1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:05,440 Amen. We're going to turn in our 2 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:09,360 Bibles to 1st Thessalonians chapter 5. 3 00:00:16,470 --> 00:00:20,350 We'll read from the verse 14 to the end of the chapter. 4 00:00:22,670 --> 00:00:26,510 First Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 14. 5 00:00:27,550 --> 00:00:30,630 Let's hear the Word of God reading, of course, as we've 6 00:00:30,630 --> 00:00:36,480 emphasised often from the King James Bible, a most faithful and 7 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:44,360 reliable translation of the Holy Scriptures, First Thessalonians 8 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:50,440 chapter 5, verse 14. Let's hear the word of God now 9 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:55,720 we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly. 10 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:03,240 Comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient 11 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:07,640 toward all men. See that none render evil for 12 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:13,160 evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is good both 13 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:21,080 among yourselves and to all men. Rejoice evermore, Pray without 14 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:25,120 ceasing, and everything give thanks, for this is the will of 15 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:28,000 God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 16 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:37,240 Quench not the Spirit, despise not prophesying us, prove all 17 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:42,840 things, hold fast up which is good, abstain from all 18 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:48,080 appearance of evil, and the very God of peace sanctify you 19 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:51,160 wholly. And I pray God, your whole 20 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:55,960 spirit and soul and body be preserved, blameless unto the 21 00:01:55,960 --> 00:02:01,840 coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, faithful as he that calleth you, 22 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:07,960 who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. 23 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,760 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. 24 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:17,040 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all 25 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,600 the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus 26 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,920 Christ be with you. Amen. 27 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:26,280 Amen. We know God will stamp with His 28 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:30,080 own approval and blessing this reading of His own precious and 29 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:37,440 infallible Word. Now my text this morning is 30 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:44,040 taken from First Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 25, and I want 31 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:50,600 to entitle today's theme the plea for partners in prayer. 32 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:58,120 Some of the shortest verses in Holy Scripture carry the 33 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:02,880 greatest weight, and here's a verse with only four words in 34 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:07,320 her English Bible. Yet it opens a window into the 35 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:11,680 heart and mind of the great Apostle Paul. 36 00:03:12,920 --> 00:03:18,520 Brethren, pray for us. These words have come from the 37 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:20,480 heart and mind of the Apostle Paul. 38 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:25,680 Remember, he was the mighty preacher to the Gentiles. 39 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:31,120 He was the church planter. He was the great sound 40 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:35,200 theologian, the faithful missionary, the author of 14 of 41 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,720 the 27 books that make up the Canon of the New Testament 42 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:43,680 Scripture, a persecuted man, a man who suffered much for 43 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:47,840 Christ. And yet he genuinely, he humbly. 44 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:54,800 And what does he do here? He asked ordinary believers, 45 00:03:55,360 --> 00:04:00,240 young converts in the church at Thessalonica to pray for him. 46 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:06,240 Now that alone should arrest us. That alone should arouse our 47 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,120 thinking. If the Apostle Paul needed 48 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:14,160 prayer and asked for it openly and genuinely, how much more 49 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:22,640 does every true preacher today? If an inspired apostle sought 50 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:27,880 the prayers of the Saints, how much more do pastors, 51 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:32,840 missionaries, evangelists, church workers, labourers, 52 00:04:32,840 --> 00:04:37,400 elders in the church need the intercession of God's people? 53 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:41,360 See these words, brethren, pray for us. 54 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:50,320 Really teach us this truth. The prayer life of the church, 55 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:58,160 the gospel ministry, the work of God is not sustained by great 56 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:03,240 talent, personality, intellect or organisation. 57 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:08,320 It is sustained by the sovereign grace of God through the prayers 58 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:12,920 of the Saints of God. You see, we live in a day, and 59 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,800 I'm not saying this about this congregation, but far too many 60 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:22,480 churches criticise their ministers more than they call 61 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:28,000 unto God for their ministers. And yet here we are, brought 62 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:33,360 face to face with a simple verse that commands believers to 63 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,960 uphold God's servants before the throne of Greece. 64 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:43,160 And if you believe, as I do, that a praying church is a 65 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:46,400 powerful church, a purposeful church. 66 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:48,360 And of course the opposite is true. 67 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,800 A prayerless church is a powerless church. 68 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:59,000 It is a purpose church. If you believe that, will you 69 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:03,280 take this first to heart? Will you begin to put these 4 70 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:07,000 words into practise? You see, in the context here, 71 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,040 Paul is bringing his first letter to the Thessalonian 72 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:14,640 Church to a close, and throughout chapter 5 he has 73 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:19,080 given us very short but very simple, straightforward 74 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:23,840 spiritual expectations that help govern the life of the church. 75 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:28,560 The church is to comfort one another, esteemed faithful 76 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:33,760 leaders warn the unruly, rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing 77 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:37,120 and everything give thanks, quench not the Spirit, despise 78 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,400 not prophesying, prove all things, hold fast up which is 79 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:42,800 good, abstain from all appearance of evil. 80 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:48,360 And then he prays and his prayer there is in verse 23 and the 81 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,120 very God of peace sanctify you holy and I pray God your whole 82 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:53,920 spirit and soul and body be reserved, blamed us unto the 83 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:57,880 coming of our Lord Jesus Christ faithful as he that calleth you 84 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,000 who also will do it. And then immediately after that 85 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:06,680 he then tells this, brethren, pray for us. 86 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:11,800 He turns his focus toward himself and his fellow 87 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:17,040 labourers, and he calls out as he closes the epistle, Brethren, 88 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:22,400 pray for us. I don't believe this is Paul 89 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:28,280 speaking or writing selflessly. I believe it's a spiritual 90 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:32,880 realism. Paul understands the advancement 91 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:39,840 of the gospel depends upon the mighty power of God himself. 92 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:44,520 And Paul knows that God in his suffering will dispenses that 93 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:49,840 power, the power of the Spirit through the prayers of his 94 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,720 people. So that's our theme for today, 95 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:58,800 the plea for partners in prayer. And I, when I looked at this, I, 96 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:02,120 I wrote down 4 little headings on a piece of paper. 97 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:08,760 OK, I want you to think firstly of the people addressed. 98 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:13,200 Look at the word Brethren. We'll underline that. 99 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:17,760 Now, this is not addressed to a particular denomination. 100 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:21,240 It's not a reference to the Presbyterian Church or the 101 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:24,840 Methodist Church or the Independent Methodists. 102 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,280 It's certainly not a reference to the Brethren Assembly. 103 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,200 It's not even a reference to the Free Presbyterian Church. 104 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,559 In fact, it's not a reference to a particular church group at 105 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:37,960 all. It's not about a building. 106 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:39,880 It's not about bricks and mortar. 107 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,840 Now, they're all included in this phrase. 108 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:50,840 But the prayer of the church, the prayer life of the church is 109 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:56,160 not merely the duty of a select few, but it is the privilege and 110 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:59,480 responsibility of the whole church family. 111 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:08,840 Those whom God has called out to repent and and faith in Jesus 112 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,200 Christ. Those whom God has called 113 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:17,440 together in a local area, a geographical area, but also then 114 00:09:17,560 --> 00:09:20,760 the whole church's family worldwide. 115 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:26,640 You see, the term brethren indicates a family. 116 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:31,120 Now I want to emphasise that in one of Paul's prayers, Ephesians 117 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:38,480 3, verses 14 to 15, he says this for the church at Ephesus of 118 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:42,080 whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. 119 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:48,560 You see, the name brethren is really generic and it's really 120 00:09:48,560 --> 00:09:55,560 stands for the whole church family, the people of God on 121 00:09:55,560 --> 00:10:00,720 earth, the local church, as well as the global church on earth. 122 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:04,760 God has a heavenly family on the earth. 123 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,520 Now let me ask, is God your heavenly Father? 124 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:14,720 Can you say even in the prayer meeting our Father, which art in 125 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,160 heaven? And you can say that with 126 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:20,200 assurance because you know that you're a son and daughter of 127 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:21,920 God. How do you become a son or 128 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:23,080 daughter? Well, you're born into your 129 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:26,320 family. When I was born into the 130 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:30,080 McLaughlin family, I was given the name David, surname is 131 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:30,960 McLaughlin. Why? 132 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:34,360 Because I was born into the McLaughlin family. 133 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:39,640 Well, you see, we're brought into God's family by rebirth. 134 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:44,520 Remember what John says. But as many as received him to 135 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:47,240 them give you power to become the sons of God, even to them 136 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:52,400 that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, nor of 137 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:55,880 the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 138 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:58,360 It's not hereditary. It's not of your own will. 139 00:10:58,560 --> 00:11:02,640 It's not the will of the Pope or a priest or a preacher, but of 140 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,680 God born again by the Spirit of God. 141 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:09,720 Has that been your experience? Is it your testimony this 142 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:13,280 morning? You're not only born again by 143 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:16,240 the Spirit of God, but you've become a child of God by 144 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,120 redemption because the blood has been applied. 145 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:23,800 You've been justified by the blood of Christ, and you you've 146 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:30,640 received the privilege really of adoption into God's family. 147 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:34,080 Remember what we read in the book of Galatians, in Galatians 148 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:37,640 chapter 4 and in the verses 4:00 and 5:00. 149 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:41,800 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth 150 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:46,720 his Son made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them 151 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:51,680 that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of 152 00:11:51,680 --> 00:11:55,960 sons. And Paul says in Romans 8 and 153 00:11:55,960 --> 00:12:03,120 verse 15, because ye are sons adopted into God's family, we 154 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:05,720 couldn't cry. ABBA, Father, there's a 155 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,880 connection between our adoption into God's family and that 156 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:15,720 privilege of calling upon God and addressing him as Father. 157 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:19,800 So here's the question, Are you a true believer this morning? 158 00:12:20,560 --> 00:12:23,000 Have you been born again of the Holy Spirit? 159 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:27,920 Can you testify to a real regenerating experience by the 160 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:30,120 Spirit of God where you've come from? 161 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,480 That dead state of being dead in trespasses and sin, and you've 162 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,640 been raised and resurrected on the newness of life and the 163 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:39,760 blood of Christ has been applied and you have that assurance that 164 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:44,200 you are a child of God. And you see one of the evidences 165 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,680 that you're a true child of God is the evidence of prayer. 166 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:51,480 It was JC Ryle, the first Protestant Bishop of Liverpool 167 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:55,200 said that one of the genuine indicators of true conversion is 168 00:12:55,200 --> 00:13:00,640 prayer and the Sermon in the Mount in Matthew 6 and six, the 169 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:05,080 Lord Jesus said when thou pressed enter into thy closet. 170 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:10,200 He's assumed that those who are his and in Christ will have a a 171 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:14,040 desire to pray. Whenever the apostle Paul was 172 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:18,160 converted in the Damascus Rd. According to Acts Chapter 9 and 173 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:22,320 11, Ananias who questioned Paul's authenticity to 174 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:27,760 conversion the Lord given this sign will say, behold, he 175 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:31,200 prayeth. Now Paul had said prayers as a 176 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:37,040 Jew, as a Pharisee, no doubt sincere, but prayers that were 177 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:41,360 really repetition, prayers that were written out for him. 178 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:46,240 But now he's really praying. He's not just saying prayers, 179 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:49,240 but he's praying. He's communicating with the Lord 180 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:51,760 in heaven. He's in communion and fellowship 181 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:53,760 with God. He has had this new birth 182 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:56,440 experience. The blood has been applied. 183 00:13:56,560 --> 00:14:00,400 He cannot say to the Lord, Lord, what will thou have me to do? 184 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:04,200 He's now your son and daughter in God's family. 185 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:08,440 So I, I ask again, I'm repeating, are you genuinely 186 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:12,040 born again? Are you a praying man and a 187 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:16,160 praying woman? Can you go to God even in the 188 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:18,680 secret place and pour out your heart to Him? 189 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:23,800 You can bring to him all your burdens and all your fears and 190 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,920 all your woes. And you can do that because you 191 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:30,400 know you're a member of God's family, God's your heavenly 192 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:34,160 Father, and you're part and parcel of those that belong to 193 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:37,840 the fold of God. This term, brethren, indicates 194 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:43,040 family very quickly. It also indicates unity. 195 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:48,880 It speaks of a people who are united with one heart and one 196 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:53,440 soul and one mind. And you see the prayer life of 197 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:57,160 the church is something that's critically important. 198 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:02,000 It's spiritually vital. It's desperately needed. 199 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:06,240 The New Testament church was born in prayer over there in the 200 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:10,440 book of Acts and Acts chapter one verse 14, we read that these 201 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:14,040 all continued with 1 accord and prayer and supplication with the 202 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:19,120 woman and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brethren, 203 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:23,920 that that's with his brothers, those that were the half 204 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:27,240 brothers of the Lord Jesus. I want you to think of the New 205 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:31,120 Testament church, 120 souls in the upper room at Jerusalem. 206 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,840 They tarried for 10 days. They were there with one heart 207 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:38,000 and one mind. They were pouring out their 208 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,040 hearts to the Lord in prayer, a 10 day prayer meeting. 209 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:46,840 And on the day of Pentecost the Lord answered and they were all 210 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:50,400 filled with the Holy Ghost. And the New Testament church not 211 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,600 only commenced by prayer, but the New Testament church 212 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:58,680 continued by prayer in Acts chapter 2 and in the verse 42 we 213 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:02,360 read. And they continued steadfastly 214 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:06,160 in the apostle doctrine and fellowship and the breaking of 215 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:11,880 bread and in prayers, and even in Acts 6, whenever there was a 216 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:15,800 big fallout in the church and the dispute over the neglect of 217 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:18,000 the widows, What was their answer? 218 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:22,200 They appointed 7 good deacons. But here's what it says in Acts 219 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:27,760 chapter 6 and in the verse 4. But we will give ourselves 220 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:35,760 continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word, the Word. 221 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:41,880 These men were not being sidelined or sidetracked. 222 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:47,600 They knew that prayer was vital, that prayer was paramount, that 223 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:49,920 prayer was needed. And we have sang that hymn this 224 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:52,280 morning. Prayer is the soul's sincere 225 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:57,080 desire uttered or unexpressed, the motion of a hidden fire that 226 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,680 trembles in the breast. Verse 5. 227 00:16:59,960 --> 00:17:04,400 Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, the Christian's native 228 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,160 air. His watch were not the gates of 229 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:09,680 death. He enters heaven with prayer. 230 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:13,200 And remember, the psalmist said, behold how good and how pleasant 231 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:16,599 it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. 232 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,920 We live in a day when not everybody that professes the 233 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:25,160 name of Christ is regenerate. We live in a day when everyone 234 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:29,440 that professes the name of Christ is truly religious. 235 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:33,120 Sadly, there's many religious people in the world, but they're 236 00:17:33,120 --> 00:17:35,840 not in Christ. They've never been born again, 237 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:37,960 the blood has never been applied. 238 00:17:38,120 --> 00:17:41,560 They haven't really been adopted into God's family. 239 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:46,960 But this word, brethren, it indicates not only family, but 240 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:50,400 it indicates unity. Remember Paul says Paul, and 241 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:53,520 savannas and Timotheus unto the Church of the Thessalonians, 242 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:58,160 which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. 243 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:03,400 Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord 244 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:06,200 Jesus Christ. First Thessalonians chapter one, 245 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:10,040 verse 1. The appeal here is not to the 246 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:15,720 world, not to those religiously outside the true church, not to 247 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:19,600 the unconverted. The word brethren is addressed 248 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:24,560 to the true child of God. And remember David said to the 249 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:28,960 true child of God. Psalm 66 verse 18 addressing God 250 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:31,640 in prayer. If I regard iniquity in my 251 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:35,480 heart, the Lord will not hear me. 252 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:38,760 You see, God is not under an obligation to hear the prayers 253 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:42,440 of anyone unless that individual comes with a penitent heart, 254 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:46,320 unless that individual has been born and energised by the Spirit 255 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:52,400 of God, unless that individual is being adopted into God's 256 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:55,240 family. Now God of course knows our 257 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:59,840 hearts and God knows our motives, but the world is this 258 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:03,880 morning full of religious people, not regenerate. 259 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:08,000 They're not truly part of the worldwide family of God. 260 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:10,440 They're they're not part of the fold of God. 261 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:15,760 They can't in truth, really address them as heavenly Father, 262 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:19,680 that their heart and mind is not in one accord with him. 263 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:25,680 And that's why today I I totally reject and renounce the 264 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:28,480 ecumenical movement. There is a true ecumenism among 265 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:30,880 the people of God, but there's a false ecumenism. 266 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:35,000 And of course we reject ecumenical worship. 267 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:38,880 We reject the coming together of religious bodies, whether it's 268 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:43,360 Roman Catholicism or Islam or Buddhism and joint worship, it's 269 00:19:43,360 --> 00:19:46,720 all false in the sight of God. It's an abomination. 270 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,600 We could truly say unto the Lord. 271 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:55,520 Remember what Isaiah the prophet says in Isaiah chapter 59, and 272 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:59,360 he says this in verses one and two. 273 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:03,840 Listen to the word of God. Isaiah 59 Behold, the Lord's 274 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:06,760 hand does not shorten that it cannot see Him, neither is ear 275 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,240 heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have 276 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:12,120 separated between you and your God, and your sins have hit His 277 00:20:12,120 --> 00:20:16,000 face from you that He will not hear you. 278 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:18,720 See, if you're not in a true relationship with God as 279 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:24,040 Heavenly Father, and you're not in true fellowship, then with 280 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:27,840 God as Heavenly Father. God says he will not hear. 281 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:32,320 We're not all worshipping the same God. 282 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:35,200 The Bible exhorts us have no fellowship with the unfruitful 283 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:37,200 works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 284 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:40,120 Why? Because that darkness is 285 00:20:40,120 --> 00:20:43,040 contrary to the light. It's contrary to the gospel. 286 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:46,400 It's contrary to the Fiat that was once delivered unto the 287 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:47,920 Saints. Now I believe, of course, in the 288 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:51,280 priesthood of all believers, and I say this this morning, 289 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:56,480 regardless of what denomination it is, every true believer in 290 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:59,840 Christ, born of the Spirit, washed in the blood, adopted 291 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:03,560 into God's family, they have access to the Lord at the throne 292 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:06,480 of grace. They can pray to God and pray to 293 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:10,040 God in the merits and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 294 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,280 So I want you to understand this morning that this word, 295 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:17,760 brethren, while it indicates family and unity, this is really 296 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:24,480 an address to the true Church of born again believers. 297 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:29,000 So real, true, genuine prayer is confined to the true Church of 298 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,640 born again believers. So I, I trust I've stressed that 299 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:33,160 point. The second thing I want you to 300 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:36,760 see also this morning is the petition requested. 301 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:40,040 If you go back to our little text, notice what it says there. 302 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:42,760 Brethren, what's the second word? 303 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:48,840 Pray Now we'll pause there. Paul doesn't ask for money. 304 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:57,160 He doesn't ask for admiration. He's not asking for acceptance 305 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:01,120 or comfort. He's not even saying applaud me 306 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:03,600 for all I've done in the Lord's name. 307 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:10,640 He's asking for prayer. You see, the true pastor is not 308 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:15,000 a religious performer detached from his congregation. 309 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,240 No, he's a brother among brethren. 310 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:23,560 He's a member of God's family unfold. 311 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:26,480 He's a member of the body of Christ, and he's not super 312 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:30,760 superhuman. James Fivan, 17, says. 313 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:36,720 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and 314 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:40,760 ministers grow weary physically and mentally. 315 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:48,720 Ministers face many temptations. Ministers battle discouragement 316 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:53,520 often and especially from people that they least expected. 317 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:58,080 Ministers suffer personal attacks. 318 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:04,040 Did you know that from folks, but also from friends? 319 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:08,280 They certainly suffer spiritual attacks from the devil. 320 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:13,080 Do you know this morning that the devil especially targets 321 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:15,360 those who preach the Word of God? 322 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:20,120 If you link this up with Second Thessalonians chapter 3 and the 323 00:23:20,120 --> 00:23:23,920 verse one, the second letter that Paul wrote to this young 324 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:28,840 church, he said this finally, brethren, pray for us now. 325 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:32,600 What was the reason that the word of the Lord may have free 326 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:41,040 course and be glorified even as it is with you Now, why did he 327 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,720 repeat that? Here's why. 328 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:51,520 If Satan can wound the shepherd, he can destroy the sheep. 329 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:56,240 In old times, when they had a war, the enemy would often aim 330 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:59,680 for the young Prince or aim for the king. 331 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:03,000 They would go for the officers first. 332 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:06,440 Why? To discourage the army. 333 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:10,960 To get the army to withdraw back to their city. 334 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:17,240 And what is true in physical warfare, and we can use that in 335 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:21,040 the story of Jehoshaphat and Ahab, we went out to battle. 336 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:26,840 What is true in physical warfare is true in spiritual warfare. 337 00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:32,960 Faithful preachers of the word of God are strategic targets of 338 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:35,680 the devil. It was Leonard Ravenhill who 339 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:38,760 said the devil doesn't fear a preacher with a Polish sermon, 340 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,960 but he fears a spirit filled preacher. 341 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,520 Why? Because that spiritful preacher 342 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:49,680 is out to advance the Kingdom of God in the gospel. 343 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:55,320 So really these words, brethren, pray for us is a plea to pray 344 00:24:55,320 --> 00:25:00,480 for your minister. Prayer is the greatest 345 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:06,200 contribution that the church can make to the gospel ministry. 346 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:10,080 Maybe you're here this morning and you say, but, but I can't 347 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:14,240 preach the gospel. I can't travel as a missionary 348 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:18,400 to Africa. I can't lead a meeting publicly. 349 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:21,800 I can't give large sums of money. 350 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:27,560 You're not asked to do that. But every born again Christian 351 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:32,280 can pray. And part of that prayer to God 352 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:39,200 dearly weekly is to pray for the gospel minister in the gospel 353 00:25:39,360 --> 00:25:42,760 ministry. True prayer moves the hands of 354 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:46,720 God. And Acts 12 is a remarkable 355 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:50,080 example of God answering for Peter's in prison. 356 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:54,240 James already is dead. He has already been beheaded by 357 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:57,720 Herod. Herod now intends to kill Peter. 358 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:00,320 And we read in Acts chapter 12 verse 5. 359 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:04,320 But prayer was made without ceasing unto the of the church, 360 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:07,720 unto God for him. And what did God do? 361 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:11,800 God sent an Angel to deliver Peter from prison. 362 00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:18,800 You see, the praying church will and can accomplish what 363 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:23,200 politicians can't. The praying church can and will 364 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:27,480 accomplish what political influence can't do. 365 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:32,600 The praying church will and can accomplish what human strength 366 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:40,720 and human ingenuity can never do because true prayer supplies 367 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:45,520 spiritual power. I asked this morning, what's the 368 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:51,080 greatest need and kind of FPC? What is the greatest need in the 369 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:54,000 work of our ministry? It's the presence and power of 370 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:58,800 our God. It's not cleverness, but it's a 371 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:00,960 covering of the spirit and power. 372 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:04,880 Not entertainment, but but unction. 373 00:27:05,360 --> 00:27:09,560 Not something new and novel, but a divine power of God. 374 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:13,040 It's interesting the Apostle Paul wrote these words. 375 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:16,920 Brethren, pray for us. See the Apostle Paul, despite 376 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:20,520 all his many achievements, all the things that he could boast 377 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:26,360 in and glory off, he never outgrew the need for the power 378 00:27:26,360 --> 00:27:28,600 of God. I believe this man lived in 379 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,800 daily dependence on God. As I've said, a man of many 380 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:35,720 talents, yet he constantly call for prayer. 381 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:40,880 He sought the face of God in prayer, but he besought God's 382 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:46,000 people to pray for him. He said in Second Corinthians 383 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:52,440 3:00 and 5:00 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, but our 384 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:57,560 sufficiency is of God. Remember, the psalmist said, 385 00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:01,560 unless the Lord build the house, the labour in vain, that build 386 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:05,080 it. And yes, I can study faithfully, 387 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:13,960 I can prepare fully, but I must also pray thoroughly, because 388 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:19,200 prayer is the divine power upon the preaching of the Word. 389 00:28:19,360 --> 00:28:22,240 The third thing very quickly is the principle included. 390 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:26,720 Notice these words, brethren, pray for us. 391 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:30,680 See, that's a reference to himself. 392 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:33,440 It's also a reference to Silas and Timothy. 393 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:38,880 In other words, pray for all the faithful ministers in Christ. 394 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:43,840 So again, we urge this, pray for the minister. 395 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:47,360 Pray for his personal holiness and his walk with God. 396 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:51,640 Pray for his family. Pray for his faithful preaching 397 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:54,520 to the blood in the book that he preached in the power of the 398 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:57,720 Holy Spirit. Someone has said, don't think it 399 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:00,880 was Leonard Ravenhill, but someone else said a sermon that 400 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:03,320 is without prayer is like a lamp with no oil. 401 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:08,440 See, a lamp with oil is something of structure, 402 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:11,840 something that's beautiful, but it hasn't got a fleam. 403 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:17,800 And we need that heavenly fleam. Pray for wisdom as he guides and 404 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:20,080 guards the flock of God. Pray for his protection. 405 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:23,720 As I've already told you, he's open to criticism from friend 406 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:27,320 and foe. Paul prayed for protection the 407 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:30,960 last time from wicked and unreasonable men. 408 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:33,640 We're not going to please everyone. 409 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:36,600 All of the time he tries to please everyone ends up pleasing 410 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:40,840 nobody. But let's pray for faithfulness 411 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:43,840 to Christ and the Gospel. Pray for a spirit of 412 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:46,800 stickability. I pray for insurance. 413 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:53,040 Remember what Paul wrote to the Hebrew Christians in Hebrews 414 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:57,240 chapter 13 and verse 17. He says this. 415 00:29:58,160 --> 00:30:00,600 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves, 416 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:03,400 for they watch for your souls as they must give an account that 417 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:05,920 they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is 418 00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:11,280 unprofitable for you. You see, there's a fearful 419 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:14,280 responsibility in being a minister of the gospel. 420 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:20,280 Every soul in the church, young and old, I'm responsible to 421 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:29,160 before God. We should really pray then for 422 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:34,160 the ministers of the church. We should pray for them to be 423 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:37,760 spiritually bold. That's what Paul did. 424 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:40,560 He asked for prayer. That utterance might be given 425 00:30:40,560 --> 00:30:43,680 unto him, that he might open his mouth boldly and not brashly, 426 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:47,520 but open his mouth boldly to to declare the work of God. 427 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:56,000 Pray for holy zeal, Pray for a passion before and with them of 428 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:58,960 God. Pray for a holy fire, because 429 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:02,960 this, this preaching is, is really a matter of life and 430 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:04,960 death. Pray that the word of God may 431 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:07,960 have free course that'll run freely, but pray that the word 432 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:11,080 of God is glorified. Let me tell you this little 433 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:15,080 story. Long time ago there was a young 434 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:21,040 man received a call to a new church and he preached on prayer 435 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:24,720 the first Sunday. A wonderful sermon, everybody 436 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:26,200 loved it. They were delighted. 437 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:30,320 Next Sunday he got up and preached the same thing, same 438 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:37,640 hymns, same sermon, same text. He did it the third Sunday and 439 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:39,440 the elders were getting a wee bit worried. 440 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:42,560 The woman were wondering what is going on. 441 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:47,160 The young people were saying he preached that before. 442 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:50,720 Did we not hear that last week? Was that not the first sermon? 443 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:55,600 It happened before Sunday. So you could just imagine me 444 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:58,440 preaching the same sermon 4 Sundays here in a row. 445 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:02,480 They brought him in afterwards, they asked him what's going on 446 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:06,080 and this is what he said. He said, well, I preached the 447 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:11,640 first sermon on prayer and the next Wednesday night there was 448 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:13,480 still the same number at the prayer meeting. 449 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:18,400 And the same happened the second week and the third week. 450 00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:23,920 And that's why I'm preaching it again because I'm wondering, are 451 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:27,120 they really listening about the subject of prayer? 452 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:33,640 You see, a lot of professing Christians today are not in the 453 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:37,040 church's prayer meeting. And Leonard Ravenhill said it's 454 00:32:37,040 --> 00:32:40,680 not more sermons we need, but it's putting into practise the 455 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:42,840 revelation God has already given us. 456 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:47,240 So it's not about learning new things, it's about in listening 457 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:50,200 to the things that God has already told us and living them 458 00:32:50,280 --> 00:32:54,360 out in our lives. You see, this is a principle, 459 00:32:55,440 --> 00:32:59,840 this is a a precept, not a mere suggestion. 460 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:02,800 It's a vital, important component. 461 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:05,640 It's not optional, it's obligatory. 462 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:11,520 It's not just a call, but it's a compulsory command. 463 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:17,440 Remember Paul's or, or Samuel said, God forbid that I should 464 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:20,880 sin against the Lord and ceasing to pray for you, prayerlessness 465 00:33:20,880 --> 00:33:23,960 is a sin. It has serious implications. 466 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:29,240 And and this is a serious priority that that, that we must 467 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:31,440 pray privately and we must pray publicly. 468 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:33,480 And I encourage you to come to the prayer meeting. 469 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:36,080 And I'm not saying you have to come and pray out loud. 470 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:39,880 I'm urging you to come even if you only sigh in your heart, 471 00:33:40,520 --> 00:33:45,280 even you only shed a tear, even if you only pray inaudibly on 472 00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:48,720 other than to your heart. Lord help me, even if it's just 473 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:54,080 a, a silent Amen. Let me just quickly wrap this 474 00:33:54,080 --> 00:33:57,520 up. Pray for your missionaries at 475 00:33:57,520 --> 00:34:00,680 home and abroad. They labour in loneliness. 476 00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:05,000 Many labour in dangerous circumstances. 477 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:09,120 They face much opposition. Many know poverty and much 478 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:13,320 discouragement, and we should really pray for the Lord to open 479 00:34:13,320 --> 00:34:19,440 doors for our missionaries at home and abroad, Open doors to 480 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:21,920 missions. Where does it come from? 481 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:25,159 It comes from God. Pray for the advancement of the 482 00:34:25,159 --> 00:34:27,400 gospel here. What we're told go ye into all 483 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:29,760 the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 484 00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:34,080 How does the church advance? It advances on its knees in 485 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:37,960 prayer and advancing on our knees in prayer is connected to 486 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:42,840 the preaching of the gospel. It's connected to going forth in 487 00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:46,800 an evangelistic manner. It's it's connected to giving 488 00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:50,639 ourselves to God. Could I suggest this morning 489 00:34:50,639 --> 00:34:54,400 that we pray for closed doors and hearts to open to the gospel 490 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:58,280 in our own community? Could I suggest that we pray 491 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:01,680 this morning for the persecuted church or missionaries at home 492 00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:05,440 and abroad? I suggest that we pray for souls 493 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:08,160 to be concerted. Family, friends, neighbours. 494 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:13,160 I, I I suggest that we pray for for new churches to be planted. 495 00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:17,480 Modern missions need our prayers. 496 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:21,120 William Carey, the father of modern missions to India, said 497 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:23,320 this. I will go down into the pit if 498 00:35:23,320 --> 00:35:26,840 you will hold the ropes. That's the ropes of prayer. 499 00:35:27,200 --> 00:35:31,640 Did you know that Spurgeon 6000, he ministered to every Sunday in 500 00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:34,920 the Metropolitan Tabernacle? One time he brought his 501 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:38,480 students. He said he wanted them to show 502 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:41,560 the secret of the church. They come in and the church was 503 00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:43,440 packed. Now these are young men, very 504 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:46,840 impressionable, packed Church of 6000 people. 505 00:35:47,720 --> 00:35:49,480 And he says, now I want to show you the secret. 506 00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:51,280 We'll go down to the boiler house. 507 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:53,440 They thought they were going down to look at the central 508 00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:56,720 heating system, and they went down and there was 4 to 600 509 00:35:56,720 --> 00:35:59,680 people in a room praying in the basement. 510 00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:04,040 And he said this is the engine room of the church. 511 00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:08,160 The people addressed family and unity. 512 00:36:08,240 --> 00:36:11,760 The petition requested to pray. The principle included is for 513 00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:14,760 us. And one final thing, the power 514 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:17,640 that's released. Why did he include this 515 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:20,160 exhortation? Brethren, pray for us. 516 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:24,320 You and I know that God is sovereign. 517 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:29,600 You and I know that the God who ordains the ends ordains the 518 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:31,800 means. He he ordains the salvation of 519 00:36:31,800 --> 00:36:35,120 his people. He ordains the preaching of the 520 00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:37,840 gospel go into all the world and preach the gospel to every 521 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:43,120 creature, but he also ordains the instrument of prayer. 522 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:46,160 He says, for this I will yet be inquired of by the House of 523 00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:49,960 Israel to do it for them. This is what strengthens 524 00:36:49,960 --> 00:36:52,960 preaching. This is what protects the 525 00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:57,000 ministry. This is what brings about our 526 00:36:57,000 --> 00:37:01,600 deliverance from wicked man. Remember, we're facing a, a, a 527 00:37:01,600 --> 00:37:05,080 satanic warfare. We're going to battle with the 528 00:37:05,080 --> 00:37:07,160 devil. We're going to battle with, with 529 00:37:07,160 --> 00:37:11,120 false doctrine and there's much opposition, false cults and 530 00:37:11,120 --> 00:37:14,280 false religion there there. There's much discouragement. 531 00:37:15,640 --> 00:37:18,680 Satan hates hates the preaching of the word of God. 532 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:22,520 Satan hates the exaltation of Christ. 533 00:37:22,680 --> 00:37:29,840 Satan hates the exposing of sin. Satan tries to destroy the 534 00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:34,720 Gospel ministry. He hates the salvation of souls. 535 00:37:35,880 --> 00:37:39,280 So this is what protects the ministry and not only 536 00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:44,360 strengthens it, but protects it, and also it produces fruit, 537 00:37:46,240 --> 00:37:53,000 because whenever we pray, prayer moves the hands, it holds the 538 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:56,720 world, and God works through prayer. 539 00:37:57,120 --> 00:37:59,280 The church's purity is maintained. 540 00:37:59,960 --> 00:38:04,960 The church's power is bestowed. The church's perseverance and 541 00:38:04,960 --> 00:38:10,840 continuance is explained. How do we exist decades on and 542 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:12,400 and hundreds of years into the future? 543 00:38:12,480 --> 00:38:14,800 We exist because of the goodness of God. 544 00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:19,080 It's God who's keeping and protecting his people. 545 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:24,800 The power that's released is included in this little plea, 546 00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:29,520 the plea for partners in prayer. I leave this message with you. 547 00:38:29,840 --> 00:38:33,440 I want you to take it to heart. And I would encourage as many as 548 00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:35,880 possible to come and join us on the Wednesday night. 549 00:38:36,320 --> 00:38:39,400 If you can join us on the Saturday morning. 550 00:38:40,680 --> 00:38:45,680 Let's look to God for help in relation to the work of the 551 00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:47,720 ministry. May the Lord take these few 552 00:38:47,720 --> 00:38:49,960 thoughts and bless them to our heart. 553 00:38:50,440 --> 00:38:52,880 This morning we're going to sing in.