back to indexPraise and Prayer Night 9.25.20
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♪ My guilt and cross laid on your shoulders ♪ 00:00:58.940 |
♪ You rose the grave and death are conquered ♪ 00:01:14.340 |
♪ You rose the grave and death are conquered ♪ 00:01:21.840 |
♪ You rose the grave and death are conquered ♪ 00:08:34.660 |
♪ Firm through the fiercest drought and storm ♪ 00:08:39.660 |
♪ What heights of love, what depths of peace ♪ 00:09:56.240 |
♪ Here in the ground, through the cloudy day ♪ 00:12:20.240 |
that we can come and rejoice, glorify your name. 00:12:24.440 |
We ask Lord God that you may continue to remind us 00:12:35.280 |
that deserves honor, worship, dedication in our lives. 00:12:40.280 |
Lord, I thank you Lord that you gathered your church 00:12:47.640 |
to shift our attention to the most important thing is you. 00:12:58.200 |
that we may be spiritually sensitive Lord God 00:13:02.540 |
as we think through what we do and why we come. 00:13:16.360 |
So God, I thank you again that you gathered your church 00:13:20.720 |
corporately to spend extended time in prayer. 00:13:30.460 |
our other inabilities to do anything fruitful 00:13:39.060 |
that this time may be a joy filled time of celebration 00:13:45.140 |
as we hear about what's going on in the world. 00:15:23.440 |
♪ Beautiful Savior you have brought me near ♪ 00:15:47.080 |
♪ Blessed Redeemer you have sent the families near ♪ 00:22:55.720 |
it's already been some time, so don't know him. 00:22:58.500 |
Alex has been, he came to our church all the way back 00:23:08.260 |
growing and learning, he went to the Master's Seminary 00:23:12.580 |
And then at Berean, he served in the college ministry. 00:23:24.020 |
they went out with the heart to go do ministry overseas. 00:23:26.980 |
It's already been many years out doing ministry. 00:23:38.580 |
But I wanna take a moment just to warmly welcome him. 00:24:01.500 |
And it's really great to be back here with you guys. 00:24:13.340 |
after probably a year and several months being in Taiwan. 00:24:17.740 |
And so I'm really grateful for this opportunity. 00:24:21.780 |
If you could turn your Bibles to Psalm chapter 47, 00:24:24.460 |
we're not gonna be just staying in this text, 00:24:28.940 |
but this is a text I want us to read together 00:24:38.140 |
is just to raise awareness of what's going on overseas, 00:24:46.220 |
and ways in which we can pray for the churches 00:25:13.900 |
For the Lord, the most high, is to be feared, 00:25:19.580 |
He subdued peoples under us and nations under our feet. 00:26:29.340 |
And so, Lord God, as we come before you tonight, 00:26:36.820 |
a desire to see your name proclaimed to the earth, 00:26:43.740 |
We understand the situation that we're all in 00:26:52.260 |
of just all of the troubles we see in our world today, 00:26:57.100 |
but God, please use this night to shed light, 00:27:00.900 |
to shed light into seeing how you are working, 00:27:04.300 |
not just here in America, but in the nations. 00:27:10.420 |
And so, Lord God, we pray and ask for your blessing 00:27:19.140 |
I chose this psalm because if you were to ask missionaries 00:27:30.580 |
what motivates them, it's typically this image 00:27:38.300 |
Where the nations are acknowledging God for who he is, 00:27:45.860 |
That is like the biggest hope, the greatest desire 00:28:18.780 |
"After this, I looked and behold a great multitude 00:28:22.540 |
"that no one could number, from every nation, 00:28:28.760 |
"standing before the throne and before the lamb, 00:28:31.880 |
"clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 00:28:56.040 |
or even as just Christians in general, right? 00:28:59.780 |
Revelation chapter seven, verse nine and 10 is that, 00:29:18.900 |
we had previously lived in China for three and a half years, 00:29:26.240 |
just doing a lot of evangelizing, discipling, 00:29:29.000 |
just teaching God's word in various contexts. 00:29:33.280 |
And it was after those three and a half years 00:29:44.720 |
and we moved to Taiwan primarily to learn Chinese, right? 00:29:48.860 |
Because our hope and our desire is to go back into China 00:30:13.940 |
and it's still a great task that needs to be done. 00:30:17.860 |
In fact, if we give just a statistical breakdown, 00:30:28.420 |
And to give you a little bit more perspective, 00:30:30.020 |
that's 12% of the world population living in one country. 00:30:34.200 |
And so I know it's hard to get visas to get into China, 00:30:38.620 |
it's a very arduous process, but once you get that visa, 00:30:42.540 |
wow, man, you have access to 12% of the world's population. 00:31:00.920 |
which consists of many different people groups 00:31:09.600 |
In fact, more than half of the country's people groups, 00:31:15.880 |
right, this term people groups refers to like a group 00:31:25.880 |
And so there will be no obstacles to reach to them 00:31:29.000 |
if you were to speak to them in their native tongue, okay? 00:31:31.960 |
So in China, more than half of the country's people groups 00:31:54.760 |
you could see why China is such a big component 00:31:59.760 |
when we think about Revelation chapter seven, verse nine, 00:32:03.260 |
when we think about the tribes and the peoples 00:32:08.380 |
But if you guys have been keeping up with the news, 00:32:31.320 |
in terms of the pandemic and heightened security. 00:32:38.760 |
of just overseas workers are being either kicked out 00:32:49.120 |
And we're finding that there is just many, many hurdles 00:32:54.160 |
In fact, as you may have already know already, 00:32:58.780 |
there is just, the government is taking more control 00:33:06.260 |
In fact, it seems like they want to eliminate 00:33:19.280 |
if you speak this language at school, you're not allowed. 00:33:26.340 |
I know you guys think Inner Mongolia, isn't that a country? 00:33:30.500 |
And they used to teach Mongolian in their schools 00:33:39.040 |
an attempt to control the ethnic minority there. 00:33:44.460 |
Churches are doing their best in the pandemic. 00:33:47.340 |
They are trying to meet online like you guys are, right? 00:33:50.980 |
As many of the US churches are doing as well. 00:34:03.960 |
And so we see that we are in a unique time in history. 00:34:17.220 |
the Chinese government actively expelled overseas workers. 00:34:21.060 |
However, we do know that the churches in China 00:34:34.940 |
as I think as any church's DNA would also have 00:34:42.800 |
Despite the opposition, the churches in China 00:34:47.000 |
continue to meet for fellowship and ministry. 00:34:50.120 |
In fact, I'm hearing stories of churches still sending out 00:34:59.200 |
that's mind-blowing considering the pandemic, 00:35:06.340 |
to bring the gospel to those who have not heard. 00:35:19.740 |
because there is opposition from the government, 00:35:23.800 |
And that is a tremendous encouragement for all of us. 00:35:34.420 |
well, I mean, our original goal was to go back 00:35:59.220 |
If you guys are Chinese, you guys know there is a difference 00:36:11.660 |
I didn't lose my Beijing hwa though, I still had my R's. 00:36:17.020 |
And so we're grateful that we finished language 00:36:32.720 |
It took me about three weeks to recover from all that. 00:36:36.080 |
But to have that opportunity, the pastor just said, 00:36:38.660 |
"Yeah, I think I understood what you're saying." 00:36:44.620 |
But as I said, our original plan was to go back 00:36:53.220 |
into China in August, but because of the pandemic 00:37:04.540 |
has affected many of us in so many different ways, 00:37:12.140 |
in terms of where and when, right, where and when. 00:37:18.980 |
the most unstable time period of our family's history, 00:37:37.420 |
And if you were to ask me, "Hey, Alex, where are you going?" 00:37:42.740 |
I don't know where in China, but I'm going to China. 00:37:47.180 |
'cause I thought I was where I felt God was leading me. 00:37:49.940 |
And this is probably the first time in 13 years 00:37:53.400 |
where I can honestly say, "I don't know where I'm going." 00:38:09.200 |
this is probably one of the most unstable periods 00:38:17.580 |
Because the Bible describes the Christian life 00:38:37.340 |
and to understand what it means to trust in the Lord, 00:38:46.860 |
but Christ is the one who will establish them. 00:39:06.420 |
"and we're getting furniture and all this stuff." 00:39:07.900 |
And I'm like, "Man, our church came in a clutch." 00:39:12.380 |
And I'm so grateful for all of you guys who've helped. 00:39:15.220 |
So as much as we're uncertain of when and where, 00:39:24.180 |
is that God will continue to raise up workers 00:39:37.780 |
to be convicted, to see the nations come to know Christ 00:39:44.380 |
Pastor Peter recommended this book to me a long time ago. 00:39:55.300 |
He was a missionary to the Lisu people in China. 00:40:02.660 |
And one of the quotes that continues to strike me 00:40:06.620 |
is that solid, lasting missionary work is done on our knees. 00:40:12.840 |
Solid, lasting missionary work is done on our knees. 00:40:21.260 |
may be the physical evidence of missionary work, 00:40:26.020 |
it's really the power of that work is done through prayer. 00:40:29.800 |
And so with that, I would like us to pray for China tonight. 00:40:38.580 |
The first prayer topic is to pray for the spiritual health 00:40:49.560 |
the amount of pressure that the leaders would have. 00:40:55.240 |
I mean, I'm pretty sure the leaders in America, 00:40:58.060 |
the pastors of American churches know this pressure as well. 00:41:01.160 |
But the pastors and the leaders of the churches in China 00:41:11.680 |
to have a growing presence in their gospel witness 00:41:29.620 |
And so we need to pray for the spiritual health 00:41:39.780 |
They're doing so many atrocities, causing so much trouble. 00:41:43.640 |
I mean, ask my son how the coronavirus started 00:41:56.220 |
the government itself still needs our prayers. 00:42:05.140 |
And pray for the government leaders who may be Christians. 00:42:10.100 |
Right, there might be Christians in the government 00:42:16.720 |
to comply with the communist values and beliefs. 00:42:21.320 |
Pray for them, pray that they will remain faithful 00:42:39.660 |
where they can actually send workers overseas, right? 00:42:44.620 |
There are many countries that a Chinese passport 00:42:53.720 |
And so many churches in China are starting to see that 00:43:01.120 |
And so we need to pray that God would raise them up. 00:43:08.520 |
Pray that God would raise up believers in China 00:43:13.100 |
And lastly, pray for the raising up of missionaries 00:43:22.640 |
I honestly believe that we are now in a shift 00:43:27.640 |
in terms of what the missionary work looks like. 00:43:32.860 |
You know, I think the traditional way can still work, 00:43:37.820 |
but I also believe that there needs to be a change. 00:43:56.140 |
How are you supporting your family of five as a student? 00:44:48.700 |
we're gonna be praying for the Tong family as well. 00:44:55.700 |
where they are waiting to go back into China. 00:45:12.460 |
So just kind of continue to pray for that family. 00:45:19.540 |
and then after I give maybe about three or four minutes 00:45:29.300 |
and then another leader will come and wrap that up. 00:45:31.020 |
And we'll do that about five times before we wrap it up. 00:45:40.460 |
because they packed up their bags and went overseas, 00:45:59.900 |
They have financial issues just like everybody else. 00:46:04.620 |
to make the Great Commission the greatest priority 00:46:09.600 |
And so they're living out their life faithfully overseas 00:46:20.440 |
So as we pray for them, remember all those things. 00:46:24.560 |
And on top of the things that we wrestle with, 00:46:27.120 |
the lack of accountability, lack of community, 00:46:32.400 |
without direction, sometimes spiritual fatigue, 00:46:38.560 |
So I really want you guys to lift up that family. 00:46:42.960 |
You can imagine not knowing where they're gonna go, 00:46:49.200 |
And so if you guys can take some time to pray, 00:46:51.200 |
along with all of these things, pray for that. 00:46:57.680 |
and he's going to wrap this part for us, okay? 00:51:45.140 |
Our God, we lift up to you, Pastor Alex and Jen. 00:51:51.700 |
And we request, Father God, that you will strengthen them and 00:51:55.580 |
allow them, Father God, to be encouraged by your sovereignty. 00:52:01.060 |
Lord, in the midst of circumstances that change and 00:52:04.180 |
situations that feel completely out of their power, we pray, Father God, 00:52:11.580 |
We also pray, God, that during this time as they're here stateside, 00:52:17.220 |
Lord, that you would cause them to be strengthened in every way, 00:52:20.140 |
that especially also in their private devotion and 00:52:23.540 |
their relationship with you would be all the more bolstered. 00:52:26.700 |
God, their affection for you, their vision and 00:52:29.220 |
commitment to serve you in every way possible, will continue to thrive. 00:52:33.620 |
And Lord, would you then use them in every way, that they'll temporarily hear, 00:52:38.820 |
or as they go, that you will cause your light to shine through them. 00:52:46.500 |
particularly the Christians who are there in the churches, that God truly, 00:52:50.380 |
underneath pressure, persecution, and uneasiness, Lord, 00:52:53.860 |
you would cause them to be all the more reliant upon you. 00:52:57.260 |
That their dedication to you would grow, and that, God, 00:53:00.180 |
you would strengthen the churches to disciple people, Father God, 00:53:03.540 |
to be committed to your truth, to your word, and to your gospel. 00:53:10.060 |
God, that although as an entity, it almost feels to us, Father God, 00:53:17.340 |
And yet, Lord, we recognize that there are, Lord, you work in ways where there are 00:53:21.620 |
officials or individuals who, although in the place of power, rather than rejecting 00:53:27.300 |
you, rather than rejecting any authority above themselves, 00:53:31.340 |
God, that you would cause those individuals to submit to you. 00:53:34.500 |
And we pray, Father God, that truly you would bring your truth, 00:53:40.620 |
cause people to be under your love and your salvation. 00:53:44.740 |
Again, all the scenario and situations surrounding ministry there, 00:53:49.060 |
we know, Father God, there is uneasiness and worry, but we lift all those things 00:53:52.900 |
up to you, knowing, God, that your salvation and your truth is so powerful. 00:54:05.940 |
And again, I posted up, I think, a couple of weeks ago, 00:54:10.420 |
I did get an email from Pastor Sake about the ministry that they're engaged in. 00:54:16.940 |
Because of transportation, the COVID situation is much harsher than here. 00:54:21.660 |
And so, they have to sometimes walk into the villages. 00:54:26.020 |
And so, a lot of the smaller rickshaws that they use to get into villages are 00:54:31.500 |
So, they're actually walking, you know, tens and, you know, I mean, long time. 00:54:35.420 |
If you've been to those villages, you know how long it takes to get 00:54:39.540 |
So, they are actively still doing ministry, but just much harder. 00:54:46.580 |
And so, the last update I gave, you know, they came into our training center and 00:54:52.380 |
basically targeted a couple of our pastors, and they were beaten, 00:54:56.540 |
And so, they said it's getting better, but again, they're not fully healed. 00:55:00.020 |
But in the midst of that, they're taking the gospel to the villages. 00:55:02.700 |
So, you know, as we are challenged, you know, like, again, our primary concern 00:55:08.340 |
that we want to make sure that our children are saved, we want to make sure 00:55:11.100 |
that we're healthy, that we have our jobs, and those are our constant concerns. 00:55:14.780 |
But I think, you know, true fellowship is to be able to suffer with those suffer and 00:55:20.980 |
And so, let's take some time to pray as if those are our brothers and our sisters, 00:55:25.420 |
our uncles, our fathers, and not to pray like those people over there, 00:55:29.780 |
but these are people that, again, that we are doing ministry with. 00:55:32.780 |
So, let's really, really, like, have a spirit of praying with urgency for them, 00:55:39.500 |
So, I want to read a passage, and then I want you to pray in these lines. 00:55:45.780 |
Apostle Paul, 2 Thessalonians 3, 1, 2, 3, says, "Finally, brethren, 00:55:48.580 |
pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, 00:55:54.300 |
just as it did also with you, and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men, 00:55:59.780 |
for not all have faith, but the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and 00:56:05.580 |
Let's pray along these lines that there will be a sense of urgency, 00:56:09.820 |
not only in them, but in us, to spread the gospel, and that in the midst of spreading 00:56:13.540 |
this gospel, that God would protect them so that they can do this more rapidly. 00:56:17.100 |
So, let's take some time to pray, and then Elder James is going to come up in about 00:56:20.500 |
four minutes, and he's going to wrap us up in prayer for that. 01:00:18.140 |
Father, our deep desire, Lord, is that your word would be honored. 01:00:23.140 |
We receive so much joy, Lord, when we see someone who is lost come to faith. 01:00:31.140 |
And so, Lord, it is heartbreaking right now, Lord, to see so many people confused. 01:00:38.140 |
But, Lord, even now, we know very well that you are actively at work, 01:00:47.140 |
Lord, as we consider our brothers and sisters in India, 01:00:51.140 |
how even before the pandemic, Lord, their life was not easy. 01:00:57.140 |
And their life has only gotten much more difficult since the start of this pandemic. 01:01:03.140 |
But, Lord, it would appear that their faith has grown even stronger, 01:01:08.140 |
that despite situational difficulties, Lord, that they are moving forward, 01:01:15.140 |
advancing the gospel, even with long journeys, Lord, 01:01:20.140 |
where their feet are sore and they're blistered. 01:01:26.140 |
But all they could think about, Lord, is what you're going to do in these other villages. 01:01:34.140 |
We thank you for just their love for you and how, Lord, 01:01:40.140 |
despite the 33 million gods that are worshipped in some way, shape, or form in India, 01:01:55.140 |
And so, Lord, as they continue, we pray, Lord, that even though the darkness is thick, 01:02:02.140 |
that as the light is just shining brightly in their lives, in their speech, 01:02:09.140 |
that your word would cut many people, that it would bring many to repentance, Father. 01:02:17.140 |
And that as they come to repentance, that you will continue to sanctify these new believers, 01:02:24.140 |
raising up more workers, Lord, and just multiplying faithful believers in that region. 01:02:31.140 |
We know, Lord, that many of the families are suffering directly because of their faith in you. 01:02:41.140 |
Would you continue to remind them that this life is short 01:02:46.140 |
and that the sufferings of this life are not worthy to even be compared to the glory that is going to be revealed? 01:02:53.140 |
And that one day, very soon, Lord, that this life will seem almost like a forgotten bad dream, 01:03:07.140 |
We thank you in advance for what you will do. 01:03:09.140 |
We pray, it seems, in your name, your son. Amen. 01:03:13.140 |
Okay, before I get to the next topic, one of the things that I really want to encourage you, 01:03:17.140 |
when you pray, a casual prayer is not answered. 01:03:26.140 |
A casual prayer where you come before God nonchalantly with your mind wandering, 01:03:31.140 |
you know, because of our casual attitude toward God, 01:03:35.140 |
like first and foremost when we come to God, we need to recognize who it is that we are talking to. 01:03:41.140 |
He's not it. He's not something from a distance. 01:03:43.140 |
So sometimes the way we sit, our posture, you know, it's kind of like, 01:03:51.140 |
Like God says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." 01:03:59.140 |
A prayer is recognizing, first and foremost, who it is that we are talking to. 01:04:04.140 |
Right? And so when we pray, if you notice that your posture isn't consistent with who you are talking to, 01:04:13.140 |
and I'm not saying that we need to get on our knees and we need to be yelling out, and I'm not saying that, 01:04:18.140 |
is your attitude casual in the way that you pray? 01:04:23.140 |
We can't pray for urgency for the gospel to spread and pray in such a way where it doesn't reflect, 01:04:29.140 |
like we don't really care whether he answers his prayer or not. 01:04:33.140 |
So I want to encourage you again to learn how to pray. 01:04:36.140 |
If you have a hard time praying, that you need to, maybe you need to kind of like, 01:04:41.140 |
to take a step back and ask, "Have I really determined to pray tonight? 01:04:47.140 |
Have I determined to come to the Lord and to cry out to him for these prayers?" 01:04:53.140 |
And so along with that, again, this is just an encouragement to make sure that we are praying 01:04:59.140 |
with the attitude that's consistent with what it is that we're praying about and who it is that we are praying to. 01:05:05.140 |
I want to take some time to pray for gospel opportunities. 01:05:09.140 |
Right now, as you guys know, because of all the stuff that's going on, 01:05:13.140 |
the COVID, the marching, the political divide, because of all the stuff that's going on, 01:05:20.140 |
one of two things are happening to everybody. 01:05:24.140 |
Either you are being sobered by what's going on and there's a kind of a turning in your heart 01:05:32.140 |
And so it's causing you to long for fellowship, long to be in the word, 01:05:37.140 |
long to participate in what's going on, or you're drifting. 01:05:42.140 |
You probably have already drifted because the tide is strong. 01:05:47.140 |
And so your heart has become callous, you know, like whether you're there or not, 01:05:52.140 |
it's just kind of like, "Ah, hopefully things will get back to normal." 01:05:55.140 |
And so, again, all the more why we need to be absolutely anchored to Christ. 01:06:02.140 |
Right? And so you'll notice if you are not spiritually sober, 01:06:07.140 |
every other thing that you're going to be watching on TV or the Internet is probably upsetting you. 01:06:13.140 |
You're getting triggered by somebody saying something that you don't agree with. 01:06:17.140 |
And there's this growing sense of like discontent of what's going on. 01:06:22.140 |
So we really need to protect our heart that that's not our primary thought. 01:06:27.140 |
But along with that, if you're staying spiritually sober, 01:06:30.140 |
you'll notice that there is a growing and hungering and thirsting 01:06:34.140 |
for something more than this world from the non-Christian world. 01:06:38.140 |
So there are more people interested, and it's much easier to share the gospel. 01:06:42.140 |
So if you have people around you that you've been praying for, 01:06:45.140 |
even casually been praying for, my bet is it'll be much easier for you to share the gospel 01:06:50.140 |
with your coworkers, with your family, friends, you know, your neighbors, 01:06:57.140 |
And so we really need to stay spiritually sober, right? 01:07:01.140 |
So that what God is doing behind the scene, that we just don't let it pass. 01:07:05.140 |
That we're not hoping that the world would go back to normal, 01:07:09.140 |
but that when he stirs things up, it's an opportunity for us to take advantage of that, right? 01:07:14.140 |
And so Colossians 4, 2-4, it says, "Devote yourselves to prayer, 01:07:19.140 |
keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving, 01:07:25.140 |
that God will open up to us a door for the Word, 01:07:29.140 |
so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned, 01:07:33.140 |
that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak." 01:07:36.140 |
So let's take some time to make a list in our head, 01:07:39.140 |
who is it around me that I have an opportunity to share the gospel with, 01:07:43.140 |
and to pray for them. Again, pray with them fervently, with urgency. 01:07:47.140 |
Don't pray for the salvation of somebody that you love in a casual manner, right? 01:07:52.140 |
Pray consistently with what you are praying for, 01:07:55.140 |
for the salvation of their souls, that they would not be judged. 01:07:59.140 |
And so let's pray with that urgency, pray for opportunity, 01:08:04.140 |
that you would have the boldness to be able to share the gospel with them, 01:08:13.140 |
and Elder Phillip is going to wrap us up in about four minutes. 01:13:03.140 |
Dear Heavenly Father, I just want to thank you, Lord God, 01:13:46.140 |
and just so worried about our own concerns, Father, 01:13:49.140 |
when there are those around us who for eternity will be in hell. 01:13:55.140 |
And Lord, it's hard to see, Lord, when we see with fleshly eyes, 01:14:04.140 |
for he knew what the future was going to be, Father. 01:14:17.140 |
And what an amazing picture it is when we see, 01:14:20.140 |
Lord, in Revelations, there will come a day, Lord God, 01:14:32.140 |
countless, praising you, glorifying you, Father God. 01:14:43.140 |
our friends, the people that are around us, Lord God, 01:14:55.140 |
So I pray, Father God, that you cause us first to pray. 01:14:59.140 |
Cause us to pray for our own hearts to be solved, 01:15:04.140 |
and the bankrupt state that this world is in, Father. 01:15:15.140 |
because without Christ, without God in their life, 01:15:34.140 |
the sinfulness and the brokenness of this world. 01:15:49.140 |
be the ambassador that you have called us to be, Father. 01:16:10.140 |
and the conviction that the Gospel is needed. 01:16:15.140 |
We pray, Lord God, that we would be in our knees 01:16:23.140 |
and when that day comes, and we will say, "Yes, Lord. 01:16:29.140 |
"can join us in praising you and glorifying you." 01:16:43.140 |
that we need the working of your Holy Spirit to convict us. 01:17:09.140 |
and see your word, Lord God, so mightily and strong. 01:17:13.140 |
So thank you, Heavenly Father, and be with us, Lord God. 01:17:16.140 |
May we continue to pray, continue to be moved, 01:17:20.140 |
and continue to be obedient, Lord God, to your calling. 01:17:33.140 |
because this is a welcome week that's coming, 01:17:37.140 |
and obviously, with all the different circumstances. 01:17:40.140 |
So I asked Pastor Nate to kind of explain what they're doing 01:17:45.140 |
- Okay, so welcome week is coming up for college, 01:17:50.140 |
and it is probably the strangest welcome week on record for us 01:18:05.140 |
We're gonna be at UCI, and we're gonna be at Chapman, 01:18:08.140 |
going around, trying to see if there are people 01:18:12.140 |
And so there are a lot of things that we can be praying for, 01:18:26.140 |
I don't know if it's gonna be a redundant prayer, 01:18:38.140 |
There's so much battle for supremacy in these places, 01:18:50.140 |
we've kind of established these are our jobs. 01:18:56.140 |
We're looking forward to different things like that, 01:19:00.140 |
actually, they're right there in the middle of it, 01:19:07.140 |
there's the enemy that really wants to sift them 01:19:28.140 |
We have about half, a little less than half of our students 01:19:37.140 |
but who've been joining us all the way back since March, 01:19:44.140 |
but they are very much in need of our prayers as well. 01:19:51.140 |
and so if you could pray specifically for the students 01:20:04.140 |
with, and there's a group here that are beginning to engage, 01:20:12.140 |
and so the church being a gathering of believers, 01:20:15.140 |
we've been spending a lot of time praying for those students, 01:20:19.140 |
so if the whole church could join us in prayer 01:20:29.140 |
that's removed from the rest of the church here. 01:20:40.140 |
We want them to be men and women who are being formed 01:20:46.140 |
so if we could pray for them, I'll be back to pray. 01:20:54.140 |
and then Pastor Nate will come and wrap us up, okay? 01:25:15.360 |
and God, even as we pray to you for our college students, 01:25:26.360 |
Father, who are we, God, and who are these students? 01:25:42.360 |
Father, you desire to grow and to empower and to embolden. 01:25:52.360 |
and God, we ask you, Lord, to be close to these college students. 01:26:02.360 |
Help them not to just go into your word and engage it as they 01:26:06.360 |
would another textbook and a long line of books that they have. 01:26:11.360 |
Oh, Father, that they would be able to see clearly. 01:26:25.360 |
and there is a temptation, God, to just go along, 01:26:29.360 |
or Father, maybe to disengage the world altogether and to hide at church. 01:26:35.360 |
Father, maybe there is the temptation of just looking into their own future 01:26:38.360 |
and desiring to just have a piece of this world, 01:26:45.360 |
But God, I pray that these college students would be so much more. 01:27:02.360 |
Open their eyes, not just to see their own depravity, 01:27:07.360 |
Father, that they may be men and women who are strong, 01:27:18.360 |
who look different than the culture and the friends and the world around them. 01:27:23.360 |
Father, help them to be not a pleaser of man, but a God-pleaser. 01:27:29.360 |
Father, help them to find satisfaction not in the things of this world, 01:27:34.360 |
And at the end, God, that they would be so satisfied in you alone. 01:27:44.360 |
and there is a temptation to grow inward in these things, 01:27:46.360 |
but I pray, God, that you do great things for your name through this group. 01:27:50.360 |
And Father, I pray, Lord, that even this coming week, 01:27:55.360 |
and that we would not shrink back at those opportunities, 01:28:05.360 |
making fertile ground, individuals that we would come across, 01:28:10.360 |
that by the light that these college students are shining, 01:28:13.360 |
they may come to know Christ, all God, to multiply your glory in this world. 01:28:20.360 |
God, we entrust it all to you, though we can't see, you know everything. 01:28:24.360 |
And so we trust in you, and we're so grateful, God, 01:28:33.360 |
Okay, so fifth and final thing that we want to pray for 01:28:35.360 |
before we ask the praise team to come back up and lead us in closing. 01:28:43.360 |
I'm just going to read the beginning and the last part of it. 01:28:46.360 |
It says, "Finally, be strong in the Lord in the strength of his might. 01:28:50.360 |
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm 01:28:56.360 |
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, 01:29:02.360 |
against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 01:29:06.360 |
With all prayer and petition," verse 18, "pray at all times in the Spirit, 01:29:11.360 |
and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance 01:29:22.360 |
that you have not given thought to the spiritual battle, 01:29:28.360 |
that may already be an indicator that spiritually you've just kind of drifted. 01:29:33.360 |
The Bible tells us in Ephesians to recognize that our real struggle 01:29:46.360 |
They said there's a spiritual battle going on. 01:29:48.360 |
There's satanic work that's happening right now. 01:29:52.360 |
There's a satanic work that's happening at a global level. 01:29:55.360 |
There's satanic work that's happening at a national level. 01:29:58.360 |
There's satanic work happening in the churches. 01:30:01.360 |
And there's satanic work happening particularly in your life. 01:30:05.360 |
And if we're not sober, all that is going on at the end of it, 01:30:11.360 |
we can find ourselves so drifted far away from God 01:30:15.360 |
and that everything that Satan has been doing in the end, 01:30:23.360 |
We've jumped into causes that we don't fully understand. 01:30:26.360 |
And in the end, Satan's work has been completed. 01:30:32.360 |
As you guys know, if you've been paying attention, 01:30:39.360 |
So you have a part of community saying that that was unjust. 01:30:44.360 |
You have another part saying that it was completely just. 01:30:48.360 |
Right now, again, and I don't say this flippantly, 01:30:51.360 |
there is clear satanic work in the midst of all of this. 01:30:57.360 |
No matter what your opinion is, if you don't stay sober 01:31:06.360 |
and you don't test the information that you're getting, 01:31:12.360 |
Whatever your leaning is, Satan is going to use that 01:31:16.360 |
to take you to whatever direction he wants to take you. 01:31:23.360 |
We're going to try to address this in a more specific way going forward 01:31:27.360 |
because we've addressed it in the very beginning. 01:31:31.360 |
We wanted to make sure that our church kind of stays intact 01:31:37.360 |
and make sure that we're not going to be tossed back and forth. 01:31:46.360 |
What's happening now is just a precursor of what we foresee happening 01:31:52.360 |
And so the churches have already been divided. 01:31:54.360 |
You have men of God that have a godly reputation 01:31:58.360 |
who are speaking one way very powerfully, very convicted, 01:32:02.360 |
and then you have other people on the other side speaking also with conviction. 01:32:07.360 |
We have our thoughts, and we are going to, at some point, 01:32:10.360 |
make it more clear and point out very specific things 01:32:16.360 |
things that we've read, things that we've seen, 01:32:18.360 |
a lot of things that we've seen, again, about the BLM movement, 01:32:24.360 |
These are things that we've been examining and we've been talking about, 01:32:27.360 |
but there is very deeply embedded satanic work in these things. 01:32:33.360 |
I'm not saying that everybody who has jumped on this has that bent, 01:32:38.360 |
but there is clear satanic work that is embedded in all of this stuff. 01:32:45.360 |
And I'm not asking you to just take my word for it. 01:32:48.360 |
We're asking you all the more to examine everything, 01:32:54.360 |
that is this from God, or is this the work of our enemy 01:33:04.360 |
So there is a national work, there is an international work that's being done, 01:33:23.360 |
They don't want Christians to be glorifying God. 01:33:26.360 |
They don't want us to be dedicated in building up the church and preaching the gospel. 01:33:30.360 |
So have you been aware that there is an enemy actively attacking you? 01:33:35.360 |
And so if you have not been, we need to pray. 01:33:39.360 |
We need to pray, right? He says to make sure. 01:33:45.360 |
everything that you and I are experiencing, the division in the church, 01:33:48.360 |
the heavy persecution, hostility toward the spreading of the gospel, 01:33:52.360 |
false gospel, heresy, all of these things were also true in the first century, 01:33:59.360 |
So he was warning the church not to get caught up thinking that if you 01:34:02.360 |
had enough people, if you had the right strategy, 01:34:05.360 |
if you put your effort into this, he would say, "No, all of these things are good, 01:34:09.360 |
but don't forget that the real struggle is not against flesh and blood." 01:34:17.360 |
You have to be in the Word, and you have to pray. 01:34:24.360 |
And so again, I'm going to think beyond just tonight. 01:34:30.360 |
I have a hard time praying at my house, so I just kind of come, 01:34:34.360 |
break away, and make sure I take some time to pray in my office in the morning 01:34:43.360 |
When are you praying? Are you praying deliberately? 01:34:46.360 |
Or are you praying just kind of as things come by? 01:34:51.360 |
And so I think if there's any time where there is a dire need for us 01:34:56.360 |
to really be committed to pray, it's now, not just this evening. 01:35:00.360 |
This evening is to remind us that we need to pray. 01:35:04.360 |
So let me read this passage one more time, and then let's take some time to pray. 01:35:08.360 |
Then after that, I'll pray, and then we'll ask that praise team to come back 01:35:16.360 |
"With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, 01:35:19.360 |
and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance 01:35:25.360 |
So let's take some time to pray, and then I'll wrap us up. 01:39:39.360 |
We pray, Father God, that you'd open our eyes, 01:39:43.360 |
that the spiritual reality would become more real to us, 01:39:47.360 |
that we would not walk by sight, but walk by faith. 01:39:55.360 |
to know that all that we are tempted to have, 01:40:05.360 |
Lord, in light of eternity, Lord, would truly become rubbish. 01:40:10.360 |
Help us to know, Father God, that we are not living in peace times, 01:40:14.360 |
but that there's always been a spiritual battle. 01:40:26.360 |
We pray, Father God, for the unrest, Lord, that we see all around us, 01:40:31.360 |
that in the midst of all of this, we thank you, Father God, for opening our eyes, 01:40:36.360 |
reminding us, Lord, that in the spiritual realm, 01:40:44.360 |
and is much more fervent, Lord God, than we can imagine. 01:40:48.360 |
Lord God, we pray that you would help us to engage in prayer, 01:40:59.360 |
engage spiritually, Lord God, not with our might, 01:41:02.360 |
not with our intellect, not simply with our politics, 01:41:05.360 |
but spiritually help us, Lord God, to put on the full armor of God. 01:41:10.360 |
Help us to know what we believe, what we confess, 01:41:14.360 |
that in season and out of season, Lord, that we would be ready 01:41:18.360 |
to make defense of what it is that we profess. 01:41:22.360 |
Help us, Lord God, not to drift along from week to week, 01:41:28.360 |
being entangled with things that ultimately don't matter. 01:41:32.360 |
Help us, Lord God, to ache for those who are lost. 01:41:37.360 |
Help us, Lord, to battle for souls, to see them come to Christ. 01:41:43.360 |
Help us, Lord God, as a church, to learn what it means to follow Jesus Christ. 01:41:50.360 |
Lord, I pray that you would stir in us a sense of urgency, 01:41:54.360 |
urgency, Lord God, that our time here is short, 01:41:59.360 |
that tomorrow is not promised, that we will live today, Father God, 01:42:08.360 |
Help us not to live day to day, week to week, month to month in regret, 01:42:13.360 |
but to really be poured out in things, Lord God, 01:42:16.360 |
so that when the time comes for you to call us, 01:42:20.360 |
that we would eagerly await for you to say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." 01:42:26.360 |
So I pray, whether we are young or whether we are older in age, 01:42:31.360 |
that you would help us, Lord God, to live with perspective, 01:42:35.360 |
that our faith would not simply be wishful thinking, 01:42:39.360 |
but the reality of which we base all that we pursue. 01:42:44.360 |
Help us, Lord God, to be spiritually engaged with you, 01:42:48.360 |
that we would not run, that we would not watch from a distance. 01:42:53.360 |
Help us, Lord God, to know what you are doing and to trust you with all our hearts. 01:43:02.360 |
that knowing, Father God, that our eternity is secure, 01:43:07.360 |
that we would live our lives, Lord God, courageously for your kingdom. 01:43:11.360 |
So, Lord, we pray for revival in our generation, 01:43:15.360 |
revival in our church, revival in our families. 01:43:19.360 |
Lord, we don't have the strength, we don't have the discipline. 01:43:27.360 |
So we pray, Father God, that you would be merciful to us. 01:43:31.360 |
Lord, as we pray, Father God, that you would help us to commit to pray, 01:43:34.360 |
to be devoted to pray, Lord, that we would recognize how helpless we are without you. 01:43:41.360 |
And so we ask, Lord, that what we do tonight and what we did tonight, Lord, 01:43:45.360 |
would serve as a reminder to us when we go home, 01:43:49.360 |
that this is something that we must do in private, 01:43:52.360 |
that as we wrestle together, Lord God, corporately, 01:43:56.360 |
that it would strengthen us to wrestle privately. 01:44:00.360 |
Lord, we pray for our missionaries, we pray for Pastor Alex, Lord God, 01:44:07.360 |
I pray that you would give them the rest that they need. 01:44:10.360 |
But I pray, Father God, that though they are resting, 01:44:14.360 |
I pray that a sense of urgency in their hearts would not be squashed, 01:44:19.360 |
but that a greater sense of love for you, greater sense of love for the lost, 01:44:24.360 |
that even as they are waiting, Father God, for their next assignment, 01:44:28.360 |
that you would allow them to have plenty of opportunities here, Lord God, 01:44:34.360 |
And so we pray for your grace for them, we pray for grace, Lord God, for our church. 01:44:39.360 |
And again, Father God, for our college ministry, 01:44:41.360 |
as many souls will be coming into town, Lord, even in this difficult situation, 01:44:46.360 |
I pray, Father God, that you would cause them to be fruitful, 01:45:10.360 |
Help us, Lord God, to worship you genuinely in spirit and in truth, 01:45:16.360 |
that we would not go from Sunday to Sunday, Father God, 01:45:21.360 |
without giving too much thought of what it is that we're doing. 01:45:26.360 |
Help us to live as if you are coming tomorrow. 01:45:38.360 |
Church family, let's all stand together as we sing this last song.