WEBVTT 1 00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:09.000 Welcome Just hand Away Tagalog Sermon Podcast, your daily dose 2 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:11.599 of inspiring from heartfelt tagalog. 3 00:00:11.199 --> 00:00:14.519 Sermons from different characters and speakers all over the Philippines. 4 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:17.320 We hope that this podcast finds you in good shape. 5 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:24.800 And now here's your message. You're listening to a message 6 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:28.800 from Victory. Learn what it means to have faith in 7 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:37.000 week one of our Christmas series Hark and we're starting 8 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:38.679 this series entitled the Heart. 9 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:43.079 Now I know we use that word every day, Hark, 10 00:00:46.679 --> 00:00:51.920 my daughter Hark. Heart simply means to listen or to 11 00:00:51.960 --> 00:00:56.960 pay attention. And generally December is one of the busiest 12 00:00:57.359 --> 00:01:00.479 times of the year with everything that's happening around us, 13 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:07.599 with all the parties, the sales, the exchange, gifts, the bonus, 14 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:12.239 the plant vacation, with all these things that's happening. You know, 15 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:17.959 it's it's it's it's making us making it more difficult 16 00:01:17.959 --> 00:01:21.359 for us to hear what God is saying to us. 17 00:01:22.359 --> 00:01:26.599 Sometimes it's with all the noise, it's more difficult for 18 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:30.920 us to actually listen and hear what God is speaking 19 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:34.840 to us. This season, and so in this series, we're 20 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:39.200 going to look at four stories, actually four messages delivered 21 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:44.480 by angels to different people building up to the first Christmas. 22 00:01:45.560 --> 00:01:47.079 So me mahapindella hun a. 23 00:01:47.079 --> 00:01:52.079 Messengersey Lord, and these people are in different situations leading 24 00:01:52.120 --> 00:01:55.079 up to Christmas, and God gave them a message that 25 00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:58.599 really spoke to them. Not only that it prepared them 26 00:01:58.599 --> 00:02:03.239 for Christmas, but it really enriched their relationship with God. 27 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:06.680 And that's our prayer for this series. With all the 28 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:11.599 preparations we're doing, we hope that this series will help 29 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:15.759 us prepare our own heart as we celebrate Christmas. And 30 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:19.120 not only that this will prepare us for the twenty 31 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:23.960 fifth of December, but somehow this will enrich our own 32 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:27.520 faith and our own relationship with God. So that's what 33 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:30.560 we're going to look at starting today, in the. 34 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:31.840 Next three weeks. 35 00:02:31.960 --> 00:02:34.080 Can we bow our heads and close our eyes as 36 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:36.159 we pray and commit this time to God. Lord, we 37 00:02:37.639 --> 00:02:40.400 pray Lord, maybe for some of us here, we're here today, 38 00:02:40.439 --> 00:02:42.199 but our mind is somewhere else. 39 00:02:43.080 --> 00:02:44.439 We're thinking of something else. 40 00:02:44.599 --> 00:02:48.159 I pray Lord that you will help us Lord calm 41 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:51.319 our soul in our spirit. I pray that you will 42 00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:54.319 silence all the voices and allow us to. 43 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:55.439 Hear only your voice. 44 00:02:56.360 --> 00:02:59.120 I pray Lord that you will give us the ability 45 00:02:59.159 --> 00:03:03.360 to hear you and receive your message for us, not 46 00:03:03.479 --> 00:03:08.360 only to prepare us for the Christmas celebration, but really 47 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:11.560 to draw us closer to you. So thank you, Lloyd 48 00:03:11.639 --> 00:03:15.159 for the message that we're going to receive. I pray 49 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:17.439 Lord that you will speak to us in Jesus name. 50 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:18.919 We pray Amen. Okay. 51 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:22.080 The first story we're going to look at is in 52 00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:24.919 Look chapter one, verse five. We're going to start in 53 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:28.639 verse five, and this is the story of Zechariah and 54 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:32.719 his wife Elizabeth. So we're going to read in verse five. 55 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:37.039 Then we're going to jump from time to time from 56 00:03:37.319 --> 00:03:39.840 one verse to another, and then I'm going to make 57 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:43.280 some comments in between. In verse five, it says, in 58 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:46.840 the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a 59 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:51.159 priest named Zechariah of the division of Abaijah, and he 60 00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:53.319 had a wife from the daughter of Aaron, and her 61 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:58.000 name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, 62 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:02.039 walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes. 63 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:02.039 Of the Lord. 64 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:06.879 But they had no child because Elizabeth was barren, and 65 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:12.800 both were advanced in years. Now, first thing to introduce 66 00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:17.519 us to this story were introduced to these characters Zacharaia 67 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:22.480 and Elizabeth, and both of them were from families of ministers. 68 00:04:23.480 --> 00:04:27.639 Now in today, Zachariah is the equivalent of a pastor 69 00:04:28.920 --> 00:04:34.240 and young Pamilia Pula Man pastor pastor, that was Apple pastor, 70 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:39.480 so it's a long line of really ministers. Now he's 71 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:42.360 someone who works in the church. The only difference compared 72 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:47.160 today is that Zachariah was a pastor from a small 73 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:51.639 town approximately fifty to one hundred people during their time, 74 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:57.160 gonna Pucalile community and maybe pastoring a church of twenty 75 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:02.120 to thirty members. So he he is nationally ignored and 76 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:09.240 internationally unknown. He's a simple man, not really influential, not rich, 77 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:12.800 but faithfully doing what God has called him to do. 78 00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:16.399 So go to my own may Facebook account see Zacharaiah 79 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:23.160 ten twenty friends, Nito Tapoposa asa Negla like. 80 00:05:24.759 --> 00:05:27.319 Paran your wife coppolaa one time I checked. 81 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:32.519 So because in the bottom Madelasmak likes a postco. 82 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:41.560 Not only that, the Bible says that they were already 83 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:47.040 old and they had no children for many years. 84 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:51.199 We don't know how many exactly, but maybe forty or 85 00:05:51.319 --> 00:05:55.279 fifty years. When they were younger, they believed God for 86 00:05:55.399 --> 00:05:59.759 their own child, and year after year they prayed, they believe, 87 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:04.720 but they failed. Imagine the number of baby showers and 88 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:09.040 baby dedications they've attended together as a couple children of 89 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:14.120 other people, not their own. Imagine how they felt through 90 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:16.800 the years of praying and believing and. 91 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:19.160 Nothing is happening. 92 00:06:19.319 --> 00:06:22.199 And they prayed, and every year they failed, and their 93 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:25.839 hope dwindled. And during their time, what made it really 94 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:30.399 more difficult was that during their time, barrenness was considered 95 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:36.160 as a curse. So if you're not producing babies, people 96 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:41.279 might think that you are actually in sin, or you're 97 00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:44.959 doing something wrong, maybe you're not right with God. Can 98 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:48.399 you imagine going to church and you have this battle 99 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:51.519 going on in your mind and you're wrestling with this 100 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:57.000 idea of what people are actually thinking about you. But Gannun, 101 00:06:58.839 --> 00:07:01.639 they don't have children now. Child bearing was one of 102 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:05.800 the primary roles of women. That's why it's a shame 103 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:08.319 for them that they don't have children, because that's their 104 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:09.800 way of securing the future. 105 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:13.480 The more people they have, the more secured their nation 106 00:07:13.639 --> 00:07:15.240 will be from invaders. 107 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:19.879 Because they don't have life insurance or hospitals in every town. 108 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:23.600 The more children they have, the more secure their future 109 00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:26.759 will be. As they grow old, somebody will take care 110 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:29.600 of them, somebody will actually work for them and provide 111 00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:33.800 for the family. So children are really it really signifies 112 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:37.240 security for the future. So can you imagine if you're 113 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:41.040 a wife, you're a woman and you're not producing babies, 114 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:45.680 the pressure from the community. Now here's what's mind boggling 115 00:07:45.720 --> 00:07:49.720 about it. Because the Bible says they were both righteous 116 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:54.560 and they're walking blamelessly before God. How do you reconcile 117 00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:58.439 that they are close to God, they are both righteous, 118 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:04.600 yet they are quote unquote cursed, they are not blessed. 119 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:09.079 What's what's wrong with this? How can that be? There? 120 00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:11.480 Serving God? They're walking with God. 121 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:15.000 They are praying every day, so they should be getting 122 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:16.319 all the answer to their prayers. 123 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:18.639 So what could be possibly wrong? 124 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:21.600 And that's not just a mentality during their time, but 125 00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:26.279 even today there are actually people who think that Christian kadapad. 126 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:30.360 Every time you pray, there's always an answer right away. 127 00:08:31.160 --> 00:08:34.600 But now go work as a church, dappad, everything will 128 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:39.679 be smooth. Knowing papastor paposa, you built a mang students. 129 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:42.399 Many times, you know, study would come to me and 130 00:08:42.440 --> 00:08:48.399 sasabinla Pastoraguelan problem but as if we're acempted or. 131 00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:52.039 Immune from these things. But that's not true, So how 132 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:55.000 can that be? What could be possibly wrong? Here? 133 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:58.960 Here's what's wrong, and what's wrong is this thinking that 134 00:09:00.039 --> 00:09:04.879 because we serve God somehow we are entitled to receive 135 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:09.799 his blessing. Because we are serving God, somehow, God is 136 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:16.919 indebted to us, and God is obligated to actually give 137 00:09:17.080 --> 00:09:20.960 us what we're asking from him or what we're expecting 138 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:25.639 from him. So this was a paradigm shift because all 139 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:27.639 along that's what people believed. 140 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:31.399 If you are in God, then you should be blessed. 141 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:35.240 You should not be experiencing all these things. So it's 142 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:36.559 a paradigm shift. 143 00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:41.759 Because here God was saying they are righteous, yet they 144 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:47.399 are going through these things. So and I believe it's 145 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:52.320 something that Zecharai and Elizabeth understood. That's why we can 146 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:56.679 see them in spite of their situation. They are still 147 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:02.600 serving God. They are still serving God. You know why, 148 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:07.440 because they are worshiping God for who he is, not 149 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:11.559 because of what they get from him. So that was 150 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:14.879 very clear to them, and that I think that's very 151 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:18.200 important for us as we prepare our heart as we 152 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:19.360 celebrate Christmas. 153 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:22.519 It's important for us to to. 154 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:26.600 Understand that we worship God because of who God is, 155 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:30.679 not because of what we get from Him. That's why, 156 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:34.399 even though they are still waiting for the answer to 157 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:36.679 their prayers, how many of you here there are still 158 00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:39.840 prayers that you're waiting to be answered from God. There 159 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:43.919 are still things that you're believing God for. Some people 160 00:10:44.039 --> 00:10:48.120 have already turned their back and walked away from God. 161 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:51.840 God because Lord necessary the most in as good and 162 00:10:51.960 --> 00:10:55.840 I think there's a misunderstanding. There's something that was clear 163 00:10:55.960 --> 00:11:00.399 to Elizabeth and Zachariah that probably is not very clear 164 00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:01.159 to some people. 165 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:03.600 To them, it was very clear, whether we get the 166 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:05.440 answer to our prayers or not. 167 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:09.360 We are going to worship God, you know why, because 168 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:12.600 we worship God for who he is, not because of 169 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:16.000 what we get from Him. That's why it requires faith 170 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:19.399 if we are going to walk with God and if 171 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:22.679 we're going to live for Him, because there are things 172 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:27.759 in our life that we will not completely understand that 173 00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:30.799 will require trust on our part. 174 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:32.399 More than understanding. 175 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:35.480 If we are to live for God and serve him 176 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:39.879 meansid there are people who would always ask for an explanation, Lord, 177 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:40.799 give me an explanation. 178 00:11:40.919 --> 00:11:41.799 If you cannot. 179 00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:45.799 Explain it to me, I will never obey, I will 180 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:49.480 never continue. But you know, sometimes there are things that 181 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:53.960 what is needed is for us to trust God more 182 00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:58.840 than try to interpret and understand everything that's happening in 183 00:11:58.919 --> 00:12:03.559 our lives, because sometimes God works in a mysterious way. 184 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:07.600 Did common reconcile? I'm praying to you. I know what 185 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:10.519 I'm asking from you is good, But why is it 186 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:14.519 that you are not yet answering my prayer? Why I 187 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:18.159 don't have the answer, And sometimes we will never have 188 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:21.840 the answer. That's why it requires faith, you know. I 189 00:12:22.039 --> 00:12:24.879 like this verse and Ecclesiastis chapter eleven, verse five. 190 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:27.279 It says, as you do not know the path of 191 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:30.600 the wind or how the body is formed in a 192 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:32.559 mother's womb, so you. 193 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:39.039 Cannot understand the work of God, the maker of all things. Now, 194 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:41.879 how many of you agree we don't completely understand everything 195 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:45.919 that's happening around us, And we're okay with that, right. 196 00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:48.399 We're not demanding. 197 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:53.039 Apple Company to explain to us everything that's happening with 198 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:59.840 our in our iPhone before we buy in explain latsak, 199 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:03.679 we don't we just buy. We're okay with that, you know, 200 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:06.320 the same way with God. You know, first time I 201 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:10.799 held in my hand chess car, first born, and first 202 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:14.039 time n young kids lamin. 203 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:18.159 But the first time, you know, I was well twenty 204 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:23.960 nine at that time I was holding my newborn. I 205 00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:24.960 was staring at. 206 00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:29.720 Her, and I can't believe that my wife and I 207 00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:35.799 were able to actually produce another human being. But it's 208 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:42.519 so amazing, you know, our children really or some of 209 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:48.960 the most amazing and tangible miracles that God allowed us 210 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:55.720 to experience until today. They gohaiani explain panna young eyes, yeah, 211 00:13:56.679 --> 00:14:01.360 young nose, heart, the bones. I don't know how that 212 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:05.879 transformed inside. I don't know how that was formed inside. 213 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:11.080 I just know that we now have our children. It's 214 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:14.440 their gift from God. So the Bible says, as you 215 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:16.399 do not know the path of the wind or how 216 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:19.279 the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you 217 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:21.919 cannot understand the work of God. 218 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:26.240 You know, he's too great. God is too big and 219 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:27.320 too awesome for. 220 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:31.879 Us to comprehend with our finite mind. He is too 221 00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:35.679 big for us to try to make him fit inside 222 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:38.919 our brain and understand everything about him. That's why The 223 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:46.440 proper response to God is trusts faith, not unbelief, and 224 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:49.879 the proper response to God is worshiped. How many of 225 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:53.159 you believe God is worthy of our worship? That's why, 226 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:56.840 regardless of where you are and regardless of your situation, 227 00:14:57.480 --> 00:15:02.559 you can actually worship God. Whether you have already answered 228 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:06.759 received the answer to your prayer, whether you're listening down 229 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:07.639 the things that you're. 230 00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:12.399 Grateful for this year, to go to three five pages. 231 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:14.240 Already one hundred things I want to thank God for 232 00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:16.960 for this year, and maybe for some of you here, 233 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:19.840 but I'm feeling more. Lord, I'm going twentysta. 234 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:22.960 This year is not really that good. 235 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:27.200 But guess what, we can still worship God today. I 236 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:30.120 may not be able to understand everything that's happening in 237 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:33.200 my life, I may not be able to reconcile it 238 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:38.679 in my head, but I just know I can worship 239 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:43.440 God no second. While he was serving as priest before God, 240 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:47.600 and I'm not going to read the verse eight nine, 241 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:50.919 I'm going to jump. While he was serving as print 242 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:54.320 before God, when his division was on duty, Zachariah was 243 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:58.919 faithfully serving God. An angel appeared and showed up. How 244 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:01.440 many of you here this Thiscember you want an angel 245 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:04.919 to show up saying your detail, pastor in thel and 246 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:13.919 kate ka boom something else. So we're going to jump 247 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:18.679 on verse thirteen. This is where Zachariah was serving. That 248 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:23.080 was their situation building up to the First Christmas. And 249 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:25.960 while he was serving, here's what the Bible says, an 250 00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:29.799 angel appeared, and the angel said to him, do not 251 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:34.440 be afraid. I don't know if you are afraid of something, 252 00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:38.759 but I believe that's got message for you today. Fear not, 253 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:45.000 do not be afraid. And he said, do not be afraid, Zachariah, 254 00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:48.960 for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth, 255 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:52.000 will bear you a son, and you shall call his 256 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:59.080 name John. Your prayer has been heard. How many of 257 00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:02.840 you want to hear that from God this December, this Christmas? 258 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:07.160 Like I saying the Lord, your prayer has been heard. 259 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:10.839 We pray more of ten years this year it will 260 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:14.480 be answered. Whatever that is that you're believing for. We 261 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:18.240 want to hear that from God. You know, I remember 262 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:22.759 this story of a of an Italian kid, son of 263 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:27.519 an Italian gangster. He wants a bike, so he told 264 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:31.279 his mom, But his mom was a devout, you know 265 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:35.000 Christian and wanting to really change the trajectory of his 266 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:37.480 son's life. He wants to teach him how to have 267 00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:40.799 faith in God and how to pray. So instead of 268 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:44.359 buying a bike for his son, her son, the mom said, 269 00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:45.960 pray to God. 270 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:50.799 So an an gangster, the Italian. I'll try to to 271 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:54.240 really say it an Italian accent note. So I pray on. 272 00:17:54.319 --> 00:18:00.720 Batas Jesus, can you give me a bike? Italian boo, 273 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:06.240 Chinese fella, praisia. He waited for two days, nothing happened. 274 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:10.480 On a third day, still prayed, Jesus, can you give 275 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:15.119 me a bike? Well happen in third day, So you 276 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:18.799 knew what this kid did. What he did was he 277 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:21.519 went to the altar. He took the statue of Mary, 278 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:25.359 wrapped it in a towel and hid under his bed. 279 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:27.799 Then he wrote a letter and put it on the altar, 280 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:34.240 and the letter read Jesus Italian palazory, Jesus, if you 281 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:38.920 still want to see your mom, give me a bike tomorrow. 282 00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:49.119 He knowstage then a good working prayer. No, you're laughing, 283 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:52.400 but some of us did that before. Maybe some of 284 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:56.160 us are still doing that today in order to get 285 00:18:56.240 --> 00:19:00.599 what we're asking from God. Sometimes we make threats, Lord, 286 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:02.400 but theopatus got dynama to church. 287 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:06.079 Lord, if you don't still answer my prayer, I'll stop 288 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:09.839 praying and reading the Bible. Or sometimes we try to 289 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:10.400 bribe God. 290 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:14.319 Lord, I'll read my Bible ten chapters a day, I'll 291 00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:18.480 complete all six services in Green Hills nine eleven, one, three, five, seven, 292 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:24.319 I'll give my tithes. Then twenty one days of Christmas, 293 00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:29.440 I'll spread it out. So we make bribes so that 294 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:34.160 God will somehow grant our requests. But you know, here's 295 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:36.839 the good news for you. You don't need to make 296 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:39.240 threats or you don't need to bribe God. You know 297 00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:42.680 why because every time you pray God, here's your prayers. 298 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:46.519 And I think that's encouraging for us to know, though basic. 299 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:50.680 Yet that's very comforting to here because how many of 300 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:53.759 you Sometimes when you text your wife or your kids 301 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:57.599 or somebody else and they don't answer, sometimes you freak out. 302 00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:59.839 We said that the text also a wife got ten 303 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:02.200 where are you well? 304 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:11.759 Where are you sweety? But if that was detect sorry 305 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:12.599 left my phone. 306 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:23.599 Oh pero maka thisa. 307 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:26.720 Say pasha come forth, and sometimes gonna die. 308 00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:34.319 Pepreka Lord alum bunny Lord payment co alum bunny Lord. 309 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:37.279 Now on the rocks marriage now man alarm bunny Lord, 310 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.599 Alum bunny lord. 311 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:48.680 Na no single alum bandy lord. How many of you 312 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:53.119 know alumni Lord that will give you so much peace 313 00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:55.039 and encouragement. And guess what. 314 00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:58.839 Here's the message of the angel to Zacharia and God's 315 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:02.880 message to you that every time you pray, God actually 316 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.079 hears your prayer. 317 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:07.559 And that's our confidence. God cares for you. 318 00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:11.640 He knows your frustrations, your disappointments, your excitement. You know 319 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:15.039 two verses for us first John five, verse fourteen to fifteen. 320 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:20.000 And this is the confidence. Everyone say confidence. And this 321 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:25.400 is the cont well and confidential confidence. Everyone say confidence. 322 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:29.680 And this is the confidence that we have toward him 323 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:34.920 that if we ask anything according to his will, he 324 00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:37.920 hears us. And if we know that he hears us, 325 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:45.119 and whatever we ask, whether that's relational, financial, spiritual, professional, 326 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:49.319 whatever that is, we know that we have the request 327 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:53.559 that we have asked of him. You don't need to bribe, 328 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:57.200 you don't need to make threats every time you pray. 329 00:21:57.880 --> 00:22:00.240 If you pray, if you know what your praying for 330 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:03.759 is God's will for you, you have this assurance that 331 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:06.200 God hears you, and God will do. 332 00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:09.400 Something about it. Hebrews four, verse fifteen to sixteen. 333 00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:12.720 For we do not have a high priest talking about Jesus, 334 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:16.920 who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one 335 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:20.119 who in every respect has been tempted as we are, 336 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:25.039 yet without sin. Let us, then, with confidence, draw near 337 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:28.559 to the Throne of Grace, that we may receive mercy 338 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:32.160 and find grace to help in time of need. That's 339 00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:35.839 our confidence that every time we come to the throne 340 00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:39.200 of God we will find grace and help in our 341 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:39.880 time of need. 342 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:44.519 What help do you need? What grace? What area of 343 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:45.839 your life do you need grace? 344 00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:49.480 The assurance is that every time we come to God 345 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:54.000 we will find help in grace. The reason you are 346 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:56.960 still here today is because the grace of God is 347 00:22:57.000 --> 00:23:00.680 sustaining you. God always hears and answer our prayers. But 348 00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:04.200 he answers in three ways. But but you don't pastor 349 00:23:04.359 --> 00:23:06.720 every time I write in the prayer request by the 350 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:09.200 way we're praying for that, every week we go through 351 00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:13.119 that we read we pray. I know that some of 352 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:17.319 you it's your prayer request week after week. But God 353 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:20.119 answers in three ways. 354 00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:21.319 Three ways. 355 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:27.200 God answers yes, not yet, or I have something better 356 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:34.160 in mind. Sometimes but net praik express delivery. How many 357 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:38.000 of you here experienced that already? After praying just a 358 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:42.839 few minutes the answer already came Lord in Jesus name. 359 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.279 Amen. 360 00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:45.880 Then may a text and say, oh, by the way, 361 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:52.640 granted na billss nona miss. If you pray kapalange, you 362 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:54.759 know I have experienced that before. And if you pray 363 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:57.599 plan Lord, I pray for aa. 364 00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:58.119 Okay. 365 00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:01.200 You know why, because the Bible says, even before a 366 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:04.519 word is on your mouth, the Lord already knows what 367 00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:05.200 you're praying for. 368 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:07.960 But we need to pray. You know why. It's for 369 00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:12.240 our good. It's to build our faith, to exercise our faith. 370 00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:16.640 So sometimes God's answer is yes, it's God's will. The 371 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.720 timing is right, go. 372 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:22.559 Sometimes the answer is not yet Ecclesiasts three, verse one. 373 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:25.599 For everything, there is a season and a time for 374 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:30.759 every matter under heaven, for every activity under heaven. So 375 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:34.880 God's delay doesn't mean God's denial. So feeling well, I 376 00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:37.319 prayed for that for six months nothing happened. Maybe it's 377 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:42.720 not God's will, not necessarily God's delay doesn't mean God's denial. 378 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:47.240 So if you know if that is God's will, keep praying. 379 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:50.119 Tell the person see it next to you, keep praying. 380 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.920 You know, there's this card that my wife and I 381 00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:57.119 are family prayed for for a year. We are before 382 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:59.720 my wife gave birth to our second child. 383 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:01.640 We had this car the picture. 384 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:05.880 We posted it on our phones, the screen of our 385 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:09.920 phones and laptop, so that every day when we open 386 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:12.480 our phone and our laptop, we would be reminded to 387 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:14.799 pray for this. So every day when I bring my 388 00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:18.039 daughter to school, I would tell her pray for the 389 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:21.240 car we're believing for. So we prayed for it for 390 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:26.240 one whole year, one month, two months, three months, four months, 391 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:28.279 five months. We know it's God's will for us. 392 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:31.720 We just know we have a word from God seven month, 393 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:35.039 But we don't know how we're to get the money 394 00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:37.759 for the down We don't know, but we're just praying. 395 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.799 We're just believing. 396 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:43.920 And guess what exactly one year God answered our prayer. 397 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:47.640 So maybe the answer is not yes, maybe the answer 398 00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:51.720 is not yet. So remember God's delay doesn't mean God's denial. 399 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:55.400 And third, sometimes God's answer is I have something better 400 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:59.880 in mind. Zachariah and Elizabeth, we're just asking for a child. 401 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:04.039