Title: A Warning Against Lazy Praying Meta: When we gather together in our prayer meetings there should be a militancy about those prayers. Is there the smell of war on those prayers? Because we are at war. We must not lose our alertness to the reality of the Devil of whom we wrestle against. Our enemy does not want us desperate in prayer, but he wants us falling asleep. Tags: prayer,steadfast,alert,watchful,Ephesians 6 1 00:00:01,147 --> 00:00:02,614 Last weekend, 2 00:00:02,614 --> 00:00:10,843 Diego and I were in Nicaragua. 3 00:00:10,843 --> 00:00:13,966 And I wanted to bring 4 00:00:13,966 --> 00:00:15,925 some messages down there 5 00:00:15,925 --> 00:00:20,115 on some of the fundamentals. 6 00:00:20,115 --> 00:00:25,304 I was standing in the pulpit Sunday afternoon. 7 00:00:25,304 --> 00:00:28,732 A text really jumped out at me. 8 00:00:28,732 --> 00:00:31,736 I mean, it was one of the texts I was preaching from, 9 00:00:31,736 --> 00:00:34,498 but just at that moment in the pulpit, 10 00:00:34,498 --> 00:00:42,028 it really came with unusual significance 11 00:00:42,028 --> 00:00:43,775 to my own mind. 12 00:00:43,775 --> 00:00:48,127 And I thought that maybe today 13 00:00:48,127 --> 00:00:52,355 I would bring approximately what I brought 14 00:00:52,355 --> 00:00:58,936 down there last Sunday afternoon. 15 00:00:58,936 --> 00:01:02,125 Maybe not exact. 16 00:01:02,125 --> 00:01:03,897 The text that jumped out at me 17 00:01:03,897 --> 00:01:05,964 is found in Ephesians 6. 18 00:01:05,964 --> 00:01:11,073 And I'd have you turn there. 19 00:01:11,073 --> 00:01:16,500 It was dealing with prayer. 20 00:01:16,500 --> 00:01:24,270 Of course, Ephesians 6:10: 21 00:01:24,270 --> 00:01:26,315 We have the armor of God; 22 00:01:26,315 --> 00:01:30,341 the whole armor of God 23 00:01:30,341 --> 00:01:32,659 unfolded for us here. 24 00:01:32,659 --> 00:01:38,000 Specifically, the verse that deals with prayer 25 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:42,726 is found in v. 18. 26 00:01:42,726 --> 00:01:45,045 "Praying at all times in the Spirit 27 00:01:45,045 --> 00:01:51,708 with all prayer and supplication." 28 00:01:51,708 --> 00:01:53,852 It was these words specifically 29 00:01:53,852 --> 00:01:56,662 that really jumped off the page at me. 30 00:01:56,662 --> 00:02:00,594 "To that end, keep alert." 31 00:02:00,594 --> 00:02:04,721 That's the ESV rendering. 32 00:02:04,721 --> 00:02:06,984 Your Bible may say, 33 00:02:06,984 --> 00:02:13,209 "being vigilant in it," 34 00:02:13,209 --> 00:02:15,535 "keeping alert in it," 35 00:02:15,535 --> 00:02:17,237 or the old KJV, 36 00:02:17,237 --> 00:02:19,861 "watch in the same." 37 00:02:19,861 --> 00:02:21,509 What's the same? 38 00:02:21,509 --> 00:02:24,663 Or "it" - vigilant in "it"? 39 00:02:24,663 --> 00:02:26,852 Vigilant in prayer. 40 00:02:26,852 --> 00:02:28,990 Keeping alert in prayer. 41 00:02:28,990 --> 00:02:31,495 Watching in prayer. 42 00:02:31,495 --> 00:02:32,814 That's the same. 43 00:02:32,814 --> 00:02:35,508 That's the context. 44 00:02:35,508 --> 00:02:39,251 That's what he's dealing with here. 45 00:02:39,251 --> 00:02:41,780 It really jumped at me. 46 00:02:41,780 --> 00:02:44,497 Keeping alert or keeping vigilant. 47 00:02:44,497 --> 00:02:49,232 Or keeping watchful. 48 00:02:49,232 --> 00:02:53,321 And I guess I wonder several things: 49 00:02:53,321 --> 00:02:55,006 how much do we think about that 50 00:02:55,006 --> 00:02:57,866 when we think about our prayer life? 51 00:02:57,866 --> 00:02:59,673 When we think about our prayer life, 52 00:02:59,673 --> 00:03:03,141 how much do we connect 53 00:03:03,141 --> 00:03:09,516 the idea of watchfulness to prayer? 54 00:03:09,516 --> 00:03:13,926 How many of you think of our prayer meetings that way? 55 00:03:13,926 --> 00:03:15,544 Watchfulness. 56 00:03:15,544 --> 00:03:16,936 Alertness. 57 00:03:16,936 --> 00:03:19,023 In fact, you even ask the question, 58 00:03:19,023 --> 00:03:23,466 how do they go together? 59 00:03:23,466 --> 00:03:26,185 What's the dynamic? 60 00:03:26,185 --> 00:03:29,900 Is it that as we pray, 61 00:03:29,900 --> 00:03:33,009 somehow prayer makes us more watchful? 62 00:03:33,009 --> 00:03:34,921 Or do we pray that God 63 00:03:34,921 --> 00:03:36,254 would make us watchful, 64 00:03:36,254 --> 00:03:37,831 and then He does? 65 00:03:37,831 --> 00:03:39,726 Or is it we're watchful ahead of time, 66 00:03:39,726 --> 00:03:41,320 and then we come into prayer? 67 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:46,954 I mean, how do the two fit together? 68 00:03:46,954 --> 00:03:50,276 Prayer and watchfulness. 69 00:03:50,276 --> 00:03:58,378 Or look over at Colossians 4. 70 00:03:58,378 --> 00:03:59,250 Many of you know, 71 00:03:59,250 --> 00:04:02,100 Ephesians, Colossians... 72 00:04:02,100 --> 00:04:08,339 Not by a long shot are they exact parallels, 73 00:04:08,339 --> 00:04:10,865 but there's no doubt there are a lot 74 00:04:10,865 --> 00:04:18,391 of parallel thoughts that run through these two epistles. 75 00:04:18,391 --> 00:04:20,605 Notice Colossians 4:2. 76 00:04:20,605 --> 00:04:26,291 "Continue steadfastly in prayer." 77 00:04:26,291 --> 00:04:28,249 Or, "devote yourselves to prayer." 78 00:04:28,249 --> 00:04:29,062 Now watch this: 79 00:04:29,062 --> 00:04:34,165 "Being watchful in it." 80 00:04:34,165 --> 00:04:36,192 And actually, the being vigilant in it, 81 00:04:36,192 --> 00:04:37,320 or keeping alert in it, 82 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:38,621 or watching of the same, 83 00:04:38,621 --> 00:04:40,323 it comes from this text, 84 00:04:40,323 --> 00:04:43,364 not actually the Ephesians 6:18 text. 85 00:04:43,364 --> 00:04:49,002 Eph 6:18, "To that end, keep alert." 86 00:04:49,002 --> 00:04:54,435 But here, "be watchful in it, 87 00:04:54,435 --> 00:04:56,478 with thanksgiving." 88 00:04:56,478 --> 00:04:58,725 Being watchful. Being vigilant. 89 00:04:58,725 --> 00:05:00,085 Keeping alert. 90 00:05:00,085 --> 00:05:06,015 Watching in the same. 91 00:05:06,015 --> 00:05:07,872 So the question that I have today is, 92 00:05:07,872 --> 00:05:09,170 how? 93 00:05:09,170 --> 00:05:13,447 How are we to be watchful? 94 00:05:13,447 --> 00:05:15,995 What does it mean? 95 00:05:15,995 --> 00:05:20,698 I mean, watchful doesn't mean just to look at. 96 00:05:20,698 --> 00:05:23,682 That's not the idea. 97 00:05:23,682 --> 00:05:25,743 It's the idea of being observant, 98 00:05:25,743 --> 00:05:32,121 careful, cautious, wary, alert. 99 00:05:32,121 --> 00:05:36,602 And one story that I started 100 00:05:36,602 --> 00:05:38,802 the sermon down in Nicaragua with, 101 00:05:38,802 --> 00:05:42,574 and I think it's a good one. 102 00:05:42,574 --> 00:05:46,614 Some of you might think it's out in left field. 103 00:05:46,614 --> 00:05:52,709 But listen, a lot of you folks here remember 104 00:05:52,709 --> 00:05:56,448 two, three years back. 105 00:05:56,448 --> 00:06:01,987 Somebody that we have had speak. 106 00:06:01,987 --> 00:06:03,743 We don't live stream it. 107 00:06:03,743 --> 00:06:05,860 We don't record it. 108 00:06:05,860 --> 00:06:09,366 Because this man operates covertly. 109 00:06:09,366 --> 00:06:11,175 Many of you were there 110 00:06:11,175 --> 00:06:14,818 several years back when he told this story. 111 00:06:14,818 --> 00:06:19,688 My wife and I sat at a table with him at lunch, 112 00:06:19,688 --> 00:06:25,003 and we got a personal rendition of this story. 113 00:06:25,003 --> 00:06:32,047 Brethren, I don't know what your thoughts 114 00:06:32,047 --> 00:06:33,940 are on the angelic. 115 00:06:33,940 --> 00:06:35,453 You might think this is crazy. 116 00:06:35,453 --> 00:06:37,498 But I'm going to remind you of this story. 117 00:06:37,498 --> 00:06:38,592 You may remember. 118 00:06:38,592 --> 00:06:45,127 This man. 119 00:06:45,127 --> 00:06:47,586 He works with the underground church. 120 00:06:47,586 --> 00:06:56,534 He's able to get in and out of that country. 121 00:06:56,534 --> 00:06:59,681 He talks about one trip that he made there. 122 00:06:59,681 --> 00:07:06,029 Unusually gripped with fear. 123 00:07:06,029 --> 00:07:09,150 Spiritual. 124 00:07:09,150 --> 00:07:11,665 He's not always gripped with the same kind of fear, 125 00:07:11,665 --> 00:07:14,062 but this trip he was gripped with fear. 126 00:07:14,062 --> 00:07:17,994 And he made a visit to one of the underground church's pastor's. 127 00:07:17,994 --> 00:07:20,157 And he said, he was talking to this man. 128 00:07:20,157 --> 00:07:21,882 This man was telling him 129 00:07:21,882 --> 00:07:24,002 about the persecution. 130 00:07:24,002 --> 00:07:26,420 He was telling him about the Christians 131 00:07:26,420 --> 00:07:31,479 that had been put to death, imprisoned. 132 00:07:31,479 --> 00:07:33,164 He was telling him about people 133 00:07:33,164 --> 00:07:34,441 that had just disappeared, 134 00:07:34,441 --> 00:07:36,325 and they had not heard anything. 135 00:07:36,325 --> 00:07:37,443 And he said very often, 136 00:07:37,443 --> 00:07:40,337 a black car pulls up, 137 00:07:40,337 --> 00:07:42,346 people are hauled into it, 138 00:07:42,346 --> 00:07:44,070 and they're never heard from again. 139 00:07:44,070 --> 00:07:46,633 Or word may come to the family 140 00:07:46,633 --> 00:07:52,104 long afterwards that they were executed, 141 00:07:52,104 --> 00:07:54,163 or that they're in prison. 142 00:07:54,163 --> 00:07:56,674 The man was also telling him about people 143 00:07:56,674 --> 00:07:58,745 in the underground church who had 144 00:07:58,745 --> 00:08:01,229 fled the country to escape the persecution. 145 00:08:01,229 --> 00:08:03,203 But the church was just being riddled 146 00:08:03,203 --> 00:08:05,844 between people who were falling away 147 00:08:05,844 --> 00:08:07,493 because of the persecution, 148 00:08:07,493 --> 00:08:09,868 or who were being captured and executed, 149 00:08:09,868 --> 00:08:14,051 or imprisoned. 150 00:08:14,051 --> 00:08:15,218 Even within the church, 151 00:08:15,218 --> 00:08:19,645 there were those that were spies. 152 00:08:19,645 --> 00:08:22,218 And he said this specific trip, 153 00:08:22,218 --> 00:08:26,678 all of that, all of those reports, 154 00:08:26,678 --> 00:08:31,056 and maybe something even beyond that. 155 00:08:31,056 --> 00:08:34,125 He was gripped with an unusual fear. 156 00:08:34,125 --> 00:08:37,197 And he had it in his mind 157 00:08:37,197 --> 00:08:40,173 that he was going to be discovered. 158 00:08:40,173 --> 00:08:41,961 And he was here at the conference, 159 00:08:41,961 --> 00:08:44,208 and he was relating this to us. 160 00:08:44,208 --> 00:08:47,276 One of his recent trips at that time. 161 00:08:47,276 --> 00:08:49,832 And he said that as they were bringing 162 00:08:49,832 --> 00:08:51,443 their conversation to an end, 163 00:08:51,443 --> 00:08:53,427 the pastor said, 164 00:08:53,427 --> 00:08:57,999 "Brother, let me pray for you." 165 00:08:57,999 --> 00:09:00,023 Now ordinarily, he might have gone there 166 00:09:00,023 --> 00:09:01,786 to encourage them, 167 00:09:01,786 --> 00:09:03,277 and to pray for them, 168 00:09:03,277 --> 00:09:04,358 and to uphold them. 169 00:09:04,358 --> 00:09:05,737 But here all of a sudden, 170 00:09:05,737 --> 00:09:07,990 and he said there was something unusual, 171 00:09:07,990 --> 00:09:09,217 it was unusual 172 00:09:09,217 --> 00:09:11,438 that he wasn't in the place 173 00:09:11,438 --> 00:09:14,613 where he was praying for the ones being persecuted. 174 00:09:14,613 --> 00:09:16,128 Rather, this pastor said, 175 00:09:16,128 --> 00:09:17,364 "Let me pray for you." 176 00:09:17,364 --> 00:09:25,229 And immediately, he wondered, why? 177 00:09:25,229 --> 00:09:28,256 And he said the man began to pray for him. 178 00:09:28,256 --> 00:09:33,445 And he was praying. 179 00:09:33,445 --> 00:09:37,411 Praying that this man would not be discovered, 180 00:09:37,411 --> 00:09:38,778 that he would be helped, 181 00:09:38,778 --> 00:09:42,573 that he would be delivered. 182 00:09:42,573 --> 00:09:46,445 And this prayer did nothing to comfort this brother. 183 00:09:46,445 --> 00:09:49,730 All it did was grip him with deeper fear, 184 00:09:49,730 --> 00:09:51,550 and he started asking the question, 185 00:09:51,550 --> 00:09:56,983 Why? Why is this man praying for me this way? 186 00:09:56,983 --> 00:09:59,504 And he said he left that man's house, 187 00:09:59,504 --> 00:10:01,518 and he was walking down the alley, 188 00:10:01,518 --> 00:10:04,429 and he was so overcome by fear at that point. 189 00:10:04,429 --> 00:10:06,875 And he's looking over his shoulder. 190 00:10:06,875 --> 00:10:09,989 And he said he just knew he was going to look back 191 00:10:09,989 --> 00:10:14,203 and see one of these black cars fly up behind him. 192 00:10:14,203 --> 00:10:17,622 Gripped with fear. 193 00:10:17,622 --> 00:10:20,695 He thought certainly he had been discovered. 194 00:10:20,695 --> 00:10:22,557 It was totally unusual. 195 00:10:22,557 --> 00:10:27,423 I'm certain there was a supernatural element to all of this. 196 00:10:27,423 --> 00:10:29,135 And those of you that were there, 197 00:10:29,135 --> 00:10:31,406 you remember his story. 198 00:10:31,406 --> 00:10:32,455 He said that as he was 199 00:10:32,455 --> 00:10:34,681 walking along, suddenly God did - 200 00:10:34,681 --> 00:10:36,485 and I've heard other good men, 201 00:10:36,485 --> 00:10:40,089 men you would know and respect, 202 00:10:40,089 --> 00:10:42,275 it's even happened in Scripture, 203 00:10:42,275 --> 00:10:43,169 and you know it - 204 00:10:43,169 --> 00:10:44,687 Elisha - you may remember, 205 00:10:44,687 --> 00:10:47,104 eyes being opened. 206 00:10:47,104 --> 00:10:48,631 There are places in Scripture 207 00:10:48,631 --> 00:10:50,351 where people's eyes are opened 208 00:10:50,351 --> 00:10:55,135 into the spiritual realm. 209 00:10:55,135 --> 00:10:57,300 He said for a moment, 210 00:10:57,300 --> 00:10:59,886 his eyes were opened 211 00:10:59,886 --> 00:11:02,874 to look into the spiritual realm. 212 00:11:02,874 --> 00:11:06,354 And undoubtedly, God did this to comfort him. 213 00:11:06,354 --> 00:11:09,521 A man who is risking his life 214 00:11:09,521 --> 00:11:11,657 going into a country - 215 00:11:11,657 --> 00:11:13,067 a very closed country, 216 00:11:13,067 --> 00:11:15,336 a very dangerous country. 217 00:11:15,336 --> 00:11:16,678 And he had his eyes open. 218 00:11:16,678 --> 00:11:18,004 And what did he see? 219 00:11:18,004 --> 00:11:20,351 He said he saw 220 00:11:20,351 --> 00:11:23,127 basically surrounding him, 221 00:11:23,127 --> 00:11:24,450 all the way around, 222 00:11:24,450 --> 00:11:26,250 360 degrees. 223 00:11:26,250 --> 00:11:29,193 He saw angelic beings 224 00:11:29,193 --> 00:11:30,735 all the way around him. 225 00:11:30,735 --> 00:11:32,575 Moving out away from him. 226 00:11:32,575 --> 00:11:33,886 He was in the middle. 227 00:11:33,886 --> 00:11:36,611 And they were all encircling him. 228 00:11:36,611 --> 00:11:37,811 Packed around him. 229 00:11:37,811 --> 00:11:39,975 He said they were up on top of the buildings. 230 00:11:39,975 --> 00:11:41,305 And there was an overpass, 231 00:11:41,305 --> 00:11:42,566 and they were up there. 232 00:11:42,566 --> 00:11:44,102 They were everyhwere around him. 233 00:11:44,102 --> 00:11:47,737 Hovering about a foot off the ground. 234 00:11:47,737 --> 00:11:53,594 And then, just that fast, 235 00:11:53,594 --> 00:11:57,332 he couldn't see anymore. 236 00:11:57,332 --> 00:12:00,602 But do you know what he told us? 237 00:12:00,602 --> 00:12:04,122 None of them were looking at him. 238 00:12:04,122 --> 00:12:07,983 He said they were all faced away from him, 239 00:12:07,983 --> 00:12:10,320 and they were all looking, 240 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,017 and they were all watching. 241 00:12:12,017 --> 00:12:16,210 He said their eyes were out on the horizon... 242 00:12:16,210 --> 00:12:19,417 Watching. Watching. 243 00:12:19,417 --> 00:12:22,937 And you know that has always stuck with me. 244 00:12:22,937 --> 00:12:24,725 Watch. 245 00:12:24,725 --> 00:12:26,888 They were watching. 246 00:12:26,888 --> 00:12:29,048 Undoubtedly, he was given a vision. 247 00:12:29,048 --> 00:12:32,226 He was given insight into the spiritual realm 248 00:12:32,226 --> 00:12:34,357 that as lonely as he felt, 249 00:12:34,357 --> 00:12:36,118 and as in danger as he felt, 250 00:12:36,118 --> 00:12:38,578 God showed him he was not alone. 251 00:12:38,578 --> 00:12:41,128 Just like in the days of Elisha. 252 00:12:41,128 --> 00:12:42,456 The eyes were open. 253 00:12:42,456 --> 00:12:44,546 Those who are for us are greater 254 00:12:44,546 --> 00:12:46,324 than those who are for them. 255 00:12:46,324 --> 00:12:47,631 And his eyes were opened. 256 00:12:47,631 --> 00:12:50,927 But it was where these angelic beings 257 00:12:50,927 --> 00:12:52,596 were looking. 258 00:12:52,596 --> 00:12:54,222 They were watching. 259 00:12:54,222 --> 00:12:58,258 They were intently gazing. 260 00:12:58,258 --> 00:13:01,002 Now I want to bring you over to the New Testament. 261 00:13:01,002 --> 00:13:04,175 The disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. 262 00:13:04,175 --> 00:13:10,317 Turn in your Bibles to Matthew 26:37. 263 00:13:10,317 --> 00:13:13,004 Matthew 26:37 264 00:13:13,004 --> 00:13:14,425 You know this account. 265 00:13:14,425 --> 00:13:22,496 The Garden of Gethsemane. 266 00:13:22,496 --> 00:13:26,238 Jesus - this is hours before the cross. 267 00:13:26,238 --> 00:13:31,245 This is the very eve 268 00:13:31,245 --> 00:13:38,719 of the Lord's trial and His sufferings. 269 00:13:38,719 --> 00:13:43,315 And it's not as though He wasn't suffering already. 270 00:13:43,315 --> 00:13:45,228 "And taking with Him Peter 271 00:13:45,228 --> 00:13:47,841 and the two sons of Zebedee, 272 00:13:47,841 --> 00:13:52,058 He began to be sorrowful and troubled." 273 00:13:52,058 --> 00:13:53,729 And you want to notice this. 274 00:13:53,729 --> 00:13:57,685 "He said to them, 275 00:13:57,685 --> 00:14:00,539 'My soul is very sorrowful.'" 276 00:14:00,539 --> 00:14:04,148 How sorrowful, Lord? 277 00:14:04,148 --> 00:14:07,372 "'...even to death.'" 278 00:14:07,372 --> 00:14:12,401 I am experiencing sorrow at a level 279 00:14:12,401 --> 00:14:16,569 that has Me hanging on the very threshholds 280 00:14:16,569 --> 00:14:22,478 of My spirit being torn from My body. 281 00:14:22,478 --> 00:14:24,913 Notice this. 282 00:14:24,913 --> 00:14:33,406 "'Remain here and watch with Me.' 283 00:14:33,406 --> 00:14:34,793 And going a little farther, 284 00:14:34,793 --> 00:14:36,824 He fell on His face and prayed, 285 00:14:36,824 --> 00:14:38,921 saying, 'My Father, 286 00:14:38,921 --> 00:14:41,394 if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me. 287 00:14:41,394 --> 00:14:45,100 Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.' 288 00:14:45,100 --> 00:14:47,733 And He came to the disciples, 289 00:14:47,733 --> 00:14:51,620 and found them sleeping. 290 00:14:51,620 --> 00:14:55,641 And He said to Peter, 291 00:14:55,641 --> 00:14:59,856 'Could you not watch with Me one hour? 292 00:14:59,856 --> 00:15:01,841 Watch and pray that you may not 293 00:15:01,841 --> 00:15:04,099 enter into temptation.'" 294 00:15:04,099 --> 00:15:08,091 Brethren, think of this. 295 00:15:08,091 --> 00:15:12,145 Think of the very situation, 296 00:15:12,145 --> 00:15:14,060 the conditions, 297 00:15:14,060 --> 00:15:16,209 the circumstances in which 298 00:15:16,209 --> 00:15:22,217 these men are sleeping. 299 00:15:22,217 --> 00:15:27,251 Spiritual kingdoms of good and evil are moving. 300 00:15:27,251 --> 00:15:30,016 The Son of God is facing 301 00:15:30,016 --> 00:15:32,451 the realities of the cross. 302 00:15:32,451 --> 00:15:33,798 His very soul - 303 00:15:33,798 --> 00:15:35,908 sorrowful to the point of death. 304 00:15:35,908 --> 00:15:41,193 His spirit, brethren... 305 00:15:41,193 --> 00:15:46,990 He is under an anguish. 306 00:15:46,990 --> 00:15:49,716 His sweat became, as it were, 307 00:15:49,716 --> 00:15:51,946 great drops of blood 308 00:15:51,946 --> 00:15:54,008 falling down to the ground. 309 00:15:54,008 --> 00:15:54,730 Why? 310 00:15:54,730 --> 00:15:57,888 His anguish is to that degree. 311 00:15:57,888 --> 00:15:59,619 Brethren, this is the very eve 312 00:15:59,619 --> 00:16:03,466 of the pinnacle of redemptive history. 313 00:16:03,466 --> 00:16:04,860 Everything is on the line. 314 00:16:04,860 --> 00:16:08,008 If He fails, these disciples perish. 315 00:16:08,008 --> 00:16:11,118 Their very eternal welfare 316 00:16:11,118 --> 00:16:13,907 depends on everything that's unraveling here. 317 00:16:13,907 --> 00:16:16,052 The most colossal events in human history 318 00:16:16,052 --> 00:16:17,435 are unfolding. 319 00:16:17,435 --> 00:16:20,688 You read the account in the different Gospels. 320 00:16:20,688 --> 00:16:23,784 Luke tells us an angel is dispatched 321 00:16:23,784 --> 00:16:26,646 to strengthen Him. 322 00:16:26,646 --> 00:16:28,578 He who knew so sin, 323 00:16:28,578 --> 00:16:29,779 in just a few hours, 324 00:16:29,779 --> 00:16:32,001 is going to become sin. 325 00:16:32,001 --> 00:16:34,810 And the weight of bearing sin; 326 00:16:34,810 --> 00:16:38,417 the weight of being separated 327 00:16:38,417 --> 00:16:40,325 and forsaken of God. 328 00:16:40,325 --> 00:16:46,467 Brethren, He is under temptation to deny all of this. 329 00:16:46,467 --> 00:16:49,377 You remember how Satan tempted Him. 330 00:16:49,377 --> 00:16:51,107 "You don't have to go to the cross. 331 00:16:51,107 --> 00:16:52,720 You just fall down and worship me 332 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:53,987 and it will all be yours." 333 00:16:53,987 --> 00:16:56,030 The temptation has always been this. 334 00:16:56,030 --> 00:16:59,009 And you see it in His very words. 335 00:16:59,009 --> 00:17:02,278 "Father, if it's possible, 336 00:17:02,278 --> 00:17:05,156 take this cup away." 337 00:17:05,156 --> 00:17:06,627 That's the temptation. 338 00:17:06,627 --> 00:17:07,553 Run from it. 339 00:17:07,553 --> 00:17:08,779 Run from the cup! 340 00:17:08,779 --> 00:17:12,135 Run from it! 341 00:17:12,135 --> 00:17:14,480 Conflict of soul. 342 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:17,821 Brethren, for Christ to fail here 343 00:17:17,821 --> 00:17:19,423 is for them to be damned. 344 00:17:19,423 --> 00:17:20,980 And can you imagine it? 345 00:17:20,980 --> 00:17:28,058 They're over there sleeping. 346 00:17:28,058 --> 00:17:36,175 The reason I want to preach this message to you, 347 00:17:36,175 --> 00:17:38,991 is because I don't want us sleeping. 348 00:17:38,991 --> 00:17:40,243 In fact, I entitled this, 349 00:17:40,243 --> 00:17:43,132 "A Warning Against Lazy Praying" 350 00:17:43,132 --> 00:17:47,662 Brethren, the fear is that just like 351 00:17:47,662 --> 00:17:50,186 these disciples in the garden, 352 00:17:50,186 --> 00:17:53,258 we could fall asleep and not watch. 353 00:17:53,258 --> 00:17:54,931 The battle rages around us, 354 00:17:54,931 --> 00:17:57,206 and God forbid that we should be found sleeping. 355 00:17:57,206 --> 00:18:00,085 Somebody says, "Wake up! Wake up and watch!" 356 00:18:00,085 --> 00:18:03,766 Well, what? 357 00:18:03,766 --> 00:18:05,136 We're like a people that 358 00:18:05,136 --> 00:18:07,642 come in half dazed. 359 00:18:07,642 --> 00:18:13,589 Brethren, there are things in this world all the time 360 00:18:13,589 --> 00:18:16,166 that are just looking to put us in a trance. 361 00:18:16,166 --> 00:18:18,489 Just make us fall asleep. 362 00:18:18,489 --> 00:18:21,533 Pursue money and pursue pleasures. 363 00:18:21,533 --> 00:18:25,067 And pursue t.v.'s and pursue cars. 364 00:18:25,067 --> 00:18:27,808 Pursue new dishes... 365 00:18:27,808 --> 00:18:32,625 You know the air conditioner doesn't work. 366 00:18:32,625 --> 00:18:35,514 Brethren, life comes at us 367 00:18:35,514 --> 00:18:36,935 and if we're not careful, 368 00:18:36,935 --> 00:18:38,770 we just get swept away. 369 00:18:38,770 --> 00:18:40,548 All the anxieties we heard about, 370 00:18:40,548 --> 00:18:42,698 the cares of this world. 371 00:18:42,698 --> 00:18:45,063 And we're floated away 372 00:18:45,063 --> 00:18:47,931 and we just kind of fall back 373 00:18:47,931 --> 00:18:49,732 in half slumber. 374 00:18:49,732 --> 00:18:50,716 And somebody says, 375 00:18:50,716 --> 00:18:52,953 "Wake up! And watch!" 376 00:18:52,953 --> 00:18:57,645 And it's like, what? 377 00:18:57,645 --> 00:18:59,674 There's a war! 378 00:18:59,674 --> 00:19:01,774 And we hardly know, 379 00:19:01,774 --> 00:19:03,278 half way back and forth, 380 00:19:03,278 --> 00:19:04,247 what? 381 00:19:04,247 --> 00:19:07,479 Is the dream the reality? 382 00:19:07,479 --> 00:19:10,266 Or is the war the reality? 383 00:19:10,266 --> 00:19:13,248 And I'll tell you this American life... 384 00:19:13,248 --> 00:19:17,926 You know what Kenny Le told me on Wednesday? 385 00:19:17,926 --> 00:19:20,611 That Dan Sem told him 386 00:19:20,611 --> 00:19:23,067 after watching all the battles 387 00:19:23,067 --> 00:19:25,235 over in Lebanon, 388 00:19:25,235 --> 00:19:26,758 he said, 389 00:19:26,758 --> 00:19:32,275 this is how Christianity really is. 390 00:19:32,275 --> 00:19:34,771 In other words, what? 391 00:19:34,771 --> 00:19:37,520 Christianity here isn't the way it really is? 392 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:39,899 No, brethren, Christianity here 393 00:19:39,899 --> 00:19:41,706 is the way it really is too. 394 00:19:41,706 --> 00:19:44,535 But what they're faced with over there 395 00:19:44,535 --> 00:19:47,455 tends to keep you on your toes. 396 00:19:47,455 --> 00:19:51,671 The danger here is all this stuff. 397 00:19:51,671 --> 00:19:53,395 All the money. 398 00:19:53,395 --> 00:19:54,804 All the riches. 399 00:19:54,804 --> 00:19:57,736 All the sports. 400 00:19:57,736 --> 00:19:59,971 Brethren, there are places in the world - 401 00:19:59,971 --> 00:20:01,499 sports? 402 00:20:01,499 --> 00:20:03,432 I mean, is Dan really thinking about 403 00:20:03,432 --> 00:20:06,651 who is going to go to the Super Bowl this year? 404 00:20:06,651 --> 00:20:09,157 You probably don't think a whole lot about that 405 00:20:09,157 --> 00:20:11,470 when you're on the verge of getting tossed 406 00:20:11,470 --> 00:20:13,127 out of the country all the time 407 00:20:13,127 --> 00:20:14,661 and you've got Muslims that 408 00:20:14,661 --> 00:20:16,150 you hear through the grapevine 409 00:20:16,150 --> 00:20:17,371 are planning to kill you. 410 00:20:17,371 --> 00:20:19,579 And there are people perishing all around you. 411 00:20:19,579 --> 00:20:21,136 And Syrian refugees who are 412 00:20:21,136 --> 00:20:22,369 on the brink of eternity 413 00:20:22,369 --> 00:20:23,763 and they're rejecting Christ 414 00:20:23,763 --> 00:20:24,813 one after another. 415 00:20:24,813 --> 00:20:27,368 It tends to wake you up to realities. 416 00:20:27,368 --> 00:20:28,986 Brethren, this is the danger. 417 00:20:28,986 --> 00:20:30,580 What are you talking about war? 418 00:20:30,580 --> 00:20:32,391 It's like, sometimes, we just need 419 00:20:32,391 --> 00:20:34,588 this wake up call. 420 00:20:34,588 --> 00:20:36,248 That's what I felt like 421 00:20:36,248 --> 00:20:37,934 bringing the message down there - 422 00:20:37,934 --> 00:20:39,348 we need that here too. 423 00:20:39,348 --> 00:20:41,624 We need as much as anybody in the world. 424 00:20:41,624 --> 00:20:43,962 This wake up call. 425 00:20:43,962 --> 00:20:45,727 Startled out of sleep. 426 00:20:45,727 --> 00:20:48,220 We tend to get groggy. 427 00:20:48,220 --> 00:20:49,616 Brethren, I'll tell you this. 428 00:20:49,616 --> 00:20:52,417 When a man's eyes are opened 429 00:20:52,417 --> 00:20:53,815 into the spiritual realm, 430 00:20:53,815 --> 00:20:55,263 you know what he doesn't see? 431 00:20:55,263 --> 00:20:57,274 He doesn't see angels sleeping. 432 00:20:57,274 --> 00:20:58,493 You know what he sees? 433 00:20:58,493 --> 00:21:00,815 He sees they're vigilant. 434 00:21:00,815 --> 00:21:02,166 And they're watching. 435 00:21:02,166 --> 00:21:03,958 What were those angels watching for. 436 00:21:03,958 --> 00:21:05,641 They weren't watching the horizon 437 00:21:05,641 --> 00:21:10,072 just for the sake of exercising their eyeballs. 438 00:21:10,072 --> 00:21:11,932 They weren't just casually looking 439 00:21:11,932 --> 00:21:13,833 at the mountain ranges and admiring. 440 00:21:13,833 --> 00:21:16,256 You know what they were watching the horizons for? 441 00:21:16,256 --> 00:21:18,124 They were watching for danger. 442 00:21:18,124 --> 00:21:19,159 Undoubtedly, 443 00:21:19,159 --> 00:21:21,187 watching for some enemy. 444 00:21:21,187 --> 00:21:22,936 Watching. Watching. 445 00:21:22,936 --> 00:21:24,239 We don't know what happens 446 00:21:24,239 --> 00:21:25,520 in the angelic realm, 447 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:29,258 and how they fight. 448 00:21:29,258 --> 00:21:33,278 But you get glimpses of it in Scripture 449 00:21:33,278 --> 00:21:34,570 when you hear the chariots 450 00:21:34,570 --> 00:21:38,150 in the top of the trees. 451 00:21:38,150 --> 00:21:40,835 I mean, there's angelic warfare. 452 00:21:40,835 --> 00:21:43,332 You get glimpses of it in Scripture. 453 00:21:43,332 --> 00:21:45,449 In fact, maybe we ought to take 454 00:21:45,449 --> 00:21:47,220 some look at this. 455 00:21:47,220 --> 00:21:52,262 But brethren, before we move on, 456 00:21:52,262 --> 00:21:57,761 notice if you're still there in Matthew 26. 457 00:21:57,761 --> 00:22:00,438 Notice what our Lord says in v. 38. 458 00:22:00,438 --> 00:22:06,456 "Remain here and watch with Me." 459 00:22:06,456 --> 00:22:08,240 I find this amazing. 460 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:10,101 Watch with Me. 461 00:22:10,101 --> 00:22:13,456 In other words, I want you to do what I'm doing. 462 00:22:13,456 --> 00:22:16,265 Jesus is saying, I'm watching. 463 00:22:16,265 --> 00:22:20,093 I brought you three to watch with Me. 464 00:22:20,093 --> 00:22:21,660 Not to sleep. 465 00:22:21,660 --> 00:22:23,681 To watch with Me. 466 00:22:23,681 --> 00:22:26,549 The reason I find it so amazing 467 00:22:26,549 --> 00:22:29,135 is that if you look at the account, 468 00:22:29,135 --> 00:22:31,286 is that what it seems like our Lord is doing 469 00:22:31,286 --> 00:22:32,912 in the Garden of Gethsemane? 470 00:22:32,912 --> 00:22:34,658 Is anything described there 471 00:22:34,658 --> 00:22:37,477 seem like He's watching? 472 00:22:37,477 --> 00:22:39,947 I find He's suffering, He's bleeding, 473 00:22:39,947 --> 00:22:41,821 He's pleading, He's wrestling 474 00:22:41,821 --> 00:22:43,435 with His Father in prayer, 475 00:22:43,435 --> 00:22:45,018 He falls on His face, 476 00:22:45,018 --> 00:22:46,872 He's ministered to by an angel, 477 00:22:46,872 --> 00:22:49,646 He reproves His disciples for sleeping. 478 00:22:49,646 --> 00:22:54,611 But where is He watching? 479 00:22:54,611 --> 00:22:56,399 Notice verse 40. 480 00:22:56,399 --> 00:23:01,566 "So could you not watch with Me one hour?" 481 00:23:01,566 --> 00:23:04,095 You see, but that's exactly what He says He's doing. 482 00:23:04,095 --> 00:23:06,152 He says He's watching. 483 00:23:06,152 --> 00:23:09,976 Undoubtedly, verse 41 is the key, is it not? 484 00:23:09,976 --> 00:23:13,950 "Watch and pray that you may not 485 00:23:13,950 --> 00:23:17,804 enter into temptation." 486 00:23:17,804 --> 00:23:20,379 That's what He was doing. 487 00:23:20,379 --> 00:23:22,254 His prayers. 488 00:23:22,254 --> 00:23:27,572 His prayers - that's where the watching... 489 00:23:27,572 --> 00:23:30,401 it's how He prayed. 490 00:23:30,401 --> 00:23:33,909 That's where the watching is. 491 00:23:33,909 --> 00:23:37,255 It's not that He stood in the garden 492 00:23:37,255 --> 00:23:40,745 and gazed off in the distance 493 00:23:40,745 --> 00:23:42,127 and in the horizon, 494 00:23:42,127 --> 00:23:43,358 watching for the torches 495 00:23:43,358 --> 00:23:44,566 of the people coming 496 00:23:44,566 --> 00:23:46,090 who would arrest Him. 497 00:23:46,090 --> 00:23:49,980 That's not how He watched. 498 00:23:49,980 --> 00:23:53,745 Watch and pray. 499 00:23:53,745 --> 00:23:55,730 Scripture everywhere confirms this. 500 00:23:55,730 --> 00:23:56,701 Listen to this. 501 00:23:56,701 --> 00:23:58,559 Don't turn there, but listen to this. 502 00:23:58,559 --> 00:23:59,793 Luke 21:36 503 00:23:59,793 --> 00:24:06,256 "Stay awake at all times praying." 504 00:24:06,256 --> 00:24:08,261 Or we saw in Ephesians 6:18, 505 00:24:08,261 --> 00:24:09,967 "Praying at all times in the Spirit 506 00:24:09,967 --> 00:24:11,775 with all prayer and supplication. 507 00:24:11,775 --> 00:24:15,840 To that end, keep alert." 508 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:17,456 Or as we saw in Colossians 4:2, 509 00:24:17,456 --> 00:24:20,060 "Continue steadfastly in prayer." 510 00:24:20,060 --> 00:24:21,665 Or "devote yourself to prayer, 511 00:24:21,665 --> 00:24:23,590 being watchful in it." 512 00:24:23,590 --> 00:24:26,228 Being vigilant in it. 513 00:24:26,228 --> 00:24:30,159 Watchful. Watchful. 514 00:24:30,159 --> 00:24:31,618 We must be alert 515 00:24:31,618 --> 00:24:33,849 and stay awake. 516 00:24:33,849 --> 00:24:40,554 Brethren, the way you put all this together... 517 00:24:40,554 --> 00:24:44,914 how do they fit together? 518 00:24:44,914 --> 00:24:46,696 Brethren, I believe that they way 519 00:24:46,696 --> 00:24:48,726 that they fit together is this: 520 00:24:48,726 --> 00:24:51,241 It's not so much that as we pray, 521 00:24:51,241 --> 00:24:56,672 God wakes us up. 522 00:24:56,672 --> 00:25:00,253 I think the issue is 523 00:25:00,253 --> 00:25:05,394 that we need to be reminded of the warfare. 524 00:25:05,394 --> 00:25:08,939 We need to be reminded of the reality. 525 00:25:08,939 --> 00:25:13,476 And with that reality in mind, 526 00:25:13,476 --> 00:25:15,530 we then go to prayer. 527 00:25:15,530 --> 00:25:20,028 And our prayers will reflect 528 00:25:20,028 --> 00:25:23,502 the reality of the situation. 529 00:25:23,502 --> 00:25:25,467 You see, 530 00:25:25,467 --> 00:25:28,278 we can pray without watching. 531 00:25:28,278 --> 00:25:31,918 In other words, we forget. 532 00:25:31,918 --> 00:25:33,920 You're just kind of living your life. 533 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,345 Single people... all you pray about 534 00:25:36,345 --> 00:25:39,180 is getting a wife or getting a husband. 535 00:25:39,180 --> 00:25:41,410 You just go through life, 536 00:25:41,410 --> 00:25:43,766 just give me, give me, give me. 537 00:25:43,766 --> 00:25:46,200 I don't have this. I don't have that. 538 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:50,159 Lord, my knee hurts. Would you heal it? 539 00:25:50,159 --> 00:25:56,916 And you see, that's just being asleep. 540 00:25:56,916 --> 00:25:59,167 Listen to me. 541 00:25:59,167 --> 00:26:01,451 You know this is true. 542 00:26:01,451 --> 00:26:04,594 Last night, as I was going to bed. 543 00:26:04,594 --> 00:26:08,430 I just brought up a 14 minute YouTube clip 544 00:26:08,430 --> 00:26:13,051 on tank warfare. 545 00:26:13,051 --> 00:26:19,609 Our Sherman tank against the German Tiger. 546 00:26:19,609 --> 00:26:22,091 They actually had footage of these tanks 547 00:26:22,091 --> 00:26:24,417 being blown up and guys crawling out. 548 00:26:24,417 --> 00:26:26,143 At least, the guys that were alive 549 00:26:26,143 --> 00:26:30,058 crawling out. 550 00:26:30,058 --> 00:26:31,715 I'll tell you what, 551 00:26:31,715 --> 00:26:34,334 one American climbed out of a Sherman tank 552 00:26:34,334 --> 00:26:35,406 after it was hit, 553 00:26:35,406 --> 00:26:36,969 and his left leg was blown off, 554 00:26:36,969 --> 00:26:39,621 and he was moving. 555 00:26:39,621 --> 00:26:40,919 His leg was gone. 556 00:26:40,919 --> 00:26:42,111 Those people lay there. 557 00:26:42,111 --> 00:26:43,787 He was moving. 558 00:26:43,787 --> 00:26:44,975 He got out of that tank, 559 00:26:44,975 --> 00:26:46,141 and with one leg, 560 00:26:46,141 --> 00:26:47,578 he was getting away from there 561 00:26:47,578 --> 00:26:49,544 as fast as he could. 562 00:26:49,544 --> 00:26:51,105 It's very interesting 563 00:26:51,105 --> 00:26:52,645 when you watch people 564 00:26:52,645 --> 00:26:55,318 who are truly in war. 565 00:26:55,318 --> 00:26:59,562 They act different than people at peacetime. 566 00:26:59,562 --> 00:27:00,538 They're awake. 567 00:27:00,538 --> 00:27:03,228 You typically don't fall asleep in a Sherman tank 568 00:27:03,228 --> 00:27:07,335 when you've got the Panthers or the Tigers 569 00:27:07,335 --> 00:27:09,790 of the Germans. 570 00:27:09,790 --> 00:27:13,492 They tended to be a lot better equipped. 571 00:27:13,492 --> 00:27:15,756 You know what it's like when people are in war? 572 00:27:15,756 --> 00:27:18,089 You know what it's like. 573 00:27:18,089 --> 00:27:19,162 You know what? 574 00:27:19,162 --> 00:27:20,683 Listen, brethren, 575 00:27:20,683 --> 00:27:21,893 if we're at wartime 576 00:27:21,893 --> 00:27:23,489 and there's an enemy in the land, 577 00:27:23,489 --> 00:27:24,762 and there's a reality that they may 578 00:27:24,762 --> 00:27:26,409 come through this door at any time, 579 00:27:26,409 --> 00:27:27,186 you know what? 580 00:27:27,186 --> 00:27:28,602 You tend to stay armed. 581 00:27:28,602 --> 00:27:30,394 You tend to stay wary. 582 00:27:30,394 --> 00:27:32,852 You tend to watch. 583 00:27:32,852 --> 00:27:34,332 You're looking. 584 00:27:34,332 --> 00:27:36,428 Might they break in here? 585 00:27:36,428 --> 00:27:39,055 Might my family come under fire? 586 00:27:39,055 --> 00:27:40,452 When you're in a foxhole, 587 00:27:40,452 --> 00:27:44,090 and the enemy's on the move... 588 00:27:44,090 --> 00:27:45,756 When you're in a Sherman tank, 589 00:27:45,756 --> 00:27:49,743 and you know there are big Tiger German tanks 590 00:27:49,743 --> 00:27:51,828 out there waiting for you, 591 00:27:51,828 --> 00:27:53,441 hiding in the hedge rows. 592 00:27:53,441 --> 00:27:54,255 You know what? 593 00:27:54,255 --> 00:27:55,747 You tend to keep your eyes open 594 00:27:55,747 --> 00:27:59,761 and those tank drivers for our Sherman's said 595 00:27:59,761 --> 00:28:01,572 they were watching. 596 00:28:01,572 --> 00:28:04,436 Brethren, one of those guys said, 597 00:28:04,436 --> 00:28:06,217 We saw a shape. 598 00:28:06,217 --> 00:28:08,076 We shot. 599 00:28:08,076 --> 00:28:12,083 And we blew up a farmer's outhouse. 600 00:28:12,083 --> 00:28:15,621 Because it had the shape of a tank. 601 00:28:15,621 --> 00:28:17,233 They weren't taking any chances. 602 00:28:17,233 --> 00:28:18,437 They were watching. 603 00:28:18,437 --> 00:28:20,913 They were watching for just the silhouette 604 00:28:20,913 --> 00:28:23,293 in the tree line. 605 00:28:23,293 --> 00:28:26,057 Because those big tanks, 606 00:28:26,057 --> 00:28:27,844 if they got the first shot off, 607 00:28:27,844 --> 00:28:29,052 you were dead 608 00:28:29,052 --> 00:28:30,401 if you were in a Sherman. 609 00:28:30,401 --> 00:28:31,796 Brethren, this is how it is 610 00:28:31,796 --> 00:28:33,120 when people are at war. 611 00:28:33,120 --> 00:28:36,320 I'll tell you when planes are roaring overhead 612 00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:38,782 and the great big artillery is booming 613 00:28:38,782 --> 00:28:40,764 and men are dying, 614 00:28:40,764 --> 00:28:42,655 you're alert. 615 00:28:42,655 --> 00:28:44,942 You want to stay armed. 616 00:28:44,942 --> 00:28:46,312 And men are desparate. 617 00:28:46,312 --> 00:28:48,282 And I'll tell you what, they pray. 618 00:28:48,282 --> 00:28:49,807 And their prayers are different 619 00:28:49,807 --> 00:28:51,493 than the guy that's sitting at home 620 00:28:51,493 --> 00:28:53,632 with his feet kicked up. 621 00:28:53,632 --> 00:28:55,336 Cold beer in his hand 622 00:28:55,336 --> 00:28:57,165 watching pre-season football. 623 00:28:57,165 --> 00:28:59,206 Out there around our city. 624 00:28:59,206 --> 00:29:04,154 If there's any prayer on his lips at all. 625 00:29:04,154 --> 00:29:11,428 Oh God, please let the Cowboys win. 626 00:29:11,428 --> 00:29:13,002 If you think that's foolish, 627 00:29:13,002 --> 00:29:14,526 there are people that pray that. 628 00:29:14,526 --> 00:29:15,906 I remember one time hearing 629 00:29:15,906 --> 00:29:17,909 when the Spurs were in the playoffs, 630 00:29:17,909 --> 00:29:19,411 we visited the nuns over here. 631 00:29:19,411 --> 00:29:21,161 We were trying to bring the Gospel to them. 632 00:29:21,161 --> 00:29:22,642 And they were talking about praying 633 00:29:22,642 --> 00:29:25,146 for the Spurs to win. 634 00:29:25,146 --> 00:29:27,568 People pray that way. 635 00:29:27,568 --> 00:29:29,862 But when you're in a foxhole you pray different. 636 00:29:29,862 --> 00:29:32,102 When you're in a Sherman tank in World War II, 637 00:29:32,102 --> 00:29:33,437 and the enemy is out there, 638 00:29:33,437 --> 00:29:34,729 you pray different. 639 00:29:34,729 --> 00:29:36,010 And there is an intensity 640 00:29:36,010 --> 00:29:37,484 and there is an alertness, 641 00:29:37,484 --> 00:29:38,719 and there's a readiness, 642 00:29:38,719 --> 00:29:40,081 and there is an awakeness. 643 00:29:40,081 --> 00:29:43,303 Brethren, men are on guard 644 00:29:43,303 --> 00:29:44,582 when it's wartime. 645 00:29:44,582 --> 00:29:45,834 Men are desparate. 646 00:29:45,834 --> 00:29:46,691 They're alert. 647 00:29:46,691 --> 00:29:47,681 But you know what? 648 00:29:47,681 --> 00:29:49,358 When you suppose there's no war, 649 00:29:49,358 --> 00:29:50,945 when you think it's peacetime, 650 00:29:50,945 --> 00:29:51,862 what do you do? 651 00:29:51,862 --> 00:29:53,611 You relax. 652 00:29:53,611 --> 00:29:54,815 You let your guard down. 653 00:29:54,815 --> 00:29:56,002 You do that in war, 654 00:29:56,002 --> 00:29:58,482 you end up dead. 655 00:29:58,482 --> 00:30:04,272 Brethren, our Lord calls us to watch. 656 00:30:04,272 --> 00:30:06,473 And you know the way that we're going to 657 00:30:06,473 --> 00:30:08,015 enter into our prayer meetings 658 00:30:08,015 --> 00:30:09,753 and enter in to our prayer closets 659 00:30:09,753 --> 00:30:11,401 with this watchfulness? 660 00:30:11,401 --> 00:30:15,786 It's to be reminded of the reality. 661 00:30:15,786 --> 00:30:19,009 And so I want to remind you. 662 00:30:19,009 --> 00:30:24,346 Revelation 12 is a great reminder. 663 00:30:24,346 --> 00:30:25,802 Go there. 664 00:30:25,802 --> 00:30:29,924 I want you to see these verses for yourself. 665 00:30:29,924 --> 00:30:32,599 Brethren, men loosen up when they think the war is past. 666 00:30:32,599 --> 00:30:34,326 But what we need to recognize 667 00:30:34,326 --> 00:30:36,024 is Scripture tells us 668 00:30:36,024 --> 00:30:38,420 under no uncertain terms 669 00:30:38,420 --> 00:30:40,475 that the war is not past. 670 00:30:40,475 --> 00:30:42,151 We are in the midst of it. 671 00:30:42,151 --> 00:30:46,990 If we only have eyes to see it. 672 00:30:46,990 --> 00:30:48,616 What would we see 673 00:30:48,616 --> 00:30:50,296 if our eyes were opened to see 674 00:30:50,296 --> 00:30:52,223 into the spiritual realm? 675 00:30:52,223 --> 00:30:54,621 You have a good idea from Scripture 676 00:30:54,621 --> 00:30:55,645 what we would see. 677 00:30:55,645 --> 00:30:56,878 But I want to remind you. 678 00:30:56,878 --> 00:30:58,750 I want to show you from Scripture 679 00:30:58,750 --> 00:31:00,049 what the reality is, 680 00:31:00,049 --> 00:31:04,076 even if your eyeballs can't see it. 681 00:31:04,076 --> 00:31:04,901 Revelation 12 682 00:31:04,901 --> 00:31:07,477 We're not going to deal with every single verse here. 683 00:31:07,477 --> 00:31:09,816 We're just going to flow through here. 684 00:31:09,816 --> 00:31:11,312 But I want you to see it. 685 00:31:11,312 --> 00:31:13,334 Revelation 12:9 686 00:31:13,334 --> 00:31:18,206 "The great dragon was thrown down. 687 00:31:18,206 --> 00:31:20,161 That ancient serpent who is called 688 00:31:20,161 --> 00:31:24,272 the devil and Satan, 689 00:31:24,272 --> 00:31:27,869 the deceiver of the whole world. 690 00:31:27,869 --> 00:31:30,595 He was thrown down to the earth. 691 00:31:30,595 --> 00:31:32,610 And his angels were thrown down with him." 692 00:31:32,610 --> 00:31:34,105 And brethren, the primary thing 693 00:31:34,105 --> 00:31:35,707 that I want you to see there 694 00:31:35,707 --> 00:31:40,211 is he is thrown down: here. 695 00:31:40,211 --> 00:31:43,129 He is thrown down to this earth. 696 00:31:43,129 --> 00:31:45,508 He is thrown down to the very place 697 00:31:45,508 --> 00:31:48,257 where we are. 698 00:31:48,257 --> 00:31:52,814 Brethren, watch 699 00:31:52,814 --> 00:31:56,091 for your adversary the devil 700 00:31:56,091 --> 00:31:58,640 prowls about like a roaring lion 701 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:00,444 to seek whom he may devour. 702 00:32:00,444 --> 00:32:02,799 You see, he's here. 703 00:32:02,799 --> 00:32:04,460 You need to watch. 704 00:32:04,460 --> 00:32:05,780 Brethren, I'll tell you, 705 00:32:05,780 --> 00:32:07,326 those angels don't fall asleep 706 00:32:07,326 --> 00:32:08,918 and they were watching. 707 00:32:08,918 --> 00:32:10,891 We don't want to be like these disciples 708 00:32:10,891 --> 00:32:12,856 in the garden. 709 00:32:12,856 --> 00:32:15,989 Brethren, that you not fall into temptation. 710 00:32:15,989 --> 00:32:17,284 That's what He told them. 711 00:32:17,284 --> 00:32:19,751 Why? Because there's a tempter. 712 00:32:19,751 --> 00:32:20,946 And he's there. 713 00:32:20,946 --> 00:32:22,796 And I'll tell you what he was tempting 714 00:32:22,796 --> 00:32:24,403 Christ Himself. 715 00:32:24,403 --> 00:32:27,381 Don't go to the cross. 716 00:32:27,381 --> 00:32:29,129 Don't do this. 717 00:32:29,129 --> 00:32:30,330 And you feel it. 718 00:32:30,330 --> 00:32:32,535 Jesus saying, "Father, if it's possible, 719 00:32:32,535 --> 00:32:34,566 please spare Me from this." 720 00:32:34,566 --> 00:32:39,446 But! But! In His prayers, 721 00:32:39,446 --> 00:32:41,929 "I'm committed to Your will." 722 00:32:41,929 --> 00:32:43,709 But He recognized the battle. 723 00:32:43,709 --> 00:32:45,258 And He comes to these sleeping. 724 00:32:45,258 --> 00:32:47,315 "Why could you not watch and pray?" 725 00:32:47,315 --> 00:32:50,806 "Could you not for one hour, Peter?" 726 00:32:50,806 --> 00:32:53,784 And so often, we're just like them. 727 00:32:53,784 --> 00:32:58,390 Brethren, notice verse 12. 728 00:32:58,390 --> 00:33:01,028 "But woe to you, O earth and sea, 729 00:33:01,028 --> 00:33:02,956 for the devil has come down to you 730 00:33:02,956 --> 00:33:05,213 in great wrath because he knows 731 00:33:05,213 --> 00:33:08,820 that his time is short." 732 00:33:08,820 --> 00:33:15,768 Brethren, his wrath is intense. 733 00:33:15,768 --> 00:33:17,585 I don't know how much time we've got, 734 00:33:17,585 --> 00:33:18,901 but you know what, for him, 735 00:33:18,901 --> 00:33:20,127 however much time it is, 736 00:33:20,127 --> 00:33:22,097 it's short. 737 00:33:22,097 --> 00:33:24,905 Brethren, he doesn't sleep. 738 00:33:24,905 --> 00:33:28,193 You may. He does not. 739 00:33:28,193 --> 00:33:32,755 He is active all the time. 740 00:33:32,755 --> 00:33:39,836 And brethren, notice verse 17. 741 00:33:39,836 --> 00:33:45,324 This verse here, 742 00:33:45,324 --> 00:33:49,494 Oh, brothers and sisters, 743 00:33:49,494 --> 00:33:55,150 may this sink in to your thinking. 744 00:33:55,150 --> 00:33:57,705 "Then the dragon became furious 745 00:33:57,705 --> 00:34:00,188 with the woman." 746 00:34:00,188 --> 00:34:01,966 Now, what's very interesting here 747 00:34:01,966 --> 00:34:03,588 is that the woman gives birth 748 00:34:03,588 --> 00:34:04,879 to a child. 749 00:34:04,879 --> 00:34:10,727 You know if you go all the way back to Genesis 3, 750 00:34:10,727 --> 00:34:15,619 you see that there would be an offspring of the woman. 751 00:34:15,619 --> 00:34:17,987 This is symbolism here. 752 00:34:17,987 --> 00:34:20,367 The Christ comes forth from this woman. 753 00:34:20,367 --> 00:34:21,428 But you know what? 754 00:34:21,428 --> 00:34:25,451 This woman also gives birth to more offspring. 755 00:34:25,451 --> 00:34:27,111 Notice this. 756 00:34:27,111 --> 00:34:29,852 The rest of her offspring. 757 00:34:29,852 --> 00:34:33,074 "The dragon became furious with the woman 758 00:34:33,074 --> 00:34:35,382 and went off to make war on the rest 759 00:34:35,382 --> 00:34:37,681 of her offspring." 760 00:34:37,681 --> 00:34:40,756 Brethren, you can get all hung up on the symbolism. 761 00:34:40,756 --> 00:34:43,129 Well, who's the woman and who's the offspring? 762 00:34:43,129 --> 00:34:46,687 He defines it for us here. 763 00:34:46,687 --> 00:34:51,727 "Those who keep the commandments of God." 764 00:34:51,727 --> 00:34:53,152 You know what Jesus said, 765 00:34:53,152 --> 00:34:55,366 it's not everybody that says, "Lord, Lord," 766 00:34:55,366 --> 00:34:58,068 but those who do the will of My Father. 767 00:34:58,068 --> 00:34:59,749 These are Christians here. 768 00:34:59,749 --> 00:35:01,179 If you say that you know Him, 769 00:35:01,179 --> 00:35:02,182 and you don't keep His commandments, 770 00:35:02,182 --> 00:35:03,832 you're liars and the truth is not in you. 771 00:35:03,832 --> 00:35:06,052 You see, these are the people 772 00:35:06,052 --> 00:35:09,741 who keep His commandments. 773 00:35:09,741 --> 00:35:12,770 His Word abides in them. 774 00:35:12,770 --> 00:35:16,462 "and they hold to the testimony of Jesus." 775 00:35:16,462 --> 00:35:18,872 "And he stood on the sand of the sea." 776 00:35:18,872 --> 00:35:20,985 Oh brethren, the symbolism, 777 00:35:20,985 --> 00:35:25,356 the sea - so often a picture of all the nations. 778 00:35:25,356 --> 00:35:27,527 The unrest. 779 00:35:27,527 --> 00:35:30,115 The peoples. 780 00:35:30,115 --> 00:35:32,828 Isn't that exactly what Scripture says? 781 00:35:32,828 --> 00:35:36,316 The whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 782 00:35:36,316 --> 00:35:38,832 He stands there on top of it. 783 00:35:38,832 --> 00:35:41,402 But here's what I want you to notice. 784 00:35:41,402 --> 00:35:43,857 He is furious. 785 00:35:43,857 --> 00:35:45,587 His time is short. 786 00:35:45,587 --> 00:35:48,163 And he makes war, 787 00:35:48,163 --> 00:35:51,788 very specifically, 788 00:35:51,788 --> 00:35:57,617 on those who hold to the testimony of Jesus Christ. 789 00:35:57,617 --> 00:35:59,393 Brethren, as I was explaining 790 00:35:59,393 --> 00:36:02,480 to the brethren in Nicaragua. 791 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:08,382 You get these great big spinning storms 792 00:36:08,382 --> 00:36:12,693 in the Gulf of Mexico. 793 00:36:12,693 --> 00:36:14,526 This is hurricane season. 794 00:36:14,526 --> 00:36:16,990 A hurricane comes. 795 00:36:16,990 --> 00:36:19,833 Katrina. 796 00:36:19,833 --> 00:36:22,741 Freddie Garza and I went over there 797 00:36:22,741 --> 00:36:24,732 after the storm. 798 00:36:24,732 --> 00:36:28,636 You know what was interesting? 799 00:36:28,636 --> 00:36:31,161 We went there to the coast 800 00:36:31,161 --> 00:36:33,374 of Mississippi, 801 00:36:33,374 --> 00:36:39,093 near Mobile where those two states come together 802 00:36:39,093 --> 00:36:41,038 at the Gulf. 803 00:36:41,038 --> 00:36:42,529 We were in that area. 804 00:36:42,529 --> 00:36:43,883 And you know what you saw? 805 00:36:43,883 --> 00:36:45,041 Everything wiped out. 806 00:36:45,041 --> 00:36:46,101 Houses wiped out. 807 00:36:46,101 --> 00:36:47,195 Trees wiped out. 808 00:36:47,195 --> 00:36:49,254 Just big piles... it wiped out everything. 809 00:36:49,254 --> 00:36:51,013 When people came in after the storm, 810 00:36:51,013 --> 00:36:52,261 everything was wiped out. 811 00:36:52,261 --> 00:36:53,885 Everything was destroyed. 812 00:36:53,885 --> 00:36:57,382 That's how storms are. 813 00:36:57,382 --> 00:36:58,627 And here comes Satan. 814 00:36:58,627 --> 00:37:00,400 And what I want you to know is this, 815 00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:04,268 he's not indiscriminate like a storm. 816 00:37:04,268 --> 00:37:08,162 He's already got his foot on the sea. 817 00:37:08,162 --> 00:37:10,544 The whole world is in the power of the evil one. 818 00:37:10,544 --> 00:37:11,937 You know who in this world 819 00:37:11,937 --> 00:37:14,250 is not in his power? 820 00:37:14,250 --> 00:37:16,788 The very ones that he is making war against. 821 00:37:16,788 --> 00:37:20,717 His power does not indiscriminately destroy. 822 00:37:20,717 --> 00:37:24,130 He means to very particularly focus 823 00:37:24,130 --> 00:37:25,254 his energies. 824 00:37:25,254 --> 00:37:28,107 And his wrath is furious. 825 00:37:28,107 --> 00:37:32,274 Brethren, you just wake up to this reality. 826 00:37:32,274 --> 00:37:35,401 He is at war with us. 827 00:37:35,401 --> 00:37:38,758 He is at war with the people of God. 828 00:37:38,758 --> 00:37:48,838 Jesus is saying stay awake and pray. 829 00:37:48,838 --> 00:37:52,348 There's reason here. 830 00:37:52,348 --> 00:37:55,332 Brethren, go back to Ephesians 6. 831 00:37:55,332 --> 00:37:59,494 Let's just build the picture. 832 00:37:59,494 --> 00:38:00,773 It's time for you and me 833 00:38:00,773 --> 00:38:02,531 to wake up to this reality. 834 00:38:02,531 --> 00:38:04,148 Brethren, we need to be reminded 835 00:38:04,148 --> 00:38:05,241 of the reality. 836 00:38:05,241 --> 00:38:06,855 You're going to go out of this place. 837 00:38:06,855 --> 00:38:08,084 You go out and you get in your car. 838 00:38:08,084 --> 00:38:09,413 You go and you drive home. 839 00:38:09,413 --> 00:38:10,829 You're going to have dinner. 840 00:38:10,829 --> 00:38:12,138 Or you eat here 841 00:38:12,138 --> 00:38:13,996 and then you get in your car 842 00:38:13,996 --> 00:38:15,552 and go home and go on with life. 843 00:38:15,552 --> 00:38:17,484 And you go out in the world this week, 844 00:38:17,484 --> 00:38:18,444 and you're going on. 845 00:38:18,444 --> 00:38:19,861 You come home to your family. 846 00:38:19,861 --> 00:38:21,499 You may have your daily devotions, 847 00:38:21,499 --> 00:38:23,224 but brethren, what I'm telling you, 848 00:38:23,224 --> 00:38:24,991 is what Scripture is saying is this, 849 00:38:24,991 --> 00:38:26,669 is when you pray, 850 00:38:26,669 --> 00:38:27,907 brethren, when you pray; 851 00:38:27,907 --> 00:38:32,540 mothers, fathers, singles, children, 852 00:38:32,540 --> 00:38:33,809 when you pray, 853 00:38:33,809 --> 00:38:36,197 you are to pray with this in mind. 854 00:38:36,197 --> 00:38:39,200 How are you going to be alert and watchful? 855 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:41,161 Brethren, it's when you go to your knees 856 00:38:41,161 --> 00:38:44,293 and you're gripped by this reality. 857 00:38:44,293 --> 00:38:45,633 That there is an enemy. 858 00:38:45,633 --> 00:38:50,168 And his rage is directed at you. 859 00:38:50,168 --> 00:38:51,918 And see, when you're aware of this 860 00:38:51,918 --> 00:38:53,710 and you recognize that there is this 861 00:38:53,710 --> 00:38:55,671 cosmic battle that is taking place, 862 00:38:55,671 --> 00:38:57,411 and you're gripped by that reality. 863 00:38:57,411 --> 00:38:59,491 Then, you come to pray 864 00:38:59,491 --> 00:39:01,858 and your prayers are watchful. 865 00:39:01,858 --> 00:39:03,485 Your prayers are alert. 866 00:39:03,485 --> 00:39:04,314 In other words, 867 00:39:04,314 --> 00:39:06,317 you're praying with a mind 868 00:39:06,317 --> 00:39:08,763 that is awake to these realities. 869 00:39:08,763 --> 00:39:10,360 So you're not just praying about 870 00:39:10,360 --> 00:39:13,045 ridiculous things and things that don't matter. 871 00:39:13,045 --> 00:39:14,860 That the Cowboys would win. 872 00:39:14,860 --> 00:39:16,988 It's not about all that. 873 00:39:16,988 --> 00:39:19,185 It's about the realities of this warfare. 874 00:39:19,185 --> 00:39:20,784 It's like the man in the foxhole. 875 00:39:20,784 --> 00:39:22,144 The man in the Sherman tank. 876 00:39:22,144 --> 00:39:23,205 You're desparate. 877 00:39:23,205 --> 00:39:24,547 There are things happening. 878 00:39:24,547 --> 00:39:26,015 You know they're happening. 879 00:39:26,015 --> 00:39:28,056 You may not see them with your physical eyes, 880 00:39:28,056 --> 00:39:29,618 and you may not ever have your eyes opened 881 00:39:29,618 --> 00:39:31,800 like they were with this brother that traveled to the Middle East 882 00:39:31,800 --> 00:39:33,320 or like it was with Elisha. 883 00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:35,950 But the reality is, you know it's happening around you 884 00:39:35,950 --> 00:39:37,493 whether you can see it or not. 885 00:39:37,493 --> 00:39:40,382 Brethren, look at this text. 886 00:39:40,382 --> 00:39:41,679 Ephesians 6:10 887 00:39:41,679 --> 00:39:43,122 You know this. 888 00:39:43,122 --> 00:39:45,058 This is about the armor of God. 889 00:39:45,058 --> 00:39:46,826 "Be strong in the Lord 890 00:39:46,826 --> 00:39:50,143 and in the strength of His might. 891 00:39:50,143 --> 00:39:51,684 Put on the whole armor of God 892 00:39:51,684 --> 00:39:53,170 that you may be able to stand 893 00:39:53,170 --> 00:39:54,755 against the schemes of the devil. 894 00:39:54,755 --> 00:39:56,640 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, 895 00:39:56,640 --> 00:39:59,994 but against the rulers, against the authorities..." 896 00:39:59,994 --> 00:40:03,557 Brethren, are you getting this? 897 00:40:03,557 --> 00:40:05,959 "That you may be able to stand 898 00:40:05,959 --> 00:40:09,051 against the schemes of the devil." 899 00:40:09,051 --> 00:40:10,325 The devil. 900 00:40:10,325 --> 00:40:12,083 How much intelligence do you think he has? 901 00:40:12,083 --> 00:40:13,531 How much wisdom do you think he has? 902 00:40:13,531 --> 00:40:15,459 Now, I know he does things that are foolish 903 00:40:15,459 --> 00:40:17,174 because they're against God, 904 00:40:17,174 --> 00:40:20,243 and he can never utterly win this battle. 905 00:40:20,243 --> 00:40:21,183 I recognize that. 906 00:40:21,183 --> 00:40:22,737 But look who we're dealing with. 907 00:40:22,737 --> 00:40:26,226 Very often, we consider that very likely 908 00:40:26,226 --> 00:40:29,665 the devil is the greatest created being 909 00:40:29,665 --> 00:40:32,711 that God ever made. 910 00:40:32,711 --> 00:40:34,889 Think of his intelligence. 911 00:40:34,889 --> 00:40:37,470 He schemes. 912 00:40:37,470 --> 00:40:39,234 Think of his focus. 913 00:40:39,234 --> 00:40:42,793 It's on you, Christian. 914 00:40:42,793 --> 00:40:45,753 And you see it here. 915 00:40:45,753 --> 00:40:49,827 He's got a whole heirarchy. 916 00:40:49,827 --> 00:40:52,267 "We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, 917 00:40:52,267 --> 00:40:53,856 but against the rulers..." 918 00:40:53,856 --> 00:40:54,696 Plural. 919 00:40:54,696 --> 00:40:55,731 There's many of them. 920 00:40:55,731 --> 00:40:59,196 And look, the rulers aren't the ground soldiers. 921 00:40:59,196 --> 00:41:05,267 The rulers are the top echelon of this hierarchy. 922 00:41:05,267 --> 00:41:06,470 There are rulers. 923 00:41:06,470 --> 00:41:14,120 Great spiritual fallen angelic rulers. 924 00:41:14,120 --> 00:41:17,213 He's the prince of the power of the air. 925 00:41:17,213 --> 00:41:19,026 This area of this earth 926 00:41:19,026 --> 00:41:20,891 moving about. 927 00:41:20,891 --> 00:41:23,167 Where were you, Satan? 928 00:41:23,167 --> 00:41:25,275 He's walking to and fro. 929 00:41:25,275 --> 00:41:26,502 And what's he doing? 930 00:41:26,502 --> 00:41:29,231 He's watching for people just like Job 931 00:41:29,231 --> 00:41:30,520 and anybody like him. 932 00:41:30,520 --> 00:41:31,970 He's looking. 933 00:41:31,970 --> 00:41:34,569 He's looking for opportunity. 934 00:41:34,569 --> 00:41:37,738 Authorities, cosmic powers, 935 00:41:37,738 --> 00:41:39,099 over the present darkness. 936 00:41:39,099 --> 00:41:41,143 Against the spiritual forces of evil 937 00:41:41,143 --> 00:41:42,969 in the heavenly places. 938 00:41:42,969 --> 00:41:45,293 Brethren, we do not wrestle against 939 00:41:45,293 --> 00:41:46,139 flesh and blood. 940 00:41:46,139 --> 00:41:47,869 Again, he's speaking to Christians. 941 00:41:47,869 --> 00:41:49,297 We're the ones wrestling. 942 00:41:49,297 --> 00:41:50,575 The world doesn't wrestle. 943 00:41:50,575 --> 00:41:52,322 The world's in his power. 944 00:41:52,322 --> 00:41:54,527 The world's gladly being carried along by him. 945 00:41:54,527 --> 00:41:55,614 He's just deceiving them. 946 00:41:55,614 --> 00:41:57,496 And they love a lie and they love to be deceived. 947 00:41:57,496 --> 00:41:58,895 They're all happy with that. 948 00:41:58,895 --> 00:42:00,563 They're moving along. 949 00:42:00,563 --> 00:42:03,505 Brethren, we're the only ones going upstream. 950 00:42:03,505 --> 00:42:04,838 And he recognizes it. 951 00:42:04,838 --> 00:42:07,058 You remember how it was in Pilgrim's Progress? 952 00:42:07,058 --> 00:42:09,499 Here's one who gets on the Master's highway. 953 00:42:09,499 --> 00:42:11,664 And Apollyon came out. 954 00:42:11,664 --> 00:42:17,007 Brethren, specifically to oppose Christian. 955 00:42:17,007 --> 00:42:18,175 And he says so. 956 00:42:18,175 --> 00:42:20,966 Now, I know man dreamt up that allegory, 957 00:42:20,966 --> 00:42:23,525 but that's right on target. 958 00:42:23,525 --> 00:42:24,512 Right on target. 959 00:42:24,512 --> 00:42:27,267 You see the reality here. 960 00:42:27,267 --> 00:42:32,457 Cosmic powers over this present darkness. 961 00:42:32,457 --> 00:42:34,250 Brethren, you have to recognize, 962 00:42:34,250 --> 00:42:36,009 this is who we're wrestling against. 963 00:42:36,009 --> 00:42:37,378 This is where the battle is: 964 00:42:37,378 --> 00:42:41,262 cosmic powers, against the spiritual forces of evil 965 00:42:41,262 --> 00:42:42,581 in the heavenly places. 966 00:42:42,581 --> 00:42:43,991 The "we" here is Christians. 967 00:42:43,991 --> 00:42:45,534 We're the ones in combat 968 00:42:45,534 --> 00:42:48,714 against these powers of this present darkness. 969 00:42:48,714 --> 00:42:51,475 We fight angels. 970 00:42:51,475 --> 00:42:54,684 And they have schemes. 971 00:42:54,684 --> 00:42:57,784 And brethren, the thing is, 972 00:42:57,784 --> 00:43:01,675 we desparately need, 973 00:43:01,675 --> 00:43:06,270 we desparately are in a place 974 00:43:06,270 --> 00:43:08,132 that we've got to have God; 975 00:43:08,132 --> 00:43:09,637 we've got to have His help; 976 00:43:09,637 --> 00:43:12,016 we've got to have Him. 977 00:43:12,016 --> 00:43:17,525 We're facing somebody who's far stronger than us. 978 00:43:17,525 --> 00:43:22,562 Brethren, you know what Scripture says. 979 00:43:22,562 --> 00:43:24,866 What? 980 00:43:24,866 --> 00:43:26,255 There's a parable. 981 00:43:26,255 --> 00:43:28,134 Casting seed. 982 00:43:28,134 --> 00:43:31,499 The seed falls, 983 00:43:31,499 --> 00:43:36,896 and birds come and carry the seed away. 984 00:43:36,896 --> 00:43:39,455 What is that? 985 00:43:39,455 --> 00:43:44,226 Jesus tells us that's the devil. 986 00:43:44,226 --> 00:43:49,223 Have you ever read very specifically what it says? 987 00:43:49,223 --> 00:43:53,664 He takes away the seed 988 00:43:53,664 --> 00:43:58,390 that they might not believe and be saved. 989 00:43:58,390 --> 00:44:01,213 You know, you could just read that. 990 00:44:01,213 --> 00:44:05,439 Do you recognize what that's saying? 991 00:44:05,439 --> 00:44:11,379 He doesn't want people saved. 992 00:44:11,379 --> 00:44:15,866 He wants them damned. 993 00:44:15,866 --> 00:44:20,541 You have an enemy. 994 00:44:20,541 --> 00:44:25,056 The ancient, the old serpent. 995 00:44:25,056 --> 00:44:27,152 Do you know what that means? 996 00:44:27,152 --> 00:44:30,573 He's been around a long time. 997 00:44:30,573 --> 00:44:34,576 He killed our first parents. 998 00:44:34,576 --> 00:44:36,983 You remember this. 999 00:44:36,983 --> 00:44:38,176 Father of lies. 1000 00:44:38,176 --> 00:44:40,450 A murderer from the beginning. 1001 00:44:40,450 --> 00:44:42,052 He murdered our first parents. 1002 00:44:42,052 --> 00:44:42,921 How does he do it? 1003 00:44:42,921 --> 00:44:46,143 He does it through deception. 1004 00:44:46,143 --> 00:44:47,082 And guess what? 1005 00:44:47,082 --> 00:44:50,306 His whole will 1006 00:44:50,306 --> 00:44:52,644 in all of his fury 1007 00:44:52,644 --> 00:44:55,813 is turned against the church. 1008 00:44:55,813 --> 00:44:58,227 Those who keep the commandments of God 1009 00:44:58,227 --> 00:45:02,299 and hold to the testimony of Jesus Christ. 1010 00:45:02,299 --> 00:45:04,781 And if there isn't reason for you to be 1011 00:45:04,781 --> 00:45:08,171 alert and watchful when you go to God in prayer, 1012 00:45:08,171 --> 00:45:11,123 you need to listen to what this is saying. 1013 00:45:11,123 --> 00:45:14,561 This enemy shows no mercy. 1014 00:45:14,561 --> 00:45:16,144 You know what? 1015 00:45:16,144 --> 00:45:18,852 The truth is there's all sorts of stories 1016 00:45:18,852 --> 00:45:21,608 about the Germans showing mercy 1017 00:45:21,608 --> 00:45:23,185 to our soldiers. 1018 00:45:23,185 --> 00:45:27,099 And our soldiers showing mercy to them. 1019 00:45:27,099 --> 00:45:30,995 There's even cases of the Japanese 1020 00:45:30,995 --> 00:45:35,390 showing mercy. 1021 00:45:35,390 --> 00:45:38,628 This enemy shows none. 1022 00:45:38,628 --> 00:45:41,988 You need to recognize this. 1023 00:45:41,988 --> 00:45:46,390 He wants to damn your children. 1024 00:45:46,390 --> 00:45:48,773 And he wants to damn your parents. 1025 00:45:48,773 --> 00:45:51,495 And he wants to damn you. 1026 00:45:51,495 --> 00:45:55,744 And he wants this whole city of San Antonio destroyed. 1027 00:45:55,744 --> 00:45:57,961 And I'm talking the people. 1028 00:45:57,961 --> 00:46:00,162 He doesn't care about the houses. 1029 00:46:00,162 --> 00:46:01,472 You read in Scripture, 1030 00:46:01,472 --> 00:46:03,050 leave the grass alone, 1031 00:46:03,050 --> 00:46:04,228 leave the trees alone. 1032 00:46:04,228 --> 00:46:05,937 You see, it's not indiscriminate. 1033 00:46:05,937 --> 00:46:09,136 He doesn't wipe out the forests. 1034 00:46:09,136 --> 00:46:11,714 He means to damn humanity. 1035 00:46:11,714 --> 00:46:15,391 And he is plying all of his schemes 1036 00:46:15,391 --> 00:46:17,661 and all of his will 1037 00:46:17,661 --> 00:46:18,996 in that direction. 1038 00:46:18,996 --> 00:46:21,136 And if you don't believe there isn't reason 1039 00:46:21,136 --> 00:46:23,906 to sit up, brethren, and wake up 1040 00:46:23,906 --> 00:46:27,696 and be alert when we go to God in prayer, 1041 00:46:27,696 --> 00:46:31,484 brethren, we are dealing with demonic strongholds 1042 00:46:31,484 --> 00:46:37,057 that mean to wreck and ruin and destroy and damn. 1043 00:46:37,057 --> 00:46:38,965 That is what the devil is about. 1044 00:46:38,965 --> 00:46:40,506 He's not playing here. 1045 00:46:40,506 --> 00:46:42,200 And he doesn't sleep. 1046 00:46:42,200 --> 00:46:43,631 And his time is short. 1047 00:46:43,631 --> 00:46:45,488 And his rage is furious. 1048 00:46:45,488 --> 00:46:49,158 And it's aimed at you. 1049 00:46:49,158 --> 00:46:51,847 Brethren, don't wonder at the fact 1050 00:46:51,847 --> 00:46:53,872 that you all of a sudden look up one day 1051 00:46:53,872 --> 00:46:57,101 and you see your children being sucked away. 1052 00:46:57,101 --> 00:46:58,233 He's watching. 1053 00:46:58,233 --> 00:46:59,934 Brethren, if we had eyes to see, 1054 00:46:59,934 --> 00:47:01,637 he's infiltrated our families, 1055 00:47:01,637 --> 00:47:03,284 he's infiltrated our workplaces, 1056 00:47:03,284 --> 00:47:05,870 our colleges, he is all around us. 1057 00:47:05,870 --> 00:47:07,660 And brethren, if we had eyes to see, 1058 00:47:07,660 --> 00:47:09,714 and we could see into the spiritual realm, 1059 00:47:09,714 --> 00:47:11,422 based on that parable of the soils, 1060 00:47:11,422 --> 00:47:13,756 you know as well as I do, 1061 00:47:13,756 --> 00:47:16,878 he's infiltrated this church. 1062 00:47:16,878 --> 00:47:18,597 And he's seeking even now, 1063 00:47:18,597 --> 00:47:19,724 if we could see it. 1064 00:47:19,724 --> 00:47:21,423 Brethren, there's a cosmic battle. 1065 00:47:21,423 --> 00:47:22,851 And this is where we wrestle. 1066 00:47:22,851 --> 00:47:24,792 This is where we fight. 1067 00:47:24,792 --> 00:47:26,721 You see, prayer; 1068 00:47:26,721 --> 00:47:28,189 being alert in prayer; 1069 00:47:28,189 --> 00:47:29,530 being alert in the same 1070 00:47:29,530 --> 00:47:30,865 or watching in the same, 1071 00:47:30,865 --> 00:47:33,177 brethren, it's in the context of war. 1072 00:47:33,177 --> 00:47:35,633 It's in the context of spiritual armor. 1073 00:47:35,633 --> 00:47:37,852 It's in the context of this wrestling 1074 00:47:37,852 --> 00:47:40,140 against these cosmic forces 1075 00:47:40,140 --> 00:47:42,092 of evil 1076 00:47:42,092 --> 00:47:43,910 in the heavenly places. 1077 00:47:43,910 --> 00:47:45,790 This is reality. 1078 00:47:45,790 --> 00:47:49,331 This is not time to sleep. 1079 00:47:49,331 --> 00:47:53,236 Brethren, we must not sleep. 1080 00:47:53,236 --> 00:47:54,943 You notice what the text says. 1081 00:47:54,943 --> 00:47:56,957 "That we may be able to stand 1082 00:47:56,957 --> 00:48:00,021 against the schemes of the devil." 1083 00:48:00,021 --> 00:48:02,426 What are schemes? 1084 00:48:02,426 --> 00:48:04,661 It's his plans. 1085 00:48:04,661 --> 00:48:06,112 You read in 2 Corinthians 2:11 1086 00:48:06,112 --> 00:48:08,448 that we would not be outwitted by Satan, 1087 00:48:08,448 --> 00:48:11,411 for we're not ignorant of his designs. 1088 00:48:11,411 --> 00:48:13,394 Schemes. 1089 00:48:13,394 --> 00:48:14,783 Designs. 1090 00:48:14,783 --> 00:48:19,145 Do you recognize that even ask we speak 1091 00:48:19,145 --> 00:48:22,276 he is designing. 1092 00:48:22,276 --> 00:48:24,530 He is scheming. 1093 00:48:24,530 --> 00:48:28,054 To do what? 1094 00:48:28,054 --> 00:48:32,976 To destroy us. 1095 00:48:32,976 --> 00:48:39,583 He wants to split the church. 1096 00:48:39,583 --> 00:48:48,528 He wants the leaders here to fall into sin. 1097 00:48:48,528 --> 00:48:50,326 We've been praying for our children. 1098 00:48:50,326 --> 00:48:51,691 He doesn't want them saved, 1099 00:48:51,691 --> 00:48:53,708 and he doesn't want you praying for them. 1100 00:48:53,708 --> 00:48:55,570 He wants to stifle the prayer meeting. 1101 00:48:55,570 --> 00:48:57,597 He wants to destroy our fasting. 1102 00:48:57,597 --> 00:48:59,874 He wants to corrupt our Gospel. 1103 00:48:59,874 --> 00:49:06,241 He wants to bring false teachers in here. 1104 00:49:06,241 --> 00:49:08,537 Brethren, he wants to damn us. 1105 00:49:08,537 --> 00:49:09,955 And if we're already saved, 1106 00:49:09,955 --> 00:49:11,072 and he can't unsave us, 1107 00:49:11,072 --> 00:49:14,330 he wants us powerless. 1108 00:49:14,330 --> 00:49:16,226 Brethren, this is the reality. 1109 00:49:16,226 --> 00:49:17,126 This is it. 1110 00:49:17,126 --> 00:49:18,040 He has designs. 1111 00:49:18,040 --> 00:49:19,083 He has schemes. 1112 00:49:19,083 --> 00:49:20,312 He's at war against us. 1113 00:49:20,312 --> 00:49:22,133 He desires to wreck. 1114 00:49:22,133 --> 00:49:23,224 He's merciless. 1115 00:49:23,224 --> 00:49:25,211 He's cruel. 1116 00:49:25,211 --> 00:49:27,756 Brethren, he would see you in the flames of hell 1117 00:49:27,756 --> 00:49:29,413 and take delight in it. 1118 00:49:29,413 --> 00:49:31,196 He would delight if your parents 1119 00:49:31,196 --> 00:49:33,625 that are lost perished in hell right now. 1120 00:49:33,625 --> 00:49:35,700 He would delight in that. 1121 00:49:35,700 --> 00:49:37,805 He takes joy 1122 00:49:37,805 --> 00:49:39,835 in watching people on their deathbed 1123 00:49:39,835 --> 00:49:42,131 with no hope. 1124 00:49:42,131 --> 00:49:45,665 He takes joy in people who have rejected the cross 1125 00:49:45,665 --> 00:49:47,905 and have rejected following Christ 1126 00:49:47,905 --> 00:49:51,430 to chase after the fleeting allurements of this world. 1127 00:49:51,430 --> 00:49:53,829 That they might have their sin for a season. 1128 00:49:53,829 --> 00:49:55,358 Oh, he dangles it out there. 1129 00:49:55,358 --> 00:49:56,577 Come have it. 1130 00:49:56,577 --> 00:49:57,666 This sex looks good. 1131 00:49:57,666 --> 00:49:59,311 This money - it's great. 1132 00:49:59,311 --> 00:50:00,476 All the pleasures. 1133 00:50:00,476 --> 00:50:01,518 All the fun. 1134 00:50:01,518 --> 00:50:02,471 You want to travel. 1135 00:50:02,471 --> 00:50:03,895 You want to see the world. 1136 00:50:03,895 --> 00:50:07,638 Come on. Life is short. 1137 00:50:07,638 --> 00:50:09,928 Flying back from Nicaragua, 1138 00:50:09,928 --> 00:50:11,410 I was next to a young lady 1139 00:50:11,410 --> 00:50:13,504 who's working on her third Master's degree. 1140 00:50:13,504 --> 00:50:14,249 Why? 1141 00:50:14,249 --> 00:50:16,157 Because she just loves being in college. 1142 00:50:16,157 --> 00:50:20,270 33 years old. 1143 00:50:20,270 --> 00:50:22,723 Brethren, that's the world. 1144 00:50:22,723 --> 00:50:25,799 They're the ones asleep. 1145 00:50:25,799 --> 00:50:28,639 Brethren, God forbid that should be us! 1146 00:50:28,639 --> 00:50:30,137 Of course, they're sleeping. 1147 00:50:30,137 --> 00:50:31,591 Chasing their money. 1148 00:50:31,591 --> 00:50:34,143 That's the dream world. 1149 00:50:34,143 --> 00:50:35,366 And I'll tell you, 1150 00:50:35,366 --> 00:50:38,243 God has assigned us to live our lives in America 1151 00:50:38,243 --> 00:50:39,866 and it may not be Lebanon... 1152 00:50:39,866 --> 00:50:42,922 I'll tell you, there may be some advantages to Lebanon. 1153 00:50:42,922 --> 00:50:45,186 Those things that we read about with our sister. 1154 00:50:45,186 --> 00:50:46,118 Why? 1155 00:50:46,118 --> 00:50:47,766 Because it keeps you on your toes. 1156 00:50:47,766 --> 00:50:50,227 Brethren, you read in Pilgrim's Progress, 1157 00:50:50,227 --> 00:50:51,668 about the enchanted land. 1158 00:50:51,668 --> 00:50:52,813 That's where we're at. 1159 00:50:52,813 --> 00:50:56,393 Everything around us just meant to put us to sleep. 1160 00:50:56,393 --> 00:50:59,121 All the computer stuff. 1161 00:50:59,121 --> 00:51:01,320 All the technology. 1162 00:51:01,320 --> 00:51:03,452 All the stuff. 1163 00:51:03,452 --> 00:51:05,544 Oh, brethren, have you ever thought about 1164 00:51:05,544 --> 00:51:06,823 all the stuff? 1165 00:51:06,823 --> 00:51:08,846 All the stuff? 1166 00:51:08,846 --> 00:51:12,598 It's just meant to lull us to sleep. 1167 00:51:12,598 --> 00:51:15,067 Lull us to sleep. 1168 00:51:15,067 --> 00:51:16,527 There is no battle... 1169 00:51:16,527 --> 00:51:18,555 just go to sleep. 1170 00:51:18,555 --> 00:51:21,475 Go to sleep. 1171 00:51:21,475 --> 00:51:27,854 Go to sleep... 1172 00:51:27,854 --> 00:51:30,860 Brethren, he's the father of lies. 1173 00:51:30,860 --> 00:51:37,579 And there is a war. 1174 00:51:37,579 --> 00:51:39,493 He'll murder your family 1175 00:51:39,493 --> 00:51:43,278 if you give him the chance. 1176 00:51:43,278 --> 00:51:46,129 I hope some of you found something wrong 1177 00:51:46,129 --> 00:51:50,118 with that statement. 1178 00:51:50,118 --> 00:51:53,956 Here's the problem, brethren. 1179 00:51:53,956 --> 00:51:57,528 You can't withstand him. 1180 00:51:57,528 --> 00:52:00,973 Only God can withstand him. 1181 00:52:00,973 --> 00:52:03,030 That's where the prayers come in. 1182 00:52:03,030 --> 00:52:04,942 That's where the desparation comes in. 1183 00:52:04,942 --> 00:52:08,765 Brethren, he'll murder your families 1184 00:52:08,765 --> 00:52:11,646 unless God prevents it. 1185 00:52:11,646 --> 00:52:14,269 And the thing is that we're told 1186 00:52:14,269 --> 00:52:16,047 that if you ask, you will receive. 1187 00:52:16,047 --> 00:52:17,375 If you seek, you'll find. 1188 00:52:17,375 --> 00:52:19,047 If you knock, it shall be opened unto you. 1189 00:52:19,047 --> 00:52:20,214 We're told that you don't have 1190 00:52:20,214 --> 00:52:21,485 because you haven't asked. 1191 00:52:21,485 --> 00:52:23,969 Brethren, we're talking about all sorts of things 1192 00:52:23,969 --> 00:52:27,761 that God has designed us to pray for. 1193 00:52:27,761 --> 00:52:30,401 Satan doesn't want you praying. 1194 00:52:30,401 --> 00:52:32,359 Because he knows that when you pray, 1195 00:52:32,359 --> 00:52:34,339 you go to fetch power against him. 1196 00:52:34,339 --> 00:52:35,743 And he wants to shut it down. 1197 00:52:35,743 --> 00:52:37,756 Oh, prayerless churches - 1198 00:52:37,756 --> 00:52:38,655 he loves that. 1199 00:52:38,655 --> 00:52:40,934 Because prayerless churches aren't watching. 1200 00:52:40,934 --> 00:52:43,370 Brethren, when you get desperate... 1201 00:52:43,370 --> 00:52:46,526 when you get to where you recognize 1202 00:52:46,526 --> 00:52:48,268 the intensity of this battle, 1203 00:52:48,268 --> 00:52:49,962 you go to God. 1204 00:52:49,962 --> 00:52:51,716 You go to prayer. 1205 00:52:51,716 --> 00:52:52,809 You get on your knees. 1206 00:52:52,809 --> 00:52:54,286 Why? Because you're desparate. 1207 00:52:54,286 --> 00:52:56,048 Because you recognize you're going to be 1208 00:52:56,048 --> 00:52:57,993 defeated unless God comes through for you. 1209 00:52:57,993 --> 00:53:01,075 Brethren, how many of us have gotten to the place? 1210 00:53:01,075 --> 00:53:03,273 I felt this, I know many of you feel this. 1211 00:53:03,273 --> 00:53:05,124 I felt this so much with my son. 1212 00:53:05,124 --> 00:53:06,672 Just helpless! Helpless! 1213 00:53:06,672 --> 00:53:07,742 Dead in the water. 1214 00:53:07,742 --> 00:53:09,747 All I could do was plead with the Lord. 1215 00:53:09,747 --> 00:53:13,152 Because I knew I didn't have the power to do something. 1216 00:53:13,152 --> 00:53:14,662 Satan is there drawing, 1217 00:53:14,662 --> 00:53:15,881 drawing away, 1218 00:53:15,881 --> 00:53:17,050 luring away, 1219 00:53:17,050 --> 00:53:18,241 and what can you do? 1220 00:53:18,241 --> 00:53:19,521 You're not strong enough. 1221 00:53:19,521 --> 00:53:20,269 You know what? 1222 00:53:20,269 --> 00:53:21,508 When the kids are little, 1223 00:53:21,508 --> 00:53:24,982 you can restrict them physically. 1224 00:53:24,982 --> 00:53:26,963 But you know what? 1225 00:53:26,963 --> 00:53:28,042 As they grow up, 1226 00:53:28,042 --> 00:53:29,472 there's all these allurements 1227 00:53:29,472 --> 00:53:31,060 being dangled in front of them 1228 00:53:31,060 --> 00:53:32,493 with that hook inside. 1229 00:53:32,493 --> 00:53:34,738 And he's calling them. 1230 00:53:34,738 --> 00:53:37,006 And in their fallenness 1231 00:53:37,006 --> 00:53:40,893 and his experience, 1232 00:53:40,893 --> 00:53:44,257 he's experienced right from our first parents. 1233 00:53:44,257 --> 00:53:45,871 And you know what? 1234 00:53:45,871 --> 00:53:48,784 He's been successful every single time. 1235 00:53:48,784 --> 00:53:53,410 Except once. 1236 00:53:53,410 --> 00:53:55,782 There was One Who came. 1237 00:53:55,782 --> 00:53:59,289 And I'll tell you, it's Him we need. 1238 00:53:59,289 --> 00:54:02,446 Brethren, he doesn't fear us. 1239 00:54:02,446 --> 00:54:05,860 Not by ourselves. 1240 00:54:05,860 --> 00:54:07,357 So often, we can get this idea, 1241 00:54:07,357 --> 00:54:09,038 oh, we've got Calvinistic doctrine, 1242 00:54:09,038 --> 00:54:10,831 we believe in the sovereignty of God. 1243 00:54:10,831 --> 00:54:13,587 He chews that up and spits that out. 1244 00:54:13,587 --> 00:54:21,332 Our reformed faith does not terrify him. 1245 00:54:21,332 --> 00:54:22,885 You go in Scripture you can see 1246 00:54:22,885 --> 00:54:23,940 what terrifies him. 1247 00:54:23,940 --> 00:54:25,853 You ever notice anything in the New Testament 1248 00:54:25,853 --> 00:54:27,642 that terrified the demons? 1249 00:54:27,642 --> 00:54:29,262 I find only one thing. 1250 00:54:29,262 --> 00:54:32,182 Don't you? 1251 00:54:32,182 --> 00:54:35,651 God manifest in the flesh. 1252 00:54:35,651 --> 00:54:40,156 That got their attention. 1253 00:54:40,156 --> 00:54:43,131 "Don't throw us in the pit before our time!!" 1254 00:54:43,131 --> 00:54:45,085 You see, a lot of people have this idea, 1255 00:54:45,085 --> 00:54:46,951 like two boxers going back and forth. 1256 00:54:46,951 --> 00:54:48,331 God and the devil. 1257 00:54:48,331 --> 00:54:49,782 It's not like that at all. 1258 00:54:49,782 --> 00:54:52,348 Those demons aren't even contemplating a fight. 1259 00:54:52,348 --> 00:54:54,322 They're just trying to survive. 1260 00:54:54,322 --> 00:54:57,097 That's how it is. 1261 00:54:57,097 --> 00:54:58,886 That's Who we need. 1262 00:54:58,886 --> 00:55:00,816 But He's the very one that said, 1263 00:55:00,816 --> 00:55:02,403 "If you ask anything in My name, 1264 00:55:02,403 --> 00:55:05,886 I will do it." 1265 00:55:05,886 --> 00:55:08,646 I think there is a great alertness 1266 00:55:08,646 --> 00:55:12,302 to the prayers here on Wednesday. 1267 00:55:12,302 --> 00:55:14,143 You know how you can tell 1268 00:55:14,143 --> 00:55:16,638 when we stop being alert to the realities? 1269 00:55:16,638 --> 00:55:19,196 When prayer meetings are all about 1270 00:55:19,196 --> 00:55:26,192 this ache, this pain, grandma's cough... 1271 00:55:26,192 --> 00:55:30,072 I know as a pastor at this church 1272 00:55:30,072 --> 00:55:32,175 that when I hear the prayer meetings 1273 00:55:32,175 --> 00:55:34,150 start going in the direction 1274 00:55:34,150 --> 00:55:36,528 of just health issues, 1275 00:55:36,528 --> 00:55:38,387 I recognize we're falling asleep. 1276 00:55:38,387 --> 00:55:40,379 That doesn't mean we can't pray for those things. 1277 00:55:40,379 --> 00:55:42,156 It doesn't mean it isn't appropriate 1278 00:55:42,156 --> 00:55:43,472 to pray for everything. 1279 00:55:43,472 --> 00:55:45,172 And all things. 1280 00:55:45,172 --> 00:55:46,326 But I can tell this, 1281 00:55:46,326 --> 00:55:49,982 when we gather together, 1282 00:55:49,982 --> 00:55:53,375 brethren, there should be a militancy about those prayers. 1283 00:55:53,375 --> 00:55:56,115 There should be the smell of war on those prayers. 1284 00:55:56,115 --> 00:55:57,499 There should be an alertness 1285 00:55:57,499 --> 00:55:59,543 to these realities, 1286 00:55:59,543 --> 00:56:00,980 against whom we wrestle, 1287 00:56:00,980 --> 00:56:02,924 and against the fact that he is furious, 1288 00:56:02,924 --> 00:56:05,262 and there are schemes and there are designs. 1289 00:56:05,262 --> 00:56:07,607 Brethren, when the church is praying 1290 00:56:07,607 --> 00:56:08,936 for our love; 1291 00:56:08,936 --> 00:56:10,442 praying for our humility; 1292 00:56:10,442 --> 00:56:12,562 praying for our unity; 1293 00:56:12,562 --> 00:56:15,205 praying for the purity of doctrine; 1294 00:56:15,205 --> 00:56:16,880 praying that our prayer meetings 1295 00:56:16,880 --> 00:56:18,326 would continue to be attended; 1296 00:56:18,326 --> 00:56:19,576 that people would have the 1297 00:56:19,576 --> 00:56:20,932 spirit of prayer upon them, 1298 00:56:20,932 --> 00:56:22,370 and that people would continue 1299 00:56:22,370 --> 00:56:23,678 to be given to fasting and 1300 00:56:23,678 --> 00:56:25,668 we're praying for the expanse 1301 00:56:25,668 --> 00:56:27,340 of the Kingdom of Christ 1302 00:56:27,340 --> 00:56:28,894 and that His Kingdom would come, 1303 00:56:28,894 --> 00:56:31,037 and we're praying for the Gospel, 1304 00:56:31,037 --> 00:56:32,498 and we're praying for souls, 1305 00:56:32,498 --> 00:56:34,133 and we're praying for children. 1306 00:56:34,133 --> 00:56:36,256 Brethren, then there's a militancy. 1307 00:56:36,256 --> 00:56:37,576 Then there's an alertness. 1308 00:56:37,576 --> 00:56:40,193 Then we're awake to the realities. 1309 00:56:40,193 --> 00:56:43,086 Because this is the reality. 1310 00:56:43,086 --> 00:56:45,029 This is what we need to wake up to, 1311 00:56:45,029 --> 00:56:47,794 and we must not be ignorant. 1312 00:56:47,794 --> 00:56:49,670 This is no time to walk around 1313 00:56:49,670 --> 00:56:51,027 with our heads in the cloud 1314 00:56:51,027 --> 00:56:53,711 or like the proverbial ostrich 1315 00:56:53,711 --> 00:56:55,785 with its head buried in the sand. 1316 00:56:55,785 --> 00:56:58,408 Brethren, lift up your eyes and look! 1317 00:56:58,408 --> 00:56:59,936 And what are you going to see 1318 00:56:59,936 --> 00:57:01,691 if you look with spiritual eyes? 1319 00:57:01,691 --> 00:57:02,679 With biblical eyes? 1320 00:57:02,679 --> 00:57:04,598 I'll tell you what you're going to see. 1321 00:57:04,598 --> 00:57:06,301 You're going to see movement. 1322 00:57:06,301 --> 00:57:08,755 Spiritual kingdoms are moving. 1323 00:57:08,755 --> 00:57:10,493 Christ is going forth 1324 00:57:10,493 --> 00:57:12,564 conquering and to conquer. 1325 00:57:12,564 --> 00:57:15,712 And the nations are in darkness. 1326 00:57:15,712 --> 00:57:18,148 And we have been given the Gospel; 1327 00:57:18,148 --> 00:57:20,721 we have been given the power of God unto salvation; 1328 00:57:20,721 --> 00:57:25,152 we've been given this seed of the Word of God 1329 00:57:25,152 --> 00:57:26,493 abiding, living... 1330 00:57:26,493 --> 00:57:28,737 that is how men are born again. 1331 00:57:28,737 --> 00:57:30,294 And we have a commission. 1332 00:57:30,294 --> 00:57:31,720 And it's to go forth. 1333 00:57:31,720 --> 00:57:33,463 And Christ says He'll be with us. 1334 00:57:33,463 --> 00:57:35,017 Brethren, that's what we need! 1335 00:57:35,017 --> 00:57:36,156 What do we need? 1336 00:57:36,156 --> 00:57:39,403 We need to pray for God to come. 1337 00:57:39,403 --> 00:57:44,795 Because the thing that Satan fears - 1338 00:57:44,795 --> 00:57:47,307 it's the power of God. 1339 00:57:47,307 --> 00:57:48,923 And when God shows up, 1340 00:57:48,923 --> 00:57:50,455 Satan is in trouble. 1341 00:57:50,455 --> 00:57:52,059 And you know what we as a church 1342 00:57:52,059 --> 00:57:56,295 are in trouble until God shows up. 1343 00:57:56,295 --> 00:57:58,856 If He shows up - 1344 00:57:58,856 --> 00:58:01,098 that's where the victory is had. 1345 00:58:01,098 --> 00:58:03,007 Christ. 1346 00:58:03,007 --> 00:58:04,276 We need Him among us. 1347 00:58:04,276 --> 00:58:05,657 He promised to be among us. 1348 00:58:05,657 --> 00:58:06,974 He promised not to leave us or forsake us. 1349 00:58:06,974 --> 00:58:09,672 He promised that until the end of the age 1350 00:58:09,672 --> 00:58:12,096 He would be with us. 1351 00:58:12,096 --> 00:58:13,694 That is our hope. 1352 00:58:13,694 --> 00:58:15,364 And we cling to Him. 1353 00:58:15,364 --> 00:58:17,763 And brethren, that's what Satan fears. 1354 00:58:17,763 --> 00:58:20,404 He fears when we're desparate in prayer. 1355 00:58:20,404 --> 00:58:22,653 He fears when you're out there on the streets 1356 00:58:22,653 --> 00:58:24,182 and you're proclaiming the Gospel. 1357 00:58:24,182 --> 00:58:25,909 And then you come and get on your knees, 1358 00:58:25,909 --> 00:58:27,181 because you realize you don't have the power. 1359 00:58:27,181 --> 00:58:28,801 Only He can empower that Gospel. 1360 00:58:28,801 --> 00:58:30,647 And you recognize you desparately need Him. 1361 00:58:30,647 --> 00:58:32,522 Lord, we need You to save our children. 1362 00:58:32,522 --> 00:58:34,481 If you don't save them, they won't be saved. 1363 00:58:34,481 --> 00:58:35,928 And we need You to save our neighbors, 1364 00:58:35,928 --> 00:58:37,860 and our co-workers, and our fellow students. 1365 00:58:37,860 --> 00:58:39,698 If You don't save them, they won't be saved. 1366 00:58:39,698 --> 00:58:41,735 Lord, we need Your help! 1367 00:58:41,735 --> 00:58:43,184 We need Your help in this church. 1368 00:58:43,184 --> 00:58:44,796 Like Whitefield prayed, 1369 00:58:44,796 --> 00:58:46,791 "Lord, if you see me becoming too comfortable, 1370 00:58:46,791 --> 00:58:48,029 put a thorn in my nest." 1371 00:58:48,029 --> 00:58:49,899 One of the things that we need 1372 00:58:49,899 --> 00:58:51,646 to be desparately praying for 1373 00:58:51,646 --> 00:58:53,182 is that God would put those thorns. 1374 00:58:53,182 --> 00:58:54,963 You know what, this suffering our brother 1375 00:58:54,963 --> 00:58:56,501 was talking about in the first hour, 1376 00:58:56,501 --> 00:58:58,803 don't look at that as being a negative thing. 1377 00:58:58,803 --> 00:58:59,956 Oh, it's tough. 1378 00:58:59,956 --> 00:59:01,769 But don't look at it as being a negative thing. 1379 00:59:01,769 --> 00:59:03,121 Because suffering and trials 1380 00:59:03,121 --> 00:59:04,421 and all those sorts of things, 1381 00:59:04,421 --> 00:59:05,416 and the persecution. 1382 00:59:05,416 --> 00:59:07,503 Brethren, that's what keeps us on our toes. 1383 00:59:07,503 --> 00:59:09,072 That's what keeps us desparate. 1384 00:59:09,072 --> 00:59:11,422 That's what keeps us on our knees. 1385 00:59:11,422 --> 00:59:15,393 It's when everything becomes soft. 1386 00:59:15,393 --> 00:59:16,452 Soft. 1387 00:59:16,452 --> 00:59:17,554 And what happens? 1388 00:59:17,554 --> 00:59:18,565 We forget. 1389 00:59:18,565 --> 00:59:20,452 We're a people that are so forgetful. 1390 00:59:20,452 --> 00:59:21,590 How often in Scripture? 1391 00:59:21,590 --> 00:59:23,236 Remember, remember... 1392 00:59:23,236 --> 00:59:24,938 do this in remembrance... 1393 00:59:24,938 --> 00:59:26,349 There's remembering - why? 1394 00:59:26,349 --> 00:59:27,466 We're forgetful. 1395 00:59:27,466 --> 00:59:29,336 Why do we have to come back to this book every time? 1396 00:59:29,336 --> 00:59:30,785 Have you not all read it cover to cover? 1397 00:59:30,785 --> 00:59:31,901 Many of you have. 1398 00:59:31,901 --> 00:59:33,690 Why do I need to preach on it again? 1399 00:59:33,690 --> 00:59:35,490 Haven't you read it already? 1400 00:59:35,490 --> 00:59:36,983 Why is it preaching every week? 1401 00:59:36,983 --> 00:59:38,883 Why do we need the Lord's Supper 1402 00:59:38,883 --> 00:59:40,359 again and again and again? 1403 00:59:40,359 --> 00:59:42,435 Because, brethren, we forget where the power is 1404 00:59:42,435 --> 00:59:44,511 and we forget the truths of this Word. 1405 00:59:44,511 --> 00:59:45,726 We need to go back to it. 1406 00:59:45,726 --> 00:59:46,855 We need to be reminded. 1407 00:59:46,855 --> 00:59:48,601 Brethren, I'm here today to remind you. 1408 00:59:48,601 --> 00:59:49,914 We're in a battle. 1409 00:59:49,914 --> 00:59:51,883 And there are schemes of the devil. 1410 00:59:51,883 --> 00:59:53,119 To call you to battle. 1411 00:59:53,119 --> 00:59:54,300 To watching and prayer. 1412 00:59:54,300 --> 00:59:57,424 Don't walk around in this fantasy. 1413 00:59:57,424 --> 00:59:58,835 It's the world out there. 1414 00:59:58,835 --> 01:00:00,449 They live in the fantasy. 1415 01:00:00,449 --> 01:00:02,268 Their world is all about, yes, 1416 01:00:02,268 --> 01:00:03,688 the upcoming football season 1417 01:00:03,688 --> 01:00:05,490 or college starts, or whatever - 1418 01:00:05,490 --> 01:00:06,734 We're coming into the fall. 1419 01:00:06,734 --> 01:00:08,451 Hopefully, it will be a cool fall 1420 01:00:08,451 --> 01:00:09,445 and it will be rainy. 1421 01:00:09,445 --> 01:00:10,154 Why? 1422 01:00:10,154 --> 01:00:11,377 And the gardens will grow 1423 01:00:11,377 --> 01:00:12,402 and the fields... 1424 01:00:12,402 --> 01:00:14,260 Brethren, we live in this world, 1425 01:00:14,260 --> 01:00:16,389 and I know that those are realities around us, 1426 01:00:16,389 --> 01:00:18,544 but brethren, those aren't the primary realities. 1427 01:00:18,544 --> 01:00:20,286 And we need to wake up to this. 1428 01:00:20,286 --> 01:00:22,528 I know we need to have cars 1429 01:00:22,528 --> 01:00:23,835 and get back and forth, 1430 01:00:23,835 --> 01:00:25,595 and I know air conditioning's nice 1431 01:00:25,595 --> 01:00:26,897 in this place. 1432 01:00:26,897 --> 01:00:28,660 And I know there are things. 1433 01:00:28,660 --> 01:00:31,165 There are things: phones and communication 1434 01:00:31,165 --> 01:00:32,288 and computers. 1435 01:00:32,288 --> 01:00:33,776 And they become part of our lives. 1436 01:00:33,776 --> 01:00:35,025 And we've got to go off to work. 1437 01:00:35,025 --> 01:00:36,685 And I know, but brethren, 1438 01:00:36,685 --> 01:00:38,099 wake up in the midst of it. 1439 01:00:38,099 --> 01:00:40,208 Don't fall asleep. 1440 01:00:40,208 --> 01:00:42,137 Don't think money is the end of everything. 1441 01:00:42,137 --> 01:00:44,385 Don't think retirement is the end of everything. 1442 01:00:44,385 --> 01:00:47,237 Brethren, we are in a war. 1443 01:00:47,237 --> 01:00:48,308 We are in a war, 1444 01:00:48,308 --> 01:00:49,708 and this is a war for souls 1445 01:00:49,708 --> 01:00:51,530 and this is a war that's for keeps. 1446 01:00:51,530 --> 01:00:53,775 And I'll tell you, if your children lose their soul, 1447 01:00:53,775 --> 01:00:54,816 it's forever. 1448 01:00:54,816 --> 01:00:56,761 If your parents lose their soul, 1449 01:00:56,761 --> 01:00:57,765 it's forever. 1450 01:00:57,765 --> 01:00:58,976 If you lose your soul, 1451 01:00:58,976 --> 01:01:00,617 it's forever. 1452 01:01:00,617 --> 01:01:02,916 There's an enemy. 1453 01:01:02,916 --> 01:01:03,933 Merciless. 1454 01:01:03,933 --> 01:01:05,994 He wants to destroy you. 1455 01:01:05,994 --> 01:01:08,084 And I'll tell you, if he can't destroy you, 1456 01:01:08,084 --> 01:01:10,980 because you're in the palm of the Father's hand, 1457 01:01:10,980 --> 01:01:12,365 then what he is going to do 1458 01:01:12,365 --> 01:01:14,538 is he's going to seek to make you powerless. 1459 01:01:14,538 --> 01:01:15,738 How are you powerless? 1460 01:01:15,738 --> 01:01:17,888 Don't pray. 1461 01:01:17,888 --> 01:01:20,160 Don't pray. 1462 01:01:20,160 --> 01:01:24,240 You're too busy to pray. 1463 01:01:24,240 --> 01:01:27,192 You're too busy to go to the prayer meeting. 1464 01:01:27,192 --> 01:01:29,208 Don't you know how hard you worked today? 1465 01:01:29,208 --> 01:01:30,797 You had to put in some overtime. 1466 01:01:30,797 --> 01:01:32,806 You're totally justified. 1467 01:01:32,806 --> 01:01:35,860 Don't go to the prayer meeting tonight. 1468 01:01:35,860 --> 01:01:42,366 In fact, aren't you one of those guys 1469 01:01:42,366 --> 01:01:47,300 that believes in the sovereignty of God? 1470 01:01:47,300 --> 01:01:49,730 Isn't God sovereign? 1471 01:01:49,730 --> 01:01:50,980 Isn't He going to do 1472 01:01:50,980 --> 01:01:52,833 everything that He's going to do? 1473 01:01:52,833 --> 01:01:55,078 Whether you pray or not? 1474 01:01:55,078 --> 01:01:57,757 You don't need to pray. 1475 01:01:57,757 --> 01:01:59,798 It doesn't really matter. 1476 01:01:59,798 --> 01:02:03,410 In the end, it doesn't really make any difference. 1477 01:02:03,410 --> 01:02:09,432 Just go to sleep, Christian. 1478 01:02:09,432 --> 01:02:18,006 Prayer doesn't really matter. 1479 01:02:18,006 --> 01:02:21,528 You're too tired to pray. 1480 01:02:21,528 --> 01:02:25,345 Other things are more important. 1481 01:02:25,345 --> 01:02:27,380 Or you know, you can get in the midst 1482 01:02:27,380 --> 01:02:29,932 of the suffering like our brother was talking about. 1483 01:02:29,932 --> 01:02:32,752 You know what he comes along and says then? 1484 01:02:32,752 --> 01:02:36,504 Aw, look how you're suffering... 1485 01:02:36,504 --> 01:02:38,521 If God really cared about you, 1486 01:02:38,521 --> 01:02:41,882 you would not be in this situation. 1487 01:02:41,882 --> 01:02:43,812 And see, work some self pity in there. 1488 01:02:43,812 --> 01:02:45,822 People full of self pity don't typically 1489 01:02:45,822 --> 01:02:47,924 run out to the prayer meeting and pray. 1490 01:02:47,924 --> 01:02:48,996 Or fall on their knees 1491 01:02:48,996 --> 01:02:50,987 and pray very fervently, 1492 01:02:50,987 --> 01:02:52,147 watching and alert. 1493 01:02:52,147 --> 01:02:52,899 Why? 1494 01:02:52,899 --> 01:02:54,613 Because they're full of self pity. 1495 01:02:54,613 --> 01:02:55,687 I'm not going to pray. 1496 01:02:55,687 --> 01:02:58,027 If God's going to treat me like this, 1497 01:02:58,027 --> 01:03:03,106 then I'm going to sit down and watch the John Wayne movie. 1498 01:03:03,106 --> 01:03:07,435 Or whatever it is you do. 1499 01:03:07,435 --> 01:03:09,912 And the devil will be right there. 1500 01:03:09,912 --> 01:03:11,232 Seeking. 1501 01:03:11,232 --> 01:03:12,488 Shut it down. 1502 01:03:12,488 --> 01:03:16,225 Shut it down. 1503 01:03:16,225 --> 01:03:18,113 Brethren, I'll tell you this. 1504 01:03:18,113 --> 01:03:20,275 God never says that prayer doesn't matter. 1505 01:03:20,275 --> 01:03:22,779 It's only the devil that will tell you that. 1506 01:03:22,779 --> 01:03:24,998 Have you ever noticed? 1507 01:03:24,998 --> 01:03:28,426 Brethren, you look at the New Testament, 1508 01:03:28,426 --> 01:03:30,446 you go to every one of those epistles 1509 01:03:30,446 --> 01:03:32,129 Paul wrote to those churches. 1510 01:03:32,129 --> 01:03:34,517 I doubt you can find one of those 1511 01:03:34,517 --> 01:03:36,795 that does not in some way or another 1512 01:03:36,795 --> 01:03:39,142 call that church to prayer. 1513 01:03:39,142 --> 01:03:42,747 Whether it's the Thessalonians, 1514 01:03:42,747 --> 01:03:44,941 the Romans, the Colossians, the Ephesians, 1515 01:03:44,941 --> 01:03:46,001 the Philippians... 1516 01:03:46,001 --> 01:03:47,182 Pray without ceasing. 1517 01:03:47,182 --> 01:03:48,358 Be constant in prayer. 1518 01:03:48,358 --> 01:03:50,000 Continue steadfastly in prayer. 1519 01:03:50,000 --> 01:03:51,848 Pray at all times in the Spirit. 1520 01:03:51,848 --> 01:03:53,709 In everything with prayer and supplication 1521 01:03:53,709 --> 01:03:54,791 with thanksgiving, let your requests 1522 01:03:54,791 --> 01:03:55,938 be made known to God. 1523 01:03:55,938 --> 01:03:57,501 Christian, I'll tell you one thing you cannot 1524 01:03:57,501 --> 01:03:58,597 do with those verses. 1525 01:03:58,597 --> 01:04:00,815 You cannot come away saying prayer doesn't matter. 1526 01:04:00,815 --> 01:04:02,349 Not when you've been called that way. 1527 01:04:02,349 --> 01:04:05,358 You can't say prayer isn't that important. 1528 01:04:05,358 --> 01:04:07,156 You can't say prayer's optional, 1529 01:04:07,156 --> 01:04:08,559 or that it's insignificant. 1530 01:04:08,559 --> 01:04:11,651 You simply cannot do that from these verses. 1531 01:04:11,651 --> 01:04:14,841 Men out always to pray and not lose heart. 1532 01:04:14,841 --> 01:04:15,798 Or not faint. 1533 01:04:15,798 --> 01:04:17,653 Stay awake at all times praying. 1534 01:04:17,653 --> 01:04:19,297 May God help us, brethren. 1535 01:04:19,297 --> 01:04:21,393 When we fail to pray as we ought, 1536 01:04:21,393 --> 01:04:23,236 it's not because we can't pray. 1537 01:04:23,236 --> 01:04:25,218 It's not because there aren't things to pray for. 1538 01:04:25,218 --> 01:04:27,564 It's not because we haven't been bidden to pray. 1539 01:04:27,564 --> 01:04:28,988 We have been bidden to pray. 1540 01:04:28,988 --> 01:04:30,849 We should pray. We're called to pray. 1541 01:04:30,849 --> 01:04:32,061 We must pray. 1542 01:04:32,061 --> 01:04:33,720 We must not faint in prayer. 1543 01:04:33,720 --> 01:04:35,658 We must keep awake in prayer. 1544 01:04:35,658 --> 01:04:36,550 Why? 1545 01:04:36,550 --> 01:04:39,506 Because this battle is ever so real 1546 01:04:39,506 --> 01:04:41,964 and there's only one thing that terrifies the devil. 1547 01:04:41,964 --> 01:04:43,705 And that's when God shows up. 1548 01:04:43,705 --> 01:04:46,566 Brethren, we need to pray, because we need God. 1549 01:04:46,566 --> 01:04:48,610 We need to pray, because we need to lay hold on Him. 1550 01:04:48,610 --> 01:04:50,076 We need Him to come down. 1551 01:04:50,076 --> 01:04:51,259 We need Him here. 1552 01:04:51,259 --> 01:04:52,458 We need Him showing up. 1553 01:04:52,458 --> 01:04:53,887 Brethren, when He comes, 1554 01:04:53,887 --> 01:04:55,637 all He's got to do is give the word 1555 01:04:55,637 --> 01:04:57,527 and the demons are cleared. 1556 01:04:57,527 --> 01:04:59,435 And people will fall under conviction. 1557 01:04:59,435 --> 01:05:01,162 All He's got to do is give the word 1558 01:05:01,162 --> 01:05:03,506 and our children will be swept 1559 01:05:03,506 --> 01:05:04,988 into the Kingdom of Christ. 1560 01:05:04,988 --> 01:05:07,040 All He's got to do is show up, 1561 01:05:07,040 --> 01:05:09,052 and San Antonio could undergo 1562 01:05:09,052 --> 01:05:10,932 a massive revival. 1563 01:05:10,932 --> 01:05:12,854 How often through history has He simply 1564 01:05:12,854 --> 01:05:15,524 given the word and the darkness flees? 1565 01:05:15,524 --> 01:05:17,555 The darkness is pushed back. 1566 01:05:17,555 --> 01:05:18,359 Brethren, 1567 01:05:18,359 --> 01:05:19,721 we need Him. 1568 01:05:19,721 --> 01:05:21,476 That's the only thing. 1569 01:05:21,476 --> 01:05:24,600 It's our spiritual weapons empowered by God 1570 01:05:24,600 --> 01:05:27,047 that bring down spiritual strongholds. 1571 01:05:27,047 --> 01:05:28,721 That is what we need. 1572 01:05:28,721 --> 01:05:30,500 That is what we must have. 1573 01:05:30,500 --> 01:05:33,363 That is what we must desperately ask Him for. 1574 01:05:33,363 --> 01:05:35,218 I'll tell you what the devil fears. 1575 01:05:35,218 --> 01:05:37,926 The devil fears when the prayer meetings are full. 1576 01:05:37,926 --> 01:05:40,331 And when there's tears coming down people's faces. 1577 01:05:40,331 --> 01:05:41,895 And there's an urgency. 1578 01:05:41,895 --> 01:05:43,371 And there's desperation. 1579 01:05:43,371 --> 01:05:45,663 And we're laying hold. 1580 01:05:45,663 --> 01:05:47,014 Because we know, 1581 01:05:47,014 --> 01:05:48,529 if He doesn't show up... 1582 01:05:48,529 --> 01:05:49,554 we're not casual, 1583 01:05:49,554 --> 01:05:50,646 we're not lax, 1584 01:05:50,646 --> 01:05:52,067 our feet aren't kicked up, 1585 01:05:52,067 --> 01:05:54,728 it's not just these cold, dead prayers. 1586 01:05:54,728 --> 01:05:57,585 It's when we really grab hold on the Lord 1587 01:05:57,585 --> 01:05:58,927 and we won't let Him go, 1588 01:05:58,927 --> 01:05:59,990 and we're like Jacob 1589 01:05:59,990 --> 01:06:01,603 with the Angel of the Lord. 1590 01:06:01,603 --> 01:06:03,063 He can shake us. 1591 01:06:03,063 --> 01:06:04,397 He can take us out of joint. 1592 01:06:04,397 --> 01:06:06,278 We're not letting go. 1593 01:06:06,278 --> 01:06:07,717 He may bring suffering. 1594 01:06:07,717 --> 01:06:09,262 We're not letting go. 1595 01:06:09,262 --> 01:06:10,260 Why? 1596 01:06:10,260 --> 01:06:11,311 We need Him. 1597 01:06:11,311 --> 01:06:12,843 We need the blessing from Him. 1598 01:06:12,843 --> 01:06:14,048 We don't give up. 1599 01:06:14,048 --> 01:06:16,611 We recognize, brethren, we recognize. 1600 01:06:16,611 --> 01:06:19,121 That's what this is all about. 1601 01:06:19,121 --> 01:06:22,164 And it's those who hold to the testimony. 1602 01:06:22,164 --> 01:06:24,016 And you're the objects of the battle. 1603 01:06:24,016 --> 01:06:25,479 You're the objects. 1604 01:06:25,479 --> 01:06:26,973 He's an angel. 1605 01:06:26,973 --> 01:06:29,435 Maybe the greatest being ever created. 1606 01:06:29,435 --> 01:06:31,778 And he's got a third of the angels 1607 01:06:31,778 --> 01:06:33,621 if we understand our Bibles correctly 1608 01:06:33,621 --> 01:06:34,878 from this chapter. 1609 01:06:34,878 --> 01:06:36,578 A third of the stars 1610 01:06:36,578 --> 01:06:38,172 swept by his tail. 1611 01:06:38,172 --> 01:06:41,452 And there's rulers and principalities 1612 01:06:41,452 --> 01:06:42,843 and powers, 1613 01:06:42,843 --> 01:06:44,481 and they're aligned, 1614 01:06:44,481 --> 01:06:45,867 and they're arranged, 1615 01:06:45,867 --> 01:06:48,010 and they're scheming and they're designing. 1616 01:06:48,010 --> 01:06:51,211 And their designs are to destroy us. 1617 01:06:51,211 --> 01:06:52,672 That ought to wake us up. 1618 01:06:52,672 --> 01:06:54,779 If you knew there was a great enemy in the land, 1619 01:06:54,779 --> 01:06:57,615 the most powerful upon the face of the earth, 1620 01:06:57,615 --> 01:06:59,418 and it was coming for us, 1621 01:06:59,418 --> 01:07:00,938 and it meant to destroy us, 1622 01:07:00,938 --> 01:07:02,331 and kill our families, 1623 01:07:02,331 --> 01:07:03,810 and kill our friends, 1624 01:07:03,810 --> 01:07:05,354 you would be on the alert. 1625 01:07:05,354 --> 01:07:06,976 But it is a greater reality 1626 01:07:06,976 --> 01:07:08,847 than any kind of physical enemy. 1627 01:07:08,847 --> 01:07:10,689 It is a greater reality. 1628 01:07:10,689 --> 01:07:13,532 Because what's at stake here is eternal. 1629 01:07:13,532 --> 01:07:14,803 It is souls. 1630 01:07:14,803 --> 01:07:16,057 And if a soul is lost, 1631 01:07:16,057 --> 01:07:17,387 it's lost for good. 1632 01:07:17,387 --> 01:07:19,184 And you say, God is sovereign, 1633 01:07:19,184 --> 01:07:20,443 can it all really matter? 1634 01:07:20,443 --> 01:07:22,024 You better believe it matters. 1635 01:07:22,024 --> 01:07:23,392 Why would Christ be saying, 1636 01:07:23,392 --> 01:07:25,920 Stay awake. Stay awake. 1637 01:07:25,920 --> 01:07:28,281 Peter, James, John... 1638 01:07:28,281 --> 01:07:30,581 aren't they elect? 1639 01:07:30,581 --> 01:07:32,935 Isn't God going to save who He's going to save? 1640 01:07:32,935 --> 01:07:34,625 Isn't Jesus going to be successful 1641 01:07:34,625 --> 01:07:36,352 at the cross? 1642 01:07:36,352 --> 01:07:37,575 I mean, why? 1643 01:07:37,575 --> 01:07:39,051 Why does it all matter? 1644 01:07:39,051 --> 01:07:40,332 Why is it all important? 1645 01:07:40,332 --> 01:07:42,953 Because this is the way God designed it to be. 1646 01:07:42,953 --> 01:07:47,064 And it is those who do 1647 01:07:47,064 --> 01:07:49,006 desperately cling to Him. 1648 01:07:49,006 --> 01:07:50,502 Brethren, he fears this, 1649 01:07:50,502 --> 01:07:51,593 and when he sees a church 1650 01:07:51,593 --> 01:07:52,904 and they're desperate in their prayers 1651 01:07:52,904 --> 01:07:55,474 and they're weeping over souls, 1652 01:07:55,474 --> 01:07:56,802 and they're out there 1653 01:07:56,802 --> 01:07:58,570 and they're holding the cross up 1654 01:07:58,570 --> 01:07:59,953 before this fallen world, 1655 01:07:59,953 --> 01:08:02,387 and they come back again to their knees, 1656 01:08:02,387 --> 01:08:04,535 and they're praying and they're fasting. 1657 01:08:04,535 --> 01:08:06,869 Brethren, you know this about prayer too. 1658 01:08:06,869 --> 01:08:09,407 If you have faith, 1659 01:08:09,407 --> 01:08:10,745 you'll ask what you will. 1660 01:08:10,745 --> 01:08:14,780 Or those who are doing righteousness 1661 01:08:14,780 --> 01:08:17,884 and keeping His commandments, 1662 01:08:17,884 --> 01:08:20,074 if His Word abides in you, 1663 01:08:20,074 --> 01:08:21,439 you shall ask what you will 1664 01:08:21,439 --> 01:08:23,719 and it shall be done unto you. 1665 01:08:23,719 --> 01:08:27,560 Those who give themselves to trusting the Lord 1666 01:08:27,560 --> 01:08:29,829 and clinging to Him and to His promises, 1667 01:08:29,829 --> 01:08:31,658 and seek to walk in righteousness. 1668 01:08:31,658 --> 01:08:34,720 Oh, the effectual, fervant prayers 1669 01:08:34,720 --> 01:08:36,290 of a righteous man... 1670 01:08:36,290 --> 01:08:38,120 let that sink into your ears. 1671 01:08:38,120 --> 01:08:39,948 It's true that when we fall, 1672 01:08:39,948 --> 01:08:42,596 the blood bids us still to enter. 1673 01:08:42,596 --> 01:08:44,750 It's true there's forgiveness. 1674 01:08:44,750 --> 01:08:46,690 It's true even on your worst day, 1675 01:08:46,690 --> 01:08:48,236 you've got access 1676 01:08:48,236 --> 01:08:49,755 and you can boldly approach. 1677 01:08:49,755 --> 01:08:51,070 But I'll tell you, 1678 01:08:51,070 --> 01:08:54,347 you know this from Scripture, 1679 01:08:54,347 --> 01:08:57,541 righteousness... 1680 01:08:57,541 --> 01:09:00,964 Righteousness, faith... 1681 01:09:00,964 --> 01:09:03,769 those are so essential to powerful prayer. 1682 01:09:03,769 --> 01:09:05,746 When Satan sees that, 1683 01:09:05,746 --> 01:09:06,986 he fears that, 1684 01:09:06,986 --> 01:09:08,178 because he fears God 1685 01:09:08,178 --> 01:09:10,587 and he knows where people like that pray, 1686 01:09:10,587 --> 01:09:12,932 God shows up and God comes and God helps. 1687 01:09:12,932 --> 01:09:14,754 And you know how he knows that? 1688 01:09:14,754 --> 01:09:16,248 Because God has promised it. 1689 01:09:16,248 --> 01:09:17,559 We need to know that too. 1690 01:09:17,559 --> 01:09:24,306 We need to be awake to that reality as well. 1691 01:09:24,306 --> 01:09:29,454 You can have all the right doctrine. 1692 01:09:29,454 --> 01:09:34,087 You can have a church building. 1693 01:09:34,087 --> 01:09:36,591 You can figure out exactly, 1694 01:09:36,591 --> 01:09:39,673 as a Christian, how should I school my children? 1695 01:09:39,673 --> 01:09:41,782 As a Christian, how should I dress? 1696 01:09:41,782 --> 01:09:44,393 As a Christian, what should I do with the t.v.? 1697 01:09:44,393 --> 01:09:48,254 Or, I'm not going to watch an R-rated movie. 1698 01:09:48,254 --> 01:09:53,150 That is not what he fears. 1699 01:09:53,150 --> 01:09:55,861 Not that there isn't a place to figure out those things. 1700 01:09:55,861 --> 01:09:58,119 Not that there isn't a place for those things 1701 01:09:58,119 --> 01:10:02,079 in the way of righteousness and faith. 1702 01:10:02,079 --> 01:10:04,940 But the things that cause him to tremble... 1703 01:10:04,940 --> 01:10:08,674 the things that put us on his radar... 1704 01:10:08,674 --> 01:10:10,543 it's not to have a fancy building, 1705 01:10:10,543 --> 01:10:11,968 and it's not to have large numbers, 1706 01:10:11,968 --> 01:10:13,749 and it's not to have large collections 1707 01:10:13,749 --> 01:10:15,505 coming in to the offering box. 1708 01:10:15,505 --> 01:10:24,124 That isn't what causes the kingdom of darkness to tremble. 1709 01:10:24,124 --> 01:10:26,582 It's when God comes down. 1710 01:10:26,582 --> 01:10:28,973 He can't resist it. 1711 01:10:28,973 --> 01:10:30,974 It's all over. 1712 01:10:30,974 --> 01:10:32,353 We need the Lord. 1713 01:10:32,353 --> 01:10:34,776 We need the Lord. 1714 01:10:34,776 --> 01:10:40,692 Brethren, this message is just a reminder. 1715 01:10:40,692 --> 01:10:45,396 There's a cosmic battle. 1716 01:10:45,396 --> 01:10:47,999 You may fall asleep, 1717 01:10:47,999 --> 01:10:51,292 but that doesn't take you out of the battle. 1718 01:10:51,292 --> 01:10:56,693 You are an object of his wrath and fury 1719 01:10:56,693 --> 01:11:00,336 no matter if you're asleep or awake. 1720 01:11:00,336 --> 01:11:02,080 You can't go hide in the corner. 1721 01:11:02,080 --> 01:11:04,622 You can't go home and bar up the windows. 1722 01:11:04,622 --> 01:11:06,691 Put the bars up around your house 1723 01:11:06,691 --> 01:11:09,000 like some people do here. 1724 01:11:09,000 --> 01:11:11,632 And keep him out. 1725 01:11:11,632 --> 01:11:13,162 Because he's going to come in. 1726 01:11:13,162 --> 01:11:14,730 You can throw the t.v. away. 1727 01:11:14,730 --> 01:11:15,982 He's going to come in. 1728 01:11:15,982 --> 01:11:17,336 Throw everything away but 1729 01:11:17,336 --> 01:11:18,917 Little House on the Prairie, 1730 01:11:18,917 --> 01:11:23,507 he's coming in. 1731 01:11:23,507 --> 01:11:25,483 Be alert when you pray. 1732 01:11:25,483 --> 01:11:26,629 Be watchful. 1733 01:11:26,629 --> 01:11:29,645 Go to your knees with this mindset. 1734 01:11:29,645 --> 01:11:31,338 Be desperate. 1735 01:11:31,338 --> 01:11:32,882 Be militant. 1736 01:11:32,882 --> 01:11:33,663 Be wary. 1737 01:11:33,663 --> 01:11:37,001 Be alert. 1738 01:11:37,001 --> 01:11:39,138 This is how we must fight this battle. 1739 01:11:39,138 --> 01:11:41,041 There's a lot of other armor there, 1740 01:11:41,041 --> 01:11:42,901 I recognize. 1741 01:11:42,901 --> 01:11:46,004 But all prayer. All prayer. 1742 01:11:46,004 --> 01:11:47,107 Being alert in it. 1743 01:11:47,107 --> 01:11:52,954 Watching in the same. 1744 01:11:52,954 --> 01:11:54,474 Remember what Jesus says there 1745 01:11:54,474 --> 01:11:56,224 in Mark 13. 1746 01:11:56,224 --> 01:12:01,307 What I say to you, I say to all. 1747 01:12:01,307 --> 01:12:05,084 Watch. 1748 01:12:05,084 --> 01:12:09,277 Father, 1749 01:12:09,277 --> 01:12:15,939 press us with this reality. 1750 01:12:15,939 --> 01:12:18,801 Make us a watchful church. 1751 01:12:18,801 --> 01:12:23,759 Make us a dangerous church. 1752 01:12:23,759 --> 01:12:27,040 Make us a threat 1753 01:12:27,040 --> 01:12:30,996 to the kingdom of darkness. 1754 01:12:30,996 --> 01:12:35,408 Lord, help us 1755 01:12:35,408 --> 01:12:37,251 for the sake of Your Son, 1756 01:12:37,251 --> 01:12:39,545 our Lord Jesus Christ, 1757 01:12:39,545 --> 01:12:41,711 Amen.