WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.640 When we pray from our heart with sincere motives, there is always an answer spiritually. 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:16.760 A prayer from the heart will never go unanswered. 00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:22.320 God does not leave His children without direction. 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:28.040 Grace and peace to you all in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:00:28.040 --> 00:00:33.680 It's time for us to listen to the Word of God, 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. 00:00:40.480 --> 00:00:47.800 Because as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, 00:00:47.800 --> 00:00:57.440 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, 00:00:57.440 --> 00:01:09.800 for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God 00:01:09.800 --> 00:01:18.040 may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:26.600 But remember that hearing the Word of God is not merely with these physical ears. 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. 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:44.480 So I want us now, people of God, to ask the Holy Spirit for His help. 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:47.480 I want us right now to pray. 00:01:47.480 --> 00:01:55.240 Oh Holy Spirit, arrest our hearts in Jesus’ name. 00:01:55.240 --> 00:02:05.040 Oh Holy Spirit, capture our attention right now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:09.480 We surrender to You every distraction - 00:02:09.480 --> 00:02:15.360 distraction from that pain, from that difficulty, from that problem. 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:19.640 We surrender it all to You. 00:02:19.640 --> 00:02:26.240 We approach Your throne of grace with confidence and boldness, 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. 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:43.640 Oh Holy Spirit, open the ears of our hearts. 00:02:43.640 --> 00:02:53.720 Oh Holy Spirit, give us a hearing and obedient heart in Jesus’ mighty name. 00:02:53.720 --> 00:02:55.480 Glory be to God. 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. 00:03:06.600 --> 00:03:13.400 This is a very well known Bible portion and these are the words of Jesus Christ. 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; 00:03:22.680 --> 00:03:26.800 knock, and it will be opened to you. 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:31.400 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:36.000 and to him who knocks it will be opened. 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? 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? 00:03:50.600 --> 00:03:56.560 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 00:03:56.560 --> 00:04:04.360 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, 00:04:04.360 --> 00:04:14.080 how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:18.800 Wow, what a wonderful promise! 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:25.720 What a call from Jesus Christ to persevere in prayer. 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:31.640 I know many of us have heard this promise countless times at church, 00:04:31.640 --> 00:04:37.920 and we even quote it as we turn to God and claim His promises. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:41.640 But I want to ask you a question. 00:04:41.640 --> 00:04:46.360 What happens when we persist in prayer 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:54.280 but apparently what we are asking for is still not given, 00:04:54.280 --> 00:04:59.240 what we seek is still not found, 00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:06.480 the door we are knocking at is still not open to us? 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:08.680 What happens? 00:05:08.680 --> 00:05:20.680 The winds of frustration, discouragement, fear and doubt will start blowing at us. 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. 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:38.680 We start asking ourselves, ‘Does God really hear my prayers? 00:05:38.680 --> 00:05:41.360 Do I have enough faith? 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:49.160 Why does it seem the more I pray, the worse my situation becomes? 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:55.280 Why should I pray? Why should I read the Bible if nothing is changing?’ 00:05:55.280 --> 00:05:59.600 We may even think, ‘Oh, look at my neighbour. 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.’ 00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:13.280 As I said, these winds of frustration, discouragement, doubt 00:06:13.280 --> 00:06:20.360 can cause us to stagger in our faith or even to fall in our faith. 00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:26.240 But I'm here today to encourage you with a truth, 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:35.600 a simple but very powerful truth that is found in the Bible portion we just read, 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:43.440 a truth that will serve as a shield to help us to stand firm 00:06:43.440 --> 00:06:50.000 despite these winds of frustration, disappointment and discouragement. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:59.000 And that truth is - the Holy Spirit is all you need. 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:06.160 Yes, people of God, the Holy Spirit is all you need. 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:11.360 And to understand this further, let us look in more detail 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:15.040 at what Jesus is saying in this Scripture. 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:24.960 Firstly, Jesus is giving us an encouragement to persevere in prayer. 00:07:24.960 --> 00:07:33.800 Why? Because God is pleased when we ask Him, when we seek Him, 00:07:33.800 --> 00:07:36.720 when we knock at His door. 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:44.280 Prayer is one of the keys to build our relationship - Father and child - 00:07:44.280 --> 00:07:48.600 with God, with our Creator. 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:55.200 No matter the situation, no matter the pain, no matter the need, 00:07:55.200 --> 00:08:00.640 Jesus is urging us to persevere in prayer. 00:08:00.640 --> 00:08:06.560 Because prayer is an expression of faith. 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:18.080 Galatians 3:26 says that we - you, wherever you are connected from and I - 00:08:18.080 --> 00:08:24.480 are children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. 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 - 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:40.080 don't stop praying, don’t stop seeking, don’t stop asking, don’t stop knocking. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:43.400 But take note, people of God. 00:08:43.400 --> 00:08:51.880 Faith does not set its eyes on the immediate result after prayer, 00:08:51.880 --> 00:08:57.360 but on the relationship built with God through prayer. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:09:04.160 In other words, people of God, prayer is a relationship builder. 00:09:04.160 --> 00:09:08.960 Prayer builds our relationship with God. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:14.600 In this Bible portion, Jesus is also emphasising 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:19.520 the goodness of our Father, the goodness of God. 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, 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:38.840 how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” 00:09:38.840 --> 00:09:47.200 How much more your heavenly Father - as good as He is, as perfect as He is - 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:51.920 will give good things to His children. 00:09:51.920 --> 00:09:58.440 God is not going to give you something that is bad for you. 00:09:58.440 --> 00:10:06.720 In 1 Peter 5, the Bible encourages us to pour all our burdens, 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:14.720 all our cares upon God because He cares for us, 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:20.840 because He's good and His mercies endure forever. 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 - 00:10:31.640 --> 00:10:36.320 that the more you pray, the worse things become, 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:45.840 that the more you pray, ask, seek, the more attacks you receive. No! 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:52.760 Don't allow that lie from satan in your life. 00:10:52.760 --> 00:10:58.520 Because God is good and He cares for you. 00:10:58.520 --> 00:11:07.040 And at this point, I want to highlight a very important thing in this Bible portion. 00:11:07.040 --> 00:11:12.840 And I want you to pay close attention to it. 00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:18.320 At the end of Luke 11:13, Jesus said, 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:26.840 “...how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:32.360 The Bible is not saying that your heavenly Father 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:37.160 will give you necessarily what you are asking for. 00:11:37.160 --> 00:11:44.240 It’s not saying that your heavenly Father will give you necessarily what you want. 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. 00:11:55.160 --> 00:12:00.960 So the promise of Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:05.080 He is not offering you a blank cheque. 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, 00:12:10.400 --> 00:12:18.080 the truth that all we need is the Holy Spirit. 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:26.280 Jesus Christ is shifting our expectation after prayer 00:12:26.280 --> 00:12:30.320 from the material to the spiritual. 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:37.640 When our expectation after prayer is based on the things we can see, 00:12:37.640 --> 00:12:44.680 we can feel, or we can measure with our intellect or our senses. 00:12:44.680 --> 00:12:51.160 we are blind to the truth that the Holy Spirit is all we need. 00:12:51.160 --> 00:12:57.320 I really want you, people of God, to hold onto this truth. 00:12:57.320 --> 00:13:02.520 If you are with someone there sitting down, I want you to tell that person, 00:13:02.520 --> 00:13:06.680 “The Holy Spirit is all you need.” 00:13:06.680 --> 00:13:15.560 And now, say it to yourself, “The Holy Spirit is all I need.” 00:13:15.560 --> 00:13:27.200 In John 14:26, the Bible says, and these are also the words of Jesus Christ, 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:34.520 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, 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.” 00:13:43.280 --> 00:13:47.360 And what things has Jesus said to us? 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:55.840 He has spoken promises of salvation, healing, deliverance, breakthrough, 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:59.240 the promise of eternal life. 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:03.120 And the Bible says that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:08.480 is sent to remind us of those promises. 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:11.520 Can you see, people of God? 00:14:11.520 --> 00:14:15.200 The Holy Spirit is all we need. 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:22.520 I also want you to remember what Acts 1 says. 00:14:22.520 --> 00:14:32.840 Here Jesus asks His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. 00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:39.680 And in Acts 1:8, Jesus told them when the Holy Spirit comes, 00:14:39.680 --> 00:14:44.840 they would receive power, and they would be witnesses to Him 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:51.880 in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to all the earth. 00:14:51.880 --> 00:14:57.880 Oh, what a promise, people of God. 00:14:57.880 --> 00:15:07.120 Take note that the disciples were not asked to wait for miracles and wonders. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:13.160 They were asked to wait for the Holy Spirit. 00:15:13.160 --> 00:15:16.640 And when the Holy Spirit came, 00:15:16.640 --> 00:15:25.760 after His coming, then miracles, signs and wonders followed. 00:15:25.760 --> 00:15:34.160 So why are we basing our expectations on material provision 00:15:34.160 --> 00:15:39.960 when what is promised to us is something spiritual? 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:49.560 The proof that God hears us when we pray is the presence of the Holy Spirit. 00:15:49.560 --> 00:15:57.200 What makes us children of God is not the blessings we receive, 00:15:57.200 --> 00:16:02.840 but to know that God hears us when we pray. 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:12.760 Remember what Prophet T.B. Joshua said, “Knowing that God hears us when we pray 00:16:12.760 --> 00:16:19.840 is an even greater blessing than the blessing itself.” 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:24.120 That is the proof that we are children of God. 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:29.120 It’s the presence of the Holy Spirit. 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:40.800 I want to encourage you to not base your faith on the improvement after prayer. 00:16:40.800 --> 00:16:51.200 It’s not appropriate to base your faith on the improvement of your situation after prayer. 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:57.280 Don't believe that God’s answer can only come 00:16:57.280 --> 00:17:02.000 when we are granted what we are asking for. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:05.680 By doing so, we will be limiting Him and His answers. 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:09.040 By doing so, we will be limiting Him and His answers. 00:17:09.040 --> 00:17:16.560 All we need is the presence of the Holy Spirit, people of God. 00:17:16.560 --> 00:17:19.640 I want to encourage you today. 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, 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:32.000 let us see beyond that. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:41.040 God may have been already answering our prayers in a way 00:17:41.040 --> 00:17:45.240 that this flesh may not comprehend. 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:53.320 God sometimes uses foolish things to strengthen us spiritually. 00:17:53.320 --> 00:17:59.800 When we pray from our heart with sincere motives, 00:17:59.800 --> 00:18:03.960 there is always an answer spiritually. 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. 00:18:12.560 --> 00:18:18.360 God does not leave His children without an answer. 00:18:18.360 --> 00:18:23.960 God does not leave His children without direction. 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, 00:18:31.840 --> 00:18:38.360 perhaps it’s time for you to change your expectation after prayer. 00:18:38.360 --> 00:18:42.200 Look unto the Holy Spirit. 00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:57.720 Look unto His strength, comfort, direction and guidance because He is all we need. 00:18:57.720 --> 00:19:02.720 What situation are you passing through this day? 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:10.880 You may have been praying constantly and persistently for that pain to be removed, 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:13.640 for that sickness to be removed, 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:17.920 or for that job you need, that provision you need, 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:24.080 that relationship with your husband, with your wife to be restored. 00:19:24.080 --> 00:19:26.520 And you are still waiting for an answer. 00:19:26.520 --> 00:19:31.640 You are still waiting to see those changes in your life. 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:35.080 But I want to encourage you. 00:19:35.080 --> 00:19:44.880 The fact that you are connected here today is already an answered prayer. 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:49.840 Why? Because you have received the strength. 00:19:49.840 --> 00:19:59.000 You have been strengthened all the way up to this point, up to today. 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:02.480 You have endured that difficult situation. 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:12.440 You have endured that pain, sickness, difficulty, tribulation up to this day. 00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:21.960 It honours God to believe Him even while every sense contradicts Him 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:27.240 and God honours those who honour Him. 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:35.840 Remember, the first place we are to prosper is in our spiritual life. 00:20:35.840 --> 00:20:42.120 That is the first place, the priority. 00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:51.320 If we take care of our souls, if we take care of our relationship with God, 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. 00:21:03.800 --> 00:21:10.320 And as Brother Chris said recently in one of his messages, 00:21:10.320 --> 00:21:21.200 “Look after your relationship with God and leave Him to look after the results.” 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:29.480 Don't be surprised, people of God, that when you change your expectation after prayer 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:34.440 from the material to the spiritual, 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:41.760 what you are asking for will come and that miracle will manifest in Jesus’ name. 00:21:41.760 --> 00:21:52.760 So in conclusion, people of God, as Jesus taught us, let us persevere in prayer. 00:21:52.760 --> 00:21:58.080 Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. 00:21:58.080 --> 00:22:05.120 Because that situation, challenge, tribulation 00:22:05.120 --> 00:22:10.160 is an instrument to maintain your union with God. 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:15.320 And it's time to shift our expectation after prayer 00:22:15.320 --> 00:22:21.320 from the material to the spiritual, and hold onto the truth 00:22:21.320 --> 00:22:26.120 that the Holy Spirit is all we need. 00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:31.240 Instead of being more focused on that material provision, 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:34.240 on the improvement after the prayer, 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:41.240 we should be focused on - how do we receive the Holy Spirit? 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:43.760 How do we welcome Him? 00:22:43.760 --> 00:22:48.560 How do we let Him remain in our hearts? 00:22:48.560 --> 00:22:54.680 That should be our only concern right now. 00:22:54.680 --> 00:23:04.760 Not that pain, debt, difficult situation or the need you are passing through. 00:23:04.760 --> 00:23:12.320 Your only concern should be - how can I welcome the Holy Spirit? 00:23:12.320 --> 00:23:17.720 And that's why I want to ask you this question right now. 00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:23.760 Is your heart ready to receive the Holy Spirit? 00:23:23.760 --> 00:23:29.240 Is your heart ready to welcome the Holy Spirit? 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:37.640 And as you think about this question, and if you realise that there are some hindrances 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:42.920 to the Holy Spirit, start freeing your heart from them - 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:54.120 from offence, pain of the past, bitterness, bad feelings against others, jealousy, envy. 00:23:54.120 --> 00:24:07.280 I want to leave you with these encouraging words from David in Psalm 62:5-8. 00:24:07.280 --> 00:24:20.480 David said, “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. 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. 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. 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:49.000 Trust in Him at all times, you people; 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:56.480 pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:58.680 God bless you, people of God.