The Discipline of Prayer

I hope you enjoy the beautiful prelude music is our congregational sign that wonderful song panned by Pastor Bob couture who Mr. Sears minister, families got his gifted him to put pen to paper and we have some, the number of his hymns here and that's one of the truth. Thank you for tuning in again this evening we had a good elders, deacons meeting last evening.

The men were there with the exception of two so it good attendance. A good spirit. We appreciate the interaction our deacons are having with her family groups and your deacon is expressing your concerns to us and were weighing all of those things. Thank you for praying for the elders as we seek the Lord and sit in make decisions that are in the best interest of the most people. Obviously we can't satisfy every desire. There are people who are more vulnerable than others were less vulnerable are seem to be less cautious, so they have an opinion and those who are more vulnerable have another opinion. So were were listening where praying were talking among ourselves trying to find a course of action and forward that again will maintain health and continuity ministry and help most people in so again, for now, we're only meeting together here in this place on Sunday morning. We are weighing the possibility of soon going to Sunday night let you know when that decision has been made.

A lot of it depends on what develops. In the days, weeks to come concerning the containment of the virus or the spread of the virus. Depending, and what restrictions Gov. Cooper imposes upon us. So that's our thinking that some wanted you to know that were hearing you your your deacon has expressed your sermons to us and we considered a good bit of that last night tonight and want to speak to on the subject of prayer. And I want to read from Romans chapter 8 will be in place will camp and consider God's word here but to listen to Romans chapter 8 beginning at verse 18 we concentrating particularly on verses 26 and 27 of this chapter, Paul says, for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Lori which shall be revealed in us for the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God for the creation was subjected to futility unwillingly, but because of him who subjected it in hope because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption.

The redemption of our body, for we were saved. In this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope for. Why does one still hope for what he see.

But if we hope for what we do not see we eagerly wait for with perseverance. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the spirit is because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Listen to the words of this hymn, William Cowper, what various hindrances we meet our passage that were going to look at tonight speaks of not hindrances but weaknesses in this era in this area of prayer William Cowper speaks of hindrances listen what various hindrances we meet in coming to the mercy seat yet who that knows the worth of prayer, but wishes to be often there prayer makes the dark and clouded with prayer, climbs the ladder. Jacob saw gives exercise to faith and love brings every blessing from above restraining prayer we cease to fight prayer makes the Christians armor bright and Satan trembles. When he sees the weakest St. upon his knees when Moses stood with arms spread wide victory was found on Israel's side, but when through weariness. They failed that moment Amalek prevailed.

Have you know words off, think again. Victory was found. I'm sorry. Have you know words all think again. Words flow apace. When you complain and feel your fellow creatures here with the sad tale of all your care were half the breath thus vainly spent to heaven in supplication sent your cheerful song would oftener be here what the Lord has done for me these hymns that were not able to sing, but draw your attention to buy reading them have brought leased to media richness in the content and theology that they are communicating.

Sometimes we get carried along with the tune and words don't resonate near as powerfully in our hearts and minds but this is been an asset. I think to us in the season and it is just first season will be a time near future where we will be able to come back together and are pattern will be opening our handbooks and standing and singing so do not despair about that. I know for some of found this very beneficial. Some have found it difficult to adjust to. But again there with us. We think that this is for the most of us the best route to take in these days. Well, we need to ask the Lord to meet with us as we gather here tonight, so would you bow with me as I asked the Lord's blessing on our time.

Father we come to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only name given among men whereby men maybe say we thank you that there is one mediator between God and man. The man Christ Jesus, we rejoice tonight we have a great high priest. We rejoice that he came from heaven's glory. He came and fulfilled the will of you will. God perfectly and he's returned to glory you have exalted him to the highest place in given him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will – that Jesus Christ is to the glory of God the father, we thank you that he is seated at your right hand, we thank you that he represents us before you.

We thank you that he's there. His perfect humanity that he bears the scars of Calvary, there, and we are rejoicing that his work is finished his work of redemption, and therefore he is seated at your right hand would pray tonight that you would grant us grace, grant us, help from on high to profit from this time together. We are going to take a concentrated look at a verse of Scripture here in Romans chapter 8, we confess that, apart from the illuminating work of the Spirit of God the Word of God is can were unable to understand.

Therefore, Lord, we ask that he would help us tonight to understand the Scriptures are right and that you would help us to make the application in our life that we would grow in our understanding role in our knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ were mindful our father of the tremendous needs that span our country from coast to coast.

There is civil unrest there are riots in the streets. There are protests there are injustices there is sin abounding. There is chaos, Lord, how we pray that in the midst of this, you are name might be known that in this darkness, light would shine that in the midst of this confusion and chaos that there would be those who would be speaking truth gospel truth we pray our father that you would bind the evil one that he would not create further chaos that you would frustrate his purposes and his design. We pray for the advancement of righteousness in our land. The pushing back of darkness pushing back of sin and wrongdoing of injustice. Lord were asking thing these things of you because we know no other place to bring these petition politicians cannot do this.

We cannot do this you must do it, we would pray that you would have mercy upon our land that you would bring healing to our land that you would bring a turning back to you, not by a few, but by the masses. So Lord were set up to you tonight were mindful of that so much of what we see going on around us is outside of our control, but we rejoice that it is not out of the sovereign God, you are indeed ruling and reigning you are accomplishing your purposes in this world rejoice in that reality.

So come to us, Lord. As we sit in front of our computers with our Bibles open trust. Our hearts are open, as well, that our communion is fresh with you that there is no unconfessed sin that would hinder the spirits work that we would not be grieving the spirit.

How we need to maintain, cultivate fresh communion with you. Use our gathering here tonight. To that end, I pray in Jesus name, amen. Before we get into the word. Let me go over our announcements and think if I have any announcements to communicate to you.

Not really.

I don't know of anything that needs to be usually return to the announcement sheet and there are a list of announcements but let me read Psalm 119 versus 33 to 34 that's printed at the top of the sheet teach me oh Lord, the way of your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.

Give me understanding and I shall keep your law. Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart again in Psalm 119 verse 33 and 34 school over prayer requests number prayer praises Marion Freeman is got the issues settled concerning her speech language patent pathologist assistant license resolved were thankful for that rejoice with her not matter thank you for praying about that with her.

Caleb Savage, son of John and Hannah set swelling in his ear since he had us was and is that this accident with his father several months ago and the ear nose and throat doctor said the swelling in his ears is gone down along the fluid in his ears to drain 11 more tests in September before they make a final determination of any hearing loss.

Ryan Cardwell is that the sound this evening managing that force, and he tells me that Sarah saw the doctor today and there was a concern perhaps fear that she had re-torn ACL in her knee was surgically repaired. Some months back, but that the good news is that the there is no evidence of of re-tearing of the ACL is a small tear in the meniscus that is a minor issue so thankful that fresh report concerning Sarah our government official of the week is North Carolina state Sen. Rick Gunn offices in Raleigh.

Drew Guthrie is at home continues to regain strength from cancer treatments texts. He owns Pastor the tour told us on Sunday or I'm sorry this afternoon at staff meeting that the was talking to Pam in text he was admitted to the hospital so don't think it's any serious concern, but she's in the hospital. Thank you for your ongoing prayers for our pope and his equality with COPD.

I know that Lenny Braley would also appreciate your prayers. He struggles in the same way Charlie Watkins is home recovering from recent blood clot in her lung under others were asking you to pray for Danny Duncan, son of Pat and Betty Duncan has been diagnosed with Cove 19 Charles and Ellen Percy have also been diagnosed with Cove 19 and they are in need of our prayers. Josh Lynch is the son of a friend of Gloria Hendry is a 19 to 20-year-old and has special needs. He was returning home from work last Thursday on his moped and was hit by a car.

He had surgery Friday morning to put a rod and four screws in his leg and ankle and staples in his head, separated to recover from a Becky Travis sister Rose Bradshaw fell and broke her leg rehab and was genuine.

Michael Wood has kept up with situation at the White Oak Manor place where he is conducted church services.

There they been interrupted obviously because of open, but to the latest report shows that 48 staff members and 84 residents have tested positive for the coronavirus and 27 residents died was one of those places in Alamance County that it has really taken its toll on her missionaries were asking you to continue to pray for Trevor Johnson and his son planning to bring him back to the states enrollment to military school. Some needs there were both Trevor and his physical condition and for their son Paul Snyder in a similar vein, his daughter Marianne learning issues have a an update concerning Stuart wall want to read this. It came from Laverne this afternoon says Stu came home the day before yesterday and is struggling with pain and weakness after his procedure. Thankfully, his diabetes is settling down, but his liver is reacting against the radiation one data time is the way to get through this and only in the Lord's strength. His arms are underneath us.

We are thankful Stuart had that procedure where they inserted radioactive pellets try and stem the growth of the cancer until he can have the transplant, but it's good news that he's been released from the hospital and were praying for a man named Papo PAT oh is a neighbor of missionary Tom and Connie Chapman July he has pneumonia is in the hospital in great condition.

He 71 is not a believer so there asking us to pray for him under sympathy asking the church to pray for the family of Tommy wall. Tommy was in Alamance Christian school alumni teacher at Cummings high school, he passed away unexpectedly on Sunday.

I believe funeral service will be tomorrow.

Then we learned last evening. It elders, deacons meeting that Lee Hamilton.

This is a neighbor of Jason and Britney Sutherland in Boone died suddenly Bill accident so remember that family in prayer as well and then it under cancer.

There are a couple of highlighted names and then I want to draw your attention to one other name that appears in that section can't shrug her as an uncle of Darla Strawser. He's been battling COPD and lung cancer for couple of years and now is been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. His wife Becky has been caring for him at home, but it is becoming more difficult as he is no bedridden than Amy Freeman's mother Naomi is is changed to a different cancer drug and is struggling with side effects. Dad is also struggling with issues of dementia in Amy's praying and asked us to pray that they will be able to attend Amy Joyce wedding later this month. Let's see, I want to draw your attention to Tammy Reedley, wife of Pastor Reedley of church Christian Bible Fellowship. She has so battled cancer in the past. I think this is the third occasion. She's quite low. Pray for her and Bruce.

His name is Bruce and that congregation would help them during this this time, pray for those needs. The end of our time that I have just a couple of the missionary things to communicate to you before we get into the word. This is from tap ministries again tap ministries it says our goal is to ship the resources necessary to help churches re-reach people with the gospel and allow followers of Jesus Christ to search and study the Scriptures, just as the church did in Berea so they recirculate used materials.

Send it all over the world and they say after almost 3 months of being locked down tap is able to begin our ministry of shipping once again, the pandemic affected the entire world and so many of our contacts another couple continents were dealing with same restrictions. Even our shipping company was adversely affected and formed that shipments sent out by others were often left on docs and unprocessed were glad to be able to resume the core of our outreach. They were able to send quite a number of hymnals that come in to do two different countries. He says during May, we were able to attend. We will send out a shipment to the Philippines to a longtime associate in a shipment to Nigeria to ministry. We began partnering with just last year, says pray for safe delivery. Both of these as they were the first shipments sent postcode. He said we have we have quite a few other shipments ready to go in June with two cartons boxed and ready for Trinidad and another one for new contact in the Philippines.

We also have several cartons boxed and ready for the prison ministry as all of these partnerships are resuming operations. That's good news with tap ministries and then this is a more lengthy communication from David and Donna Eden's David was able to go to Niger in November of last year to help in that ministry. He's spent most of his time stateside Don's health is not good, and his health is in the best either.

But them. The ministry continues and this is some of what he says thank you for your prayers for us in the last weeks, and for your intercession for the believers in the Sahara desert. It is encouraging to hear also that the believers in the desert report that they are praying for you and for us. They hear reports of the difficulties in the unrest that are now causing disarray in our country and ask regularly of your welfare, assuring us of their prayers for you. How are the believers in the desert of North Niger.

Coping with this dreaded new disease and then he says in parentheses. Remembering that the region where they live, has long been plagued by numerous infectious, many of which are unheard-of here in the US besides being in an environment where modern medical means remain scarce, the borders of Niger been closed more completely so as they had already been closed to stop terrorists entering nearby countries only three cases of the new virus have been reported in Agadir is one of them a 60-year-old man passed away last week. He says despite this is talking but a man is able to purchase another 50 MP3 players to continue distribution of the audio Scriptures and many are still coming to Christ and asking for the word of God.

Special meetings were held for Resurrection Sunday at least five locations. The brothers meta-negatives. Ali and his family met some 200 believers met at another place, another meeting of ladies in another place some 400 attended to praise God study the Scriptures together, pray in Jesus name being careful about names and places because of the sensitive nature of this communication. He says some on February 25 he mentions this man's name a believer from the Western region of the country came to visit our believers and negatives. I've known him for many years and we worked some together on rendering the New Testament into the Tommy Jacques dialects for some time. I wanted him to visit Agadir is to encourage the believers.

There is visit was much appreciated by them. He also visited the region of the mentions another place where many have become followers of Christ, pray for him and his family is llama's attacks continue in the regions military camp attacked 12 government soldiers were killed and 10 were wounded.

He says much is slow down over the past months and normal business is often difficult to accomplish. Yet we have seen progress on printing more Tommy Jacques new Testaments.

God has provided funds necessary for printing 2000 copies today I am expecting proofs in the mail and will be checking them for printing errors. Thank you for praying concerning this project and thank you for praying for Donna's health. She continues to be weak from congestive heart failure along with its many side effects we give praise to God that she's doing well and is not been ill with any of the new viruses appreciate your faithfulness in prayer and in financial means to help us broadcast. The good news of God's word to many who have never heard that's from David E's now back to Romans chapter 8 I want to just read this one verse and this will be concentrating on pulses. Likewise the Spirit also helps us in me start over. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.

For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us groanings which cannot be uttered. This verse in the verse that follows it.

Sammons the discipline of prayer as it relates to God. That's important because your prayers and my prayers are only as effectual as they are in keeping with the will of God for our lives. And therein lies the answer to why prayer is so challenging and so difficult at times and so perplexing at times, believers, born-again Christians, who want to pray in accordance with the will of God, find themselves wrestling with many questions. What should I pray for how should I pray can I pray with confidence, claiming things by faith do I have to be tentative and qualify all my prayers with if it be your will or is that kind of praying evidence of weak faith in in mature faith. Some would argue that what happens when I pray I miss what happens when I pray wrongly can prayer do harm perhaps is a odd question to you, but the children of Israel continue to insist that God give them a king.

God give them a king, and God resisted that for a long time until God finally relented and gave them what they wanted what they asked for, but the Bible says, with that answer prayer came leanness into their soul. So it sounds to me like with their the answer to that prayer came harm this prayer change the mind of God can change the plans of God and if not, does it even matter whether we pray, what place does prayer have in the accomplishment of the will of God in my life and in this world. There's about a dozen questions that I raised and there were many more that could have been raised, but all of that is to make an obvious point that this verse is making what is that the prayer is difficult. It's challenging and it's perplexing at times, so is there any help here in this verse to help us in this matter and the answer to that question is yes wise, per difficult.

Why is it challenging why is it perplexing why is it so why is it met with such opposition, whether numbers of answers to that question, but the one this verse is dealing with there in verse 26.

Let me draw your attention to it. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses wise per difficult prayers difficult because of our not weakness but our weaknesses now. He is not in my opinion.

Speaking of sin, weakness is not sin.

It's true that were sinners. It's true that sin is a barrier to communion with God. God says if we harbor sin in our hearts, Lord will not hear us so I'm not dismissing that, but again the verses talking about weaknesses. What Paul is concerned with here is weaknesses. These weaknesses are hindrance to our ability to pray in concert with the will of God.

So the question is what are these weaknesses, what are these weaknesses that Paul is making reference to well there are a number of them and I certainly won't exhaust that question with this list that I have but let's speak to several of them there is number one. Physical weakness. Physical weakness is one of the weaknesses. Shirley God has in mind when he speaks to this matter. In verse 26 what I mean by physical weakness. We remember the occasion when Jesus took Peter, James and John with him into the garden and asked them to pray with him, but that they do. They kept falling asleep, even though Jesus had instructed them to stay awake and pray with him.

They could not stay awake and we don't know all the reasons why that is. So there's a couple of things are hinted at but in that dialogue, the Jesus had with them as he came from the place of prayer to them several times in that on that evening Mark 14 records. This then he came and found them sleeping and said to Peter, Simon, are you sleeping could you not watch one hour watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation, next words that I'm going to read. I want you to know are not spoken by Peter. The next words I'm going to read or spoken by the Lord Jesus. The next words are the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. There is a mild rebuke. There can't ignore that were Jesus said watch and pray no when he said assignment. Are you sleeping could you not watch one hour is a mild rebuke. There, but the statement the spirit is willing, and the flesh is weak is not an excuse that Peter offers to Jesus the light was asleep. It was an accommodation of Jesus to Peter and explaining here is physical weakness.

Here is one of the weaknesses no doubt that Paul has in mind. In Romans chapter 8, so there is physical weakness. Let's get real practical about when it's not o'clock in the evening in your favorite program. Whatever that might be is coming on.

You got the remote in your hand.

Most likely your alert, you're ready you want see whatever it is you been anticipating. But if someone says at 9 o'clock in the evening. Let's have a season of prayer. I would suggest it probably you sense this sleepiness and tiredness come over you that you did not sense or feel when you were wanting to anticipate watching whatever that program be now their spiritual warfare.

Here, no doubt, but there's physical weakness as the first number two.

There's lack of understanding, lack of understanding. He says likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.

For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought. We do not know what we should pray for this is not a question of how to pray. This is a question of what to pray for, and because of our finite minds because of our human frailties because of our spiritual limitations because that we only see through a glass dimly, there are many things that we do not understand that hinder us from praying in accordance with the will of God. We do not understand.

So how does this weakness. How do these weaknesses manifest himself in this matter.

Prayer will because of these weaknesses. The text says we do not know what we should pray for as we ought not notice something with me notice that when Paul writes the word weaknesses. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. He adds the word, our what's significant about that Paul is identifying himself with us in this Paul who wrote 13 of the 26 New Testament books is saying is a seasoned believer, one who was privileged to write inspired Scripture that he no weaknesses that hindered him to be able to pray in accordance with the will of God. So in other words, the weaknesses that make prayer difficult is not something that only new baby or in mature believers have. It is a part of our common condition. Even the greatest saints share in these weaknesses.

I hate to bring bad news to you but the truth. We are not going to outgrow this. This is what we will carry through our earthly pilgrimage. These weaknesses I think it helps us understand. Perhaps we wondered in ourselves. When people talk about and we we hear somebody that we esteem was walk with Christ for years and years may be pastored in speaks of the difficulty that they encounter in the matter of prayer. The struggles that they have in the matter, prayer, and we we think will help if if he struggles in prayer. He's willing to admit that what hope is there for me. But here's the issue were not going to outgrow it. It's part and parcel of all of our experience.

Paul says the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses, so in this matter. Prayer perhaps I failed to state the obvious, let me state the obvious, we begin with number one the necessity of prayer in this there in the verse likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray or as we ought as we ought. It is assumed that a child of God, will pray were commanded to pray men ought always to pray and not to faint. We are to pray without ceasing. Jesus's instructions concerning prayer is predicated upon that necessity of prayer.

He assumes that the disciples are men of prayer as you pray, and nears the instructions on how to go about that. So again, if you're looking for an outline for this verse.

The first point would be the necessity prayer, the necessity of prayer and I draw that from that word. As we ought.

I've covered the second point, that is the specific weaknesses concerning prayer the physical weaknesses. The, the ignorance the misunderstanding the limitations that we have in this world, the specific weaknesses concerning prayer, but here is the great encouragement.

What is that point number three God's effectual supply because of our weaknesses. It is true that many times we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Holy Spirit does, and the Holy Spirit has been given to us by God to assist us precisely in this important critical area.

Prayer.

That's the encouragement. God did not believe us in our weaknesses. He gave us the indwelling Holy Spirit. So the point of the passage. The point of the verse is that the spirit helps us in our weaknesses and how does he help us well. He comes in he dwells within us. He is the known as the Paraclete, the one who comes alongside and it's as though he comes to take part of a heavy load, and to help us bear help us bear our weaknesses.

It's a picture of someone way down under heavy load were struggling under it in the Holy Spirit comes alongside and helps us shoulder that load notice a word here likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought not the spirit himself makes intercession. He makes intercession for us. What is an intercessor, an intercessor is a person who pleads one's case so the meaning here is that the way the Holy Spirit comes alongside us to help and shoulder are burden is by pleading our case with God.

When we do not know how to do it. We do not know what to pray for, but the Holy Spirit does have this wonderful illustration about this help is Jesus interacts with Peter, Jesus says to Peter on that fateful fateful night, Satan desires to sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith not fail and when you are restored minister to your friends lose paraphrase Peter wasn't praying he didn't know what to pray. In fact, he probably wasn't praying with Jesus interceded for now. None of this is to suggest that we have nothing to do in this matter. Prayer or that we have no responsibility to pray we do, we do have responsibility in prayer which is made quite clear by a particular word here. Let me draw your attention to it.

Likewise the Spirit also does what he helps, he helps in our weaknesses. He helps, that means he does not do it for us does not eliminate our need to pray he's come to assist us to help us would not do it for us.

Question what about this word grown or groaning the spirit makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Well, there's a keyword that I want to draw your attention to, and will start there and move through this and it's the first word in verse 26 and is the word likewise or perhaps in your translation.

It says in the same way so that word likewise are in the same way suggests a connection with what's gone before and again commentators are not in total agreement about what that continuity is but I think the best explanation is this that we have this business or this issue of groaning that is repeated three times. We see it in verse 22 for we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Verse 23.

Not only that, but we also but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves.

So we have creation groaning. We have, we ourselves groaning and then we have likewise the Spirit also groaning the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Now I take very seriously the words of commentary by Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones is emphatic in that this cannot be the Holy Spirit. This doing the groaning Mrs. what he says about that. He says the Godhead does not grown, it is inconceivable for every reason he says since the Holy Spirit is not groaning. It must be the Christian himself and I'm not sure that I can fully reconcile that in my own mind, but there is this sense of continuity there's this help that the spirit of God is come to give us. Let me let me try and illustrated this way. Suppose you are in the process of moving a heavy piano and you are laboring under the load and you have somebody who's come to help you shelter shoulder that load. What you expect of that person who's come to help you were talking about a piano they're not like they're having. Would you expect that person is come to help shoulder the load to say you know what, this is a beautiful piano. I'm glad you called me and asked me to help you with this piano. When you get some professional movers to help you with this piano.

You know this piano is really heavy. Would you draw the conclusion this person is helping you with that piano. I would suggest to you that if you heard that person groaning under the weight of the piano, you would draw the conclusion this person is helping me this help with this person is helping me bear this burden, and I think that's what is going on here that's the imagery that I think is consistent with the.

The text of Scripture, the spirit has come, and he enters in to this burden. This weakness he's come to help us and we need to be grateful for that. We need to rejoice in that the spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. I want to make a distinction here that is a distinction between the praying that is assisted by the indwelling spirit and the praying that Jesus is doing for us.

He ever lives to make intercession for so we have the second person of the Godhead of the Trinity seated at the right hand of God, praying for us, but his praying for Ross is outside of us.

I this help this praying is help that is within us.

So it's meant to energize us to enable loss to help us in a spiritual sense, so we have help from without and we have this help from within. Let me wrap this up rather quickly.

Number one, we are supposed to pray regardless of the problems we may have with prayer.

We are reminded that the Saints have all had problems with prayer at times. Yet we are commanded expected to pray number two do not expect prayer to be easy. Prayer comes with difficulty. There are limitations there are weaknesses we can remove them. We can't eradicate them. Number three let's realize what we are doing when we pray more often than not, we do not know what we should be praying for, we nevertheless can know and need to know what we are doing and what is it that we are doing. We are addressing ourselves to the great sovereign God of the universe were coming before him with our adoration darkens question with our Thanksgiving and with our supplication to him and he is hearing these prayers and he's responding to them consistently perfectly and wisely out of his inexhaustible abundance. This is good news. So to be encouraged. The spirit comes to help us in our weaknesses. God is addressed are weaknesses in the help given by the Holy Spirit and he does perfectly for us what we have such great difficulty doing most of the time we need him. God knows that and therefore he has given them to us to assist us in this most important discipline of the Christian life was what I have for you tonight. Let me ask you to join me as we conclude our service remembering some of these requests in prayer our father. We confess that we need to grow in greater dimensions and this whole matter of prayer. We need to grow in our consistency. We need to grow in our fervency we need to grow in effectual prayer.

We thank you for the instruction and the help we received from this verse of Scripture in Romans chapter 8 that acknowledges that we do have weaknesses and that the spirit has come to help us in those weaknesses.

Thank you for addressing us at our point of need.

We thank you that we can intercede tonight. We would ask your God to receive our praise for answers to prayer for resolving this issue for Marianne Freeman for the good report concerning Sarah Cardwell and for Caleb to Savage we pray tonight for our North Carolina state Sen. Rick Gunn and asked that you would leave this man and work in this man's heart, and use him Lord to be an instrument of peace and an instrument of resolution to the problems that the state faces we want to pray for Drew Guthrie and vortex the Owens for Shirley Watkins and ask you to continue to minister to the needs of these dear ones for these that have contracted covert Danny Duncan and Charles and Ellen Hersey and the large number of people at the white Oak Manor Lord please have mercy restore health, give courage, give resources, Lord, particularly to those of her working with the residents of white Oak Manor how despairing that must be how difficult it must be that work environment. Lord, please. For those of those who who would know you in that place. Help them to bear witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Oh how it magnifies and amplifies the importance of the rest home ministry that's carried on by the men in the couples and the families of our church.

Thank you for their lives. Thank you for the investment of their time. Thank you for the preparation. Thank you for their desire to go and hold forth the word of life.

Lord we long for the day that those ministries can continue again.

We pray for Becky. Travis is fallen and broken her leg. Pray for Paul Snyder and his family and for Trevor Johnson and his family for these two families who are bereaved. The Tommy wall family and the Lee Hamilton family father be the God of all comfort to them, minister, Lord, your grace and peace in the midst of this sorrow for these who are battling cancer for Kent Shropshire and for Naomi Williams.

How we pray that Naomi was dealing with this new drug and the side effects would subside that her and her husband would be able to come for Amy Joy's wedding. Pray for Tammy riddling tonight and ask for God that you would draw near to this dear sister, that you encourage your heart that you would help her to entrust herself to you. Thank you for her family. Her loving family. Thank you for the time that she is been able to get away and enjoy your grandchildren. We commit her to you and brother Bruce in the ministry there.

The Christian Bible Fellowship. We thank you for this letter from David Eaton send for the work that he's given his life to their in the Sahara desert how it causes our hearts to rejoice of the salvation that is come to that region, and no doubt there is opposition Satanic opposition. We pray that you would give boldness encourage to those who are taking a stand for Christ in that place. We are amazed at the number of Muslims who have been converted in that will in that area. We pray that the gospel would run the glorify in that place. Please minister to David and Donna and their aged condition.

Donna particular with her battle with her with her heart. Lord we are people who are in desperate need of you in your intervention, Lord, thank you that you are working in us both to will and to do according to your good pleasure. Thank you for the indwelling spirit of God that helps us in this critical issue of praying that the spirit who knows the mind of God, and it is in perfect con concert with the will of God helps us as we pray, Lord, thank you for the people of God who've gathered tonight through this medium. We pray that you would watch over us and keep us and bless us and use us and glorify your self in these days we pray now in Jesus name, amen