0:00:00.000,0:00:03.256
[children laughing][br]♪ music ♪

0:00:03.256,0:00:14.506
♪ noble music ♪

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[multitone horn][br]♪ music ♪

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[more gentle flowing][br]♪ music ♪

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[male narrator][br]It all started in a small upper room,

0:00:35.063,0:00:37.506
with humble, fervent prayer

0:00:37.506,0:00:39.596
♪ music ♪

0:00:39.596,0:00:41.641
threatened by the authorities

0:00:41.641,0:00:43.460
and banned from preaching,

0:00:43.460,0:00:46.671
the church prayed and two [br]men witnessed

0:00:46.671,0:00:49.262
with great power and grace.

0:00:49.262,0:00:53.782
♪ choral music ♪

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And people prayed everywhere, [br]in one accord

0:00:57.234,0:01:00.480
in repentance, with confession [br]and humility.

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And the lives of people were changed.

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[plunged stone][br]♪ choral music ♪

0:01:03.929,0:01:06.599
♪ choral music ♪

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Two men started out [br]on a missionary journey

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that would turn the world [br]as they knew it upside down.

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♪ choral music ♪

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And the message went out [br]to the world beyond.

0:01:21.229,0:01:24.229
♪ choral music ♪

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Corporate prayer helped a prisoner escape.

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♪ choral music ♪

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A king requested [br]that his people fast and pray

0:01:35.470,0:01:37.462
and the enemy was defeated.

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A battle won without the need to fight.

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♪ choral music ♪

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Through a faithful servant [br]and a young queen's faith and courage,

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a people were saved.

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Stories in the Bible showing [br]the power of united prayer.

0:01:58.778,0:02:00.452
As I read the book of Acts,

0:02:00.452,0:02:04.481
it's really a book about believers [br]coming together to pray,

0:02:04.481,0:02:07.021
and a prayer-answering God.

0:02:07.021,0:02:09.263
Personal prayer is important.

0:02:09.263,0:02:11.722
Secret prayer is the life of the soul.

0:02:11.722,0:02:16.541
But we know that there has never been[br]a revival anywhere on this planet

0:02:16.541,0:02:21.279
that wasn't preceded by united and[br]continuous prayer.

0:02:21.279,0:02:25.371
Our Lord on one occasion says where[br]two or more of you agree

0:02:25.371,0:02:29.493
on touching anything that is according[br]to My will, it will be done.

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So there is a synergy that happens

0:02:32.069,0:02:37.371
when we hook up together and unite[br]our voices in crying out to God.

0:02:37.371,0:02:39.575
As the spirit of prophecy tells us,

0:02:39.575,0:02:45.327
prayer is the key that unlocks the storehouse [br]of heaven's treasury and blessings.

0:02:45.327,0:02:47.799
Some of Ellen White's counsel and statements[br]

0:02:47.799,0:02:50.357
on united prayer are powerful as well.

0:02:50.357,0:02:52.694
She says in one place that...

0:02:52.694,0:02:55.261
when she was writing to the Farnsworths, [br]I believe it was, she said

0:02:55.261,0:02:57.746
there's more power in united prayer

0:02:57.746,0:02:59.044
than even in private prayer.

0:02:59.044,0:03:00.601
Then she says, why is that?

0:03:00.601,0:03:03.201
It's because the unity of heart [br]of the believers.

0:03:03.201,0:03:04.811
It's like God gets really excited

0:03:04.811,0:03:06.368
when we're really of one accord

0:03:06.368,0:03:08.983
when we unite together just like they [br]did in Acts.

0:03:08.983,0:03:11.408
Another statement she says,

0:03:11.408,0:03:14.114
at the sound of fervent prayer, [br]Satan's whole host trembles.

0:03:14.114,0:03:18.304
Jesus knows that the habit of praying[br]with others

0:03:18.304,0:03:23.071
helps to rid our lives of the [br]self-centeredness of our prayers

0:03:23.071,0:03:25.043
when we pray by ourselves.

0:03:25.043,0:03:28.615
So when the Bible talks about[br]continue earnestly in prayer,

0:03:28.615,0:03:32.271
that's not just an individual activity.

0:03:32.271,0:03:36.617
It's a call to the church as a community[br]to call out to God.

0:03:36.617,0:03:38.771
Not to change God's mind,

0:03:38.771,0:03:42.466
but that we come into alignment [br]with God's will

0:03:42.466,0:03:47.227
and actually I think he uses us as part [br]of the answers to those prayers.

0:03:47.227,0:03:49.931
As you look at the book of Acts,

0:03:49.931,0:03:53.591
united prayer brought God's people together.

0:03:53.591,0:03:56.184
In Acts chapter 1 and verse 14 and 15,

0:03:56.184,0:03:59.067
the entire church met together and prayed.

0:03:59.067,0:04:01.724
They knew that the task before them[br]was too great.

0:04:01.724,0:04:03.530
They knew the challenge was too immense.

0:04:03.530,0:04:06.592
They knew there was no way they could [br]carry the gospel to the world.

0:04:06.592,0:04:10.631
But yet as they prayed,[br]God did something miraculous.

0:04:10.631,0:04:13.384
He poured out His Holy Spirit on the[br]day of Pentacost

0:04:13.384,0:04:16.238
and three thousand were baptized.

0:04:16.238,0:04:19.435
You know one of the ... when you read the text there,

0:04:19.435,0:04:22.711
one of the things that jumps out at me is[br]the simple English phrase—

0:04:22.711,0:04:25.506
they were in one accord.

0:04:25.506,0:04:28.885
Pentacost was just an extraordinary event.

0:04:28.885,0:04:35.302
It came after the culmination of Christ's [br]ministry on this earth.

0:04:35.302,0:04:41.801
And it looked as though everything was[br]completely dashed and destroyed.

0:04:41.801,0:04:43.893
When Christ was hanging on that cross

0:04:43.893,0:04:46.435
and then of course the resurrection [br]took place.

0:04:46.435,0:04:48.092
And He appeared to His disciples

0:04:48.092,0:04:51.311
which gave them a completely[br]different perspective

0:04:51.311,0:04:53.715
on what their ministry was all about.

0:04:53.715,0:04:56.572
Our blessed Lord told His disciples

0:04:56.572,0:05:00.738
to tarry in Jerusalem united in prayer.

0:05:00.738,0:05:03.742
And that was one of the prerequisites

0:05:03.742,0:05:06.381
for bringing that rushing mighty wind

0:05:06.381,0:05:09.383
and the presence of the Holy Spirit[br]on the day of Pentacost.

0:05:09.383,0:05:10.993
[man speaking berber]

0:05:10.993,0:05:12.898
It was the time of Passover

0:05:12.898,0:05:15.701
and we were in an upper room[br]in Jerusalem.

0:05:15.701,0:05:18.061
We were all praying in one accord.

0:05:18.061,0:05:21.113
We were praying for repentance[br]and humility,

0:05:21.113,0:05:23.644
and we were confessing our sins.

0:05:23.644,0:05:27.726
We were also seeking the Lord's vision,[br]power and the Holy Spirit.

0:05:27.726,0:05:30.236
There was an incredible feeling of oneness

0:05:30.236,0:05:31.902
as we prayed earnestly together.

0:05:31.904,0:05:35.842
[man praying in Berber]

0:05:35.842,0:05:38.842
[woman speaking in Berber]

0:05:38.842,0:05:41.812
[female speaker] Suddenly [br]there was the sound of a violent wind

0:05:41.812,0:05:43.721
that filled the whole room where[br]we were sitting.

0:05:43.721,0:05:46.721
[wind sounds]

0:05:46.721,0:05:48.760
Then tongues of fire came down

0:05:48.760,0:05:51.264
and this fire rested on the people.

0:05:52.624,0:05:54.724
[man speaking Berber]

0:05:54.724,0:05:58.214
[male narrator] All the people [br]in the room were filled with the Holy Spirit.

0:05:58.214,0:06:00.730
Now remember that at the time[br]of the Passover,

0:06:00.730,0:06:03.498
people came from many countries to worship

0:06:03.498,0:06:06.068
and now suddenly they could hear the gospel

0:06:06.068,0:06:07.752
each in their own language.

0:06:07.752,0:06:10.058
As a result of this, three thousand people

0:06:10.058,0:06:12.664
were added to the believers in one day.

0:06:12.673,0:06:16.854
♪ music ♪

0:06:16.854,0:06:18.474
[woman speaking Berber]

0:06:18.474,0:06:20.048
[female speaker] The people [br]devoted themselves

0:06:20.048,0:06:22.774
to the apostles' teaching [br]and the fellowship,

0:06:22.774,0:06:25.382
to the breaking of bread and of prayer.

0:06:25.382,0:06:28.248
Every day they would meet together[br]in the temple courts.

0:06:28.248,0:06:30.967
In their homes, they broke bread [br]and ate together.

0:06:30.967,0:06:33.574
And the number of those being saved[br]grew daily.

0:06:33.574,0:06:36.574
♪ music ♪

0:06:36.574,0:06:38.355
And we believe something like this

0:06:38.355,0:06:41.402
is going to happen [br]in the last days as well.

0:06:41.402,0:06:43.728
But I think only as a church and[br]as a people

0:06:43.728,0:06:46.137
we get together in one accord

0:06:46.137,0:06:48.227
and in fervent prayer, will we ...

0:06:48.227,0:06:51.271
till we do that, we won't see that happen.

0:06:51.271,0:06:53.769
And really what happened at Pentacost

0:06:53.769,0:06:57.874
is going to be again duplicated[br]by the Lord

0:06:57.874,0:06:59.630
in an even greater fashion

0:06:59.630,0:07:02.362
as the three angels' messages go forward

0:07:02.362,0:07:06.028
as the fourth angel of Revelation 18 [br]has proclaimed

0:07:06.028,0:07:10.242
and as the final loud cry is heralded [br]all over the world.

0:07:10.242,0:07:14.249
And it's going to be people [br]who have submitted to the Lord,

0:07:14.249,0:07:15.713
confessed their sins,

0:07:15.713,0:07:18.411
and then the Holy Spirit can fall

0:07:18.411,0:07:20.142
and can use us in a mighty way.

0:07:20.142,0:07:22.560
Well I think in the book of Acts, [br]Acts chapter 6

0:07:22.560,0:07:24.350
it seemed like a good problem.

0:07:24.350,0:07:26.802
The church was growing exponentially.

0:07:26.802,0:07:30.744
But in the midst of that, there's this[br]food distribution challenge.

0:07:30.745,0:07:35.758
[men arguing in Berber][br]♪ music ♪

0:07:36.968,0:07:40.509
[male speaker] The church [br]was undergoing practical challenges.

0:07:40.509,0:07:44.131
The Hellenistic Jews were complaining[br]against the Hebraic Jews

0:07:44.131,0:07:47.122
because the former's widows were[br]being overlooked

0:07:47.122,0:07:49.245
in the daily distribution of food.

0:07:49.245,0:07:51.252
The apostles decided that they needed

0:07:51.252,0:07:54.509
to focus on the ministry of prayer [br]and the word.

0:07:54.509,0:07:57.254
And so they requested for seven deacons [br]

0:07:57.254,0:08:00.794
to be chosen for these other [br]practical tasks.

0:08:00.797,0:08:04.254
♪ animating music ♪

0:08:04.254,0:08:06.474
[man speaking Berber]

0:08:06.474,0:08:09.500
[male speaker] The apostles [br]asked us as a group

0:08:09.500,0:08:12.335
to chose seven men who were known

0:08:12.335,0:08:15.509
to be full of the Spirit and have wisdom.

0:08:15.509,0:08:17.753
This proposal from the apostles

0:08:17.753,0:08:19.789
pleased our whole group.

0:08:19.789,0:08:23.027
So we went about selecting the seven men.

0:08:23.027,0:08:24.985
Once the men were selected,

0:08:24.985,0:08:27.964
they were presented to the apostles.

0:08:27.964,0:08:32.037
The apostles laid their hands on them[br]and prayed for them.

0:08:32.037,0:08:35.892
[2nd speaker] With prayer as a priority,[br]the church would never fail.

0:08:35.892,0:08:39.494
After this, the number of disciples[br]increased rapidly.

0:08:39.494,0:08:43.517
And a large number of priests[br]became obedient to the work.

0:08:43.517,0:08:46.036
So I think we find a case study there

0:08:46.036,0:08:48.676
that says when we face challenges,

0:08:48.676,0:08:51.931
let's use wisdom, let's use our training

0:08:51.931,0:08:53.932
but let's also recognize that we have

0:08:53.932,0:08:56.770
a prayer-answering God who will [br]give us wisdom.

0:08:56.770,0:08:59.117
I've seen this over and over and over.

0:08:59.117,0:09:01.243
Churches with big problems

0:09:01.243,0:09:04.626
have solved them when they come [br]together to pray.

0:09:04.626,0:09:06.510
♪ choral music ♪

0:09:06.510,0:09:12.430
[Chief priest lecturing Peter and John]

0:09:12.430,0:09:17.464
[Chief priest continuing [br]to lecture Peter and John]

0:09:17.485,0:09:19.258
[male narrator][br]Peter and John were called in

0:09:19.258,0:09:21.371
by the chief priests and elders about[br]their preaching.

0:09:21.371,0:09:23.415
They tried to defend their actions,

0:09:23.415,0:09:25.775
but the leaders were very hard on them.

0:09:25.775,0:09:27.301
They were commanded not to speak

0:09:27.301,0:09:29.448
or teach in the name of Jesus.

0:09:29.448,0:09:32.902
After further threats, they let them go.

0:09:32.902,0:09:34.942
Peter and John went back to their [br]own people

0:09:34.942,0:09:38.071
and reported all that the chief priests[br]and elders had said.

0:09:38.071,0:09:41.011
♪ choral music ♪

0:09:41.011,0:09:43.451
[man speaking Berber]

0:09:43.451,0:09:47.421
When we heard all this we immediately[br]raised our voices in prayer to God.

0:09:47.421,0:09:51.253
The entire group prayed for [br]Peter and John.

0:09:51.253,0:09:55.770
We prayed for God to give boldness[br]to these two humble servants.

0:09:55.770,0:10:00.421
Such intense prayer I had not experienced[br]for a long time.

0:10:00.421,0:10:04.011
After we had prayed, suddenly the whole [br]place was shaken.

0:10:04.011,0:10:05.831
[another man speaking Berber]

0:10:05.831,0:10:07.937
People were filled with the Holy Spirit

0:10:07.937,0:10:09.261
and Peter and John went out

0:10:09.261,0:10:12.155
and gave witness with great power [br]and grace.

0:10:12.155,0:10:13.491
They witnessed throughout the land

0:10:13.491,0:10:15.229
about the resurrection of their Saviour.

0:10:15.229,0:10:18.229
♪ music ♪

0:10:18.229,0:10:20.888
So I think Peter and John[br]drew great strength

0:10:20.888,0:10:23.191
both from knowing they were praying

0:10:23.191,0:10:25.105
but also from the power that's unleashed

0:10:25.105,0:10:26.340
when people pray for us.

0:10:26.340,0:10:27.223
There's a peace.

0:10:27.223,0:10:28.765
There's a power from God

0:10:28.765,0:10:32.672
that comes into us when that prayer[br]is being answered by many believers.

0:10:32.672,0:10:34.122
♪ music ♪

0:10:34.122,0:10:39.074
[female narrator] Then Esther [br]sent this reply to Mordecai—

0:10:39.074,0:10:43.262
Go and gather all the Jews[br]who are in Susa together

0:10:43.262,0:10:46.761
and pray and fast for me.

0:10:46.761,0:10:52.197
Do not eat or drink anything for [br]three days and nights.

0:10:52.197,0:10:57.241
I and my maidens will fast as you do.

0:10:57.241,0:11:00.506
After that, I will go to the king

0:11:00.506,0:11:03.396
even though it is against the law.

0:11:03.396,0:11:07.499
And if I perish, I perish.

0:11:07.499,0:11:30.088
♪ music ♪

0:11:30.088,0:11:31.732
We look back at Esther now

0:11:31.732,0:11:34.101
and we think what a gutsy girl.

0:11:34.101,0:11:37.212
You know, what a woman of faith.

0:11:37.212,0:11:39.777
But she was probably just as terrified

0:11:39.777,0:11:41.888
as any of us might have been.

0:11:41.888,0:11:45.167
It was a very desperate situation...

0:11:45.167,0:11:47.030
You know the old saying, [br]there's no such thing

0:11:47.030,0:11:48.951
as atheists in foxholes.

0:11:48.951,0:11:52.760
And I think [br]this was a case where

0:11:52.760,0:11:56.063
they knew without divine intervention,

0:11:56.063,0:11:59.857
without divine intervention, [br]all was going to be lost.

0:11:59.857,0:12:05.021
But she was wise enough [br]to say to her uncle, Mordecai—

0:12:05.021,0:12:07.725
I will fast and pray.

0:12:07.725,0:12:12.154
And I will have my people [br]here in the palace fast and pray.

0:12:12.154,0:12:15.338
But I want all of God's people[br]to fast and pray.

0:12:15.338,0:12:17.451
I think we miss out a lot

0:12:17.451,0:12:19.254
on the unleashing of God's power

0:12:19.254,0:12:22.091
in this world by not fasting.

0:12:22.091,0:12:25.253
And it doesn't have to mean you[br]have to go totally without food

0:12:25.253,0:12:28.012
but some form of giving up something

0:12:28.012,0:12:29.745
we really love every day

0:12:29.745,0:12:31.750
and uniting that together with prayer

0:12:31.750,0:12:34.761
and praying with others, [br]it does something,

0:12:34.761,0:12:36.758
moves in this great controversy.

0:12:36.758,0:12:40.116
It's very easy at times to forget

0:12:40.116,0:12:42.994
just how dependant we are upon God.

0:12:42.994,0:12:45.545
And as Dwight Nelson likes to remind us—

0:12:45.545,0:12:47.612
Pray desperate prayers!

0:12:47.612,0:12:49.269
And Esther was desperate.

0:12:49.269,0:12:51.658
Pray urgent prayers!

0:12:51.658,0:12:54.315
And pray prayers of expectancy!

0:12:54.315,0:12:57.706
And I think her prayers [br]encompassed all three.

0:12:57.706,0:12:59.496
If you look at the book of Acts,

0:12:59.496,0:13:01.751
prayer was very uniting.

0:13:01.751,0:13:04.838
Take, for example, Peter and Cornelius.

0:13:04.838,0:13:09.707
Cornelius, a Jew – a Gentile. [br]Peter, a Jew.

0:13:09.707,0:13:14.196
And Jews and Gentiles [br]would not possibly come together

0:13:14.196,0:13:16.505
in any intimate talking

0:13:16.505,0:13:18.499
or visiting in one another's homes

0:13:18.499,0:13:19.425
or eating together.

0:13:19.425,0:13:22.766
This was the Holy Spirit breaking[br]down some walls.

0:13:22.766,0:13:28.006
A Gentile of the Italian band, Cornelius,[br]was praying.

0:13:28.006,0:13:30.894
It was no accident. He was praying.

0:13:30.894,0:13:33.904
Peter on the rooftop, praying.

0:13:33.904,0:13:36.079
And he prayed so long that he fell asleep.

0:13:36.079,0:13:38.885
Peter has this dream of the sheet [br]coming down

0:13:38.885,0:13:41.370
with all these various animals in it.

0:13:41.370,0:13:43.390
And God says, Peter, rise and eat.

0:13:43.390,0:13:45.413
And Peter says, I've never eaten snakes

0:13:45.413,0:13:48.484
and crocodiles and rodents.

0:13:48.484,0:13:50.390
The vision of course was not about

0:13:50.390,0:13:51.578
clean or unclean foods.

0:13:51.578,0:13:55.105
The vision was about respect[br]for other cultures.

0:13:55.105,0:13:56.564
Respect for other people.

0:13:56.564,0:14:02.068
And God sent visions, epiphanies, to [br]both of them

0:14:02.068,0:14:04.390
that broke down the walls

0:14:04.390,0:14:06.058
that divided them.

0:14:06.058,0:14:08.682
And Peter declared, God has shown me

0:14:08.682,0:14:12.179
that He is no respecter of persons.

0:14:12.179,0:14:15.493
As both of them prayed, Jew and Gentile,

0:14:15.493,0:14:17.248
their prayers ascended to heaven

0:14:17.248,0:14:19.120
and met at the throne of God.

0:14:19.120,0:14:27.220
♪ music ♪

0:14:27.220,0:14:30.511
[1st speaker] It was around noon [br]when Peter went up to the roof to pray.

0:14:30.511,0:14:32.758
It was here that Peter had a vision

0:14:32.758,0:14:36.633
about a large sheet containing a mix [br]of unclean animals

0:14:36.633,0:14:38.515
representing God's affirmation

0:14:38.515,0:14:40.015
of the diversity of peoples

0:14:40.015,0:14:41.757
in the growing church.

0:14:41.757,0:14:45.227
♪ music ♪

0:14:45.227,0:14:47.413
[2nd speaker] We had heard [br]that Peter was staying

0:14:47.413,0:14:49.757
at the house of Simon the tanner,

0:14:49.757,0:14:53.752
and were instructed by Cornelius, [br]the centurion, to go out and find him.

0:14:53.752,0:14:55.502
♪ music ♪

0:14:55.502,0:14:58.008
[1st speaker] While Peter [br]was still thinking about the vision,

0:14:58.008,0:15:00.879
the Holy Spirit told him to go downstairs

0:15:00.879,0:15:04.608
because three men were looking for him.

0:15:04.608,0:15:06.248
[same man speaking Berber]

0:15:06.248,0:15:08.254
Peter went down and told the men

0:15:08.254,0:15:12.079
that he was the one they were looking for.

0:15:12.079,0:15:17.173
♪ music ♪

0:15:17.173,0:15:18.787
[2nd speaker] We then told Peter

0:15:18.787,0:15:21.042
that Cornelius, the centurion,

0:15:21.042,0:15:22.758
had been told by an angel

0:15:22.758,0:15:23.892
that Peter would come

0:15:23.892,0:15:25.416
and see him at his house.

0:15:25.416,0:15:27.411
So, unbeknown to Peter,

0:15:27.411,0:15:30.832
Cornelius was already expecting [br]his visit to Caesarea.

0:15:30.832,0:15:33.492
[first man speaking again]

0:15:33.492,0:15:36.261
What happened here was quite unusual.

0:15:36.261,0:15:38.997
Just the fact that Peter [br]entered the house—

0:15:38.997,0:15:41.165
remember that it was against the law

0:15:41.165,0:15:43.015
for a Jew to associate with

0:15:43.015,0:15:44.736
or visit a Gentile.

0:15:44.736,0:15:47.370
♪ music ♪

0:15:47.370,0:15:50.009
[2nd speaker] Cornelius told Peter [br]how three days earlier

0:15:50.009,0:15:51.788
he had been praying in his house

0:15:51.788,0:15:54.250
when an angel had appeared before him.

0:15:54.250,0:15:57.000
[first man speaking Berber again]

0:15:57.000,0:15:58.630
Peter shared with Cornelius

0:15:58.630,0:16:00.686
his new understanding that God

0:16:00.686,0:16:02.520
does not show favouritism

0:16:02.520,0:16:04.491
and is the Lord of all.

0:16:04.491,0:16:06.628
This was a real turning point.

0:16:06.628,0:16:07.994
From this point on,

0:16:07.994,0:16:11.630
the gospel was also given among[br]other people groups.

0:16:11.630,0:16:16.600
And it all started out with prayer[br]and fasting and a vision.

0:16:16.600,0:16:19.131
Cultures were bridged.

0:16:19.131,0:16:21.312
Barriers were broken down.

0:16:21.312,0:16:23.078
Hearts were united.

0:16:23.078,0:16:25.828
And they became one in Jesus Christ.

0:16:25.828,0:16:27.821
And the gospel was open to the Gentiles.

0:16:27.821,0:16:28.974
What does united prayer

0:16:28.974,0:16:31.092
do for breaking down cultures?

0:16:31.092,0:16:34.189
When we are kneeling together

0:16:34.189,0:16:36.899
different cultures, different backgrounds,

0:16:36.909,0:16:39.241
different sociological backgrounds,

0:16:39.241,0:16:41.918
different educational backgrounds,

0:16:41.918,0:16:43.476
different racial complexions.

0:16:43.476,0:16:45.506
When we are kneeling together

0:16:45.506,0:16:48.621
our hearts are united [br]as one in Jesus Christ.

0:16:48.621,0:16:50.492
I look in Acts chapter 13,

0:16:50.492,0:16:52.511
where the church in Antioch

0:16:52.511,0:16:55.613
is sending out Paul and Barnabas.

0:16:55.613,0:16:57.511
And they hands on them.

0:16:57.511,0:17:00.259
And they pray for the blessing [br]of the Holy Spirit.

0:17:00.259,0:17:04.015
The laying on of hands was the [br]setting aside in Acts 13

0:17:04.015,0:17:07.661
of Paul and Barnabas for [br]ministry and mission.

0:17:07.661,0:17:11.051
They were going to launch their [br]missionary journeys.

0:17:11.051,0:17:15.025
I don't think there's anything magical[br]about the hands.

0:17:15.025,0:17:16.401
I think it's a symbol.

0:17:16.401,0:17:18.911
Like water is with baptism

0:17:18.911,0:17:21.885
or the unleavened bread and the[br]unfermented grape juice

0:17:21.885,0:17:23.619
are in the communion service.

0:17:23.619,0:17:26.382
When the church comes unitedly,

0:17:26.382,0:17:28.498
and lays hands on an individual,

0:17:28.498,0:17:30.759
they are praying for that individual,

0:17:30.759,0:17:35.503
setting them aside for a specific task[br]of witness and ministry.

0:17:35.503,0:17:37.013
[male speaking Berber]

0:17:37.013,0:17:39.491
As the prophets and teachers[br]of the early church

0:17:39.491,0:17:41.130
were fasting and praying,

0:17:41.130,0:17:43.237
the Holy Spirit called Paul and Barnabas

0:17:43.237,0:17:45.963
to go on their first mission journey.

0:17:45.963,0:17:48.760
The church prayed together [br]before sending them out.

0:17:48.760,0:17:50.360
♪ angelic music ♪

0:17:50.360,0:17:51.500
[female speaking Berber]

0:17:51.500,0:17:53.931
Hands were laid on them and we[br]prayed earnestly.

0:17:53.931,0:17:56.821
As a united church, [br]we prayed for their safety

0:17:56.821,0:17:58.260
and that God would grant them

0:17:58.260,0:18:00.911
the right words to speak to the multitudes

0:18:00.911,0:18:03.372
We prayed that our missionaries [br]would be successful

0:18:03.372,0:18:04.865
in spreading the gospel.

0:18:04.865,0:18:07.255
♪ music ♪

0:18:07.255,0:18:10.078
Paul and Barnabas travelled to [br]several places.

0:18:10.078,0:18:12.307
In Cyprus, they proclaimed the word of God

0:18:12.307,0:18:14.232
in the Jewish synagogues.

0:18:14.232,0:18:16.245
In Pisidian Antioch almost the whole city

0:18:16.245,0:18:18.765
gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

0:18:18.765,0:18:21.655
When the Gentiles heard their messages,[br]they believed.

0:18:21.655,0:18:24.852
The word of the Lord spread throughout[br]the entire region

0:18:24.852,0:18:28.875
and the disciples were filled with joy[br]and the Holy Spirit.

0:18:28.875,0:18:31.725
♪ music ♪

0:18:31.725,0:18:34.507
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[br]in every church

0:18:34.507,0:18:38.146
and prayed with fasting commending[br]them to the Lord.

0:18:38.146,0:18:39.821
They gathered the church together

0:18:39.821,0:18:42.531
and reported all that God had done[br]through them

0:18:42.531,0:18:46.030
and how He had opened a door of faith[br]to the Gentiles.

0:18:47.750,0:18:49.265
As a praying community,

0:18:49.265,0:18:52.762
when we lay hands upon those [br]that we're praying for

0:18:52.762,0:18:56.097
it represents the hand of God.

0:18:56.097,0:18:57.882
Kneeling around that person,

0:18:57.882,0:19:00.107
setting them aside for that task,

0:19:00.107,0:19:02.081
we're asking the Holy Spirit to come

0:19:02.081,0:19:04.208
to empower them, to strengthen them

0:19:04.208,0:19:06.858
for the task that God has given them[br]through the church.

0:19:06.858,0:19:10.421
I remember a story where Paul was...

0:19:10.421,0:19:12.108
he encountered a beautiful woman.

0:19:12.108,0:19:14.831
Her name was Lydia. And she was praying.

0:19:14.831,0:19:18.395
And, I don't know, that might have been[br]beside a river, for all I know,

0:19:18.395,0:19:20.245
it may have been beside a well.

0:19:20.245,0:19:22.251
Maybe it was in the middle of a market.

0:19:22.251,0:19:25.744
You know, at their time. Wherever it was.

0:19:25.744,0:19:28.053
God was able to reach her heart

0:19:28.053,0:19:30.561
and the Bible tells us that she accepted

0:19:30.561,0:19:33.251
the message of the gospel and she[br]was baptized.

0:19:33.251,0:19:36.452
We were a group of women [br]outside the city gate

0:19:36.452,0:19:38.518
by the river at a place of prayer.

0:19:38.518,0:19:40.790
Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth,[br]

0:19:40.790,0:19:43.035
from Thyatira was also there.

0:19:43.035,0:19:46.157
Two men came along [br]and started to speak to us,

0:19:46.157,0:19:48.354
and asked to join us in prayer.

0:19:48.354,0:19:51.192
We later learned that they [br]were Paul and Silas.

0:19:51.192,0:19:55.515
The Lord opened Lydia's heart [br]to heed Paul's message.

0:19:55.515,0:19:59.494
She and all the members [br]of her household were baptized.

0:19:59.494,0:20:03.745
Another day Paul and Silas [br]were on their way to a place of prayer.

0:20:03.745,0:20:06.245
They were met by a female slave

0:20:06.245,0:20:08.620
who had a spirit in her [br]that could predict the future.

0:20:08.620,0:20:12.498
She earned a lot of money [br]for her owners by fortune telling.

0:20:12.498,0:20:15.478
She followed us and shouted at us.

0:20:15.478,0:20:19.254
This was disrupting and so Paul ordered[br]the spirit out of her.

0:20:19.254,0:20:22.756
When her owners realized that their chance[br]of making money was gone,

0:20:22.756,0:20:25.750
they dragged Paul and Silas to[br]the authorities

0:20:25.750,0:20:27.355
and they were put in prison.

0:20:27.355,0:20:32.762
At around midnight, these two very[br]positive prisoners

0:20:32.762,0:20:35.500
named Paul and Silas were praying

0:20:35.500,0:20:38.015
and singing hymns to God.

0:20:38.015,0:20:40.500
The rest of us were listening to them.

0:20:40.500,0:20:42.884
Suddenly there was a violent earthquake

0:20:42.884,0:20:44.645
and the prison shook.

0:20:44.645,0:20:46.895
All the prison doors flew open

0:20:46.895,0:20:49.761
and everyone's chains came loose.

0:20:49.761,0:20:52.259
The jailer woke up, saw all the doors open

0:20:52.259,0:20:54.511
and drew his sword to kill himself.

0:20:54.511,0:20:57.048
He thought all the prisoners had escaped.

0:20:57.048,0:20:59.610
But Paul assured him and shouted

0:20:59.610,0:21:02.154
that he should not harm himself.

0:21:02.154,0:21:07.509
The jailer called for lights, rushed in [br]and lay in front of them, trembling.

0:21:07.509,0:21:10.750
The jailer accepted Jesus Christ,

0:21:10.750,0:21:14.875
and his whole family was baptized.

0:21:14.875,0:21:16.839
So prayer can happen anywhere.

0:21:16.839,0:21:19.249
For Hope Channel, you know [br]I anchor a program ...

0:21:19.249,0:21:21.349
I co-anchor a program [br]called Let's Pray.

0:21:21.349,0:21:23.963
And so here we are in a television studio

0:21:23.963,0:21:26.262
with lights and cameras and action

0:21:26.262,0:21:30.010
and yet we are very much [br]in the manner of prayer.

0:21:30.010,0:21:32.944
And we have seen God ...,

0:21:32.944,0:21:36.214
we have seen amazing answers to prayer,

0:21:36.214,0:21:39.019
... from the studio, [br]so it can happen anywhere.

0:21:39.019,0:21:40.497
One friend of mine has said—

0:21:40.497,0:21:42.985
we must pray with such specificity

0:21:42.985,0:21:45.973
that we will know [br]when God answers our prayers.

0:21:45.973,0:21:50.249
In Acts chapter 12, Peter is in prison.

0:21:50.249,0:21:52.643
He is scheduled for execution.

0:21:52.643,0:21:56.042
He's chained between soldiers.

0:21:56.042,0:21:59.245
Herod has decreed that he will die.

0:21:59.245,0:22:01.995
As Peter's in prison, the entire church

0:22:01.995,0:22:04.475
—I like that—, [br]the entire church is praying

0:22:04.475,0:22:05.768
for Peter in prison.

0:22:05.768,0:22:08.700
Right before that, James was ... [br]—you know—

0:22:08.700,0:22:10.766
taken to prison, but was killed.

0:22:10.766,0:22:13.254
And I think the people got[br]really concerned

0:22:13.254,0:22:14.824
that they may now lose Peter

0:22:14.824,0:22:17.193
when he was hauled off to jail.

0:22:17.193,0:22:19.728
And that caused them to get worried

0:22:19.728,0:22:23.165
so they got together and [br]really prayed all night long.

0:22:23.165,0:22:26.342
King Herod had arrested some [br]that belonged to the church

0:22:26.342,0:22:28.522
and was planning to persecute them.

0:22:28.522,0:22:30.839
When Herod had James put to death[br]with a sword,

0:22:30.839,0:22:33.289
and saw how the Jews had approved of this,

0:22:33.289,0:22:35.449
he seized Peter also.

0:22:35.449,0:22:37.090
[female reporting in Berber]

0:22:37.090,0:22:39.377
Peter was guarded by four squads

0:22:39.377,0:22:41.334
of four soldiers each.

0:22:41.334,0:22:44.268
We were very concerned for his safety.

0:22:44.268,0:22:46.417
And the church prayed earnestly for him.

0:22:46.417,0:22:49.262
[male further reporting in Berber]

0:22:49.262,0:22:51.857
The night before Herod was going to[br]bring him to trial,

0:22:51.857,0:22:53.990
Peter was sleeping between two soldiers

0:22:53.990,0:22:57.889
bound by chains and [br]centuries stood guard at the entrance.

0:22:57.889,0:22:59.996
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared

0:22:59.996,0:23:02.254
and light shone into his cell.

0:23:02.254,0:23:04.740
The angel struck Peter on the side to[br]wake him up

0:23:04.740,0:23:07.254
and the chains fell off his wrists.

0:23:07.254,0:23:10.742
As he was instructed, Peter followed the[br]angel out of the prison

0:23:10.742,0:23:14.771
past all of the guards to the[br]gate of the city.

0:23:14.771,0:23:17.251
[female further reporting in Berber]

0:23:17.251,0:23:19.252
Many people had been praying together

0:23:19.252,0:23:21.734
in the house of Mary, the mother of John.

0:23:21.734,0:23:25.544
As the servant in the house, [br]I heard knocking on the door.

0:23:25.544,0:23:30.844
♪ music ♪

0:23:30.844,0:23:33.114
With caution, I went to open the door

0:23:33.114,0:23:36.254
and to my surprise, there stood Peter.

0:23:36.254,0:23:39.765
We had just been praying [br]earnestly for him in prison.

0:23:39.765,0:23:42.025
[male further reporting in Berber]

0:23:42.025,0:23:44.758
Once again, united prayer had worked

0:23:44.758,0:23:49.515
and the word of God [br]continued to spread and flourish.

0:23:49.515,0:23:51.954
No one who was [br]at that prayer meeting that night

0:23:51.954,0:23:55.021
would ever forget that they have a God

0:23:55.021,0:23:57.105
answering prayer after that night.

0:23:57.105,0:23:58.660
Everywhere those people went

0:23:58.660,0:24:01.653
for the rest of their lives, [br]they told that story,

0:24:01.653,0:24:03.914
which is part of the reason [br]we know it today,

0:24:03.914,0:24:06.511
they told that story with great power

0:24:06.511,0:24:09.595
because it was utterly convincing to them

0:24:09.595,0:24:12.274
of not only God's willingness to help,

0:24:12.274,0:24:15.884
but God's ability to do it [br]on a grand and surprising scale.

0:24:15.884,0:24:19.568
Here were three big, huge nations

0:24:19.568,0:24:23.314
converging on his little [br]dinky kingdom of Judah

0:24:23.314,0:24:26.011
and from a human standpoint,[br]it was wipeout.

0:24:26.011,0:24:28.518
Jehoshaphat says some very honest things

0:24:28.518,0:24:30.446
about the ones praying.

0:24:30.446,0:24:31.764
We don't know what to do.

0:24:31.764,0:24:32.751
We're weak.

0:24:32.751,0:24:35.704
We're helpless against this great number[br]that's come against us.

0:24:35.704,0:24:39.667
But he says some very honest things[br]about who God is too.

0:24:39.667,0:24:43.008
God, You are capable. You are willing.

0:24:43.008,0:24:46.055
You are able and we are ready.

0:24:46.055,0:24:49.692
All of which prepared God's people[br]for His deliverance.

0:24:49.692,0:24:51.984
But I think when we humble ourselves [br]in prayer

0:24:51.984,0:24:54.131
we're giving God permission

0:24:54.131,0:24:56.901
to break through in a supernatural way.

0:24:56.901,0:24:59.742
And, we're even told in the book,[br]Christ's Object Lessons,

0:24:59.742,0:25:01.778
that we are to present our prayers

0:25:01.778,0:25:05.583
with a determination that[br]will not be denied.

0:25:06.343,0:25:08.196
What a promise.

0:25:08.196,0:25:24.797
♪ ominous music ♪

0:25:24.797,0:25:27.241
Many people came and told Jehoshaphat

0:25:27.241,0:25:31.101
that a vast army was approaching [br]to wage war against him.

0:25:31.101,0:25:34.869
Alarmed by this news, [br]Jehoshaphat proclaimed

0:25:34.869,0:25:37.099
a fast for all of Judah.

0:25:37.099,0:25:39.853
People came from every town in Judah

0:25:39.853,0:25:42.379
to fast and pray together.

0:25:42.379,0:25:44.584
We were part of a large group and

0:25:44.584,0:25:48.868
Jehoshaphat was earnestly asking God[br]for assistance.

0:25:48.868,0:25:51.506
Then a man called Jahaziel stood up

0:25:51.506,0:25:55.032
and said that Jehoshaphat [br]should not be concerned—

0:25:55.032,0:25:58.004
that it was not his battle [br]but God's battle.

0:25:58.004,0:26:05.251
♪ urgent music ♪

0:26:05.251,0:26:07.191
[man speaking Berber]

0:26:07.191,0:26:08.659
It was early in the morning

0:26:08.659,0:26:11.376
when we set out to the desert of Tekoa.

0:26:11.376,0:26:14.934
We were seriously concerned [br]about facing this huge army,

0:26:14.934,0:26:17.417
but we were told to have faith.

0:26:17.417,0:26:19.502
We had also prayed.

0:26:19.502,0:26:21.872
♪ urgent music ♪

0:26:21.872,0:26:24.266
When our reconnaissance platoon [br]came over the hill,

0:26:24.266,0:26:26.561
we only saw dead bodies all around.

0:26:26.561,0:26:28.621
♪ electric music ♪

0:26:28.621,0:26:31.175
The enemy had apparently turned on[br]each other.

0:26:31.175,0:26:34.182
Jehoshaphat's prayers [br]had won them the battle

0:26:34.182,0:26:36.627
without even having to fight.

0:26:36.627,0:26:38.377
When you look at prayer

0:26:38.377,0:26:40.111
in the book of Acts in the Bible,

0:26:40.111,0:26:41.891
a definite pattern emerges.

0:26:41.891,0:26:44.506
That pattern is that the disciples,

0:26:44.506,0:26:48.361
as they begin to share [br]what God has put on their hearts,

0:26:48.361,0:26:52.435
they are persecuted, sometimes [br]to the point of death.

0:26:52.435,0:26:54.981
As the persecution begins,

0:26:54.981,0:26:57.592
they actually gather [br]the believers together.

0:26:57.592,0:27:01.774
They pray and [br]the Holy Spirit is poured out.

0:27:01.774,0:27:03.688
Thus causing the word of God

0:27:03.688,0:27:06.515
to be spread even more boldly.

0:27:06.515,0:27:09.418
Thus the church of God grows.

0:27:09.418,0:27:11.515
United prayer is critically important

0:27:11.515,0:27:15.191
to the church because it is the key

0:27:15.191,0:27:21.505
to national revival and to the healing of[br]national challenges.

0:27:21.505,0:27:24.009
Prayer, especially united prayer,

0:27:24.009,0:27:25.552
is not about leverage,

0:27:25.552,0:27:28.020
twisting the hand of God with more people

0:27:28.020,0:27:31.301
praying the same phrase [br]over and over again.

0:27:31.301,0:27:33.887
It is about God's people together

0:27:33.887,0:27:35.931
getting aligned with His will.

0:27:35.931,0:27:38.780
When we pray, [br]I think it changes our hearts.

0:27:38.780,0:27:42.080
And when we can unite together in prayer,

0:27:42.080,0:27:45.191
there is a unity that is experienced.

0:27:45.191,0:27:48.432
And then when we ask, whatever we ask,

0:27:48.432,0:27:51.885
in the powerful name of Jesus, [br]things happen.

0:27:51.885,0:27:54.957
Why is united prayer important?

0:27:54.957,0:27:57.313
Because it opens our hearts

0:27:57.313,0:28:00.351
to the power of the living God

0:28:00.351,0:28:02.488
to accompany our witness.

0:28:02.488,0:28:05.874
It brings you to the foot of the cross[br]together.

0:28:05.874,0:28:08.981
United prayer is unleashing God's power

0:28:08.981,0:28:10.338
in the universe—I believe

0:28:10.338,0:28:12.222
in a great controversy.

0:28:12.222,0:28:14.244
He's what we need, not the prayer.

0:28:14.244,0:28:17.760
In the controversy between good and evil

0:28:17.760,0:28:20.899
God does not violate our [br]freedom of choice.

0:28:20.899,0:28:28.001
But as we pray, [br]God opens up new avenues of working.

0:28:28.001,0:28:31.251
Isn't God already working for that son[br]or daughter before we pray?

0:28:31.251,0:28:33.889
Isn't He working for the community[br]before we pray?

0:28:33.889,0:28:36.393
He is. But he's limited by their choice.

0:28:36.393,0:28:39.513
But as we pray, [br]just like in the book of Acts

0:28:39.513,0:28:44.446
as the church prayed, God honours[br]the choice of the praying one.

0:28:44.446,0:28:49.419
And miracles occur as we pray unitedly.

0:28:49.419,0:28:53.501
When we get things right on the vertical

0:28:53.501,0:28:56.505
they will become right on the horizontal.

0:28:56.505,0:29:28.671
♪ solemn music ♪