03:25,639is that we sometimes do not know much about praying in the Spirit. No true4300:03:25,639 –> 00:03:29,699prayer is a partnership. There is a sense in which you never truly pray alone. It4400:03:29,720 –> 00:03:36,539is a partnership involving Father and Son and Holy Spirit.4500:03:37,860 –> 00:03:43,259That sounds marvelous but the obvious question is okay. But where do I begin in4600:03:43,259 –> 00:03:49,500practice? Feel right now that my prayer life is just irregular and aimless and4700:03:49,500 –> 00:03:53,779you’re talking about something from the Bible that sounds very wonderful. How do4800:03:53,779 –> 00:04:01,199I begin to move in that direction? So here are three simple exercises in the4900:04:01,199 –> 00:04:06,220second workout to keep yourself in spiritual shape. Number one, if you want5000:04:06,220 –> 00:04:12,339to learn what it is to pray in the Spirit then soak yourself in the5100:04:12,339 –> 00:04:18,820Spirit’s prayers, the Spirit’s prayers. You see, the Bible contains some5200:04:18,820 –> 00:04:23,260marvelous prayers which, if you think about it, were actually breathed out by5300:04:23,260 –> 00:04:29,820the Spirit of God himself. You’ll find them in the book of Psalms. The whole5400:04:29,820 –> 00:04:36,920Bible is written as men were carried along by the Holy Spirit, and as you fill5500:04:36,920 –> 00:04:45,200your mind with the Word of God, as you fill your soul with the prayers of the5600:04:45,239 –> 00:04:53,559Spirit, you will find that you begin to think God’s thoughts after him. And if5700:04:53,559 –> 00:05:00,220you can learn to form your prayers in a way that reflects the Bible, you will be5800:05:00,220 –> 00:05:05,660praying in the Spirit because you are praying in a way that reflects the mind5900:05:05,660 –> 00:05:10,140and the heart of God. One of the greatest pieces of spiritual counsel I ever6000:05:10,140 –> 00:05:13,640received was, keep the tight connection, Colin,6100:05:13,760 –> 00:05:18,959between your reading of the Bible and your praying. Relate the two together so6200:05:18,959 –> 00:05:23,579you may, for example, like to begin praying through the Psalms, Psalm number6300:05:23,579 –> 00:05:28,299one begins like this, best is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the6400:05:28,299 –> 00:05:34,000wicked. I could pray that, Lord help me to realize advice that is really wicked,6500:05:34,000 –> 00:05:41,600counsel that dishonors you, and guide me so that I do not go down this path.6600:05:41,600 –> 00:05:46,260Blessed is the man who does not sit in the seat of mockers. Lord, I’m sometimes in6700:05:46,260 –> 00:05:52,420danger of a bit of cynicism, help me to identify that and to cut that off.6800:05:53,260 –> 00:05:59,619His delight is in the law of God. Lord, I’m not sure how great my love is for6900:05:59,619 –> 00:06:05,679your law, but would you increase that within my soul? You see you’re praying7000:06:05,679 –> 00:06:11,440that which has already been breathed out by the Spirit, you’re beginning to7100:06:12,140 –> 00:06:18,019enter in to the first dimension of what it means to pray in the Spirit.7200:06:18,019 –> 00:06:21,820Turning the Scriptures into prayer will help you keep your prayers fresh because7300:06:21,820 –> 00:06:25,140when you get to Psalm 2 the next day you’ll find it’s all about the nations7400:06:25,140 –> 00:06:29,739and international conflict and you’ll be prompted to pray at that level.7500:06:30,179 –> 00:06:35,700Another way in which you can do that is by praying the Lord’s Prayer.7600:06:35,700 –> 00:06:40,619I don’t simply mean by repeating it, let me explain how many have found this helpful.7700:06:41,320 –> 00:06:45,700Martin Luther, for example, structured his entire prayer life7800:06:45,700 –> 00:06:49,839around the Lord’s Prayer, every day, throughout his lifetime.7900:06:49,839 –> 00:06:54,000What he did was simply this, he saw that the Lord’s Prayer essentially contained8000:06:54,000 –> 00:06:59,559five headings that were basically the categories for his daily prayer.8100:06:59,559 –> 00:07:03,079Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, and he began to pray8200:07:03,079 –> 00:07:06,220about all that it means for God to be honored in his life, the church,8300:07:06,220 –> 00:07:07,519and the nation.8400:07:07,519 –> 00:07:10,540Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.8500:07:10,559 –> 00:07:13,559He prayed for God’s Kingdom, for what is just, for what is true,8600:07:13,559 –> 00:07:15,119and for what is right.8700:07:15,140 –> 00:07:19,600Give us this day our daily bread, he brought before God all of his daily8800:07:19,600 –> 00:07:23,700needs, money, energy, peace, direction, patience, guidance,8900:07:23,700 –> 00:07:26,420all that I need to live today, God.9000:07:26,420 –> 00:07:29,660Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.9100:07:29,660 –> 00:07:33,940He prayed about his own sins, tried to identify them, and asked for God’s help9200:07:33,940 –> 00:07:36,679in forgiving the wounds that others had inflicted on him.9300:07:36,760 –> 00:07:39,579Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil.9400:07:39,579 –> 00:07:45,040He identified and called on God for areas in which he saw temptation and asked for9500:07:45,040 –> 00:07:49,760eyes that would be open to see temptation and to be given triumph over it.9600:07:49,760 –> 00:07:52,720Now that covers the whole of life, these five things.9700:07:53,380 –> 00:07:57,500And you could pray into these five headings every day for the next month and9800:07:57,500 –> 00:08:01,660you would find something fresh to say as life moves on every day.9900:08:01,679 –> 00:08:06,779You would be praying in the spirit because you are praying in line with the10000:08:06,779 –> 00:08:09,880very purpose of Jesus Christ.10100:08:10,660 –> 00:08:15,440Now some of our prayer, I think, runs into the staleness of our own10200:08:15,440 –> 00:08:16,380spontaneity.10300:08:16,380 –> 00:08:21,820We run dry because our minds are not that fruitful and we’re missing sometimes10400:08:21,820 –> 00:08:25,500the very prompting of the spirit that’s given to us in the scripture.10500:08:25,500 –> 00:08:29,899If you want to pray in the spirit, if you want to pray in a way that is daily10600:08:29,920 –> 00:08:35,679fresh, then use that which God gives you in scripture as it were to prime the10700:08:35,679 –> 00:08:37,559pump off your prayer.10800:08:37,559 –> 00:08:40,520And you will find that your prayer is renewed,10900:08:40,520 –> 00:08:45,960and that you’re beginning to grow in what it means to pray in the Spirit.11000:08:45,960 –> 00:08:47,960Here’s the second thing.11100:08:47,960 –> 00:08:53,299Align yourself with the Spirit’s purpose,11200:08:53,299 –> 00:08:59,419not only to soak yourself in the Spirit’s prayer, you get your Bible open,11300:08:59,799 –> 00:09:03,460but align yourself with the Spirit’s purpose.11400:09:03,460 –> 00:09:07,880Here’s another area in which we very practically can run into difficulty in our prayers.11500:09:07,880 –> 00:09:11,559James says, when you ask, you don’t receive.11600:09:11,559 –> 00:09:12,820And, what’s the reason?11700:09:12,820 –> 00:09:16,559Well, you’re asking with wrong motives he says, that you may spend what you get11800:09:16,559 –> 00:09:17,859on your pleasures.11900:09:17,859 –> 00:09:20,239And he’s writing to a group of Christians just like us.12000:09:20,239 –> 00:09:24,179And he’s saying the fundamental problem that many are experiencing in prayer12100:09:24,179 –> 00:09:26,400is simply that it’s about me.12200:09:26,400 –> 00:09:33,500It’s my shopping list being brought to God.12300:09:33,500 –> 00:09:37,640Now, one of the wonderful things that begins to happen when you pray in the12400:09:37,640 –> 00:09:47,500Spirit is that your mind and your heart and your will become realigned with the12500:09:47,500 –> 00:09:51,039very purposes of God.12600:09:51,039 –> 00:09:53,299Let me give you an example.12700:09:53,299 –> 00:09:57,919Paul speaks about a particular affliction in his life, a problem that12800:09:57,919 –> 00:10:02,380came to him that he only tells us was a thorn in the flesh.12900:10:02,380 –> 00:10:06,619We don’t know precisely what it was, but it was a problem that felt like a13000:10:06,619 –> 00:10:08,219thorn in his flesh.13100:10:08,219 –> 00:10:10,659He just couldn’t get away from it.13200:10:10,659 –> 00:10:14,059Now, three times he tells us he prayed that God would take it away.13300:10:14,059 –> 00:10:16,099That’s the most natural thing in the world,13400:10:16,099 –> 00:10:18,099Lord, take away this thorn in the flesh.13500:10:18,099 –> 00:10:19,979You think of some immediate problem in your life.13600:10:19,979 –> 00:10:21,219Lord, take it away.13700:10:22,059 –> 00:10:25,380No doubt he fasted, no doubt he prayed for extended periods of time13800:10:25,380 –> 00:10:28,099and all the rest of it.13900:10:28,099 –> 00:10:32,700But then he tells us in 2 Corinthians in chapter 12 that in the course of14000:10:32,700 –> 00:10:38,659his praying, he began to discern through the Holy14100:10:38,659 –> 00:10:43,820Spirit that God had another purpose in this.14200:10:45,700 –> 00:10:47,859He said to me, Paul says,14300:10:47,900 –> 00:10:52,299my grace is sufficient for you.14400:10:52,299 –> 00:10:56,780My strength is made perfect in weakness.14500:10:57,780 –> 00:11:01,340In other words, it was in the process of prayer14600:11:01,340 –> 00:11:07,140asking for one thing that Paul discerned that through a problem14700:11:07,140 –> 00:11:11,419in his life, God was doing another thing.14800:11:11,419 –> 00:11:15,900In other words, prayer became the place where he was changed,14900:11:15,900 –> 00:11:20,219where he grew, where he began to move from his own agenda of15000:11:20,219 –> 00:11:22,659I’d like this problem to be gone,15100:11:22,659 –> 00:11:26,340to saying, I see that God is at work in this problem.15200:11:26,340 –> 00:11:31,099That’s a radical transformation in a man or a woman’s heart, is it not?15300:11:31,099 –> 00:11:33,739You’re listening to Open the Bible with pastor Coleen Smith15400:11:33,739 –> 00:11:36,859and we have to pause the message just briefly there.15500:11:36,859 –> 00:11:39,940The message is called Pray in the Holy Spirit.15600:11:39,940 –> 00:11:41,739And if you ever miss one of our messages15700:11:41,739 –> 00:11:43,619or if you want to go back and listen again15800:11:43,619 –> 00:11:45,219you can do that by coming online15900:11:45,219 –> 00:11:49,500to our website openthebible.org.uk16000:11:49,500 –> 00:11:51,659or you can find us as a podcast16100:11:51,659 –> 00:11:53,299on all the main podcast sites.16200:11:53,299 –> 00:11:55,219Search for Open The Bible UK16300:11:55,219 –> 00:11:59,460and subscribe if you want to receive regular updates.16400:11:59,460 –> 00:12:00,460Back to the message now,16500:12:00,460 –> 00:12:01,900we’re in the Book of Jude16600:12:01,900 –> 00:12:03,580here again is Coleen.16700:12:03,580 –> 00:12:07,380Now here’s the second dimension of praying in the spirit.16800:12:07,380 –> 00:12:12,260It involves aligning yourself with the very purpose of God.16900:12:12,260 –> 00:12:16,500Think of the level of fellowship with God17000:12:16,500 –> 00:12:18,099that is involved in this.17100:12:20,099 –> 00:12:21,419I confessed to you last week17200:12:21,419 –> 00:12:25,940that I’ve become nearly a professional eater of breakfasts.17300:12:25,940 –> 00:12:29,179And those of who are in business know all about this.17400:12:29,179 –> 00:12:30,700You know, you go over in a business,17500:12:30,700 –> 00:12:32,059the project is in hand,17600:12:32,059 –> 00:12:33,900you identify the key questions,17700:12:33,900 –> 00:12:35,900you interact on what needs to happen next,17800:12:35,900 –> 00:12:37,580there’s synergy, there’s discussion,17900:12:37,580 –> 00:12:40,340all very stimulating if it’s a good working project18000:12:40,340 –> 00:12:41,299and so forth.18100:12:42,500 –> 00:12:44,299Now, let’s think about it this way.18200:12:45,580 –> 00:12:49,559God invites you to breakfast.18300:12:50,900 –> 00:12:52,900God says, let’s schedule some time18400:12:52,900 –> 00:12:57,780for you and me to sit down and to interact together18500:12:57,780 –> 00:12:59,780about what’s going on in your life.18600:13:01,580 –> 00:13:04,799But some of us have date timers too full18700:13:04,799 –> 00:13:05,900for this appointment.18800:13:06,979 –> 00:13:11,820And so we dash into the restaurant18900:13:11,859 –> 00:13:14,539one minute before the train leaves for the city.19000:13:15,820 –> 00:13:19,419As it were, find the Lord sitting there at the table,19100:13:19,419 –> 00:13:21,200and we’ve scribbled Him a little list,19200:13:21,200 –> 00:13:23,820and we’ve said, sorry, no time for breakfast today,19300:13:23,820 –> 00:13:25,179catch up with ya another time.19400:13:25,179 –> 00:13:26,700These are the things I need today,19500:13:26,700 –> 00:13:28,419I’m off, I’ve gotta catch the train.19600:13:30,400 –> 00:13:34,619And we know little or nothing of fellowship with God,19700:13:34,619 –> 00:13:37,979little or nothing of prayer actually changing us19800:13:37,979 –> 00:13:41,900because the interaction that is at the very heart of prayer19900:13:41,900 –> 00:13:43,460has been completely absent.20000:13:43,460 –> 00:13:46,539All we have done is trotted off a needs list,20100:13:48,559 –> 00:13:50,859and we’ve learned nothing of what God,20200:13:50,859 –> 00:13:53,159the other side of the breakfast table,20300:13:54,900 –> 00:13:56,340wants to do in our lives.20400:13:58,619 –> 00:14:00,539I’ve asked the question, why is it20500:14:01,880 –> 00:14:04,179that so many Christians can go so many years20600:14:04,179 –> 00:14:05,760with so little change?20700:14:08,260 –> 00:14:10,940And I guess that if we’re doing the20800:14:10,940 –> 00:14:13,500throw-the-list-over-the-breakfast-table thing,20900:14:13,500 –> 00:14:15,460and that’s the level of our prayer,21000:14:16,979 –> 00:14:19,179we’re not gonna see very much change at all.21100:14:23,780 –> 00:14:25,900Prayer is not about you trying to bring God21200:14:25,900 –> 00:14:28,260into your world to fix things.21300:14:29,380 –> 00:14:32,619Prayer is about God bringing you into his world21400:14:34,020 –> 00:14:35,539so that you may collaborate21500:14:35,539 –> 00:14:38,219and become part of his eternal purpose.21600:14:40,739 –> 00:14:42,940And that’s why you see praying in the spirit21700:14:42,940 –> 00:14:46,260is only possible first, for those who love God,21800:14:46,260 –> 00:14:49,219second for those who’ve died to themselves,21900:14:49,219 –> 00:14:50,940and it is only possible therefore22000:14:50,940 –> 00:14:53,840in the power of the spirit.22100:14:55,179 –> 00:14:57,099That takes me to the last thing.22200:14:57,099 –> 00:14:59,020How are we to grow into22300:14:59,020 –> 00:15:00,419what the Bible describes here,22400:15:00,419 –> 00:15:03,900this wonderful thing, praying in the spirit,22500:15:04,780 –> 00:15:07,799soak yourself in the spirit’s prayers,22600:15:07,799 –> 00:15:11,739align yourself with the spirit’s purpose,22700:15:11,739 –> 00:15:14,460and then you’ll find a third thing happening,22800:15:14,460 –> 00:15:18,520enter into the spirit’s passion.22900:15:20,099 –> 00:15:22,900I want you to picture, in this last point,23000:15:22,900 –> 00:15:24,539a couple in a restaurant.23100:15:24,539 –> 00:15:26,119We’re having a lot of restaurant talk,23200:15:26,119 –> 00:15:27,299let’s not make this breakfast,23300:15:27,299 –> 00:15:28,820let’s make this an evening meal,23400:15:28,820 –> 00:15:31,400and let’s put some candles on the table, okay?23500:15:32,200 –> 00:15:37,200They love each other, but the marriage has gone stale.23600:15:38,780 –> 00:15:40,140They enjoy the meal.23700:15:41,179 –> 00:15:42,960And they share conversation.23800:15:44,520 –> 00:15:48,900There’s conversation, but there’s no connection.23900:15:49,919 –> 00:15:53,159There’s politeness.24000:15:53,159 –> 00:15:54,719But there’s no passion.24100:15:56,020 –> 00:16:00,900They spend time, but they do not share soul.24200:16:00,900 –> 00:16:01,739Now, there’s no one here24300:16:01,739 –> 00:16:03,599who doesn’t know what I mean by that.24400:16:04,840 –> 00:16:08,219Now, the problem is that our prayer can be like that, too.24500:16:08,219 –> 00:16:11,280You can say a prayer without having24600:16:11,280 –> 00:16:14,400any emotional involvement or attachment24700:16:14,400 –> 00:16:17,359towards God himself at all.24800:16:17,359 –> 00:16:20,299But when you pray in the Spirit,24900:16:21,200 –> 00:16:26,200you will increasingly share the Spirit’s passion.25000:16:28,359 –> 00:16:29,919Now, the best way I can describe this25100:16:29,919 –> 00:16:31,979in these last moments is simply to give you25200:16:31,979 –> 00:16:34,119a sample of what it can look like.25300:16:35,159 –> 00:16:37,520My own home church in Edinburgh, Scotland25400:16:37,520 –> 00:16:41,719was born out of a revival nearly 100 years ago now.25500:16:41,719 –> 00:16:43,039When I say revival, I don’t mean25600:16:43,039 –> 00:16:44,760an organized series of meetings.25700:16:44,760 –> 00:16:47,159What I mean is something that God did,25800:16:47,159 –> 00:16:49,960a visitation from God that elevated25900:16:49,960 –> 00:16:52,559the spiritual life of a whole community.26000:16:54,000 –> 00:16:58,260I’d like to read part of the record26100:16:58,299 –> 00:17:01,020written at the time of those events.26200:17:01,020 –> 00:17:03,979My grandmother would have been seven years old26300:17:03,979 –> 00:17:05,060at this time.26400:17:05,060 –> 00:17:08,400I wish with all my heart that I could’ve been there.26500:17:10,579 –> 00:17:14,660The people were on the tiptoe of expectancy for a revival.26600:17:14,660 –> 00:17:17,300A conference on January 22, 190626700:17:17,300 –> 00:17:20,339addressed by several workers who had visited Wales26800:17:20,339 –> 00:17:23,099lasted from 3.30 until midnight.26900:17:23,099 –> 00:17:25,839From that day, it was felt that the fire of God had fallen27000:17:25,839 –> 00:17:27,420and as far as Charlotte Chapel,27100:17:27,420 –> 00:17:29,180the name of the church, was concerned.27200:17:29,180 –> 00:17:32,680God had answered prayer and reviving had come.27300:17:32,680 –> 00:17:34,280The church had prayed one whole year27400:17:34,280 –> 00:17:36,160without so much as a solitary break.27500:17:36,160 –> 00:17:38,959Night after night, week after week, month after month,27600:17:38,959 –> 00:17:40,079prayer meetings went on,27700:17:40,079 –> 00:17:42,339increasing in numbers and intensity.27800:17:42,339 –> 00:17:45,819It is impossible to convey any adequate idea27900:17:45,819 –> 00:17:49,599of the prayer passion that characterized those meetings.28000:17:49,599 –> 00:17:52,319It is necessary to be in it to know it.28100:17:52,319 –> 00:17:53,739From the beginning to the closed,28200:17:53,739 –> 00:17:57,099the prayers ascended in one broken continuity.28300:17:57,099 –> 00:18:00,739At time, prayer rose and fell like waves on the sea.28400:18:00,739 –> 00:18:02,939There was no confusion.28500:18:02,939 –> 00:18:06,880Towards the end of 1906, there were again indications28600:18:06,880 –> 00:18:09,380that God was about to move in our midst.28700:18:09,380 –> 00:18:12,119Attendances at the 7 a.m. prayer meeting28800:18:12,119 –> 00:18:14,219on Sunday mornings increased.28900:18:14,219 –> 00:18:17,959And the meetings were marked by a deepening spirit of prayer.29000:18:17,959 –> 00:18:19,819This was followed up as the same spirit29100:18:19,819 –> 00:18:21,739in weeknight prayer meetings.29200:18:21,739 –> 00:18:24,239It was at a late night prayer meeting held in the evening29300:18:24,239 –> 00:18:27,020at 9.30 that the fire of God fell.29400:18:27,020 –> 00:18:28,520There was nothing humanly speaking29500:18:28,520 –> 00:18:31,319to account for what happened, just quite suddenly,29600:18:31,319 –> 00:18:34,040upon one and another, an overwhelming sense29700:18:34,040 –> 00:18:37,099of the reality and the awfulness of God’s presence29800:18:37,099 –> 00:18:39,319and of eternal things of life, death,29900:18:39,319 –> 00:18:41,479and eternity fell upon us.30000:18:41,479 –> 00:18:44,660And suddenly, all things were laid bare.30100:18:44,660 –> 00:18:48,079Then prayer broke out again, waves and waves of prayer,30200:18:48,079 –> 00:18:49,579and the midnight hour was reached,30300:18:49,579 –> 00:18:51,260the hours passed like minutes.30400:18:51,260 –> 00:18:53,760One who was present says, I cannot tell you what30500:18:53,760 –> 00:18:55,439Christ meant to me last night.30600:18:55,439 –> 00:18:56,660My heart was overflowing.30700:18:56,660 –> 00:19:00,800If ever God was near to me, it was here last night.30800:19:00,800 –> 00:19:03,599The pastor writes this assessment.30900:19:03,599 –> 00:19:05,300I have yet to witness a movement31000:19:05,300 –> 00:19:07,359that has produced more permanent results31100:19:07,359 –> 00:19:10,140in the lives of men and women and children.31200:19:10,140 –> 00:19:11,760There were some irregularities, no doubt,31300:19:11,760 –> 00:19:14,359some commotion, yes, but such a movement31400:19:14,359 –> 00:19:16,939with all its irregularities is to be preferred31500:19:16,939 –> 00:19:20,599far above the dull, dreary, monotonous decorum31600:19:20,599 –> 00:19:22,020of many churches.31700:19:23,040 –> 00:19:25,260The pastor Jack Kemp writes these words,31800:19:25,359 –> 00:19:27,500and as I read them to you, I want you to ask31900:19:27,500 –> 00:19:29,500how many of them we need?32000:19:31,979 –> 00:19:36,199If its genuineness can be attested by results,32100:19:36,199 –> 00:19:39,319then we have no doubt regarding the genuineness32200:19:39,319 –> 00:19:41,900of this movement of God.32300:19:41,900 –> 00:19:44,060It has given us, and I quote,32400:19:44,060 –> 00:19:47,400a full church night and morning.32500:19:47,400 –> 00:19:51,579It has given us a most loyal and devoted band of workers32600:19:52,760 –> 00:19:54,339whose aim is the glory of God32700:19:54,420 –> 00:19:57,040and the salvation of sinners.32800:19:57,040 –> 00:19:59,260It has taught us to pray in a fashion32900:19:59,260 –> 00:20:01,199that few of us knew before.33000:20:02,239 –> 00:20:05,640It has given to both young and old33100:20:05,640 –> 00:20:07,640a new love for the Bible33200:20:08,699 –> 00:20:12,160and time would fail to tell, notice this,33300:20:12,160 –> 00:20:14,439of purified lives,33400:20:15,979 –> 00:20:18,500changed homes,33500:20:19,959 –> 00:20:24,099and the brightened outlook of hundreds.33600:20:25,260 –> 00:20:29,599Scores of people came to faith in Jesus Christ33700:20:29,599 –> 00:20:31,300over these two years33800:20:32,339 –> 00:20:34,479in which this movement of prayer33900:20:36,180 –> 00:20:40,199in the Holy Spirit touched one church.34000:20:42,839 –> 00:20:44,959You can’t generate this,34100:20:46,420 –> 00:20:48,540but you can hunger for it.34200:20:49,900 –> 00:20:51,199You can pray for it.34300:20:51,800 –> 00:20:55,280I’m asking, as I think about these things,34400:20:57,400 –> 00:20:59,619what do we know of them in our lives?34500:21:02,420 –> 00:21:06,420What are we seeing that transformation of a home?34600:21:08,839 –> 00:21:11,119What difference would it make to your family,34700:21:11,119 –> 00:21:14,000to this church, to your business,34800:21:14,000 –> 00:21:17,420if you learned to pray in the Holy Spirit?34900:21:17,439 –> 00:21:18,719In the Holy Spirit?35000:21:22,319 –> 00:21:27,319My question, as I’ve poured over and into this35100:21:27,319 –> 00:21:28,579in these last days.35200:21:31,339 –> 00:21:32,180Simply this,35300:21:32,180 –> 00:21:36,140is there a hunger for such things among us?35400:21:38,719 –> 00:21:42,099Oh, breath of life comes sweeping through us.35500:21:44,040 –> 00:21:46,920Revive your church with life and power,35600:21:48,280 –> 00:21:52,339oh breath of life come cleanse,35700:21:52,339 –> 00:21:57,339renew us and fit your church35800:21:59,579 –> 00:22:01,060to meet this hour.35900:22:01,060 –> 00:22:02,500Pastor Colin Smith there.36000:22:02,500 –> 00:22:05,300Ending our message, pray in the Holy Spirit.36100:22:05,300 –> 00:22:07,660I hope you found that message helpful.36200:22:07,660 –> 00:22:09,260If you ever missed one of our messages,36300:22:09,260 –> 00:22:10,680don’t forget, you can catch up36400:22:10,680 –> 00:22:14,099or go back and listen again online at our website,36500:22:14,099 –> 00:22:17,219openthebible.org.uk.36600:22:17,660 –> 00:22:19,500I know many of you listen to podcasts36700:22:19,500 –> 00:22:22,380and we’re excited to tell you about a new podcast36800:22:22,380 –> 00:22:23,760for Open The Bible.36900:22:23,760 –> 00:22:26,540It’s a companion to Pastor Colin’s book,37000:22:26,540 –> 00:22:28,199Hike Through The Bible.37100:22:28,199 –> 00:22:30,599Yeah, and each week I’ll read a chapter37200:22:30,599 –> 00:22:32,420from the book and then I get to discuss it37300:22:32,420 –> 00:22:33,780with some friends.37400:22:33,780 –> 00:22:35,500So if you join us on the podcast,37500:22:35,500 –> 00:22:38,680in 50 weeks, we’ll cover 50 chapters37600:22:38,680 –> 00:22:39,859of the Bible together,37700:22:39,859 –> 00:22:42,199and in a year, you’ll have hiked37800:22:42,199 –> 00:22:44,599through the entire Bible story.37900:22:44,599 –> 00:22:47,239Now if you think hiking sounds like hard work,38000:22:47,239 –> 00:22:49,160don’t worry, I promise you,38100:22:49,160 –> 00:22:52,119this hike will be an easy gentle pace.38200:22:52,119 –> 00:22:53,619There’s a link to the podcast38300:22:53,619 –> 00:22:56,359and lots more information on our website38400:22:56,359 –> 00:22:59,819at openthebible.org.uk.38500:23:00,680 –> 00:23:03,239Open The Bible is able to stay on this station38600:23:03,239 –> 00:23:06,160and the Internet and available as a podcast38700:23:06,160 –> 00:23:08,260because of the generous financial support38800:23:08,260 –> 00:23:11,119of our listeners, that’s people like you.38900:23:11,119 –> 00:23:13,599And if you already give to support the work,39000:23:13,599 –> 00:23:15,400thank you so much.39100:23:15,400 –> 00:23:16,760If supporting Open The Bible39200:23:16,760 –> 00:23:18,839is something you’d like to start doing,39300:23:18,839 –> 00:23:22,160this month we’re delighted to offer a free gift.39400:23:22,160 –> 00:23:24,439When you set up a new direct debit39500:23:24,439 –> 00:23:26,040to the work of Open The Bible39600:23:26,040 –> 00:23:28,839in the amount of five pounds per month or more39700:23:28,839 –> 00:23:31,579or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,39800:23:31,579 –> 00:23:33,000we’d love to say thank you39900:23:33,000 –> 00:23:35,319by sending you a free copy40000:23:35,319 –> 00:23:37,060of Pastor Colin’s new book,40100:23:37,060 –> 00:23:38,760Hike through the Bible.40200:23:38,760 –> 00:23:42,280Colin, where did the idea for this book come from?40300:23:42,319 –> 00:23:45,099Well, we have fly through the Bible40400:23:45,099 –> 00:23:48,160for those who are looking for a place to begin,40500:23:48,160 –> 00:23:49,680then drive through the Bible,40600:23:49,680 –> 00:23:51,800obviously takes people a bit further,40700:23:51,800 –> 00:23:54,239but for everyone that wants to get serious40800:23:54,239 –> 00:23:55,900about the Bible story,40900:23:55,900 –> 00:23:58,160hike through the Bible is for you.41000:23:58,160 –> 00:24:00,760I mean, this is where you get your boots on the ground41100:24:00,760 –> 00:24:02,839and really get to grips41200:24:02,839 –> 00:24:05,079with what the Bible is all about41300:24:05,079 –> 00:24:07,900and you’ll discover that the whole Bible is one story41400:24:07,900 –> 00:24:10,060that the whole of it points41500:24:10,060 –> 00:24:12,900to our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ.41600:24:12,900 –> 00:24:14,380And I wrote this for people41700:24:14,380 –> 00:24:17,500who want to have a better grasp of the Bible.41800:24:17,500 –> 00:24:19,920I wrote it for people who want to have a deeper love41900:24:19,920 –> 00:24:21,939for the Lord Jesus Christ.42000:24:21,939 –> 00:24:23,380And just by way of encouragement,42100:24:23,380 –> 00:24:25,880if you think that hiking sounds like hard work,42200:24:25,880 –> 00:24:28,619well, you can hike at a gentle pace.42300:24:28,619 –> 00:24:30,780This is 50 chapters,42400:24:30,780 –> 00:24:33,479and that’s designed so that you could do one a week,42500:24:33,479 –> 00:24:35,380a nice gentle hike through the Bible42600:24:35,380 –> 00:24:37,400so that at the end of the year42700:24:37,400 –> 00:24:40,500you really have grasped the Bible as a whole42800:24:40,500 –> 00:24:42,060and you’ve got a clearer grip42900:24:42,060 –> 00:24:45,260on what it is that God’s saying into your life.43000:24:45,260 –> 00:24:47,760Well, we’d love to send you Colin’s new book43100:24:47,760 –> 00:24:49,959when you set up a new direct debit43200:24:49,959 –> 00:24:52,500of five pounds per month or more43300:24:52,500 –> 00:24:56,239or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more this month.43400:24:56,239 –> 00:24:59,239Full terms and conditions online at our website,43500:24:59,239 –> 00:25:04,119openthebible.org.uk, and you can give online.43600:25:04,119 –> 00:25:06,439Don’t forget to leave your name and address43700:25:06,959 –> 00:25:08,859so we can send you your gift.43800:25:08,859 –> 00:25:11,540For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,43900:25:11,540 –> 00:25:13,500I’m David Pik, and I look forward44000:25:13,500 –> 00:25:15,300to being with you again next time.44100:25:19,459 –> 00:25:23,040The Bible tells us to keep ourselves in God’s love.44200:25:23,040 –> 00:25:27,119Does that mean it’s possible to fall outside God’s love?44300:25:27,119 –> 00:25:29,560Find out next time on Open The Bible.