1 00:00:00,480 –> 00:00:02,120 Would you open your Bibles, please, 2 00:00:02,120 –> 00:00:05,520 at James and chapter five. 3 00:00:05,520 –> 00:00:07,200 We’re learning about faith, 4 00:00:07,200 –> 00:00:09,380 which is the bond of a living union 5 00:00:09,380 –> 00:00:12,040 between a believer and Jesus Christ, 6 00:00:12,040 –> 00:00:17,040 in which the believer comes to love and trust and serve him. 7 00:00:17,180 –> 00:00:21,000 And in this series, we’re looking at the anatomy of faith. 8 00:00:21,000 –> 00:00:23,080 We’re learning, together, from the Scriptures 9 00:00:23,080 –> 00:00:26,100 what faith actually does, 10 00:00:26,100 –> 00:00:29,340 and using the image of the human body. 11 00:00:29,360 –> 00:00:32,400 We have been learning together that faith has ears, 12 00:00:32,400 –> 00:00:34,040 hearing the Word of Christ. 13 00:00:34,040 –> 00:00:38,220 Faith has hands, serving with the love of Christ. 14 00:00:38,220 –> 00:00:41,939 Faith has a mouth that feeds on the bread of Christ, 15 00:00:41,939 –> 00:00:43,939 and last week, we saw faith has a voice 16 00:00:43,939 –> 00:00:47,279 declaring the praise of Christ. 17 00:00:47,279 –> 00:00:50,240 Today, I want us to look at the subject of prayer, 18 00:00:50,240 –> 00:00:52,919 and, very obviously, following the image of the anatomy, 19 00:00:52,919 –> 00:00:57,919 faith has knees, praying in the name of Christ. 20 00:00:59,480 –> 00:01:02,180 Faith prays. 21 00:01:03,160 –> 00:01:05,160 That is what faith does. 22 00:01:06,320 –> 00:01:09,820 Prayer is a fruit of faith, 23 00:01:09,820 –> 00:01:12,540 it is an evidence of faith, 24 00:01:12,540 –> 00:01:15,440 it is an expression of faith, 25 00:01:15,440 –> 00:01:19,459 and there is no true prayer without faith. 26 00:01:19,459 –> 00:01:21,239 In fact, the Bible says very clearly, 27 00:01:21,239 –> 00:01:24,839 in Hebrews 11, anyone who comes to God 28 00:01:24,839 –> 00:01:27,279 must believe that he exists 29 00:01:27,360 –> 00:01:30,639 and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 30 00:01:30,639 –> 00:01:33,160 So, prayer is impossible without faith. 31 00:01:33,160 –> 00:01:36,320 It’s merely words apart from faith. 32 00:01:36,320 –> 00:01:39,239 Anyone who comes to him, anyone who comes to God 33 00:01:39,239 –> 00:01:40,879 must believe that he exists 34 00:01:40,879 –> 00:01:44,620 and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 35 00:01:44,620 –> 00:01:47,440 It is faith that prays. 36 00:01:47,440 –> 00:01:52,440 Unbelief never does, it merely talks. 37 00:01:53,260 –> 00:01:55,300 And God has given to us 38 00:01:55,300 –> 00:01:59,459 astonishing promises in regard to prayer. 39 00:01:59,459 –> 00:02:02,099 Let me remind you of seven of perhaps 40 00:02:02,099 –> 00:02:05,400 the most striking statements in the New Testament 41 00:02:05,400 –> 00:02:06,820 with regards to prayer, 42 00:02:06,820 –> 00:02:08,580 of which the passage that we’ve read 43 00:02:08,580 –> 00:02:11,160 from James chapter five is one. 44 00:02:11,160 –> 00:02:13,300 But let’s begin with the words of our Lord Jesus 45 00:02:13,300 –> 00:02:15,160 in Matthew chapter 18. 46 00:02:15,160 –> 00:02:18,339 Listen to the power of these promises, 47 00:02:18,339 –> 00:02:20,119 and then I’m going to ask a question, 48 00:02:20,320 –> 00:02:24,619 and how do we use them and how do we apply them? 49 00:02:24,619 –> 00:02:28,839 Number one from Matthew 18 in verse 19 and 20, Jesus said, 50 00:02:28,839 –> 00:02:33,839 if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, 51 00:02:34,679 –> 00:02:38,860 it will be done for you by My Father in Heaven. 52 00:02:40,199 –> 00:02:43,240 John chapter 14 in verse 13, Jesus says, 53 00:02:43,240 –> 00:02:48,080 I will do whatever you ask in My name. 54 00:02:48,580 –> 00:02:52,520 John chapter 14 in verse 14, the very next verse, 55 00:02:52,520 –> 00:02:55,660 You may ask Me, Jesus says, for anything in My name 56 00:02:55,660 –> 00:02:58,839 and I will do it. 57 00:02:59,740 –> 00:03:03,220 John chapter 15 in verse 16, our Lord says, 58 00:03:03,220 –> 00:03:08,220 The Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. 59 00:03:10,539 –> 00:03:15,279 John chapter 16 in verse 23, number five, Jesus says, 60 00:03:15,279 –> 00:03:16,740 I tell you the truth, 61 00:03:16,740 –> 00:03:21,740 My Father will give you whatever you ask in My name, 62 00:03:22,320 –> 00:03:25,000 repeating the same words. 63 00:03:25,000 –> 00:03:29,600 Number six, first John chapter 5 in verse 14, 64 00:03:29,600 –> 00:03:33,300 this is the confidence that we have in approaching God 65 00:03:33,300 –> 00:03:38,160 that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 66 00:03:38,160 –> 00:03:40,440 That’s one John 5, 14. 67 00:03:40,440 –> 00:03:43,059 And then number seven, the passage that we read 68 00:03:43,059 –> 00:03:45,419 from James and chapter five, 69 00:03:45,419 –> 00:03:48,199 is anyone among you sick, 70 00:03:48,199 –> 00:03:53,199 He should call the elders of the church to pray over him 71 00:03:53,199 –> 00:03:56,919 and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 72 00:03:56,919 –> 00:03:59,220 And the prayer offered in faith 73 00:03:59,220 –> 00:04:02,220 will make the sick person well. 74 00:04:02,220 –> 00:04:05,199 The Lord will raise him up. 75 00:04:05,199 –> 00:04:07,199 Now folks, just to take in the scope of this, 76 00:04:07,199 –> 00:04:09,600 these are astonishing promises 77 00:04:10,380 –> 00:04:14,259 of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. 78 00:04:15,320 –> 00:04:18,019 How are we to use these promises? 79 00:04:19,540 –> 00:04:24,540 What does it mean for you, for us to pray with faith? 80 00:04:26,720 –> 00:04:28,760 How can you do that? 81 00:04:28,760 –> 00:04:31,799 Because faith prays. 82 00:04:34,399 –> 00:04:37,500 Now, as we come to the subject today, 83 00:04:38,299 –> 00:04:41,660 I have to tell you, there are many Christians 84 00:04:41,660 –> 00:04:45,720 who, at least in my experience over these years 85 00:04:45,720 –> 00:04:50,720 have become perplexed, have become confused, 86 00:04:51,040 –> 00:04:55,459 troubled over how to use these promises. 87 00:04:56,359 –> 00:04:58,119 And so just as we come to this, 88 00:04:58,119 –> 00:05:00,739 I want to describe a situation that, as a pastor, 89 00:05:00,739 –> 00:05:04,059 I’ve seen many times, too many times. 90 00:05:04,059 –> 00:05:05,519 And I think you will recognize it 91 00:05:05,540 –> 00:05:08,940 and you will understand it and it will frame for us 92 00:05:08,940 –> 00:05:11,579 what we’re trying to learn from the Scriptures today. 93 00:05:13,160 –> 00:05:14,880 A loved one becomes ill. 94 00:05:16,420 –> 00:05:18,399 The illness is serious. 95 00:05:19,940 –> 00:05:21,619 The family begin to pray. 96 00:05:21,619 –> 00:05:23,279 Perhaps you have been in this situation, 97 00:05:23,279 –> 00:05:24,540 I expect you have. 98 00:05:25,940 –> 00:05:28,739 Over time the situation becomes worse. 99 00:05:29,820 –> 00:05:31,859 Someone says, you know, 100 00:05:31,920 –> 00:05:34,179 if only we had more faith, 101 00:05:35,220 –> 00:05:38,359 we could move the hand of God and we would get the answer. 102 00:05:40,579 –> 00:05:42,000 As the praying goes on, 103 00:05:42,899 –> 00:05:47,660 there is an increasing sense that life and death itself 104 00:05:47,660 –> 00:05:49,739 lies in the hands of those who pray. 105 00:05:51,500 –> 00:05:54,220 Faith is no longer about trusting God. 106 00:05:55,220 –> 00:05:58,179 Somehow faith has become about us managing 107 00:05:58,179 –> 00:05:59,859 to convince ourselves 108 00:05:59,859 –> 00:06:01,739 that what we look for to happen 109 00:06:01,899 –> 00:06:04,380 is actually going to take place. 110 00:06:05,779 –> 00:06:07,420 Then if it does not happen, 111 00:06:08,320 –> 00:06:11,399 one of two things will most likely result, 112 00:06:11,399 –> 00:06:12,640 and possibly both. 113 00:06:13,859 –> 00:06:16,179 One is that you blame yourself. 114 00:06:17,619 –> 00:06:19,019 I’ve heard this so many times. 115 00:06:19,019 –> 00:06:23,519 If only I had greater faith, 116 00:06:23,519 –> 00:06:25,880 my loved one might have lived. 117 00:06:25,880 –> 00:06:27,959 Friend, that is a crushing burden. 118 00:06:30,299 –> 00:06:31,179 The other one, 119 00:06:31,179 –> 00:06:33,380 and it can go along with blaming yourself, 120 00:06:33,380 –> 00:06:35,179 is of course to resent God. 121 00:06:36,339 –> 00:06:37,980 If God really cared, 122 00:06:38,859 –> 00:06:40,660 if God even listened, 123 00:06:42,019 –> 00:06:43,739 my loved one would’ve lived. 124 00:06:43,739 –> 00:06:47,559 And friend, that too is a crushing burden. 125 00:06:48,899 –> 00:06:51,239 Either way, I hope you see what has happened, 126 00:06:51,239 –> 00:06:54,019 that where this happens in a person’s experience, 127 00:06:54,019 –> 00:06:57,220 and as I say I’ve seen it happen many times, 128 00:06:57,220 –> 00:06:58,980 what has happened is that that person 129 00:06:59,179 –> 00:07:01,420 has put themselves in the place of God, 130 00:07:02,339 –> 00:07:04,420 and whenever we try to take the place of God, 131 00:07:04,420 –> 00:07:07,619 we assume a burden that we cannot bear. 132 00:07:08,959 –> 00:07:10,779 So, I’m asking the question 133 00:07:10,779 –> 00:07:15,579 out of a heartfelt concern to understand the scriptures 134 00:07:15,579 –> 00:07:17,059 and for us to use them, 135 00:07:17,059 –> 00:07:19,679 because these promises are given to us. 136 00:07:20,859 –> 00:07:25,459 So what does it mean to pray with faith? 137 00:07:25,459 –> 00:07:27,779 That’s the question that is before us today. 138 00:07:27,959 –> 00:07:30,880 And I want to show you from the Bible 139 00:07:30,880 –> 00:07:35,160 that faith prays in two ways. 140 00:07:35,160 –> 00:07:38,579 Faith prays with assurance, 141 00:07:38,579 –> 00:07:41,260 and faith prays with submission. 142 00:07:42,100 –> 00:07:44,200 And these two kinds of prayer, 143 00:07:44,200 –> 00:07:45,100 and they’re distinct, 144 00:07:45,100 –> 00:07:47,459 we’re going to see them together today. 145 00:07:47,459 –> 00:07:49,820 These two kinds of prayer are given to us 146 00:07:49,820 –> 00:07:52,059 for different situations, 147 00:07:52,059 –> 00:07:56,459 and discerning how to pray is critical 148 00:07:56,459 –> 00:07:58,940 as we seek to engage in this marvelous gift 149 00:07:58,940 –> 00:08:00,859 that God has given to us. 150 00:08:00,859 –> 00:08:03,059 It is important that we know how to use 151 00:08:03,059 –> 00:08:04,579 these gifts of prayer 152 00:08:04,579 –> 00:08:08,820 and that we learn to distinguish between them. 153 00:08:08,820 –> 00:08:10,299 Now, just so you know where we’re going, 154 00:08:10,299 –> 00:08:11,660 I’ll give you the two headings 155 00:08:11,660 –> 00:08:13,779 and then we’ll plunge into the first. 156 00:08:13,779 –> 00:08:15,260 But here are the two. 157 00:08:15,260 –> 00:08:18,579 Faith prays with assurance 158 00:08:18,579 –> 00:08:23,059 where God has made the outcome known. 159 00:08:23,059 –> 00:08:24,500 That’s the first. 160 00:08:24,700 –> 00:08:28,739 And second, faith prays with submission 161 00:08:28,739 –> 00:08:32,500 where God has kept the outcome hidden. 162 00:08:32,500 –> 00:08:33,780 These are the two things 163 00:08:33,780 –> 00:08:36,419 that I want to try and show you from the scriptures 164 00:08:36,419 –> 00:08:40,020 with the great desire that this will be helpful to all of us 165 00:08:40,020 –> 00:08:44,419 as we seek to grow in the faith that prays. 166 00:08:45,299 –> 00:08:46,299 So let’s begin here. 167 00:08:46,299 –> 00:08:48,960 And I hope you have your Bible open at James chapter five, 168 00:08:48,960 –> 00:08:51,900 that faith prays with assurance 169 00:08:51,900 –> 00:08:55,940 when God has made the outcome known. 170 00:08:57,239 –> 00:09:01,599 Now, James gives us an example 171 00:09:01,599 –> 00:09:03,359 of this kind of prayer 172 00:09:03,359 –> 00:09:06,260 that he’s describing in James chapter five. 173 00:09:06,260 –> 00:09:10,179 And the example that he chooses is the story of Elijah. 174 00:09:10,179 –> 00:09:13,539 So let’s begin with the example at verse 17. 175 00:09:13,539 –> 00:09:17,799 Elijah was a man, just like us. 176 00:09:17,799 –> 00:09:19,380 He prayed earnestly 177 00:09:19,380 –> 00:09:20,479 that it would not rain. 178 00:09:20,479 –> 00:09:24,940 And it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 179 00:09:26,239 –> 00:09:28,820 Now, many of you will know the story well already. 180 00:09:28,820 –> 00:09:30,099 You can read about it 181 00:09:30,099 –> 00:09:34,820 in First Kings and chapter 17 and chapter 18. 182 00:09:35,919 –> 00:09:39,700 Ahab was a wicked king, 183 00:09:39,700 –> 00:09:40,859 an evil king. 184 00:09:41,739 –> 00:09:43,979 And among God’s people, 185 00:09:43,979 –> 00:09:45,900 there had been a great rebellion 186 00:09:45,900 –> 00:09:47,700 and a turning to idolatry. 187 00:09:48,580 –> 00:09:53,580 And Elijah prayed that it would not rain. 188 00:09:55,260 –> 00:09:57,239 He must have been very sure 189 00:09:57,239 –> 00:09:59,140 that what he was praying would happen 190 00:10:00,140 –> 00:10:02,859 because in First Kings chapter 17 and verse one, 191 00:10:02,859 –> 00:10:05,219 we are told that Elijah went right 192 00:10:05,219 –> 00:10:09,020 into the court of Ahab, the tyrant. 193 00:10:09,979 –> 00:10:12,739 And he says face to face to Ahab, 194 00:10:12,739 –> 00:10:15,919 it’s not going to rain on the land. 195 00:10:15,919 –> 00:10:17,299 Now, you have to be pretty confident 196 00:10:17,320 –> 00:10:18,479 about what you’re praying about 197 00:10:18,479 –> 00:10:20,520 in order to say that to a tyrant king. 198 00:10:22,859 –> 00:10:25,299 Elijah prayed and he knew 199 00:10:26,559 –> 00:10:28,880 that what he prayed would happen. 200 00:10:28,880 –> 00:10:31,380 Now, the question of course is, how did he know? 201 00:10:32,440 –> 00:10:33,940 I think we can answer that 202 00:10:33,940 –> 00:10:36,440 by looking at what happened three and a half years later 203 00:10:36,440 –> 00:10:39,859 that James also tells us about here in verse 18. 204 00:10:39,859 –> 00:10:41,979 One Kings in chapter 18 tells us 205 00:10:41,979 –> 00:10:44,599 that after a long time in the third year, 206 00:10:44,599 –> 00:10:46,419 after three years of the drought, 207 00:10:46,419 –> 00:10:49,419 the word of the Lord came to Elijah, 208 00:10:50,340 –> 00:10:53,359 go and present yourself to Ahab 209 00:10:53,359 –> 00:10:56,140 and I will send rain on the land. 210 00:10:56,140 –> 00:10:57,340 In other words, God says, 211 00:10:57,340 –> 00:10:58,880 the word of the Lord comes to this man 212 00:10:58,880 –> 00:11:01,359 and God says, there will be rain. 213 00:11:02,260 –> 00:11:04,479 And on the basis of this promise, 214 00:11:04,479 –> 00:11:08,679 Elijah calls Ahab and Ahab comes to Elijah. 215 00:11:08,679 –> 00:11:11,859 It’s so interesting that it’s that way around. 216 00:11:11,859 –> 00:11:13,880 And Elijah prayed for rain 217 00:11:13,880 –> 00:11:16,479 and had great assurance when he prayed 218 00:11:16,479 –> 00:11:20,479 because God had told him that this would happen. 219 00:11:20,479 –> 00:11:22,840 Now that’s how it happened, when the rain returned, 220 00:11:22,840 –> 00:11:24,320 it seems reasonable to assume 221 00:11:24,320 –> 00:11:25,960 that it was the same three years earlier 222 00:11:25,960 –> 00:11:27,400 when the rain stopped. 223 00:11:27,400 –> 00:11:28,539 What happens here? 224 00:11:28,539 –> 00:11:31,500 God tells Elijah what will happen. 225 00:11:32,520 –> 00:11:37,200 And so Elijah prays with great assurance, 226 00:11:37,200 –> 00:11:38,520 with great confidence 227 00:11:38,520 –> 00:11:43,520 because God has already made the outcome known. 228 00:11:44,760 –> 00:11:49,760 Now James uses this to illustrate the kind of praying 229 00:11:51,080 –> 00:11:54,400 that he describes in verse 14 and 15. 230 00:11:54,400 –> 00:11:56,159 Look at what he says, 231 00:11:56,159 –> 00:11:58,359 Is any of you sick? 232 00:11:58,359 –> 00:12:01,440 He should call the elders of the church to pray over him 233 00:12:01,440 –> 00:12:04,799 and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 234 00:12:04,799 –> 00:12:07,820 And the prayer offered in faith 235 00:12:07,820 –> 00:12:10,440 will make the sick person well, 236 00:12:10,440 –> 00:12:13,599 the Lord will raise him up. 237 00:12:14,659 –> 00:12:18,520 Let me give four observations on these remarkable verses. 238 00:12:18,520 –> 00:12:22,960 Number one, the initiative is with the sick person, 239 00:12:22,960 –> 00:12:25,179 not with the elders. 240 00:12:25,179 –> 00:12:28,320 Number two, the sick person is not required 241 00:12:28,320 –> 00:12:31,880 to call the elders, but he or she is permitted to do so. 242 00:12:31,880 –> 00:12:36,000 This is something that a person who is ill may do. 243 00:12:36,000 –> 00:12:39,760 Number three, God may use this occasion 244 00:12:39,760 –> 00:12:42,659 when the elders gather with someone who is sick 245 00:12:42,679 –> 00:12:46,780 to give an assurance of the outcome 246 00:12:46,780 –> 00:12:49,059 so that they are able to pray 247 00:12:49,059 –> 00:12:51,820 what James calls the prayer of faith. 248 00:12:51,820 –> 00:12:54,260 In other words, to pray in the same way 249 00:12:54,260 –> 00:12:57,380 as Elijah, who as the illustration did. 250 00:12:58,359 –> 00:12:59,700 It would seem to me, therefore, 251 00:12:59,700 –> 00:13:02,179 that just making a fourth observation, 252 00:13:02,179 –> 00:13:06,260 that a person should consider calling for the elders, 253 00:13:06,260 –> 00:13:09,659 especially if and when they sense 254 00:13:09,659 –> 00:13:11,559 that it may be the purpose of God 255 00:13:11,559 –> 00:13:16,119 to intervene in their life with a gift of healing. 256 00:13:17,679 –> 00:13:19,679 Let me give you an illustration 257 00:13:19,679 –> 00:13:23,099 just from my own experience of an occasion 258 00:13:23,099 –> 00:13:26,099 where I witnessed this myself, 259 00:13:26,099 –> 00:13:28,039 and I’ve chosen one intentionally 260 00:13:28,039 –> 00:13:30,020 from a good number of years ago 261 00:13:30,020 –> 00:13:32,739 because history gives distance 262 00:13:32,739 –> 00:13:36,080 which enables you to make a better assessment 263 00:13:36,179 –> 00:13:39,760 of what has happened in these kind of situations. 264 00:13:40,619 –> 00:13:42,719 I’m thinking about a lady who worshiped 265 00:13:42,719 –> 00:13:45,840 with her husband and with her son 266 00:13:45,840 –> 00:13:47,580 and daughter-in-law in the church 267 00:13:47,580 –> 00:13:50,820 that I served in London for 16 years. 268 00:13:50,820 –> 00:13:52,700 She was diagnosed with cancer. 269 00:13:53,719 –> 00:13:56,299 She asked for the elders to come, 270 00:13:56,299 –> 00:13:58,559 as James describes here in chapter five, 271 00:13:58,559 –> 00:13:59,799 and to pray with her. 272 00:14:01,080 –> 00:14:03,479 So I went to her home with another elder. 273 00:14:03,520 –> 00:14:05,119 I’ll never forget the occasion. 274 00:14:05,119 –> 00:14:06,840 It was Christmas Eve. 275 00:14:08,340 –> 00:14:10,640 And I said to her, now I will anoint you with oil 276 00:14:10,640 –> 00:14:15,099 as it says here, and then we will pray. 277 00:14:15,099 –> 00:14:18,919 And if you want to pray, you should feel free to do so, 278 00:14:18,919 –> 00:14:20,559 and said the same to her husband. 279 00:14:21,599 –> 00:14:24,239 I anointed her with oil. 280 00:14:24,239 –> 00:14:25,599 I began to pray. 281 00:14:26,460 –> 00:14:28,280 And then the other elder prayed. 282 00:14:29,880 –> 00:14:32,900 Then this lady began to pray. 283 00:14:33,960 –> 00:14:36,239 Now I have to tell you, this lady 284 00:14:36,239 –> 00:14:40,799 had been a regular attender at the weekly prayer meeting 285 00:14:40,799 –> 00:14:42,460 in the church. 286 00:14:42,460 –> 00:14:45,479 I would describe her as as quiet as a mouse, 287 00:14:46,619 –> 00:14:49,200 though she had attended every week, 288 00:14:49,200 –> 00:14:50,559 as far as I could remember, invariably 289 00:14:50,559 –> 00:14:52,380 throughout the time that I had been a pastor, 290 00:14:52,380 –> 00:14:55,440 I had never once heard her pray publicly. 291 00:14:56,659 –> 00:14:58,239 In fact, after this occasion, 292 00:14:58,239 –> 00:15:00,840 I never heard her pray publicly again. 293 00:15:00,840 –> 00:15:02,500 Was the only occasion I ever did. 294 00:15:04,200 –> 00:15:07,400 But as she began to pray on this occasion, 295 00:15:07,400 –> 00:15:10,000 I can only say that it seemed that God 296 00:15:10,000 –> 00:15:13,099 gave to her a gift of faith. 297 00:15:14,599 –> 00:15:17,520 As she prayed, she was given a confidence, 298 00:15:17,520 –> 00:15:20,500 an assurance that God would heal her. 299 00:15:21,440 –> 00:15:22,599 And he did. 300 00:15:25,039 –> 00:15:27,940 I tell the story because I was able to observe 301 00:15:27,940 –> 00:15:30,640 what happened for years afterwards. 302 00:15:31,539 –> 00:15:34,479 The lady was remarkably healed. 303 00:15:35,799 –> 00:15:39,239 Now I have no other explanation for what happened, 304 00:15:39,239 –> 00:15:44,239 but that the Holy Spirit gave to her a special assurance 305 00:15:45,520 –> 00:15:48,400 with regards to the outcome of her prayer 306 00:15:48,400 –> 00:15:52,559 so that she was able to pray, as James describes here, 307 00:15:52,559 –> 00:15:56,419 as Elijah did, the prayer of faith. 308 00:15:56,419 –> 00:15:58,359 I smile as I tell this story 309 00:15:58,359 –> 00:16:00,559 because I’m quite sure in my own mind 310 00:16:00,559 –> 00:16:02,460 that she called for the elders, 311 00:16:02,460 –> 00:16:04,940 thinking that the other guy and myself 312 00:16:04,940 –> 00:16:07,200 would be the ones to pray the prayer of faith. 313 00:16:08,380 –> 00:16:09,419 God knew better. 314 00:16:10,580 –> 00:16:13,140 He gave it to her. 315 00:16:14,580 –> 00:16:16,820 She was given a prompting of the Spirit 316 00:16:16,820 –> 00:16:19,859 that this was indeed God’s purpose in her life 317 00:16:19,859 –> 00:16:23,020 at this time, and she was enabled to pray 318 00:16:23,020 –> 00:16:26,539 with great assurance. 319 00:16:27,359 –> 00:16:30,739 Now I want you to try and understand therefore 320 00:16:30,739 –> 00:16:32,960 that the prayer of faith that is described 321 00:16:32,960 –> 00:16:36,000 in James and chapter five in verse 15 322 00:16:36,000 –> 00:16:39,320 is not an effort that is somehow worked up. 323 00:16:39,320 –> 00:16:41,659 It’s not me trying to convince myself 324 00:16:41,659 –> 00:16:44,960 of a particular outcome in relation to prayer. 325 00:16:44,960 –> 00:16:47,320 No, it is a gift that comes down. 326 00:16:48,200 –> 00:16:51,159 The prayer of faith is a gift of God. 327 00:16:52,059 –> 00:16:55,880 And folks, it is not limited to situations of sickness. 328 00:16:55,880 –> 00:16:57,520 It may be that we are praying 329 00:16:57,520 –> 00:17:00,940 for a breakthrough of God’s grace in world mission. 330 00:17:00,940 –> 00:17:04,380 It may be that we are praying for the advance of the gospel. 331 00:17:04,380 –> 00:17:06,479 It may be that we are in need of guidance 332 00:17:06,479 –> 00:17:08,640 on a particular need, and we’ve been praying 333 00:17:08,640 –> 00:17:09,920 and we have been laboring. 334 00:17:09,920 –> 00:17:13,000 And suddenly there seems to be a freedom, 335 00:17:13,000 –> 00:17:15,920 a gift that is given in the process of prayer. 336 00:17:15,920 –> 00:17:18,400 And there’s clarity, and there’s confidence 337 00:17:18,400 –> 00:17:20,439 that is given with regards to the outcome 338 00:17:20,439 –> 00:17:22,520 and the evidence follows. 339 00:17:23,319 –> 00:17:28,319 Just this week, I came across in my own reading 340 00:17:29,579 –> 00:17:34,579 of the life of C.H. Spurgeon, a fascinating account 341 00:17:34,900 –> 00:17:39,900 from the late 1880s recorded in his biography. 342 00:17:43,260 –> 00:17:45,319 Spurgeon, for any of you who don’t know, 343 00:17:45,319 –> 00:17:49,140 was the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, 344 00:17:49,140 –> 00:17:52,060 a large church in the city of London, 345 00:17:52,260 –> 00:17:56,640 and we’re now going back by nearly 150 years. 346 00:17:56,640 –> 00:17:58,900 But there was a remarkable ministry going on there, 347 00:17:58,900 –> 00:18:02,079 and what has so interested me in reading Spurgeon 348 00:18:03,119 –> 00:18:07,239 is that God laid on Spurgeon’s heart 349 00:18:08,339 –> 00:18:13,199 a sense that the Church where he had been privileged 350 00:18:13,199 –> 00:18:16,060 to be pastor ought to be doing more 351 00:18:17,040 –> 00:18:19,339 for the advance of the gospel in the city. 352 00:18:20,219 –> 00:18:23,300 And that has fascinated me because, as you know, 353 00:18:23,300 –> 00:18:26,859 I feel that myself in regards to our situation. 354 00:18:26,859 –> 00:18:29,900 I think that many of us are feeling the same 355 00:18:29,900 –> 00:18:32,079 and are therefore rejoicing 356 00:18:32,079 –> 00:18:36,380 in what God is doing in these days. 357 00:18:36,380 –> 00:18:39,380 Now having set that frame, 358 00:18:39,380 –> 00:18:41,500 a man by the name of Welton 359 00:18:41,500 –> 00:18:43,900 who was a student at Spurgeons College at the time 360 00:18:43,900 –> 00:18:46,560 and therefore part of the Church records a story 361 00:18:46,640 –> 00:18:50,160 of how at a Monday night prayer meeting 362 00:18:50,160 –> 00:18:52,680 Spurgeon got up in front of the congregation 363 00:18:52,680 –> 00:18:54,880 and I quote what he said, 364 00:18:54,880 –> 00:18:59,880 Dear friends, we are a huge church 365 00:19:00,880 –> 00:19:05,380 and we should be doing more for the Lord 366 00:19:05,380 –> 00:19:06,939 in this great city. 367 00:19:06,939 –> 00:19:11,939 I want us tonight to ask him to send us some new work 368 00:19:12,599 –> 00:19:14,599 and if we need the money to carry it out, 369 00:19:14,599 –> 00:19:19,599 let us pray that the means may also be sent, 370 00:19:24,760 –> 00:19:26,859 that’s what he says to the congregation. 371 00:19:26,859 –> 00:19:30,479 Now the way in which they prayed in that setting 372 00:19:30,479 –> 00:19:31,560 was very fascinating, 373 00:19:31,560 –> 00:19:33,040 they had all these students from the college 374 00:19:33,040 –> 00:19:35,239 and they had the deacons and they had the elders. 375 00:19:35,239 –> 00:19:37,719 So rather than just throw it open to everybody 376 00:19:37,719 –> 00:19:39,479 at least in the first part of the evening 377 00:19:40,040 –> 00:19:42,420 what Spurgeon would do and this was done in many churches 378 00:19:42,420 –> 00:19:44,900 in those days is he would call to the platform 379 00:19:44,900 –> 00:19:45,760 those who were leaders, 380 00:19:45,760 –> 00:19:46,979 because what would leaders do 381 00:19:46,979 –> 00:19:49,140 except lead the congregation in prayer. 382 00:19:49,140 –> 00:19:51,599 And so the deacons were called forward 383 00:19:51,599 –> 00:19:53,160 and the elders are called forward 384 00:19:53,160 –> 00:19:56,380 and those who were students at Spurgeons College 385 00:19:56,380 –> 00:19:57,239 were called forward 386 00:19:57,239 –> 00:19:59,359 and there they are on the platform and one by one 387 00:19:59,359 –> 00:20:02,060 they begin to lead in prayer. 388 00:20:02,060 –> 00:20:06,619 This man Welton who was one of the students 389 00:20:06,619 –> 00:20:07,859 records what happens, 390 00:20:07,900 –> 00:20:09,219 he says several of the students 391 00:20:09,219 –> 00:20:10,560 had been called to the platform 392 00:20:10,560 –> 00:20:12,540 along with the deacons and the elders 393 00:20:12,540 –> 00:20:14,859 to lead the assembly before God’s throne of grace 394 00:20:14,859 –> 00:20:16,760 and to plead with God about this matter. 395 00:20:16,760 –> 00:20:20,819 Then he says, while that mighty man of prayer, 396 00:20:20,819 –> 00:20:22,920 Mr. William Alney. 397 00:20:22,920 –> 00:20:24,439 This was one of the lay leaders, 398 00:20:24,439 –> 00:20:27,140 by the name of Alney and he’s leading in prayer 399 00:20:27,140 –> 00:20:29,939 and he’s wrestling with the Lord, 400 00:20:29,939 –> 00:20:34,160 Spurgeon knew that the answer had come. 401 00:20:35,199 –> 00:20:37,119 Had the Holy Spirit told him? 402 00:20:38,219 –> 00:20:41,579 Welton asks it seems so for walking lightly 403 00:20:41,579 –> 00:20:44,880 across the platform to where I was sitting, 404 00:20:44,880 –> 00:20:48,040 Spurgeon said, it’s all right, Wilton, 405 00:20:48,040 –> 00:20:51,119 you pray for the conversion of sinners will you? 406 00:20:51,119 –> 00:20:52,859 You see, he had the sense, right? 407 00:20:52,859 –> 00:20:54,359 And as Alney’s praying 408 00:20:55,420 –> 00:20:57,479 that there’s been a breakthrough 409 00:20:58,739 –> 00:20:59,699 and now we’re going to move on, 410 00:20:59,699 –> 00:21:00,939 we’re going to pray about something else 411 00:21:00,939 –> 00:21:03,219 because God has heard this prayer. 412 00:21:03,219 –> 00:21:06,280 Spurgeon had that sense within his 413 00:21:06,280 –> 00:21:08,160 the prompting within his spirit. 414 00:21:09,400 –> 00:21:11,400 I continue to quote from the biography. 415 00:21:11,400 –> 00:21:15,839 A few days after this tabernacle prayer meeting, 416 00:21:17,280 –> 00:21:21,920 a mrs Hill yard wrote to Spurgeon 417 00:21:22,880 –> 00:21:27,880 offering a gift of 20,000 pounds. 418 00:21:28,040 –> 00:21:29,439 Now folks, I don’t know if anyone can do 419 00:21:29,439 –> 00:21:30,719 the calculation of values, 420 00:21:30,719 –> 00:21:34,920 that’s about $30,000, but it’s 150 years ago. 421 00:21:37,280 –> 00:21:42,280 20,000 pounds for the purpose of founding an orphanage 422 00:21:44,040 –> 00:21:45,459 for fatherless children. 423 00:21:47,839 –> 00:21:49,180 You see what had happened? 424 00:21:50,439 –> 00:21:54,079 The Spirit of God had prompted in Spurgeon 425 00:21:55,319 –> 00:21:58,319 to ask for more work to be given 426 00:21:58,319 –> 00:22:01,160 and for the means by which it would be done. 427 00:22:01,760 –> 00:22:06,760 And as that prayer was prompted by the Spirit 428 00:22:08,319 –> 00:22:11,400 and as the people under the leadership 429 00:22:11,400 –> 00:22:13,760 of those who were able to lead them in prayer, 430 00:22:13,760 –> 00:22:17,119 Mr.ồnay, wrestling in prayer and the people engaging 431 00:22:17,119 –> 00:22:19,199 in this Spurgeon came to a point 432 00:22:19,199 –> 00:22:21,280 where he was quite convinced within his own heart 433 00:22:21,280 –> 00:22:23,160 God would do it. 434 00:22:23,160 –> 00:22:27,280 And within a week, both a new work 435 00:22:28,280 –> 00:22:32,839 and the provision for it, arrived on his desk. 436 00:22:35,800 –> 00:22:37,459 The prayer of faith. 437 00:22:37,459 –> 00:22:42,020 Folks, just so you don’t think this is so far off from us. 438 00:22:43,420 –> 00:22:46,619 While I was working on this message yesterday, 439 00:22:46,619 –> 00:22:49,719 my phone rang my desk and it was a member 440 00:22:49,719 –> 00:22:52,520 of our congregation was phoning from the hospital 441 00:22:52,520 –> 00:22:55,339 and he said, I just want to share this wonderful news. 442 00:22:55,400 –> 00:23:00,359 He said my wife is going to have a liver transplant. 443 00:23:01,359 –> 00:23:04,579 And I’ve since heard that she’s received the liver 444 00:23:04,579 –> 00:23:06,800 and all has gone wonderfully well. 445 00:23:08,020 –> 00:23:09,859 He wanted us to know, because my wife 446 00:23:09,859 –> 00:23:12,099 has particularly been praying for this lady. 447 00:23:12,099 –> 00:23:14,859 And earlier this week, it was fascinating, 448 00:23:14,859 –> 00:23:18,800 Karn said to me, I’ve begun to pray 449 00:23:18,800 –> 00:23:21,680 that a liver would be available. 450 00:23:22,560 –> 00:23:26,040 And I said this to the brother, 451 00:23:26,040 –> 00:23:28,319 and he said, you know, it is fascinating. 452 00:23:28,319 –> 00:23:30,079 He said, there are a number of friends 453 00:23:30,079 –> 00:23:31,339 who are praying for us. 454 00:23:32,280 –> 00:23:35,640 And in the last few days, one after another 455 00:23:35,640 –> 00:23:38,199 has said something very similar. 456 00:23:38,199 –> 00:23:41,880 We’ve stopped praying for his wife in a general way 457 00:23:41,880 –> 00:23:45,520 and we have started to pray 458 00:23:45,520 –> 00:23:49,219 for a liver to be made available. 459 00:23:49,219 –> 00:23:51,040 To be transplanted into her. 460 00:23:52,640 –> 00:23:55,300 And he said, you know, the amazing thing was 461 00:23:55,300 –> 00:23:58,500 when the hospital phoned and said 462 00:23:58,500 –> 00:23:59,900 we have a liver for you, 463 00:24:01,599 –> 00:24:06,599 she said to me, I knew that it would be today. 464 00:24:08,939 –> 00:24:10,420 A prompting of the spirit. 465 00:24:12,219 –> 00:24:13,699 I think some of us perhaps 466 00:24:13,699 –> 00:24:16,300 know more of this than we perhaps immediately realize. 467 00:24:16,300 –> 00:24:18,260 Have you not had an experience at some time 468 00:24:18,260 –> 00:24:19,599 of being wakened up in the night 469 00:24:19,599 –> 00:24:20,920 and you just know there is someone 470 00:24:20,939 –> 00:24:23,939 for whom you may pray, 471 00:24:23,939 –> 00:24:26,280 you do not know why that has to be the case. 472 00:24:26,280 –> 00:24:28,180 But the spirit of God lives within you 473 00:24:29,479 –> 00:24:31,800 and sometimes moves in particular ways 474 00:24:31,800 –> 00:24:34,880 in individuals and in churches 475 00:24:34,880 –> 00:24:37,880 so that we may be positioned to pray 476 00:24:38,780 –> 00:24:41,760 in a particular way with assurance 477 00:24:42,640 –> 00:24:46,900 into the advance of his purpose for us. 478 00:24:46,900 –> 00:24:48,640 So, this is the first kind of prayer 479 00:24:48,640 –> 00:24:50,280 that I want us to grasp clearly 480 00:24:50,359 –> 00:24:51,959 and to understand well 481 00:24:51,959 –> 00:24:54,719 and to which the great promises earlier 482 00:24:54,719 –> 00:24:56,880 that we read clearly relate. 483 00:24:56,880 –> 00:25:01,040 Prayer with assurance is prayer that arises 484 00:25:01,040 –> 00:25:03,420 either from a promise of scripture 485 00:25:03,420 –> 00:25:06,199 or from a prompting of the spirit 486 00:25:06,199 –> 00:25:09,859 that is given by God in order to give direction 487 00:25:09,859 –> 00:25:10,880 to our prayers. 488 00:25:10,880 –> 00:25:13,060 It is a gift. 489 00:25:13,060 –> 00:25:16,119 And so, if this should happen in your experience, 490 00:25:16,119 –> 00:25:18,280 then be grateful for it 491 00:25:19,199 –> 00:25:23,300 and pray in this way. 492 00:25:24,520 –> 00:25:27,520 Now we said that there are two kinds of prayers. 493 00:25:27,520 –> 00:25:30,920 Faith prays in two ways. 494 00:25:30,920 –> 00:25:32,760 Faith prays with assurance 495 00:25:32,760 –> 00:25:34,520 where God has made the outcome known. 496 00:25:34,520 –> 00:25:37,500 That’s what we’ve been looking at these last minutes. 497 00:25:37,500 –> 00:25:38,640 But here’s the second thing. 498 00:25:38,640 –> 00:25:42,339 It’s equally valuable and it’s equally important. 499 00:25:42,339 –> 00:25:45,800 Faith prays with submission 500 00:25:45,819 –> 00:25:49,400 where God has kept the outcome hidden. 501 00:25:50,719 –> 00:25:52,859 Now folks, this is how we are to pray 502 00:25:52,859 –> 00:25:54,780 in all the situations 503 00:25:54,780 –> 00:25:57,280 where you do not know what the outcome will be. 504 00:25:58,359 –> 00:25:59,520 You apply for a job. 505 00:25:59,520 –> 00:26:00,760 There’s no special promise 506 00:26:00,760 –> 00:26:03,640 in the scripture relating to whether you will get it or not. 507 00:26:03,640 –> 00:26:05,400 You pray for an unconverted loved one. 508 00:26:05,400 –> 00:26:07,119 There is no particular scripture 509 00:26:07,119 –> 00:26:08,239 nor promise that tells you 510 00:26:08,239 –> 00:26:11,439 whether they indeed will be converted. 511 00:26:11,439 –> 00:26:13,160 In all these situations 512 00:26:13,160 –> 00:26:16,319 where the outcome has not been made known, 513 00:26:17,239 –> 00:26:20,060 faith prays with submission. 514 00:26:21,160 –> 00:26:25,000 Now, here’s the thing that is so important to grasp. 515 00:26:25,000 –> 00:26:28,520 This kind of prayer is equally effective 516 00:26:28,520 –> 00:26:30,760 and I want you to see that today. 517 00:26:30,760 –> 00:26:33,079 It is not that there are two kinds of prayer you see 518 00:26:33,079 –> 00:26:35,719 and one is greater and the other is lesser. 519 00:26:35,719 –> 00:26:37,680 It is not that the first one involves faith 520 00:26:37,680 –> 00:26:39,800 and that the second one somehow does not, 521 00:26:39,800 –> 00:26:43,060 no, prayer can only be made on the basis of faith. 522 00:26:43,060 –> 00:26:45,660 That’s what we saw in Hebrews in chapter 11. 523 00:26:45,660 –> 00:26:48,520 These are two kinds of prayer 524 00:26:48,520 –> 00:26:50,680 that both involve faith 525 00:26:50,680 –> 00:26:55,079 that are given to us for different situations. 526 00:26:55,079 –> 00:26:56,680 So, let me give you two examples 527 00:26:56,680 –> 00:26:58,339 of the second kind of prayer. 528 00:26:59,839 –> 00:27:02,199 The first is in Mark 1 in verse 40 529 00:27:02,199 –> 00:27:04,439 where we have the story of a man with leprosy 530 00:27:04,439 –> 00:27:06,560 who came to Jesus. 531 00:27:06,560 –> 00:27:08,160 Mark 1 in verse 40, 532 00:27:08,199 –> 00:27:11,319 this man comes to Jesus and He begs Him. 533 00:27:11,319 –> 00:27:13,800 There’s the intensity of his request. 534 00:27:13,800 –> 00:27:15,959 Begged Him on his knees. 535 00:27:16,859 –> 00:27:20,260 If you are willing, this man says to Jesus, 536 00:27:20,260 –> 00:27:22,819 you can make me clean. 537 00:27:23,959 –> 00:27:26,260 Now notice two things about this man’s prayer. 538 00:27:27,420 –> 00:27:30,000 He knows that Christ can heal him. 539 00:27:31,280 –> 00:27:33,880 You can make me clean, there’s no doubt about that. 540 00:27:34,839 –> 00:27:38,540 But he does not know if it is Christ’s purpose 541 00:27:38,540 –> 00:27:41,599 particularly to make him clean, 542 00:27:41,599 –> 00:27:44,359 to cleanse him from his leprosy. 543 00:27:44,359 –> 00:27:48,140 So he says, if you are willing. 544 00:27:49,119 –> 00:27:52,079 So here’s a man who comes in a situation 545 00:27:52,079 –> 00:27:54,560 where the outcome is not clear to him. 546 00:27:55,959 –> 00:28:00,520 For him to ask with assurance would only be presumption 547 00:28:01,520 –> 00:28:03,680 because Christ has not made his will known. 548 00:28:04,959 –> 00:28:07,119 So he asks with submission. 549 00:28:08,260 –> 00:28:11,680 And in this way he honors Christ with his faith. 550 00:28:12,920 –> 00:28:16,020 And I want you to see how wonderfully he receves the gift. 551 00:28:16,939 –> 00:28:18,280 Filled with compassion. 552 00:28:18,280 –> 00:28:19,359 Mark 1, 41 553 00:28:19,359 –> 00:28:22,439 Jesus reached out his hand and he touched the man. 554 00:28:22,439 –> 00:28:24,239 I am willing. 555 00:28:24,239 –> 00:28:26,640 He said, be clean. 556 00:28:27,619 –> 00:28:30,599 So friends, this is not an inferior kind of praying. 557 00:28:31,520 –> 00:28:33,520 Faith prays with assurance 558 00:28:33,520 –> 00:28:35,880 where God has made the outcome clear, 559 00:28:35,880 –> 00:28:38,020 and faith prays with submission 560 00:28:38,020 –> 00:28:40,839 where God has kept the outcome hidden. 561 00:28:40,839 –> 00:28:43,699 This is the appropriate way of praying 562 00:28:43,699 –> 00:28:46,520 where we do not have a promise of Scripture 563 00:28:46,520 –> 00:28:49,040 directed to our particular situation 564 00:28:49,040 –> 00:28:51,199 or a prompting of the spirit 565 00:28:51,199 –> 00:28:52,439 that has been made known 566 00:28:52,439 –> 00:28:55,699 in regards to the matter about which we pray. 567 00:28:56,760 –> 00:28:59,140 Let me give you a second example, 568 00:28:59,140 –> 00:29:01,640 and it comes from no one less than the apostle Paul 569 00:29:01,640 –> 00:29:04,880 in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 in verse seven. 570 00:29:04,880 –> 00:29:06,280 You know this passage well. 571 00:29:07,500 –> 00:29:09,219 There was given to me, Paul says, 572 00:29:09,219 –> 00:29:11,680 a thorn in my flesh, 573 00:29:12,680 –> 00:29:15,280 a messenger of Satan 574 00:29:16,199 –> 00:29:17,060 to torment me. 575 00:29:18,479 –> 00:29:19,520 Now you would think 576 00:29:19,520 –> 00:29:22,660 that the outcome of Paul’s praying here 577 00:29:22,660 –> 00:29:25,180 would have to be quite clear. 578 00:29:26,079 –> 00:29:27,540 I mean, here’s the apostle, 579 00:29:28,540 –> 00:29:30,520 and what a mighty man of faith he is. 580 00:29:32,260 –> 00:29:34,180 And he’s doing God’s work. 581 00:29:35,520 –> 00:29:38,040 And there is something that he perceives 582 00:29:38,040 –> 00:29:40,839 here as tormenting him, it’s trouble to him. 583 00:29:42,040 –> 00:29:43,260 And what’s more than that? 584 00:29:43,260 –> 00:29:45,660 Satan is actively involved. 585 00:29:45,660 –> 00:29:47,180 If Satan is actively involved, 586 00:29:47,180 –> 00:29:48,579 surely it’s an open and shut case 587 00:29:48,579 –> 00:29:50,400 as to what the outcome must be. 588 00:29:51,979 –> 00:29:53,599 So Paul begins to pray. 589 00:29:54,599 –> 00:29:58,800 Verse eight, three times I pleaded with the Lord, 590 00:29:58,800 –> 00:30:01,459 notice that word, I pleaded with the Lord 591 00:30:01,459 –> 00:30:04,040 to take it away from me. 592 00:30:05,579 –> 00:30:09,959 Here’s the apostle pouring himself into intercession. 593 00:30:11,260 –> 00:30:13,239 See Satan in this. 594 00:30:15,219 –> 00:30:19,579 But verse nine, Christ said to me, 595 00:30:20,520 –> 00:30:24,060 my grace is sufficient for you for my power 596 00:30:24,060 –> 00:30:26,140 is made perfect in weakness, 597 00:30:27,239 –> 00:30:29,660 therefore I will boast all the more gladly 598 00:30:29,660 –> 00:30:34,660 about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 599 00:30:38,319 –> 00:30:40,920 So you see the Paul’s faith rests 600 00:30:40,920 –> 00:30:43,939 not on an assurance of the outcome, 601 00:30:45,160 –> 00:30:47,339 but in a submission to the outcome. 602 00:30:48,260 –> 00:30:51,199 And friends, the Bible is full of examples 603 00:30:51,199 –> 00:30:53,520 of this marvelous faith. 604 00:30:54,699 –> 00:30:56,640 The King Nebuchadnezzar sets up 605 00:30:56,640 –> 00:30:58,959 this image of gold in the book of Daniel. 606 00:31:00,319 –> 00:31:02,359 And Shadrach, and Meshach, and Abednego 607 00:31:02,359 –> 00:31:04,199 will not bow down to the image. 608 00:31:04,199 –> 00:31:05,859 And they’re called before the king, 609 00:31:05,859 –> 00:31:08,119 and there’s a fiery furnace that’s been prepared, 610 00:31:08,119 –> 00:31:09,599 and it’s very hot. 611 00:31:09,599 –> 00:31:11,300 And they say to him, 612 00:31:11,300 –> 00:31:13,760 if you throw us into the blazing furnace, 613 00:31:13,760 –> 00:31:16,760 O king, the God that we serve is able 614 00:31:16,760 –> 00:31:18,880 to save us from the furnace, and he will, 615 00:31:18,880 –> 00:31:20,640 but even if he does not. 616 00:31:21,560 –> 00:31:22,560 We want you to know, O king, 617 00:31:22,560 –> 00:31:25,219 that we will never worship the image of gold 618 00:31:25,219 –> 00:31:26,260 that you have set up. 619 00:31:27,560 –> 00:31:30,680 Remember, Job, when he’s wrestling with his own pain, 620 00:31:30,680 –> 00:31:32,660 and he’s wrestling with his own suffering, 621 00:31:32,660 –> 00:31:34,339 and he says to God, 622 00:31:34,339 –> 00:31:36,800 though you slay me, 623 00:31:38,520 –> 00:31:42,199 yet will I trust you. 624 00:31:42,239 –> 00:31:44,140 That’s faith submitting, 625 00:31:44,140 –> 00:31:46,819 where you just don’t know what the outcome’s gonna be. 626 00:31:48,839 –> 00:31:51,359 And of course, the greatest example 627 00:31:51,359 –> 00:31:54,079 of praying in faith in all of scripture 628 00:31:54,079 –> 00:31:56,560 is right here in the Garden of Gethsemane, 629 00:31:56,560 –> 00:31:57,959 when our Lord Jesus says, 630 00:31:57,959 –> 00:32:01,160 Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. 631 00:32:01,160 –> 00:32:02,520 And then, he says this, 632 00:32:02,520 –> 00:32:06,400 take this cup from me, 633 00:32:06,400 –> 00:32:07,959 Mark 14, 36, 634 00:32:09,000 –> 00:32:09,839 yet, 635 00:32:10,839 –> 00:32:14,400 not what I will, but what you will, 636 00:32:14,400 –> 00:32:18,760 and your salvation and mine 637 00:32:19,760 –> 00:32:23,880 hangs on the faith of Christ submitting 638 00:32:25,060 –> 00:32:28,119 to the purpose of the Father Almighty. 639 00:32:30,239 –> 00:32:33,079 So folks, that’s what we’re learning from the bible. 640 00:32:33,079 –> 00:32:35,900 Faith prays in two ways. 641 00:32:37,040 –> 00:32:39,640 It prays with assurance, 642 00:32:39,640 –> 00:32:41,880 and it prays with submission. 643 00:32:41,880 –> 00:32:45,819 These are not grades or tiers of prayer in any kind of way. 644 00:32:45,819 –> 00:32:47,959 They are simply two kinds of prayer 645 00:32:47,959 –> 00:32:50,859 that are appropriate to different circumstances 646 00:32:50,859 –> 00:32:53,380 and inappropriate to the reverse circumstance. 647 00:32:55,660 –> 00:32:59,000 Prayer with assurance where God’s will is known. 648 00:32:59,000 –> 00:33:03,099 Prayer with submission where God’s will is kept hidden. 649 00:33:04,839 –> 00:33:07,160 So I want simply to make these two applications 650 00:33:07,160 –> 00:33:08,859 and encouragements to us 651 00:33:08,859 –> 00:33:11,699 so that we may grow in our own prayer 652 00:33:11,699 –> 00:33:13,479 as a result of our time today. 653 00:33:14,640 –> 00:33:16,819 As the first obvious encouragement, 654 00:33:16,819 –> 00:33:21,819 pray with submission in what God has kept hidden. 655 00:33:22,760 –> 00:33:23,599 Will you do that? 656 00:33:23,599 –> 00:33:26,099 I want to encourage you in that. 657 00:33:26,099 –> 00:33:30,619 Pray with submission in what God has kept hidden. 658 00:33:31,560 –> 00:33:32,400 In other words, 659 00:33:32,400 –> 00:33:36,839 I’m asking that we cultivate humility 660 00:33:37,839 –> 00:33:39,160 in our praying. 661 00:33:41,660 –> 00:33:43,060 You may ask, 662 00:33:44,380 –> 00:33:46,640 you may plead as Paul did, 663 00:33:46,640 –> 00:33:51,020 you may beg as that guy with the leper who came to Jesus did 664 00:33:52,920 –> 00:33:56,099 but always remember that you are asking. 665 00:33:57,520 –> 00:33:58,699 You are not commanding. 666 00:34:00,800 –> 00:34:03,599 Listen to these words from James 4. 667 00:34:03,640 –> 00:34:07,719 Listen to you, he says, verse 13. 668 00:34:07,719 –> 00:34:10,260 Listen you who say today or tomorrow 669 00:34:10,260 –> 00:34:12,479 we’re going to go to this and that city. 670 00:34:12,479 –> 00:34:13,800 We’re gonna spend a year here, 671 00:34:13,800 –> 00:34:15,040 we’re gonna carry on business, 672 00:34:15,040 –> 00:34:16,219 we’re gonna make money. 673 00:34:16,219 –> 00:34:19,260 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. 674 00:34:20,479 –> 00:34:21,679 What is your life? 675 00:34:23,080 –> 00:34:26,179 You are a mist that appears for a little while 676 00:34:26,179 –> 00:34:27,159 and then vanishes. 677 00:34:27,159 –> 00:34:29,080 Instead you ought to say, 678 00:34:29,080 –> 00:34:33,260 if it is the Lord’s will, we will live. 679 00:34:34,100 –> 00:34:36,760 And we will do this or that. 680 00:34:36,760 –> 00:34:38,280 Folks, what James says to us there 681 00:34:38,280 –> 00:34:42,679 applies to our praying as well as to our planning. 682 00:34:42,679 –> 00:34:46,179 It is not a cop-out to say as you pray, 683 00:34:46,179 –> 00:34:48,479 if it is the Lord’s will. 684 00:34:48,479 –> 00:34:51,080 If God has not made the outcome known, 685 00:34:51,080 –> 00:34:53,000 that is how we pray. 686 00:34:53,000 –> 00:34:55,760 Anything else would be presumption. 687 00:34:56,800 –> 00:34:59,000 So cultivate humility where you are praying 688 00:34:59,000 –> 00:35:00,520 about a job, or about health 689 00:35:00,520 –> 00:35:02,399 or about salvation of a loved one. 690 00:35:03,239 –> 00:35:06,580 We know that it is God’s will that people should be saved. 691 00:35:06,580 –> 00:35:09,500 We do not know which people will be saved, 692 00:35:10,379 –> 00:35:11,919 so we pray with humility. 693 00:35:13,280 –> 00:35:16,959 And that will keep you from blaming yourself, 694 00:35:16,959 –> 00:35:19,239 and it will keep you from resenting God. 695 00:35:20,120 –> 00:35:22,020 It’s of huge practical importance. 696 00:35:23,360 –> 00:35:27,399 And folks, I’m convinced that this is of huge importance 697 00:35:27,399 –> 00:35:29,959 to us as we pray for our nation, 698 00:35:29,959 –> 00:35:34,959 and the secret things belong to the Lord. 699 00:35:37,760 –> 00:35:42,120 The purpose of God in the rise and in the fall of nations 700 00:35:42,120 –> 00:35:44,399 is kept hidden from us. 701 00:35:46,320 –> 00:35:50,379 And God may give us a thorn in the side of the nation, 702 00:35:53,159 –> 00:35:55,260 a nation that in large measure 703 00:35:55,260 –> 00:35:59,419 moves away from Christian faith. 704 00:36:00,439 –> 00:36:04,699 And He may do it to keep us from becoming conceited 705 00:36:06,159 –> 00:36:08,399 over the surpassingly great blessings 706 00:36:08,399 –> 00:36:10,080 that He has given to us. 707 00:36:10,080 –> 00:36:12,419 And He may say to us in it, 708 00:36:13,620 –> 00:36:16,300 my grace is sufficient for you. 709 00:36:17,239 –> 00:36:22,239 My strength is made perfect in your weakness. 710 00:36:24,760 –> 00:36:26,959 I do not know what the purpose of God is nor do you. 711 00:36:26,959 –> 00:36:31,959 What I’m saying is this, let us cultivate humility. 712 00:36:32,959 –> 00:36:36,300 Oh, what a dreadful thing, what an offensive thing 713 00:36:36,300 –> 00:36:39,139 to be arrogant before the throne of grace. 714 00:36:40,840 –> 00:36:43,639 Let us cultivate humility in our praying. 715 00:36:43,639 –> 00:36:47,040 Pray with submission in regards 716 00:36:47,040 –> 00:36:51,879 to all that God has kept hidden. 717 00:36:52,239 –> 00:36:55,879 And then pray with assurance 718 00:36:57,000 –> 00:36:59,699 with regards to all that God has revealed. 719 00:36:59,699 –> 00:37:03,360 Or to put it another way, cultivate boldness. 720 00:37:03,360 –> 00:37:05,280 Boldness in your praying. 721 00:37:06,360 –> 00:37:08,659 God may make his purpose known either through, 722 00:37:08,659 –> 00:37:10,699 we thought about a prompting of the spirit, 723 00:37:10,699 –> 00:37:12,899 but much more often and regularly, 724 00:37:12,899 –> 00:37:14,760 God makes His purpose very plain 725 00:37:14,760 –> 00:37:16,739 through the promises of Scripture. 726 00:37:16,739 –> 00:37:20,199 And when God has spoken a clear promise for all people, 727 00:37:20,239 –> 00:37:23,939 you can pray with great assurance. 728 00:37:23,939 –> 00:37:26,600 The Scripture is full of such promises. 729 00:37:27,520 –> 00:37:32,520 The Bible is like a field that is full of buried treasure. 730 00:37:32,879 –> 00:37:35,719 And prayer digs up the promises of God. 731 00:37:35,719 –> 00:37:37,459 That’s what prayer does. 732 00:37:37,459 –> 00:37:40,000 Imagine owning a field that is full 733 00:37:40,000 –> 00:37:42,320 of buried treasure and never digging. 734 00:37:44,120 –> 00:37:45,919 That’s what it is, if we don’t pray. 735 00:37:46,919 –> 00:37:50,919 And prayer digs up the promises of God. 736 00:37:50,919 –> 00:37:53,479 And where God has given a particular promise, 737 00:37:53,479 –> 00:37:56,959 which is for all people, we may pray with great assurance. 738 00:37:56,959 –> 00:37:58,760 So let me end on this note. 739 00:37:58,760 –> 00:38:01,060 God has said, 740 00:38:01,060 –> 00:38:04,800 though your sins be as scarlet, 741 00:38:04,800 –> 00:38:07,360 they shall be as white as snow. 742 00:38:09,600 –> 00:38:12,000 When you come to ask God for forgiveness, 743 00:38:12,000 –> 00:38:13,600 you don’t need to come and to say, 744 00:38:13,639 –> 00:38:16,020 Oh Lord, please forgive me if it is your will. 745 00:38:16,020 –> 00:38:17,699 Why? Because you know it’s His will. 746 00:38:17,699 –> 00:38:18,560 He’s revealed it. 747 00:38:19,820 –> 00:38:21,060 He’s already told you. 748 00:38:21,939 –> 00:38:23,300 Christ has come, 749 00:38:23,300 –> 00:38:24,179 Christ has died, 750 00:38:24,179 –> 00:38:25,199 Christ is risen. 751 00:38:25,199 –> 00:38:26,040 Christ calls you, 752 00:38:26,040 –> 00:38:27,179 Christ invites you! 753 00:38:27,179 –> 00:38:29,379 Christ’s blood is shed for you. 754 00:38:30,340 –> 00:38:31,979 So when you come to pray about this, 755 00:38:31,979 –> 00:38:34,739 pray with great assurance, 756 00:38:34,739 –> 00:38:35,979 because this promise is given. 757 00:38:35,979 –> 00:38:36,820 God has said, 758 00:38:36,820 –> 00:38:37,899 if you, who are fathers, 759 00:38:37,899 –> 00:38:39,879 know how to give good gifts to your children, 760 00:38:39,879 –> 00:38:42,020 how much more will your heavenly Father 761 00:38:42,139 –> 00:38:44,959 forgive the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. 762 00:38:44,959 –> 00:38:47,879 So when you come to ask for power from the Holy Spirit 763 00:38:47,879 –> 00:38:50,020 and strength to be able to stand this week, 764 00:38:50,020 –> 00:38:51,439 you don’t need to say give me strength 765 00:38:51,439 –> 00:38:52,280 if it be your will. 766 00:38:52,280 –> 00:38:53,120 Why? 767 00:38:53,120 –> 00:38:54,919 Because God has already revealed His will 768 00:38:54,919 –> 00:38:57,280 in the promise that He has given to you. 769 00:38:59,120 –> 00:39:01,399 The promises of God open the door 770 00:39:01,399 –> 00:39:04,360 to faith that prays with great assurance 771 00:39:04,360 –> 00:39:06,000 and with boldness. 772 00:39:06,000 –> 00:39:08,479 Let us come, boldly, 773 00:39:08,479 –> 00:39:09,739 the book of Hebrews says, 774 00:39:09,739 –> 00:39:11,280 to the throne of grace. 775 00:39:11,300 –> 00:39:12,120 Why? 776 00:39:12,120 –> 00:39:14,179 So that we may receive mercy 777 00:39:14,179 –> 00:39:17,479 and find grace to help us Christians 778 00:39:17,479 –> 00:39:21,379 in our time of need. 779 00:39:21,379 –> 00:39:23,719 That’s how faith operates in prayer. 780 00:39:25,100 –> 00:39:27,939 You take God at His Word. 781 00:39:29,040 –> 00:39:32,620 You say, Lord, you’ve said though my sins be as scarlet, 782 00:39:32,620 –> 00:39:34,479 they shall be white as snow. 783 00:39:35,699 –> 00:39:36,820 And Lord, 784 00:39:38,739 –> 00:39:40,479 my sins are as scarlet. 785 00:39:42,199 –> 00:39:43,639 You have said, Oh God, 786 00:39:43,639 –> 00:39:46,820 that you sent your Son into the world for sinners. 787 00:39:46,820 –> 00:39:51,179 Oh Lord, I am that sinner. 788 00:39:52,639 –> 00:39:56,040 So I believe your promise 789 00:39:57,879 –> 00:39:59,399 and I embrace 790 00:40:00,919 –> 00:40:03,939 and I receive and I rejoice 791 00:40:03,939 –> 00:40:06,699 in all that you have said 792 00:40:07,719 –> 00:40:10,260 as mine. 793 00:40:11,800 –> 00:40:13,959 Let’s pray together, shall we? 794 00:40:13,959 –> 00:40:16,520 Dear Lord, teach us to pray. 795 00:40:20,080 –> 00:40:23,459 To pray with great humility in what you have kept secret, 796 00:40:24,600 –> 00:40:28,139 to pray with great boldness in what you have revealed. 797 00:40:30,260 –> 00:40:33,199 Lord, increase my faith. 798 00:40:35,179 –> 00:40:38,679 Lord, increase our faith 799 00:40:39,520 –> 00:40:42,939 and help us to pray and to live with a faith 800 00:40:42,939 –> 00:40:46,219 that trusts and a faith that submits to Christ 801 00:40:46,219 –> 00:40:51,219 in all things for his name’s sake and for his glory. 802 00:40:54,419 –> 00:40:55,260 Amen.