1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,640 When we pray from our heart with sincere motives, there is always an answer spiritually. 2 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:16,760 A prayer from the heart will never go unanswered. 3 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:22,320 God does not leave His children without direction. 4 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:28,040 Grace and peace to you all in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 5 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:33,680 It's time for us to listen to the Word of God, 6 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:40,480 to open our hearts to the Word of God, to be inspired by the Word of God. 7 00:00:40,480 --> 00:00:47,800 Because as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, 8 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:57,440 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, 9 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:09,800 for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God 10 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:18,040 may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 11 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:26,600 But remember that hearing the Word of God is not merely with these physical ears. 12 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:37,280 It must be heard with the ears of our heart in order for it to come alive in us. 13 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:44,480 So I want us now, people of God, to ask the Holy Spirit for His help. 14 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:47,480 I want us right now to pray. 15 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:55,240 Oh Holy Spirit, arrest our hearts in Jesus’ name. 16 00:01:55,240 --> 00:02:05,040 Oh Holy Spirit, capture our attention right now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 17 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:09,480 We surrender to You every distraction - 18 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:15,360 distraction from that pain, from that difficulty, from that problem. 19 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:19,640 We surrender it all to You. 20 00:02:19,640 --> 00:02:26,240 We approach Your throne of grace with confidence and boldness, 21 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:36,000 for we know that we will find mercy and grace to help us in time of need. 22 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:43,640 Oh Holy Spirit, open the ears of our hearts. 23 00:02:43,640 --> 00:02:53,720 Oh Holy Spirit, give us a hearing and obedient heart in Jesus’ mighty name. 24 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:55,480 Glory be to God. 25 00:02:55,480 --> 00:03:06,600 I want you to go with me to Luke 11 and we are going to read from verses 9 to 13. 26 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:13,400 This is a very well known Bible portion and these are the words of Jesus Christ. 27 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:22,680 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; 28 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,800 knock, and it will be opened to you. 29 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:31,400 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, 30 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:36,000 and to him who knocks it will be opened. 31 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:43,880 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? 32 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:50,600 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 33 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:56,560 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 34 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:04,360 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, 35 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:14,080 how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” 36 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,800 Wow, what a wonderful promise! 37 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:25,720 What a call from Jesus Christ to persevere in prayer. 38 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:31,640 I know many of us have heard this promise countless times at church, 39 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:37,920 and we even quote it as we turn to God and claim His promises. 40 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,640 But I want to ask you a question. 41 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:46,360 What happens when we persist in prayer 42 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:54,280 but apparently what we are asking for is still not given, 43 00:04:54,280 --> 00:04:59,240 what we seek is still not found, 44 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:06,480 the door we are knocking at is still not open to us? 45 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,680 What happens? 46 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:20,680 The winds of frustration, discouragement, fear and doubt will start blowing at us. 47 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:31,040 These winds may cause many of us to stagger in our faith or even fall in our faith. 48 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:38,680 We start asking ourselves, ‘Does God really hear my prayers? 49 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,360 Do I have enough faith? 50 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:49,160 Why does it seem the more I pray, the worse my situation becomes? 51 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:55,280 Why should I pray? Why should I read the Bible if nothing is changing?’ 52 00:05:55,280 --> 00:05:59,600 We may even think, ‘Oh, look at my neighbour. 53 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:07,240 He's not even a Christian and he's doing very well. He's doing better than me.’ 54 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:13,280 As I said, these winds of frustration, discouragement, doubt 55 00:06:13,280 --> 00:06:20,360 can cause us to stagger in our faith or even to fall in our faith. 56 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:26,240 But I'm here today to encourage you with a truth, 57 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:35,600 a simple but very powerful truth that is found in the Bible portion we just read, 58 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:43,440 a truth that will serve as a shield to help us to stand firm 59 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:50,000 despite these winds of frustration, disappointment and discouragement. 60 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:59,000 And that truth is - the Holy Spirit is all you need. 61 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:06,160 Yes, people of God, the Holy Spirit is all you need. 62 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:11,360 And to understand this further, let us look in more detail 63 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:15,040 at what Jesus is saying in this Scripture. 64 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:24,960 Firstly, Jesus is giving us an encouragement to persevere in prayer. 65 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:33,800 Why? Because God is pleased when we ask Him, when we seek Him, 66 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,720 when we knock at His door. 67 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:44,280 Prayer is one of the keys to build our relationship - Father and child - 68 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:48,600 with God, with our Creator. 69 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:55,200 No matter the situation, no matter the pain, no matter the need, 70 00:07:55,200 --> 00:08:00,640 Jesus is urging us to persevere in prayer. 71 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:06,560 Because prayer is an expression of faith. 72 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:18,080 Galatians 3:26 says that we - you, wherever you are connected from and I - 73 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:24,480 are children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. 74 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:31,600 So if you are a child of God, if you are a man of faith, if you are a woman of faith - 75 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:40,080 don't stop praying, don’t stop seeking, don’t stop asking, don’t stop knocking. 76 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:43,400 But take note, people of God. 77 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:51,880 Faith does not set its eyes on the immediate result after prayer, 78 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:57,360 but on the relationship built with God through prayer. 79 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:04,160 In other words, people of God, prayer is a relationship builder. 80 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:08,960 Prayer builds our relationship with God. 81 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:14,600 In this Bible portion, Jesus is also emphasising 82 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:19,520 the goodness of our Father, the goodness of God. 83 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:30,720 He said in Luke 11:13, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, 84 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:38,840 how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” 85 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:47,200 How much more your heavenly Father - as good as He is, as perfect as He is - 86 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:51,920 will give good things to His children. 87 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:58,440 God is not going to give you something that is bad for you. 88 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:06,720 In 1 Peter 5, the Bible encourages us to pour all our burdens, 89 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:14,720 all our cares upon God because He cares for us, 90 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:20,840 because He's good and His mercies endure forever. 91 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:31,640 So don't fall into that trap of satan, that lie trying to paint God in a bad light - 92 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:36,320 that the more you pray, the worse things become, 93 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:45,840 that the more you pray, ask, seek, the more attacks you receive. No! 94 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:52,760 Don't allow that lie from satan in your life. 95 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:58,520 Because God is good and He cares for you. 96 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:07,040 And at this point, I want to highlight a very important thing in this Bible portion. 97 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:12,840 And I want you to pay close attention to it. 98 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:18,320 At the end of Luke 11:13, Jesus said, 99 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:26,840 “...how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” 100 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:32,360 The Bible is not saying that your heavenly Father 101 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:37,160 will give you necessarily what you are asking for. 102 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:44,240 It’s not saying that your heavenly Father will give you necessarily what you want. 103 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:55,160 The Bible is saying that your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. 104 00:11:55,160 --> 00:12:00,960 So the promise of Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit. 105 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:05,080 He is not offering you a blank cheque. 106 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:10,400 And here I'm going to that truth I was talking to you about at the beginning, 107 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:18,080 the truth that all we need is the Holy Spirit. 108 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:26,280 Jesus Christ is shifting our expectation after prayer 109 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:30,320 from the material to the spiritual. 110 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:37,640 When our expectation after prayer is based on the things we can see, 111 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:44,680 we can feel, or we can measure with our intellect or our senses. 112 00:12:44,680 --> 00:12:51,160 we are blind to the truth that the Holy Spirit is all we need. 113 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:57,320 I really want you, people of God, to hold onto this truth. 114 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:02,520 If you are with someone there sitting down, I want you to tell that person, 115 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:06,680 “The Holy Spirit is all you need.” 116 00:13:06,680 --> 00:13:15,560 And now, say it to yourself, “The Holy Spirit is all I need.” 117 00:13:15,560 --> 00:13:27,200 In John 14:26, the Bible says, and these are also the words of Jesus Christ, 118 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:34,520 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, 119 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:43,280 He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” 120 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:47,360 And what things has Jesus said to us? 121 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:55,840 He has spoken promises of salvation, healing, deliverance, breakthrough, 122 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:59,240 the promise of eternal life. 123 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:03,120 And the Bible says that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, 124 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:08,480 is sent to remind us of those promises. 125 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,520 Can you see, people of God? 126 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:15,200 The Holy Spirit is all we need. 127 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:22,520 I also want you to remember what Acts 1 says. 128 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:32,840 Here Jesus asks His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. 129 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:39,680 And in Acts 1:8, Jesus told them when the Holy Spirit comes, 130 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:44,840 they would receive power, and they would be witnesses to Him 131 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:51,880 in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to all the earth. 132 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:57,880 Oh, what a promise, people of God. 133 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:07,120 Take note that the disciples were not asked to wait for miracles and wonders. 134 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:13,160 They were asked to wait for the Holy Spirit. 135 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:16,640 And when the Holy Spirit came, 136 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:25,760 after His coming, then miracles, signs and wonders followed. 137 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:34,160 So why are we basing our expectations on material provision 138 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:39,960 when what is promised to us is something spiritual? 139 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:49,560 The proof that God hears us when we pray is the presence of the Holy Spirit. 140 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:57,200 What makes us children of God is not the blessings we receive, 141 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:02,840 but to know that God hears us when we pray. 142 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:12,760 Remember what Prophet T.B. Joshua said, “Knowing that God hears us when we pray 143 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:19,840 is an even greater blessing than the blessing itself.” 144 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:24,120 That is the proof that we are children of God. 145 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:29,120 It’s the presence of the Holy Spirit. 146 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:40,800 I want to encourage you to not base your faith on the improvement after prayer. 147 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:51,200 It’s not appropriate to base your faith on the improvement of your situation after prayer. 148 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:57,280 Don't believe that God’s answer can only come 149 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:02,000 when we are granted what we are asking for. 150 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:05,680 By doing so, we will be limiting Him and His answers. 151 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:09,040 By doing so, we will be limiting Him and His answers. 152 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:16,560 All we need is the presence of the Holy Spirit, people of God. 153 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:19,640 I want to encourage you today. 154 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:29,400 If we have not received or if we have not seen the answer to our prayers materially, 155 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:32,000 let us see beyond that. 156 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:41,040 God may have been already answering our prayers in a way 157 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:45,240 that this flesh may not comprehend. 158 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:53,320 God sometimes uses foolish things to strengthen us spiritually. 159 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:59,800 When we pray from our heart with sincere motives, 160 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:03,960 there is always an answer spiritually. 161 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:12,560 I'm telling you today, people of God, a prayer from the heart will never go unanswered. 162 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:18,360 God does not leave His children without an answer. 163 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:23,960 God does not leave His children without direction. 164 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:31,840 If you have been praying for something and you are yet to see the answer you expect, 165 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:38,360 perhaps it’s time for you to change your expectation after prayer. 166 00:18:38,360 --> 00:18:42,200 Look unto the Holy Spirit. 167 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:57,720 Look unto His strength, comfort, direction and guidance because He is all we need. 168 00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:02,720 What situation are you passing through this day? 169 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:10,880 You may have been praying constantly and persistently for that pain to be removed, 170 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:13,640 for that sickness to be removed, 171 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:17,920 or for that job you need, that provision you need, 172 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:24,080 that relationship with your husband, with your wife to be restored. 173 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:26,520 And you are still waiting for an answer. 174 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:31,640 You are still waiting to see those changes in your life. 175 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:35,080 But I want to encourage you. 176 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:44,880 The fact that you are connected here today is already an answered prayer. 177 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:49,840 Why? Because you have received the strength. 178 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:59,000 You have been strengthened all the way up to this point, up to today. 179 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:02,480 You have endured that difficult situation. 180 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:12,440 You have endured that pain, sickness, difficulty, tribulation up to this day. 181 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:21,960 It honours God to believe Him even while every sense contradicts Him 182 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:27,240 and God honours those who honour Him. 183 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:35,840 Remember, the first place we are to prosper is in our spiritual life. 184 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:42,120 That is the first place, the priority. 185 00:20:42,120 --> 00:20:51,320 If we take care of our souls, if we take care of our relationship with God, 186 00:20:51,320 --> 00:21:03,800 we may leave it for God to provide for our flesh in His time, in His way, for His glory. 187 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:10,320 And as Brother Chris said recently in one of his messages, 188 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:21,200 “Look after your relationship with God and leave Him to look after the results.” 189 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:29,480 Don't be surprised, people of God, that when you change your expectation after prayer 190 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:34,440 from the material to the spiritual, 191 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:41,760 what you are asking for will come and that miracle will manifest in Jesus’ name. 192 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:52,760 So in conclusion, people of God, as Jesus taught us, let us persevere in prayer. 193 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:58,080 Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. 194 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:05,120 Because that situation, challenge, tribulation 195 00:22:05,120 --> 00:22:10,160 is an instrument to maintain your union with God. 196 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:15,320 And it's time to shift our expectation after prayer 197 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:21,320 from the material to the spiritual, and hold onto the truth 198 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:26,120 that the Holy Spirit is all we need. 199 00:22:26,120 --> 00:22:31,240 Instead of being more focused on that material provision, 200 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:34,240 on the improvement after the prayer, 201 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:41,240 we should be focused on - how do we receive the Holy Spirit? 202 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:43,760 How do we welcome Him? 203 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:48,560 How do we let Him remain in our hearts? 204 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:54,680 That should be our only concern right now. 205 00:22:54,680 --> 00:23:04,760 Not that pain, debt, difficult situation or the need you are passing through. 206 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:12,320 Your only concern should be - how can I welcome the Holy Spirit? 207 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:17,720 And that's why I want to ask you this question right now. 208 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:23,760 Is your heart ready to receive the Holy Spirit? 209 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:29,240 Is your heart ready to welcome the Holy Spirit? 210 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:37,640 And as you think about this question, and if you realise that there are some hindrances 211 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:42,920 to the Holy Spirit, start freeing your heart from them - 212 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:54,120 from offence, pain of the past, bitterness, bad feelings against others, jealousy, envy. 213 00:23:54,120 --> 00:24:07,280 I want to leave you with these encouraging words from David in Psalm 62:5-8. 214 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:20,480 David said, “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. 215 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:29,440 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be moved. 216 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:39,200 In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. 217 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:49,000 Trust in Him at all times, you people; 218 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:56,480 pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” 219 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:58,680 God bless you, people of God.