When Prayer Becomes Messy

Carter Conlon from the historic Times Square Church in New York City. We like to arrive at a certain time would like to leave it as we develop a rigid practice and we really don't want to disturb.

But when Jesus comes into a permitting it to get messy and tell you right now would like to thank you for joining us on this weekly edition of a call to the nation with Carter, and Mark 917. The Bible tells us the story of a father who brought his possessed son Jesus.

No one could help the man, even the apostles tried in vain to remove the evil spirit from this man's tormented son, so the father went directly to Jesus for help in the instant the possessed spirits on Jesus immediately threw the boy into a convulsion and the boy rolled on the ground.

The amount is Carter will explain today's message when Jesus shows up things can that apply to much harder now with this message when prayers become messy and prayer becomes messy from Mark chapter 9 the gospel of Mark chapter 9 verse 14 is a father, I thank you Lord for your presence, your evident presence here. Thank you for how you manifested your power and glory placed hope in so many of our hearts is a God. I'm asking you, Lord, to give way to your words, give the anointing of your spirit to speak them give us the grace to hear them. Father, thank you. In Jesus name. Verse 14 says when he came to the disciples, he saw a great multitude around the scribes disputing with them immediately when they saw him all the people were greatly amazed and running to him that is Jesus greeted him and asked the scribes what are you discussing with them nuts with his disciples and one of the crowd answered and said teacher I brought you my son, who has a mute spirit. Margaret seizes him and throws him down the foams at the mouth masses with his teeth and becomes rigid so I spoke to disciples that they should cast about they could not and he answered and said all faithless generation, how long shall it be with you a long shall I bear with you bring them to me and they brought them to him and when he saw him immediately. The spirit convulsed him and he fell on the ground and wallowed foaming at the mouth so he asked his father how long is this happening to him and he said from childhood, and often is thrown them both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. Jesus said that you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. I think many people feel that way. God, believe as much as I can as much as I'm able.

In the faith. My faith has limitations would you take me over the line of those limitations would you supply in my heart. My lack of faith were produced. God, that you want to take me the causes.

This provided the answer would you take me there when Jesus saw that the people came running together. He rebuked the unclean spirit saying to deaf and dumb spirit, I command you to come out of him and enter him no more.

Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly and cannot and he became as one dead, so the many cities that. But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up and he arose and when you come into the house.

His disciples asked him privately, why could we not cast it out.

He said to them, this kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting. As I read this passage of Scripture. I realize that there's a lot of things that religious attendance can do in our lives, we can begin to read the Scriptures and there are certain practices in our lives that we can put away some more easily than others, some are not so deeply embedded in our character that we can do anything about it.

We can make an actual conscious choice to say I'm not going to do this anymore because it's not an essential department that hasn't gotten yet deep roots into our nature, we can actually put it away and much of Christianity is like that we can we can put away some of the peripheral things around about our lives, we can stop going to certain places and we could stop reading certain things and we can stop watching certain things we can stop associated with certain people are certain things that we can all do when we come to Christ we become part of the general believing crowd as these people were. But there are some limitations to this is the word really good stuff. Most of us can deal with the seven deadly things in our lives but then we get to a point where some really tough things start to come to the surface and it's really not many times for those that are new to Christ. But for those who walk with God for any season of time is something that has found life or light source in our body and our flesh that is been with us in some business from childhood. It's a trait that was passed on to you. Something you learn when you are young and experience that you had formed something in you that you just a friend of mine was a pastor called one of those inconvenient things. It seems to hang onto all our lives. We would love to be without it but it just seems to be there. We have a propensity in us from the time we were young to be paranoid to be afraid of certain things, some have a tendency to live in an even though they know that they should be living in the truth. I have such a hard time not adding a few things to the facts. Others are of intensity to steal because they don't really believe in the heart that God is ever going to provide for them. Others are, there's less tissue to get a hold of the heart get hold of the life and try as they might be just simply can't seem to get free from these things is quirky manners and behavior.

Obsessive-compulsive disorders and some people decided the been with me since I was young I have to turn the light switch on and off seven type go to bed.

For example, I should laugh minutes that we all have things in our lives is that what I'm saying is no rhyme or reason why we do… Been there since childhood and no matter how much we tend to the word of God, or to some of our tenants at church. We can't seem to get rid of these things in this there's nobody around infirmities don't seem to do it for us. And that's exactly what we encounter here. Father brought his son, who had one of these issues in his life from the time that he was a young child and he couldn't seem to get free and the religious tenor may call it that, of the big incentive for either no doubt they were praying prayers. No doubt the disciples were saying come out and nothing was happening. I hate powerless infirmities, don't you, I really do.

I'd rather be home. I'd rather be making Peter butter and jam sandwich and just enjoying something else then did a prayer meeting where God isn't such a waste of time. They were God is not enough that I don't like powerless religion and you should like it either because that's not what our inheritance is and when they when they brought this child to Jesus he was he was somewhat annoyed that this powerless religion and he called it a faithless generation many a set how long will I have to bear with you bring them to me. Don't try to do this in your own strength to reason that in your own power. Don't don't try that changes by any amount of words that you're able to speak, bring him to me now. Up to this point, there's a there's a measure of order and this permitting we like our permit is to be orderly. Don't like to arrive at a certain time would like to leave at a certain time we developing rigidity of religious practice and we really don't want to disturb not doing but when Jesus comes into a permitting. It can get messy and would tell you right now to get really messy divorce. In the past where he walks in the temple is Susie Watson. Some guys on the foaming and gnashing in growling. It was probably a greeter at the door. It was doing just fine. So Jesus showed up. Nobody seem to have a problem with them, but when Jesus shows up in a permitting things can really get messy so they brought him to him.

In verse 20 is as and when he saw him immediately.

The spirit convulsed and he fell on the ground wall and foaming at the mouth immediately immediately. This permitting goes a whole new place is because hell is starting to be shaken a demonic stronghold starting to be broken pattern that the father said has been in this his son's life from the time he was a child. This is about to be broken and I believe that our deliverance is complete. I believe that when Jesus said it is finished, he met is finished. I believe that he destroyed the powers of darkness.

He destroyed the penalty of sin. I believe he triumphed over all the weapons of darkness and meeting this I believe he gives gifts to men. I believe he gives us a new heart, a new mind and a new spirit.

I believe that we become new creations in Christ Jesus.

I believe the will power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt us. I believe with all my heart rate on the national song of every child of God. I believe that with everything in probably more to be the freest people on earth probably were to happen on kindred shaded testimony of who God is, through his son Jesus Christ. I believe there were to be an in-line in the light declaration of this incredible victory that was one of the cross. 2000 years ago and is still available to everyone who calls on the name of Jesus today. The father said this is often thrown them into the fire and into the water to destroy him. I'm talking about things that have been in people's lives online or in the center of the been part of your life, and often it throws you into the fire of uncontrolled passion. You don't know how to control is because it is far back as you can remember it's been part of your life or into the waters of confusion with theological confusion of the scribes now put it that way at this time all the reasons why, and all the methods that may mean you can pursue to get free when the method you need to pursue to get free as a come to Jesus with an open heart and open face an open testimony bring him to me.

Jesus said to me, and he said if you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. I had this message on my heart when I woke up and when I got in my office a little later in the day. This letter was handed to me and delivered to the pastor. Carter even though I'm writing to you from the Department of Corrections. I'm glad to be writing this letter because it's a testimony which I believe you will ask me to share one day with times for church a testimony victory in deliverance from a life of bondage that I have lived. As you know Pastor Carter had been in trouble with the law, from a very very early age. God has now revealed the root of the problem and I am healed. Praise Jesus a few weeks ago I walked out of my room and went into a deli and bought some beer. I drank the beer and walked down the 42nd St. and bought some crack smoking crack and stayed out for a couple of days.

What made me do it. Soundest replies that I have no idea.

I was completely happy working and living I was in the ministry that I loved. I had lots of great friends and I certainly was not bored because I had no time to be so I simply didn't have an answer. A few days later I walked away again with a sense that I had to finish what I started. I went back to the scene deli for beer the same street for crack and I stayed out until I had spent $2000. None. I went back to the same store.

The sent me to prison twice already and I started to steal after a few days running in and out of the store several times a day and stealing.

I got caught. I found myself in the cell in the tombs of lower Manhattan. After couple days. I finally walked into my cell looked up and asked God what the heck was going on, I began screaming and begging God to tell me why I kept doing this to myself God I'm tired I can't do this anymore. I don't know why I do what I do. Therefore I cannot fix myself. Only you can fix me. Please help me. I had just preached a message about the men who lead by the pool of Bethsaida for 38 years waiting to be healed.I've been sick for more than 38 years. So why won't you heal me. What kind of father are you to allow your son to suffer so long when you're the only one who can heal and I might even your son or have I deceive myself. I was angry at God and stayed so most of the day. Then I lay down and got started giving me visions and memories from my childhood. I have seven brothers and sisters and we were very poor. We didn't get to do fun things very often but when I started getting arrested and my mother would pick me up from jail.

Sometimes she would take me to a dinner to eat or a sister would take me to a movie, even to an amusement park. So I began equating jail or at least getting out of jail as a way to have fun or to be loved and accepted and people wanted to be with me as a child I would only stay out of jail for two weeks before I was back in God showed me that I programmed myself to go to jail on a regular basis. Okay, God. So now I know why I did it with you.

Heal me now. God is good rights as holy and just and he loves me I know who I am and I can now sing the song freedom with the same zeal that I witnessed and others my future with God is secure. My life will not be perfect, but I know my sins are forgiven, and I also know that I will never go back to jail again.

Amen thank you, thank you for taking the time to read this past Carter.

I will be released and I believe that it is a Tuesday and if it is, then I would be a prayer meeting singing with the rest of you, and I said you listening my brother was so look forward to having you here with us singing freedom of those how faithful God has been to you to revealed to the source of why you keep doing what you been doing.

Jesus said, bring to me and immediately the father the child cried out. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. When Jesus saw the people came running together her brood.

The unclean spirit same to it deaf and dumb spirit and other was a spirit that can speak again here I command you to come out of him and into him no more than the spirit cried out convulsed them greatly, and came out of him and he became as one dead, so that many said he is dead. There will be a five on telling you, there will be a fight there's some things that are entrenched in people's lives so deeply that it will not give up without a fight, not give up without a semblance of trying to appear like it has the upper hand but when you come to Jesus and he comes to you, I guarantee you, you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. That's what Jesus said that even some will try to convince you there's no hope. But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up and he rose and this is what God's going to do for many dear online and you commit week after week after week, and I'm reading your prayer requests and very often repetitive repetitive behaviors that you can't seem to get free from ways of thinking and doing things that seem to go along with your life as far back as you can remember it's been part of your life. But tonight, if you will believe if you will bring it to Jesus. I believe that God is going to set you free. I believe the change of that behavior going to be broken the chains of the oppressive spirit that you've known since you were a child.

The fear of the dark those disorders that are part of your life that hinder you as this man wrote in his letter, it even causing you to believe that perhaps you don't have salvation. After all, but I want you to note that is alive is because you saved that you are being drawn now to this place of freedom because the Lord is going to have the testimony of these last days. A testimony of victory.

A testimony of deliverance, a testimony prison doors open a testimony, blinded eyes see a testimony of wounded hearts being healed a testimony that will cause us to be able to praise, no matter how dark or difficult. The days might be ahead of us a testimony that would fill our lives with oil that we can point others to the Christ brought us out of darkness into his marvelous light.

God is raising a testimony and you my brother, my sister are part of that testimony and I don't care how deep I don't go down. I don't care about it doesn't matter how long things a bit in your life. Jesus died to break the chains and the if you want it with all your heart, there's been in the service. How desperately. Do you want the presence of God in your life that father cried out on behalf of his son, the good Lord I believe, help me God did over the line. My unbelief. The guy didn't try to pretend that he was spiritually didn't try to pretend they had all the answers, but he knew that Jesus could set his family for he could send his son Frank Jesus and think of a good set we have, as the Scripture says in her and fasting and iTunes with all my heart this on the side of faith, get declaration to bring testimony in the we are going to sing that song with brother freedom is our portion. Deliverance is the children's bread. We are going to be a free people, whatever that you like the with you as long as you can remember. I want you to stand up and take authority over that thing in the name of Jesus I want you to name it and you get limited. You name it. When you get home. Would you tell that thing whatever it is you will not have dominion over me any longer. I am a new creation in Christ Jesus.

I have been washed clean by the of the son of God. I have the power of God's Holy Spirit in my life I have the promises of God's word says and by these promises will become partaker of this like that is now mine, through Jesus Christ, will hold my family know Bruce's been on a few. There's probably dozens more on what it has been. I don't know how far back it goes, but I know that Jesus can go as far back as he needs to is not bound by time and can reach into the beginnings of time and even before in his other hand can reach as far as the future can direct us to nothing can bind the hand of the power of Jesus, and he was set you free. The way he needs to set you free.

All hell would scream all at once makes no difference to me makes no difference.

There is freedom in Jesus Christ.

There is freedom from every power felon darkness and death. There is freedom. Father, I thank you Lord that you have enabled us to hear this message and for some it's deeper than anything they've ever considered that you could do in their lives.

Attitudes of heart bends and character things that there's no answer for because they've always been there things and people just learn to tolerate even though it cast them into the fire and into the water to destroy the Lord.

We believe that you destroyed the works of the destroyer would believe that you give us victory on the cross. We believe that we are new creations in Christ Jesus. We believe that no weapon formed against us can prosper and every tongue that rises against us in judgment. We have the right to condemn believe that freedom is our portion.

We believe that we are called to be a testimony to dark and bound generation of the freedom that can also be theirs. Through Jesus Christ God.

Your word tells us to give no place to darkness so we make the choice to obey that standard. Take authority over all darkness commanded to be gone and broken.

In Jesus name.

Thank you for joining us this week for a call to the nation with Carter, from Times Square Church in New York City. For more information log onto TSC.NYC TSC.NYC you can count on a powerful message each week on a call to the nation with Carter,