WEBVTT

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[children laughing]
♪ music ♪

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♪ noble music ♪

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[multitone horn]
♪ music ♪

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[more gentle flowing]
♪ music ♪

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

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with humble, fervent prayer

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♪ music ♪

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threatened by the authorities

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and banned from preaching,

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the church prayed and two 
men witnessed

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with great power and grace.

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♪ choral music ♪

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And people prayed everywhere, 
in one accord

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in repentance, with confession 
and humility.

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And the lives of people were changed.

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[plunged stone]
♪ choral music ♪

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♪ choral music ♪

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Two men started out 
on a missionary journey

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

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♪ choral music ♪

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And the message went out 
to the world beyond.

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♪ 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 
that his people fast and pray

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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 
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 
the power of united prayer.

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As I read the book of Acts,

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it's really a book about believers 
coming together to pray,

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and a prayer-answering God.

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Personal prayer is important.

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Secret prayer is the life of the soul.

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But we know that there has never been
a revival anywhere on this planet

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that wasn't preceded by united and
continuous prayer.

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Our Lord on one occasion says where
two or more of you agree

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on touching anything that is according
to My will, it will be done.

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So there is a synergy that happens

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when we hook up together and unite
our voices in crying out to God.

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As the spirit of prophecy tells us,

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prayer is the key that unlocks the storehouse 
of heaven's treasury and blessings.

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Some of Ellen White's counsel and statements


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on united prayer are powerful as well.

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She says in one place that...

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when she was writing to the Farnsworths, 
—I believe it was—, she said

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there's more power in united prayer

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than even in private prayer.

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Then she says, why is that?

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It's because the unity of heart 
of the believers.

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It's like God gets really excited

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when we're really of one accord

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when we unite together, 
just like they did in Acts.

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Another statement she says,

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at the sound of fervent prayer, 
Satan's whole host trembles.

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Jesus knows that 
the habit of praying with others

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helps to rid our lives of the 
self-centeredness of our prayers

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when we pray by ourselves.

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So when the Bible talks about
continue earnestly in prayer,

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that's not just an individual activity.

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It's a call to the church as a community
to call out to God.

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Not to change God's mind,

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but that we come into alignment 
with God's will

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and actually I think he uses us as part 
of the answers to those prayers.

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As you look at the book of Acts,

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united prayer brought God's people together.

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In Acts chapter 1 and verse 14 and 15,

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the entire church met together and prayed.

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They knew that the task before them
was too great.

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They knew the challenge was too immense.

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They knew there was no way they could 
carry the gospel to the world.

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But yet as they prayed,
God did something miraculous.

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He poured out His Holy Spirit on the
day of Pentacost

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and three thousand were baptized.

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You know one of the ... 
when you read the text there,

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one of the things that jumps out at me is
the simple English phrase—

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they were in one accord.

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Pentacost was just an extraordinary event.

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It came after the culmination of Christ's 
ministry on this earth.

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And it looked as though everything was
completely dashed and destroyed.

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When Christ was hanging on that cross

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and then of course 
the resurrection took place.

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And He appeared to His disciples

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which gave them a completely
different perspective

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on what their ministry was all about.

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Our blessed Lord told His disciples

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to tarry in Jerusalem united in prayer.

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And that was one of the prerequisites

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for bringing that rushing mighty wind

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and the presence of the Holy Spirit
on the day of Pentacost.

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[man speaking berber]

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It was the time of Passover

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and we were in an upper room
in Jerusalem.

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We were all praying in one accord.

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We were praying for repentance
and humility,

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and we were confessing our sins.

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We were also seeking the Lord's vision,
power and the Holy Spirit.

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There was an incredible feeling of oneness

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as we prayed earnestly together.

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[man praying in Berber]

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[woman speaking in Berber]

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[female speaker] Suddenly 
there was the sound of a violent wind

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that filled the whole room where
we were sitting.

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[wind sounds]

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Then tongues of fire came down

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and this fire rested on the people.

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[man speaking Berber]

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[male narrator] All the people 
in the room were filled with the Holy Spirit.

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Now remember that at the time
of the Passover,

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people came from many countries to worship

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and now suddenly they could hear the gospel

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each in their own language.

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As a result of this, three thousand people

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were added to the believers in one day.

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♪ gently sparkling music ♪

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[woman speaking Berber]

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[female speaker] The people 
devoted themselves

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to the apostles' teaching 
and the fellowship,

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to the breaking of bread and of prayer.

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Every day they would meet together
in the temple courts.

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In their homes, they broke bread 
and ate together.

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And the number of those being saved
grew daily.

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♪ one rich chord music ♪

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And we believe something like this

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is going to happen 
in the last days as well.

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But I think only
as a church and as a people

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we get together in one accord

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and in fervent prayer, will we ...

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till we do that, we won't see that happen.

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And really, what happened at Pentacost

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is going to be again duplicated
by the Lord

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in an even greater fashion

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as the three angels' messages go forward

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as the fourth angel of Revelation 18 
has proclaimed

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and as the final loud cry is heralded 
all over the world.

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And it's going to be people 
who have submitted to the Lord,

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confessed their sins,

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and then the Holy Spirit can fall

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and can use us in a mighty way.

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Well I think in the book of Acts, 
Acts chapter 6

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it seemed like a good problem.

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The church was growing exponentially.

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But in the midst of that, there's this
food distribution challenge.

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[men arguing in Berber]
♪ animating music ♪

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[male speaker] The church 
was undergoing practical challenges.

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The Hellenistic Jews were complaining
against the Hebraic Jews

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because the former's widows 
were being overlooked

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in the daily distribution of food.

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The apostles decided that they needed

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to focus on the ministry of prayer 
and the word.

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And so they requested for seven deacons 


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to be chosen for these other 
practical tasks.

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♪ animating music ♪

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[man speaking Berber]

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[male speaker] The apostles 
asked us as a group

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to chose seven men who were known

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to be full of the Spirit and have wisdom.

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This proposal from the apostles

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pleased our whole group.

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So we went about selecting the seven men.

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Once the men were selected,

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they were presented to the apostles.

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The apostles laid their hands on them
and prayed for them.

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[2nd speaker] With prayer as a priority,
the church would never fail.

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After this, the number of disciples
increased rapidly.

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And a large number of priests
became obedient to the work.

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So I think we find a case study there

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that says when we face challenges,

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let's use wisdom, let's use our training

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but let's also recognize that we have

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a prayer-answering God who will 
give us wisdom.

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I've seen this over and over and over.

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Churches with big problems

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have solved them when they come 
together to pray.

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♪ baritone choral music ♪

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[Chief priest lecturing Peter and John]

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[Chief priest continuing 
to lecture Peter and John]

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[male narrator]
Peter and John were called in

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by the chief priests and elders about
their preaching.

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They tried to defend their actions,

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but the leaders were very hard on them.

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They were commanded not to speak

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or teach in the name of Jesus.

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After further threats, they let them go.

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Peter and John went back to their 
own people

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and reported all that the chief priests
and elders had said.

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♪ baritone choral music ♪

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[man speaking Berber]

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When we heard all this we immediately
raised our voices in prayer to God.

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The entire group prayed for 
Peter and John.

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We prayed for God to give boldness
to these two humble servants.

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Such intense prayer I had not experienced
for a long time.

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After we had prayed, suddenly the whole 
place was shaken.

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[another man speaking Berber]

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People were filled with the Holy Spirit

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and Peter and John went out

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and gave witness with great power 
and grace.

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They witnessed throughout the land

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about the resurrection of their Saviour.

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♪ final chord music ♪

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So I think Peter and John
drew great strength

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both from knowing they were praying

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but also from the power that's unleashed

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when people pray for us.

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There's a peace,

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there's a power from God

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that comes into us when that prayer
is being answered by many believers.

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♪ stern music ♪

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[female narrator] Then Esther 
sent this reply to Mordecai—

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Go and gather all the Jews
who are in Susa together

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and pray and fast for me.

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Do not eat or drink anything for 
three days and nights.

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I and my maidens will fast as you do.

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After that, I will go to the king

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even though it is against the law.

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And if I perish, I perish.

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♪ continously rising music ♪

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♪ martial fanfare ♪

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We look back at Esther now

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and we think what a gutsy girl.

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You know, what a woman of faith.

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But she was probably just as terrified

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as any of us might have been.

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It was a very desperate situation...

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You know the old saying, 
there's no such thing

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as atheists in foxholes.

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And I think 
this was a case where

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they knew without divine intervention,

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without divine intervention, 
all was going to be lost.

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But she was wise enough 
to say to her uncle, Mordecai—

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I will fast and pray.

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And I will have my people 
here in the palace fast and pray.

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But I want all of God's people
to fast and pray.

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I think we miss out a lot

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on the unleashing of God's power

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in this world by not fasting.

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And it doesn't have to mean you
have to go totally without food

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but some form of giving up something

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we really love every day

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and uniting that together with prayer

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and praying with others, 
it does something,

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moves in this great controversy.

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It's very easy at times to forget

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just how dependant we are upon God.

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And as Dwight Nelson likes to remind us—

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Pray desperate prayers!

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And Esther was desperate.

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Pray urgent prayers!

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And pray prayers of expectancy!

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And I think her prayers 
encompassed all three.

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If you look at the book of Acts,

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prayer was very uniting.

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Take, for example, Peter and Cornelius.

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Cornelius, a Jew – a Gentile. 
Peter, a Jew.

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And Jews and Gentiles 
would not possibly come together

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in any intimate talking

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or visiting in one another's homes

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or eating together.

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This was the Holy Spirit breaking
down some walls.

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A Gentile of the Italian band, Cornelius,
was praying.

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It was no accident. He was praying.

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Peter on the rooftop, praying.

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And he prayed so long that he fell asleep.

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Peter has this dream of the sheet 
coming down

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with all these various animals in it.

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And God says, Peter, rise and eat.

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And Peter says, I've never eaten snakes

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and crocodiles and rodents.

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The vision of course was not about

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clean or unclean foods.

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The vision was about respect
for other cultures.

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Respect for other people.

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And God sent visions, epiphanies, to 
both of them

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that broke down the walls

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that divided them.

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And Peter declared, God has shown me

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that He is no respecter of persons.

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As both of them prayed, Jew and Gentile,

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their prayers ascended to heaven

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and met at the throne of God.

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♪ drifting while ascending piano music ♪

00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:30.511
[1st speaker] It was around noon 
when Peter went up to the roof to pray.

00:14:30.511 --> 00:14:32.758
It was here that Peter had a vision

00:14:32.758 --> 00:14:36.633
about a large sheet containing a mix 
of unclean animals

00:14:36.633 --> 00:14:38.515
representing God's affirmation

00:14:38.515 --> 00:14:40.015
of the diversity of peoples

00:14:40.015 --> 00:14:41.757
in the growing church.

00:14:41.757 --> 00:14:45.227
♪ yearning flute mingled in ♪

00:14:45.227 --> 00:14:47.413
[2nd speaker] We had heard 
that Peter was staying

00:14:47.413 --> 00:14:49.757
at the house of Simon the tanner,

00:14:49.757 --> 00:14:53.752
and were instructed by Cornelius, 
the centurion, to go out and find him.

00:14:53.752 --> 00:14:55.502
♪ piano and flute continue ♪

00:14:55.502 --> 00:14:58.008
[1st speaker] While Peter 
was still thinking about the vision,

00:14:58.008 --> 00:15:00.879
the Holy Spirit told him to go downstairs

00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:04.608
because three men were looking for him.

00:15:04.608 --> 00:15:06.248
[same man speaking Berber]

00:15:06.248 --> 00:15:08.254
Peter went down and told the men

00:15:08.254 --> 00:15:12.079
that he was the one they were looking for.

00:15:12.079 --> 00:15:17.173
♪ piano and flute continue colourful ♪

00:15:17.173 --> 00:15:18.787
[2nd speaker] We then told Peter

00:15:18.787 --> 00:15:21.042
that Cornelius, the centurion,

00:15:21.042 --> 00:15:22.758
had been told by an angel

00:15:22.758 --> 00:15:23.892
that Peter would come

00:15:23.892 --> 00:15:25.416
and see him at his house.

00:15:25.416 --> 00:15:27.411
So, unbeknown to Peter,

00:15:27.411 --> 00:15:30.832
Cornelius was already expecting 
his visit to Caesarea.

00:15:30.832 --> 00:15:33.492
[first man speaking again]

00:15:33.492 --> 00:15:36.261
What happened here was quite unusual.

00:15:36.261 --> 00:15:38.997
Just the fact that Peter 
entered the house—

00:15:38.997 --> 00:15:41.165
remember that it was against the law

00:15:41.165 --> 00:15:43.015
for a Jew to associate with

00:15:43.015 --> 00:15:44.736
or visit a Gentile.

00:15:44.736 --> 00:15:47.370
♪ restrained music ♪

00:15:47.370 --> 00:15:50.009
[2nd speaker] Cornelius told Peter 
how three days earlier

00:15:50.009 --> 00:15:51.788
he had been praying in his house

00:15:51.788 --> 00:15:54.250
when an angel had appeared before him.

00:15:54.250 --> 00:15:57.000
[first man speaking Berber again]

00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:58.630
Peter shared with Cornelius

00:15:58.630 --> 00:16:00.686
his new understanding that God

00:16:00.686 --> 00:16:02.520
does not show favouritism

00:16:02.520 --> 00:16:04.491
and is the Lord of all.

00:16:04.491 --> 00:16:06.628
This was a real turning point.

00:16:06.628 --> 00:16:07.994
From this point on,

00:16:07.994 --> 00:16:11.630
the gospel was also given among
other people groups.

00:16:11.630 --> 00:16:16.600
And it all started out with prayer
and fasting and a vision.

00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:19.131
Cultures were bridged.

00:16:19.131 --> 00:16:21.312
Barriers were broken down.

00:16:21.312 --> 00:16:23.078
Hearts were united.

00:16:23.078 --> 00:16:25.828
And they became one in Jesus Christ.

00:16:25.828 --> 00:16:27.821
And the gospel was open to the Gentiles.

00:16:27.821 --> 00:16:28.974
What does united prayer

00:16:28.974 --> 00:16:31.092
do for breaking down cultures?

00:16:31.092 --> 00:16:34.189
When we are kneeling together

00:16:34.189 --> 00:16:36.899
different cultures, different backgrounds,

00:16:36.909 --> 00:16:39.241
different sociological backgrounds,

00:16:39.241 --> 00:16:41.918
different educational backgrounds,

00:16:41.918 --> 00:16:43.476
different racial complexions.

00:16:43.476 --> 00:16:45.506
When we are kneeling together

00:16:45.506 --> 00:16:48.621
our hearts are united 
as one in Jesus Christ.

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I look in Acts chapter 13,

00:16:50.492 --> 00:16:52.511
where the church in Antioch

00:16:52.511 --> 00:16:55.613
is sending out Paul and Barnabas.

00:16:55.613 --> 00:16:57.511
And they lay hands on them.

00:16:57.511 --> 00:17:00.259
And they pray for the blessing 
of the Holy Spirit.

00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:04.015
The laying on of hands was the 
setting aside in Acts 13

00:17:04.015 --> 00:17:07.661
of Paul and Barnabas for 
ministry and mission.

00:17:07.661 --> 00:17:11.051
They were going to launch their 
missionary journeys.

00:17:11.051 --> 00:17:15.025
I don't think there's anything magical
about the hands.

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I think it's a symbol.

00:17:16.401 --> 00:17:18.911
Like water is with baptism

00:17:18.911 --> 00:17:21.885
or the unleavened bread and the
unfermented grape juice

00:17:21.885 --> 00:17:23.619
are in the communion service.

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When the church comes unitedly,

00:17:26.382 --> 00:17:28.498
and lays hands on an individual,

00:17:28.498 --> 00:17:30.759
they are praying for that individual,

00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:35.503
setting them aside for a specific task
of witness and ministry.

00:17:35.503 --> 00:17:37.013
[male speaking Berber]

00:17:37.013 --> 00:17:39.491
As the prophets and teachers
of the early church

00:17:39.491 --> 00:17:41.130
were fasting and praying,

00:17:41.130 --> 00:17:43.237
the Holy Spirit called Paul and Barnabas

00:17:43.237 --> 00:17:45.963
to go on their first mission journey.

00:17:45.963 --> 00:17:48.760
The church prayed together 
before sending them out.

00:17:48.760 --> 00:17:50.360
♪ angelic music ♪

00:17:50.360 --> 00:17:51.500
[female speaking Berber]

00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:53.931
Hands were laid on them and we
prayed earnestly.

00:17:53.931 --> 00:17:56.821
As a united church, 
we prayed for their safety

00:17:56.821 --> 00:17:58.260
and that God would grant them

00:17:58.260 --> 00:18:00.911
the right words to speak to the multitudes

00:18:00.911 --> 00:18:03.372
We prayed that our missionaries 
would be successful

00:18:03.372 --> 00:18:04.865
in spreading the gospel.

00:18:04.865 --> 00:18:07.255
♪ soaring music ♪

00:18:07.255 --> 00:18:10.078
Paul and Barnabas travelled to 
several places.

00:18:10.078 --> 00:18:12.307
In Cyprus, they proclaimed the word of God

00:18:12.307 --> 00:18:14.232
in the Jewish synagogues.

00:18:14.232 --> 00:18:16.245
In Pisidian Antioch almost the whole city

00:18:16.245 --> 00:18:18.765
gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

00:18:18.765 --> 00:18:21.655
When the Gentiles heard their messages,
they believed.

00:18:21.655 --> 00:18:24.852
The word of the Lord spread throughout
the entire region

00:18:24.852 --> 00:18:28.875
and the disciples were filled with joy
and the Holy Spirit.

00:18:28.875 --> 00:18:31.725
♪ floating angelic music ♪

00:18:31.725 --> 00:18:34.507
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders
in every church

00:18:34.507 --> 00:18:38.146
and prayed with fasting commending
them to the Lord.

00:18:38.146 --> 00:18:39.821
They gathered the church together

00:18:39.821 --> 00:18:42.531
and reported all that God had done
through them

00:18:42.531 --> 00:18:46.030
and how He had opened a door of faith
to the Gentiles.

00:18:47.750 --> 00:18:49.265
As a praying community,

00:18:49.265 --> 00:18:52.762
when we lay hands upon those 
that we're praying for

00:18:52.762 --> 00:18:56.097
it represents the hand of God.

00:18:56.097 --> 00:18:57.882
Kneeling around that person,

00:18:57.882 --> 00:19:00.107
setting them aside for that task,

00:19:00.107 --> 00:19:02.081
we're asking the Holy Spirit to come

00:19:02.081 --> 00:19:04.208
to empower them, to strengthen them

00:19:04.208 --> 00:19:06.858
for the task that God has given them
through the church.

00:19:06.858 --> 00:19:10.421
I remember a story where Paul was...

00:19:10.421 --> 00:19:12.108
he encountered a beautiful woman.

00:19:12.108 --> 00:19:14.831
Her name was Lydia. And she was praying.

00:19:14.831 --> 00:19:18.395
And, I don't know, that might have been
beside a river, for all I know,

00:19:18.395 --> 00:19:20.245
it may have been beside a well.

00:19:20.245 --> 00:19:22.251
Maybe it was in the middle of a market.

00:19:22.251 --> 00:19:25.744
You know, at their time. Wherever it was.

00:19:25.744 --> 00:19:28.053
God was able to reach her heart

00:19:28.053 --> 00:19:30.561
and the Bible tells us that she accepted

00:19:30.561 --> 00:19:33.251
the message of the gospel and she
was baptized.

00:19:33.251 --> 00:19:36.452
We were a group of women 
outside the city gate

00:19:36.452 --> 00:19:38.518
by the river at a place of prayer.

00:19:38.518 --> 00:19:40.790
Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth,


00:19:40.790 --> 00:19:43.035
from Thyatira was also there.

00:19:43.035 --> 00:19:46.157
Two men came along 
and started to speak to us,

00:19:46.157 --> 00:19:48.354
and asked to join us in prayer.

00:19:48.354 --> 00:19:51.192
We later learned that they 
were Paul and Silas.

00:19:51.192 --> 00:19:55.515
The Lord opened Lydia's heart 
to heed Paul's message.

00:19:55.515 --> 00:19:59.494
She and all the members 
of her household were baptized.

00:19:59.494 --> 00:20:03.745
Another day Paul and Silas 
were on their way to a place of prayer.

00:20:03.745 --> 00:20:06.245
They were met by a female slave

00:20:06.245 --> 00:20:08.620
who had a spirit in her 
that could predict the future.

00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:12.498
She earned a lot of money 
for her owners by fortune telling.

00:20:12.498 --> 00:20:15.478
She followed us and shouted at us.

00:20:15.478 --> 00:20:19.254
This was disrupting and so Paul ordered
the spirit out of her.

00:20:19.254 --> 00:20:22.756
When her owners realized that their chance
of making money was gone,

00:20:22.756 --> 00:20:25.750
they dragged Paul and Silas to
the authorities

00:20:25.750 --> 00:20:27.355
and they were put in prison.

00:20:27.355 --> 00:20:32.762
At around midnight, these two very
positive prisoners

00:20:32.762 --> 00:20:35.500
named Paul and Silas were praying

00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:38.015
and singing hymns to God.

00:20:38.015 --> 00:20:40.500
The rest of us were listening to them.

00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:42.884
Suddenly there was a violent earthquake

00:20:42.884 --> 00:20:44.645
and the prison shook.

00:20:44.645 --> 00:20:46.895
All the prison doors flew open

00:20:46.895 --> 00:20:49.761
and everyone's chains came loose.

00:20:49.761 --> 00:20:52.259
The jailer woke up, saw all the doors open

00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:54.511
and drew his sword to kill himself.

00:20:54.511 --> 00:20:57.048
He thought all the prisoners had escaped.

00:20:57.048 --> 00:20:59.610
But Paul assured him and shouted

00:20:59.610 --> 00:21:02.154
that he should not harm himself.

00:21:02.154 --> 00:21:07.509
The jailer called for lights, rushed in 
and lay in front of them, trembling.

00:21:07.509 --> 00:21:10.750
The jailer accepted Jesus Christ,

00:21:10.750 --> 00:21:14.875
and his whole family was baptized.

00:21:14.875 --> 00:21:16.839
So prayer can happen anywhere.

00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:19.249
For Hope Channel, you know 
I anchor a program ...

00:21:19.249 --> 00:21:21.349
I co-anchor a program 
called Let's Pray.

00:21:21.349 --> 00:21:23.963
And so here we are in a television studio

00:21:23.963 --> 00:21:26.262
with lights and cameras and action

00:21:26.262 --> 00:21:30.010
and yet we are very much 
in the manner of prayer.

00:21:30.010 --> 00:21:32.944
And we have seen God ...,

00:21:32.944 --> 00:21:36.214
we have seen amazing answers to prayer,

00:21:36.214 --> 00:21:39.019
... from the studio, 
so it can happen anywhere.

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:40.497
One friend of mine has said—

00:21:40.497 --> 00:21:42.985
we must pray with such specificity

00:21:42.985 --> 00:21:45.973
that we will know 
when God answers our prayers.

00:21:45.973 --> 00:21:50.249
In Acts chapter 12, Peter is in prison.

00:21:50.249 --> 00:21:52.643
He is scheduled for execution.

00:21:52.643 --> 00:21:56.042
He's chained between soldiers.

00:21:56.042 --> 00:21:59.245
Herod has decreed that he will die.

00:21:59.245 --> 00:22:01.995
As Peter's in prison, the entire church

00:22:01.995 --> 00:22:04.475
—I like that—
the entire church is praying

00:22:04.475 --> 00:22:05.768
for Peter in prison.

00:22:05.768 --> 00:22:08.700
Right before that, James was ... 
—you know—

00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:10.766
taken to prison, but was killed.

00:22:10.766 --> 00:22:13.254
And I think the people got
really concerned

00:22:13.254 --> 00:22:14.824
that they may now lose Peter

00:22:14.824 --> 00:22:17.193
when he was hauled off to jail.

00:22:17.193 --> 00:22:19.728
And that caused them to get worried

00:22:19.728 --> 00:22:23.165
so they got together and 
really prayed all night long.

00:22:23.165 --> 00:22:26.342
King Herod had arrested some 
that belonged to the church

00:22:26.342 --> 00:22:28.522
and was planning to persecute them.

00:22:28.522 --> 00:22:30.839
When Herod had James put to death
with a sword,

00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:33.289
and saw how the Jews had approved of this,

00:22:33.289 --> 00:22:35.449
he seized Peter also.

00:22:35.449 --> 00:22:37.090
[female reporting in Berber]

00:22:37.090 --> 00:22:39.377
Peter was guarded by four squads

00:22:39.377 --> 00:22:41.334
of four soldiers each.

00:22:41.334 --> 00:22:44.268
We were very concerned for his safety.

00:22:44.268 --> 00:22:46.417
And the church prayed earnestly for him.

00:22:46.417 --> 00:22:49.262
[male further reporting in Berber]

00:22:49.262 --> 00:22:51.857
The night before Herod was going to
bring him to trial,

00:22:51.857 --> 00:22:53.990
Peter was sleeping between two soldiers

00:22:53.990 --> 00:22:57.889
bound by chains and 
centuries stood guard at the entrance.

00:22:57.889 --> 00:22:59.996
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared

00:22:59.996 --> 00:23:02.254
and light shone into his cell.

00:23:02.254 --> 00:23:04.740
The angel struck Peter on the side to
wake him up

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:07.254
and the chains fell off his wrists.

00:23:07.254 --> 00:23:10.742
As he was instructed, Peter followed the
angel out of the prison

00:23:10.742 --> 00:23:14.771
past all of the guards to the
gate of the city.

00:23:14.771 --> 00:23:17.251
[female further reporting in Berber]

00:23:17.251 --> 00:23:19.252
Many people had been praying together

00:23:19.252 --> 00:23:21.734
in the house of Mary, the mother of John.

00:23:21.734 --> 00:23:25.544
As the servant in the house, 
I heard knocking on the door.

00:23:25.544 --> 00:23:30.844
♪ soothing string music ♪

00:23:30.844 --> 00:23:33.114
With caution, I went to open the door

00:23:33.114 --> 00:23:36.254
and to my surprise, there stood Peter.

00:23:36.254 --> 00:23:39.765
We had just been praying 
earnestly for him in prison.

00:23:39.765 --> 00:23:42.025
[male further reporting in Berber]

00:23:42.025 --> 00:23:44.758
Once again, united prayer had worked

00:23:44.758 --> 00:23:49.515
and the word of God 
continued to spread and flourish.

00:23:49.515 --> 00:23:51.954
No one who was 
at that prayer meeting that night

00:23:51.954 --> 00:23:55.021
would ever forget that they have a God

00:23:55.021 --> 00:23:57.105
answering prayer after that night.

00:23:57.105 --> 00:23:58.660
Everywhere those people went

00:23:58.660 --> 00:24:01.653
for the rest of their lives, 
they told that story,

00:24:01.653 --> 00:24:03.914
which is part of the reason 
we know it today,

00:24:03.914 --> 00:24:06.511
they told that story with great power

00:24:06.511 --> 00:24:09.595
because it was utterly convincing to them

00:24:09.595 --> 00:24:12.274
of not only God's willingness to help,

00:24:12.274 --> 00:24:15.884
but God's ability to do it 
on a grand and surprising scale.

00:24:15.884 --> 00:24:19.568
Here were three big, huge nations

00:24:19.568 --> 00:24:23.314
converging on his little 
dinky kingdom of Judah

00:24:23.314 --> 00:24:26.011
and from a human standpoint,
it was wipeout.

00:24:26.011 --> 00:24:28.518
Jehoshaphat says some very honest things

00:24:28.518 --> 00:24:30.446
about the ones praying.

00:24:30.446 --> 00:24:31.764
We don't know what to do.

00:24:31.764 --> 00:24:32.751
We're weak.

00:24:32.751 --> 00:24:35.704
We're helpless against this great number
that's come against us.

00:24:35.704 --> 00:24:39.667
But he says some very honest things
about who God is too.

00:24:39.667 --> 00:24:43.008
God, You are capable. You are willing.

00:24:43.008 --> 00:24:46.055
You are able and we are ready.

00:24:46.055 --> 00:24:49.692
All of which prepared God's people
for His deliverance.

00:24:49.692 --> 00:24:51.984
But I think when we humble ourselves 
in prayer

00:24:51.984 --> 00:24:54.131
we're giving God permission

00:24:54.131 --> 00:24:56.901
to break through in a supernatural way.

00:24:56.901 --> 00:24:59.742
And, we're even told in the book,
Christ's Object Lessons,

00:24:59.742 --> 00:25:01.778
that we are to present our prayers

00:25:01.778 --> 00:25:05.583
with a determination that
will not be denied.

00:25:06.343 --> 00:25:08.196
What a promise.

00:25:08.196 --> 00:25:24.797
♪ ominous music ♪

00:25:24.797 --> 00:25:27.241
Many people came and told Jehoshaphat

00:25:27.241 --> 00:25:31.101
that a vast army was approaching 
to wage war against him.

00:25:31.101 --> 00:25:34.869
Alarmed by this news, 
Jehoshaphat proclaimed

00:25:34.869 --> 00:25:37.099
a fast for all of Judah.

00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:39.853
People came from every town in Judah

00:25:39.853 --> 00:25:42.379
to fast and pray together.

00:25:42.379 --> 00:25:44.584
We were part of a large group and

00:25:44.584 --> 00:25:48.868
Jehoshaphat was earnestly 
asking God for assistance.

00:25:48.868 --> 00:25:51.506
Then a man called Jahaziel stood up

00:25:51.506 --> 00:25:55.032
and said that Jehoshaphat 
should not be concerned—

00:25:55.032 --> 00:25:58.004
that it was not his battle 
but God's battle.

00:25:58.004 --> 00:26:05.251
♪ urgent music ♪

00:26:05.251 --> 00:26:07.191
[man speaking Berber]

00:26:07.191 --> 00:26:08.659
It was early in the morning

00:26:08.659 --> 00:26:11.376
when we set out to the desert of Tekoa.

00:26:11.376 --> 00:26:14.934
We were seriously concerned 
about facing this huge army,

00:26:14.934 --> 00:26:17.417
but we were told to have faith.

00:26:17.417 --> 00:26:19.502
We had also prayed.

00:26:19.502 --> 00:26:21.872
♪ urgent music ♪

00:26:21.872 --> 00:26:24.266
When our reconnaissance platoon 
came over the hill,

00:26:24.266 --> 00:26:26.561
we only saw dead bodies all around.

00:26:26.561 --> 00:26:28.621
♪ electric music ♪

00:26:28.621 --> 00:26:31.175
The enemy had apparently turned on
each other.

00:26:31.175 --> 00:26:34.182
Jehoshaphat's prayers 
had won them the battle

00:26:34.182 --> 00:26:36.627
without even having to fight.

00:26:36.627 --> 00:26:38.377
When you look at prayer

00:26:38.377 --> 00:26:40.111
in the book of Acts in the Bible,

00:26:40.111 --> 00:26:41.891
a definite pattern emerges.

00:26:41.891 --> 00:26:44.506
That pattern is that the disciples,

00:26:44.506 --> 00:26:48.361
as they begin to share 
what God has put on their hearts,

00:26:48.361 --> 00:26:52.435
they are persecuted, sometimes 
to the point of death.

00:26:52.435 --> 00:26:54.981
As the persecution begins,

00:26:54.981 --> 00:26:57.592
they actually gather 
the believers together.

00:26:57.592 --> 00:27:01.774
They pray and 
the Holy Spirit is poured out.

00:27:01.774 --> 00:27:03.688
Thus causing the word of God

00:27:03.688 --> 00:27:06.515
to be spread even more boldly.

00:27:06.515 --> 00:27:09.418
Thus the church of God grows.

00:27:09.418 --> 00:27:11.515
United prayer is critically important

00:27:11.515 --> 00:27:15.191
to the church because it is the key

00:27:15.191 --> 00:27:21.505
to national revival and to the healing of
national challenges.

00:27:21.505 --> 00:27:24.009
Prayer, especially united prayer,

00:27:24.009 --> 00:27:25.552
is not about leverage,

00:27:25.552 --> 00:27:28.020
twisting the hand of God with more people

00:27:28.020 --> 00:27:31.301
praying the same phrase 
over and over again.

00:27:31.301 --> 00:27:33.887
It is about God's people together

00:27:33.887 --> 00:27:35.931
getting aligned with His will.

00:27:35.931 --> 00:27:38.780
When we pray, 
I think it changes our hearts.

00:27:38.780 --> 00:27:42.080
And when we can unite together in prayer,

00:27:42.080 --> 00:27:45.191
there is a unity that is experienced.

00:27:45.191 --> 00:27:48.432
And then when we ask, whatever we ask,

00:27:48.432 --> 00:27:51.885
in the powerful name of Jesus, 
things happen.

00:27:51.885 --> 00:27:54.957
Why is united prayer important?

00:27:54.957 --> 00:27:57.313
Because it opens our hearts

00:27:57.313 --> 00:28:00.351
to the power of the living God

00:28:00.351 --> 00:28:02.488
to accompany our witness.

00:28:02.488 --> 00:28:05.874
It brings you to the foot of the cross
together.

00:28:05.874 --> 00:28:08.981
United prayer is unleashing God's power

00:28:08.981 --> 00:28:10.338
in the universe—I believe

00:28:10.338 --> 00:28:12.222
in a great controversy.

00:28:12.222 --> 00:28:14.244
He's what we need, not the prayer.

00:28:14.244 --> 00:28:17.760
In the controversy between good and evil

00:28:17.760 --> 00:28:20.899
God does not violate our 
freedom of choice.

00:28:20.899 --> 00:28:28.001
But as we pray, 
God opens up new avenues of working.

00:28:28.001 --> 00:28:31.251
Isn't God already working for that son
or daughter before we pray?

00:28:31.251 --> 00:28:33.889
Isn't He working for the community
before we pray?

00:28:33.889 --> 00:28:36.393
He is. But he's limited by their choice.

00:28:36.393 --> 00:28:39.513
But as we pray, 
just like in the book of Acts

00:28:39.513 --> 00:28:44.446
as the church prayed, God honours
the choice of the praying one.

00:28:44.446 --> 00:28:48.549
And miracles occur as we pray unitedly.

00:28:48.549 --> 00:28:52.521
When we get things right on the vertical

00:28:52.521 --> 00:28:55.961
they will become right on the horizontal.

00:28:55.961 --> 00:29:12.245
♪ solemn string music ♪

00:29:12.245 --> 00:29:28.671
♪ unfolding in full symphonic sound ♪