0:00:00.901,0:00:04.850 Notice, Paul is praying, 0:00:04.850,0:00:08.783 but he's not praying for himself. 0:00:08.783,0:00:10.657 Brothers and sisters, 0:00:10.657,0:00:14.871 how desperately, desperately we need 0:00:14.871,0:00:20.944 men and women in the church like this. 0:00:20.944,0:00:23.462 Paul is interceding. 0:00:23.462,0:00:25.042 Interceding is what you call it 0:00:25.042,0:00:27.463 when you bow your knees to God 0:00:27.463,0:00:31.320 for the sake of others [br]and not for yourselves. 0:00:31.320,0:00:35.503 How we need intercessors in the church! 0:00:35.503,0:00:38.901 And I'm concerned! 0:00:38.901,0:00:44.808 I'm concerned. 0:00:44.808,0:00:49.926 When I got saved, 0:00:49.926,0:01:00.040 honestly, I hungered to [br]have time with the Lord. 0:01:00.040,0:01:02.403 The first three years [br]of my (Christian) life, 0:01:02.403,0:01:04.698 I was able outside of work - 0:01:04.698,0:01:06.195 and even times at work 0:01:06.195,0:01:08.041 during breaks and lunch; 0:01:08.041,0:01:10.639 I wasn't married - 0:01:10.639,0:01:13.553 I was able to give my life to [br]communion with the Lord. 0:01:13.553,0:01:14.767 And I moved down here to Texas, 0:01:14.767,0:01:16.263 lived with John Sytsma - 0:01:16.263,0:01:25.181 very business oriented family. 0:01:25.181,0:01:27.318 And things were working at a pace 0:01:27.318,0:01:30.913 that I just felt like - 0:01:30.913,0:01:33.043 John was very much given to devotions 0:01:33.043,0:01:34.397 in the morning, 0:01:34.397,0:01:36.550 and before the family got together, 0:01:36.550,0:01:40.373 and I like to walk in the evenings 0:01:40.373,0:01:41.671 and be out in the field 0:01:41.671,0:01:43.756 and away from the heat. 0:01:43.756,0:01:47.110 And John's schedule and mine [br]were a little bit different. 0:01:47.110,0:01:50.781 I remember just panting [br]after having that time back. 0:01:50.781,0:01:55.820 And I recognized that I [br]needed to move separate 0:01:55.820,0:02:00.024 so that I could get back [br]into my own schedule. 0:02:00.024,0:02:01.710 And I longed for that. 0:02:01.710,0:02:05.999 And I guess my sense was that, 0:02:05.999,0:02:11.372 well, that's how it is [br]with all Christians. 0:02:11.372,0:02:13.757 We don't live by bread alone, 0:02:13.757,0:02:16.438 but by every word that proceeds [br]from the mouth of God. 0:02:16.438,0:02:17.878 We want to abide in Christ 0:02:17.878,0:02:19.460 and we love walking with Him 0:02:19.460,0:02:20.848 and meeting with Him 0:02:20.848,0:02:22.318 and there's things to confess 0:02:22.318,0:02:24.250 and there's worship; 0:02:24.250,0:02:26.952 and just getting to meditate before Him 0:02:26.952,0:02:29.202 and praying and interceding 0:02:29.202,0:02:34.164 for the sake of others. 0:02:34.164,0:02:35.778 I just assumed that. 0:02:35.778,0:02:37.018 And then I got married, 0:02:37.018,0:02:39.853 and my wife basically lived that way 0:02:39.853,0:02:41.951 day after day. 0:02:41.951,0:02:45.342 I guess my assumption has largely been: 0:02:45.342,0:02:47.168 Well, of course... 0:02:47.168,0:02:51.527 that's how Christians live. 0:02:51.527,0:02:55.735 I am, I don't know, 0:02:55.735,0:03:01.479 I'm guess I'm kind of [br]baffled by the frequency 0:03:01.479,0:03:05.198 at which I hear that people in this church 0:03:05.198,0:03:09.712 have a real difficult time maintaining 0:03:09.712,0:03:15.694 just a consistent intimacy with the Lord. 0:03:15.694,0:03:19.942 And I guess my concern is this, 0:03:19.942,0:03:22.722 I'm not sure what lies [br]behind this difficulty. 0:03:22.722,0:03:25.106 Is it immaturity?[br]Is it worldliness? 0:03:25.106,0:03:26.329 Is it busyness? 0:03:26.329,0:03:28.972 Is it just that there's no hunger there? 0:03:28.972,0:03:30.773 I know this: 0:03:30.773,0:03:34.533 intercessors don't come 0:03:34.533,0:03:38.519 from marginally spiritual people. 0:03:38.519,0:03:40.173 Why? 0:03:40.173,0:03:43.508 Because interceding requires love 0:03:43.508,0:03:46.176 and a level of maturity 0:03:46.176,0:03:48.762 and a lack of selfishness. 0:03:48.762,0:03:55.164 Selfish people - their prayers [br]are all about themselves. 0:03:55.164,0:03:57.729 Very little worship. 0:03:57.729,0:03:59.723 Very little confession. 0:03:59.723,0:04:05.061 But a lot of give me, give me, give me. 0:04:05.061,0:04:10.252 Now, I know there are prayer [br]warriors in this church. 0:04:10.252,0:04:12.279 I know there are. 0:04:12.279,0:04:14.483 I know there are some of you - 0:04:14.483,0:04:18.328 your walk is close to the Lord. 0:04:18.328,0:04:20.034 I want there to be more. 0:04:20.034,0:04:23.045 I want this to characterize [br]the church as a whole. 0:04:23.045,0:04:24.472 Intercessors. 0:04:24.472,0:04:27.925 We desperately, desperately need this. 0:04:27.925,0:04:31.147 And if people can barely [br]manage to find their way 0:04:31.147,0:04:33.513 into the secret place of prayer each day, 0:04:33.513,0:04:34.736 I know this - 0:04:34.736,0:04:38.297 you're not interceding for anybody. 0:04:38.297,0:04:42.003 It's not happening. 0:04:42.003,0:04:44.197 Where do intercessors come from? 0:04:44.197,0:04:45.760 They come from people that live 0:04:45.760,0:04:47.614 in the presence of God. 0:04:47.614,0:04:48.738 You think about it. 0:04:48.738,0:04:51.900 Paul - you can imagine [br]the guard walking by. 0:04:51.900,0:04:54.618 The guards are talking to each other. 0:04:54.618,0:04:56.218 "What's the guy doing in there?" 0:04:56.218,0:04:58.544 "Every time we walk by [br]there, he's on his face." 0:04:58.544,0:05:00.914 He wasn't idle.[br]He wasn't wasting his time. 0:05:00.914,0:05:03.585 He wasn't wasting his time in prison. 0:05:03.585,0:05:05.558 He was crying; he was bending his knee. 0:05:05.558,0:05:07.724 He was pleading; he was crying out 0:05:07.724,0:05:09.756 for the sake of others. 0:05:09.756,0:05:13.883 You find in just about every [br]single one of his epistles, 0:05:13.883,0:05:16.060 he cried out for people. 0:05:16.060,0:05:18.579 He called upon them. 0:05:18.579,0:05:21.701 Where do intercessors come from? 0:05:21.701,0:05:23.616 People who don't live by bread alone. 0:05:23.616,0:05:26.516 People who are desperate.[br]People who are abiding in the Lord. 0:05:26.516,0:05:29.627 People who are talking to Him [br]and walking with Him. 0:05:29.627,0:05:32.131 Where does it come from? 0:05:32.131,0:05:34.520 That somebody says: 0:05:34.520,0:05:36.858 "for this reason." 0:05:36.858,0:05:38.412 I know them to be a Christian; 0:05:38.412,0:05:40.882 for that reason, I'm on my knees for them. 0:05:40.882,0:05:42.250 They're beloved of God. 0:05:42.250,0:05:44.927 Something is released in my heart. 0:05:44.927,0:05:47.129 I need to pray for them. 0:05:47.129,0:05:49.321 I'm thinking about [br]other people all the time. 0:05:49.321,0:05:50.829 I'm thinking about their needs. 0:05:50.829,0:05:53.345 I'm thinking about them glorifying God. 0:05:53.345,0:05:56.565 Where do intercessors come from? 0:05:56.565,0:06:01.729 Intercessors - not [br]marginally spiritual people. 0:06:01.729,0:06:03.835 You know, if we don't have intercession 0:06:03.835,0:06:06.588 happening commonplace in your life - 0:06:06.588,0:06:08.594 I'm not just talking about in the church - 0:06:08.594,0:06:10.964 if intercession is not happening 0:06:10.964,0:06:13.642 as a commonplace thing in your life, 0:06:13.642,0:06:17.586 one of the great manifestations 0:06:17.586,0:06:21.239 of sacrificial love is missing. 0:06:21.239,0:06:23.568 And listen, that's important: [br]sacrificial love. 0:06:23.568,0:06:26.736 You think about Judgment Day. 0:06:26.736,0:06:31.202 Jesus talks about what you did for others. 0:06:31.202,0:06:33.458 "I was in prison and you visited Me." 0:06:33.458,0:06:36.172 You know, one of the ways [br]you can visit people in prison 0:06:36.172,0:06:37.679 is by praying. 0:06:37.679,0:06:40.100 The thing is as long as [br]you have life and breath, 0:06:40.100,0:06:41.451 and you have consciousness, 0:06:41.451,0:06:43.783 you can pray for people. 0:06:43.783,0:06:45.391 We need it. 0:06:45.391,0:06:48.466 We need this desperately. 0:06:48.466,0:06:50.502 Where are the men and women - 0:06:50.502,0:06:51.550 I know we've got some. 0:06:51.550,0:06:52.966 I know. 0:06:52.966,0:06:54.842 But oh God, help us to have more. 0:06:54.842,0:06:57.093 Men and women who live [br]in the presence of God 0:06:57.093,0:06:59.757 on bended knee whose voices 0:06:59.757,0:07:01.973 are familiar to the Father; 0:07:01.973,0:07:04.637 whose voices go up 0:07:04.637,0:07:06.716 in familiarity to the Father 0:07:06.716,0:07:09.777 on the behalf of others. 0:07:09.777,0:07:11.222 I mean, you can imagine, 0:07:11.222,0:07:13.810 God from God's perspective: 0:07:13.810,0:07:16.102 "There's his voice again... 0:07:16.102,0:07:19.186 and sure enough, he's asking for a job. 0:07:19.186,0:07:20.545 He's asking for a wife. 0:07:20.545,0:07:22.050 He's asking for a raise. 0:07:22.050,0:07:26.682 He's asking..." 0:07:26.682,0:07:31.127 Those who God hears his voice: 0:07:31.127,0:07:36.310 "Lord, help so-and-so, 0:07:36.310,0:07:39.639 Lord according to the riches of Your glory 0:07:39.639,0:07:41.599 please strengthen that brother 0:07:41.599,0:07:43.392 down there in Mexico. 0:07:43.392,0:07:46.338 Please Lord, open that [br]door for that brother 0:07:46.338,0:07:50.745 that's trying to get [br]from Costa Rica, Lord." 0:07:50.745,0:07:55.054 How often is the Lord hearing that voice? 0:07:55.054,0:07:57.976 "Lord, I'm not here to [br]pray for my own needs. 0:07:57.976,0:07:59.427 You know I have them, 0:07:59.427,0:08:03.337 but Lord, Brother Matt [br]needs Your help today. 0:08:03.337,0:08:05.784 He needs Your help. 0:08:05.784,0:08:12.089 Johannes. Lord, remember Johannes." 0:08:12.089,0:08:15.156 Those who can't sit comfortably [br]reading the book 0:08:15.156,0:08:16.939 or fiddling with their phones 0:08:16.939,0:08:18.889 because they're feeling a burden 0:08:18.889,0:08:22.633 for Andy and Rebecca, or you heard - 0:08:22.633,0:08:25.516 those of you that weren't [br]here on Wednesday, 0:08:25.516,0:08:27.192 Trevor Johnson wrote, I think, 0:08:27.192,0:08:31.074 one of the most powerful [br]missionary letters 0:08:31.074,0:08:36.414 that he's ever written. 0:08:36.414,0:08:39.169 Men and women not constantly asking 0:08:39.169,0:08:41.118 for their own needs. 0:08:41.118,0:08:44.658 The church needs intercessors. 0:08:44.658,0:08:48.496 We desperately need them. 0:08:48.496,0:08:50.738 Why? 0:08:50.738,0:08:53.947 Because God answers prayer. 0:08:53.947,0:08:56.157 Listen, I'm telling you this. 0:08:56.157,0:08:58.724 I know this for a fact. 0:08:58.724,0:09:00.256 I'm so convinced. 0:09:00.256,0:09:02.487 I've seen it over and over and over again. 0:09:02.487,0:09:04.519 God answers prayer. 0:09:04.519,0:09:06.457 And when people are praying for you, 0:09:06.457,0:09:07.791 things happen in your life 0:09:07.791,0:09:10.467 that would not happen if [br]they weren't praying for you. 0:09:10.467,0:09:12.137 Mark it down. 0:09:12.137,0:09:14.994 The elders in this church preach 0:09:14.994,0:09:17.459 or perform or oversee better 0:09:17.459,0:09:19.086 when people are praying for them 0:09:19.086,0:09:21.014 than when they're not praying for them. 0:09:21.014,0:09:22.021 That is a reality. 0:09:22.021,0:09:23.688 People live more holy lives. 0:09:23.688,0:09:26.195 People live closer to God. 0:09:26.195,0:09:27.878 People are more prayerful. 0:09:27.878,0:09:29.869 People are more loving 0:09:29.869,0:09:31.442 and charitable and kind 0:09:31.442,0:09:33.186 and tender and forgiving 0:09:33.186,0:09:35.080 when people are praying for one another 0:09:35.080,0:09:37.326 than when they're not [br]praying for one another. 0:09:37.326,0:09:38.880 That is a fact. 0:09:38.880,0:09:40.552 I'll tell you, I was thinking about 0:09:40.552,0:09:42.292 our brother coming here 0:09:42.292,0:09:44.536 on a week from Wednesday 0:09:44.536,0:09:45.963 and sharing his needs. 0:09:45.963,0:09:47.808 If I was on a foreign mission field, 0:09:47.808,0:09:50.188 I would want to visit as [br]many churches as I could, 0:09:50.188,0:09:51.579 and I would tell the people, 0:09:51.579,0:09:53.246 "Look, I'm not here for your money. 0:09:53.246,0:09:55.460 I'm just appealing, if there is one person 0:09:55.460,0:09:57.657 or two people or three [br]people in this church 0:09:57.657,0:09:58.892 that are prayer warriors 0:09:58.892,0:10:00.529 and you have any burden for India, 0:10:00.529,0:10:02.098 I plead with you: pray!" 0:10:02.098,0:10:04.064 And if on Judgment Day it can be found 0:10:04.064,0:10:06.506 there were three people [br]in that church over there 0:10:06.506,0:10:08.986 and there were two people [br]in that church over there 0:10:08.986,0:10:11.872 and five in that church over there,[br]and they held that rope. 0:10:11.872,0:10:14.959 Not because they were sending [br]me all their dollars all the time, 0:10:14.959,0:10:16.459 but they prayed for me. 0:10:16.459,0:10:18.239 They prayed for me all the time. 0:10:18.239,0:10:20.539 Prayer meetings did not [br]go by in that church 0:10:20.539,0:10:21.951 they weren't praying for me, 0:10:21.951,0:10:24.266 and oftentimes, every [br]single day of the week, 0:10:24.266,0:10:25.641 they were holding me up. 0:10:25.641,0:10:27.210 We need this. 0:10:27.210,0:10:29.119 When we pray for one another, 0:10:29.119,0:10:31.000 I'm telling you, we end up doing things 0:10:31.000,0:10:32.421 that would not happen 0:10:32.421,0:10:34.559 if people weren't praying for us. 0:10:34.559,0:10:36.092 This is the reality. 0:10:36.092,0:10:38.526 Bending our knees to the Father 0:10:38.526,0:10:42.123 on behalf of others. 0:10:42.123,0:10:43.757 We are the priesthood, brethren. 0:10:43.757,0:10:44.995 Have you never read that? 0:10:44.995,0:10:47.070 That fire was not to go out on that altar. 0:10:47.070,0:10:48.842 And if that was the symbol; 0:10:48.842,0:10:50.569 if that was the hyperbole; 0:10:50.569,0:10:55.516 if that was the metaphor, 0:10:55.516,0:10:58.938 we are the true priesthood. 0:10:58.938,0:11:01.649 Don't let the fire go out.