In the Name of Jesus

Let me encourage you and exhort you, church, because the testimonies of Scrinner and Rayner were particularly exciting because the entire body's been invested. You see, the church have the power of the gospel given to them by the Holy Spirit as we exalt Christ. When we actually do what we're supposed to do, great things happen for the God's glory and we get to participate and rejoice in those. So that'd be a challenge and encouragement to you. Our prayers change things for them, those who have been praying for them. Our gospel witness has been empowered and enabled by the Holy Spirit. This is a great day of rejoicing. We've heard a new brother and sister come to Christ. We've heard their testimony. We've seen the power of the gospel and the ordinance as we see that they have died to their old selves and they've risen to new life. Our theme this morning is going to continue with rejoicing, and this morning we're going to see that we are rejoiced in the risen Jesus by praying in His name. We rejoice in the risen Jesus by praying in His name. We're in John chapter 16. We're continuing with our study, and by God's good providence, this is our text this morning. It is on prayer and rejoicing in the resurrected Savior. We're on page 903, if you're using a pew Bible, or 902 rather. If you don't have a Bible, I ask that you please take that with you. Read it, it contains the words of life. Again, the message this morning is simple. Rejoice in the risen Jesus by praying in his name. We'll have two main points. We have a new joy in Christ's resurrection. And secondly, praying in Jesus name keeps us in his joy. Hear the word of the Lord, beginning in verse 16 of chapter 16 of the Gospel of John. a little while and you will see me no longer and again a little while and you will see me." So some of his disciples said to one another, what is this that he says to us? A little while and you will not see me and again a little while and you will see me because I'm going to the Father. So they were saying what does he mean by a little while? We do not know what he is talking about. Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him so he said to them, Is this what you're asking yourselves? What I meant by saying a little while and you will see me and again a little while and you will a little while you will not see me and again a little while you will see me. Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is given birth, she has sorrow because of her hour has come. But when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice and no one will take your joy from you. In that day, you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you'll receive that your joy may be full. Will you pray with me? Father, as we look to see and understand and be challenged and changed by your word. May your spirit move among us. May Christ be exalted. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Notice the two main points. We have a new joy in Christ's resurrection. That's what he's referencing constantly with the little while. I'll explain that, but the little while is referring to the cross. That's the little while of sorrow. And then a little while later is the resurrection. They will have joy in the risen Savior and their joy will be filled and complete and no one can take it from them because their joy is in his name and that joy is ours and it's access. by prayer. The simple question this morning is, do you want joy? Do you want to rejoice in Christ? Do you want to seek the life Christ has redeemed you for through prayer? This is a fantastic tax that God has brought us at this particular time, even though we're walking through John for the baptism, because this is how you remain in the joy of Christ. It's prayer. Now, I want to give the context of where we're at. We've been in John for some time, and the particular part of John we're in is important. It's the final discourse. These are the last things Jesus is telling his disciples. These have importance. They're the last things he felt they needed to hear to prepare them for the cross, for the resurrection, for the Holy Spirit, for Pentecost, and for their mission. Rather, really, for his mission that they will continue to carry out. Jesus told them they will serve one another as he has served them washing feet. Jesus tells us he is the way, the truth, and the life. He is going to prepare a place for us. He's going to the Father. Jesus tells us we will bear fruit and be pruned by the Father. Jesus tells us the world will hate us, but that he has conquered the world. Jesus tells us we will have the Holy Spirit. He promises that he has overcome the world and the church is now empowered by the Spirit. And throughout this, he sprinkled a few things. One, each chapter has had some reference to the Holy Spirit, but that's the power that comes to the church. Also sprinkled through here are teachings on prayer. We're going to look at these and I want you to see them. Chapter 14, verse 13, chapter 15, verse 16, and then our text, chapter 16, verse 23. Three times he calls the church, he promises them, Ask the father in my name and you will receive whatever you ask. Final discourse, it has a certain weight for us as a church. It promises the power of the spirit and it calls us to pray, which again is how we rejoice in the risen Jesus. Let's first look at the first 22 verses. We have a new joy in the risen Jesus Christ. Now, the most important question in this passage is what is Jesus referring to when he says a little while we look at all the different references to it a little while and you will see me no longer again a little while and you will see me a little while you'll have sorrow and a little while you'll rejoice and a little while the world rejoice and a little while they'll actually be shut silent. What is he referring to? There's really two options out there. There's two options. The first is that he's referring to a little while the sorrow was the cross and then a little while the rejoicing is in the resurrection. Or it could be in a little while the resurrection and then a little while later is the return of Christ. Well, I do not doubt that the return of Christ will bring perfect, complete and absolute joy. I think what Jesus is referring to is the cross and then the resurrection. The cross will bring the disciples sorrow. The resurrection will bring them joy. The cross will cause the world to rejoice. The resurrection will silence it. Now, many will say that it has to be the resurrection and return because Jesus says he's going to the father. Some think that he actually descended into hell when he died on the cross. I think that's wrong. We confess the Apostles tree, but we think so metaphorically because we think he went and he conquered Satan, sin and death, but he didn't descend in the hell after he died on the cross. First of all, he told the thief next to him, today you will be with me where? Paradise. More so, why would Jesus need to go to hell? Does he have to go and make some plea agreement with Satan? Does he need to go and make an appeasement? Does he need to answer to Satan somehow? No. He's God. He created Satan. He's crushed Satan. He has no power. He has no authority. Satan, that is. Jesus conquers him. Crushes him. Has absolute victory. He doesn't need to go to hell. So the only reason you would think this is resurrection to return is because you think he's going to the father after the resurrection. No, as soon as he dies, he's with the father because it's there he's making the peace we really need and removing the wrath of God. Our point, our passage, I believe also points us to the fact that this is referring to the cross than the resurrection. Think about the context. He's getting them ready for this. The entire book of John has been referencing the hour, the hour, the hour of death. Their hearts will be full of sorrow because the one they have entrusted themselves with, the one they've left jobs and family and fortunes for, he is about to die the most shameful death. The one they placed all their divine hope in. He will be murdered. He's preparing them for that day of sorrow. And it will only last a little while. He's going to rise again and they'll be rejoicing. Secondly, the text itself makes this clear. A little while, obviously points to that the day the next day ahead where he will die. And a little while later, well, three days after his death, he rises again. Verse 20 is really the clincher. Look at verse 20. Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament. The church is in a time of rejoicing right now. Yes, we're the church militant. We're not the church fully at rest. We are the church in battle. But we're rejoicing because Jesus is alive and he's saving sinners. In that day, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. The world, that system of rebellion against God, it rejoiced greatly when it killed the Son of God. See, the world is that rebellion against God's glory, wanting to claim their own glory. The world is that system that hates the glory of God and the world nailed the glory of God to the shameful cross. Only because he let them. The world rejoiced at that death. It was a day of great sorrow. The king of glory died. The creator died at the hands of the creature. The world rejoiced. God's people had sorrow. But then. He rose victorious and silenced the world's rejoicing. As Scooter already read, there in the ground His body lay, light of the world by darkness slain. Then bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He arose. The disciples are fearful and full of sorrow, but then they see Jesus! He's conquered! Their enemy, their own sin, their death. Verse 22, there is a reason we think the text really has to be referencing the cross and the resurrection after he's risen, no one can take our joy from us. Yes, the joy is perfectly complete in heaven. But today, Christian, there is joy that we can have that cannot be taken away from us. And it's in Jesus Christ and him alone. This is a promise that is important as the world will hate us. The world will cast us out. We will be murdered. We will suffer. There is a joy in the midst of all this and is only found in Jesus Christ. We must seek joy in Christ and Christ alone. If you're not a Christian this morning. There's really two sides to be on in the cross. You're either rejoicing that Jesus died or you're rejoicing that Jesus is alive. There's no neutral party. We're either rejoicing in our rebellion or rejoicing in the resurrected Jesus Christ. If you're not a Christian this morning, you're on the wrong side. You're rejoicing in the sin that you have in this life, and I have to tell you, it's only a temporary rejoicing. Because this is the truth of God, and this is the only thing you need to hear this morning beyond the testimony you've already heard. When you die, you will be face to face with God, and your sin will come in direct contact with his glory and perfection, and you will be consumed. The Bible describes it in language of fire. That doesn't even get close to it. The glorious perfections of God coming into direct contact with your rebellion will consume you. Hell is not a place where you and your buddies get to keep sinning. Hell is the place of deepest loneliness. Hell is the place of deepest anguish, where you will think about the rest of your eternity. How you refused God. You rejected God. His wrath will constantly be upon you. You can continue in your sin and rebellion and this will be your end, or you can believe in the good news of Jesus Christ. That Jesus Christ came and He died so that the wrath that you would experience when your sin comes in contact with the glory of God, His life was given for yours. The wrath of God was poured out upon Him for all who believe. The two options are we rejoice in the resurrected Christ because we know he was judged on our behalf and now we're free of all judgment. We continue to rejoice in your rebellion. This is the grace of God. You can die for what you deserve. You can die and get what you deserve, which is hell and wrath. Or you can believe in Jesus Christ and he will die. He has died and he takes his wrath upon you. At any point of this sermon, I want you, if you're not a Christian, to get up and walk out. Ben will follow you. Sam will come. Somebody will talk to you about the gospel. This is all you need to worry about. What happens when you die? Will you be judged forever in your sin? Will you believe that Jesus Christ was judged so that you can rejoice in his resurrection? Father, Thank you for sending your son. Thank you that we no longer have to die in fear. Thank you that we no longer have to face a wrath. I pray for anyone here who does not know you, that they will be overwhelmed. With a judgment that's coming. And they'll be overwhelmed that while they are still sinners, you sent your son to die for them. Do not let them leave without hearing more and believing in you, their Savior. Amen. What is Christian joy? This is what Jesus is promising. He's getting them ready for the sorrow, but most of all, He's really getting them ready for the joy. The sorrow is only a moment. He's getting them ready for the joy. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will return to joy. Just like the woman who's pregnant. She's sorrowful. She knows the pain she's going to have to go through because of the curse. The joy of a new life. She's willing to endure. She's ready to endure because of the rejoicing. It's so much greater than the sorrow. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice. So what is rejoicing? What is Christian joy? It's having your security and your identity in Jesus Christ. It's not based upon status, surroundings or situation in life. Joy is not found in our friends. It's not being popular or liked. Joy is not found in our wealth or security because moths will eat it, rust will destroy it, and the government will take it when you die. The joy is not found in your health. We're all growing older and we're all going to die. And then the government will take everything we had. We all laugh. We're all seeking joy in this world that's fleeting. Joy, real rejoicing, is only found in Jesus Christ. What he's done for us, what he has secured for us. If you're wrestling with true joy, read Philippians 4 today. Listen to Philippians chapter 4, I'll begin in verse 4. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable. If there is any excellence, there's anything worthy of praise. Think about these things. What do you have learned and received and heard and seen in me practice these things and the God of peace will be with you. Not that I'm speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low and know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." That last verse is fairly popular because athletes like to wear it. And at some level, it works in athletic contests because you have to endure through trial and suffering and sweat and blood. But here it's different because it's the midst of fighting against your flesh. It's the midst of the world hating you. You can endure because you are in Christ. Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise, whatever is of God, let your mind be focused on these things. You're the focus of things of the world or the things of God. Christian, joy is not without suffering. Joy cannot be taken away from you in the midst of suffering because joy is given to you. Christ has established you on Mount Zion, the unshakable foundation, according to Hebrews 12. You need to be aware of the prosperity gospel. We're Americans. We're all prone to the prosperity gospel. Health, wealth and prosperity. These are privileges we can pursue freely in America. They're not rights that God owes us. They're not rights that God owes us. There is poverty, there is sickness, there is death. But Jesus Christ is alive. That's the one thing that will not change. That is where our hope must be. One of the most amazing parts of it, not just Philippians 4, but a passage, Paul, he has a thorn in the flesh. We're not quite sure what that is. But he says, I'm thankful for it because it helps me boast more in Christ. Our circumstances don't change how we boast, our circumstances always lead us to boasting only in Christ. Few things that kill joy. Focusing on our past sins, or our present sins for that matter. Focusing on the sin patterns that continually plague us. Friend, find security in that Jesus Christ has poured out his precious blood for you and has washed you. You're no longer guilty. Do not let your past sins constantly plague you. Secondly, and like it, and for many this is harder, don't focus on the past sins against you. Some are overwhelmed by their sins. Some are overwhelmed by the sins that have been done against them. Your sin in this is not seeking to forgive. The bitterness that can come, the fear. Ask Christ for the grace to forgive. Ask Christ for the grace and the guidance from believers to help you. I think one of the biggest things that kills our joy is focusing on ourselves. What will satisfy me? What will make me most happy? What will fulfill me? Jesus Christ calls you to deny yourself, to follow him, to take up the cross. That's where joy is found. This is the beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christians get to embrace their life actually doesn't matter in this world. That's a benefit of being a Christian, right? The song is true. All we are is dust in the wind. At the end of the day, we're not going to be remembered 100 years from now. At the end of the day, you're dying. You're going to be buried. Your grandchildren's grandchildren, they're not going to know who you were. We're all dying in this world, we're insignificant. Unless you believe in Jesus Christ and then you get transferred into a new kingdom with a new status as a child of God, eating with the king of glory, the creator. The hard truth is life doesn't really matter, but the beauty of the gospel Our lives matter to God, and he redeems us. Let me move to our second main focus and point, and here we're going to camp out for the rest of our time. Praying in Jesus' name keeps us in his joy. Verses 23 and 24. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full." Our relation with God is defined by our asking and Him giving. We gain everything. He gives everything. If you want to know what you bring to the table, it's your sin. It's your sin that He washes away and that while you're still a sinner, He loves you. Now, I want to back up and I want to show us that there's actually three very important teachings that Jesus has strung together here, that John has recorded for us, that we need to consider together. There are three different teachings on prayer. Flip over to chapter 14, verse 13. These three teachings have three elements in common. You need to write them down, listen for them. The three teachings all include these three things. Pray to the Father, in the name of the Son, ask whatever. Pray to the Father, in the name of the Son, ask whatever. The last one really catches our attention. Listen for those three things. Pray to the Father, in the name of the Son, asking whatever. Fourteen, thirteen. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 1516 you did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide so that whatever you ask the father in my name, he may give it to you. John 1623 and that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the father in my name, He will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name again. Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full. There's three clear similarities. Ask the Father in the name of the Son. Receive whatever. Let's go to chapter 14, verse 13. I want to work backwards. We are to ask in the name of Jesus. These are not mystic, magical syllables that open up secret doors. His name is tied to his identity and his work. His name is given to him. His name has authority because he was the obedient son who is obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. His name is tied to who he is, the son of God and the Savior. So we ask in his name. It already defines the whatever. It's according to Christ and his purposes. Asking in Jesus' name focuses on who he is. You have to realize something. If we ask for our selfish desires in his name, we're idolaters. When we're seeking our selfish game in the name of Jesus, we're using the most high name, the creator and the savior, the son of God, to fulfill our selfishness. Now, when we ask in his name, it already directs the things we're asking for because it's according to his purposes. Secondly, notice we ask whatever. That, it's a purpose clause, that the Father may be glorified. Here we see the name of Jesus. That's the purpose of the Son. He glorifies the Father. What we're asking for should be seeking to glorify God. Again, narrowing down the whatever. So now we look at the whatever we ask. It's a big promise. It's clear that what we're asking for glorifies the Father, not ourselves. It's clear that what we ask is according to the purposes of Christ. What's not included in the whatever clause are these prayers. God, make me important. God, give me more popularity. God, give me more power. Give me more prominence. Give me more prestige. Those aren't included in the whatever. Because they're not aligned with Christ. Because it's His glory. His prestige. His power. These are the petty prayers we make in the name of Jesus for ourselves. Our importance. Our popularity. Our power. Our prominence. Our prestige. This is idolatry. There's two ways to live. For God's glory or for your own. Which direction are your prayers leading you? John 15, 16. So the unique part of chapter 14 is that it adds to this. It's for the glory of the Father. John 15, 16 adds another uniqueness to the three prayers. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, that your fruit should abide so that Whatever you ask of the Father in my name. Notice the clear connection. When you are bearing fruit, your fruit abides so that whatever you ask of the Father. Notice that we've been chosen. We've been appointed to go and bear fruit. The Father is the vine dresser. He's the one who prunes. He's the one who cuts away our sinfulness. So we're sanctified. That's a big Christian word. Let me define it for you. Sanctification is when a Christian entertains and acts and listens to his sinful desires less and less and grows in his virtues and fruits of the Spirit more and more. Sanctification is a simple process of saying no to the sinful desires and yes to the godly desires that he gives to us. God has appointed us. He's chosen us. We're elect to bear fruit. When we're bearing fruit, we ask in the name of Jesus and he gives whatever we want because we're bearing fruit, we're repenting of sin and growing in godliness. Asking the father, asking Jesus name to make you more comfortable or more like him. Are you asking the father in Jesus name to make you more secure and wealth or more sure of your salvation? Are you asking the father in the name of Jesus for more happiness and material gain or more humility? seeking to give for the sake of His glory. What's added here in chapter 15 is our fruitfulness in Christ enables our prayers. Finally, chapter 16, verse 23, in that day, when you see the risen Christ, in that day, your joy may be full. Now, let's connect these. It's for the glory of God. It's when you're fruitful. It's for your joy. I know it's late. We've got lunch afterwards. Listen to this. Asking my name to the father, whatever you want, it's for the God's glory, it's for you, it's in the midst of your fruitfulness, it's for your joy, God's glory, fruitfulness, joy, these things, these three things are connected. This is the development of the prayer life. You will be most satisfied when your life is glorifying and rejoicing in Jesus Christ. If you want to know what prayer should be leading you to, it's not convincing God of the things He should be doing for you. It's actually asking God, will you change me so that your glory is seen, so that I bear fruit, so that I have true joy? Because true joy is only in Christ, the work He's doing in us, the work that's glorifying Him. Everything else you're leaving behind. Only that which we do for the glory of God will remain for eternity. That's why it can't be taken away. When we're praying in the name of the son to the father, we can ask whatever we want for God's glory. Bearing fruit, it's our joy. We have a new citizenship and a new identity. It's in Christ. It's a new joy. It's no longer ourselves. It's no longer disappointing. We ask the whatever it must align with the father's glory, the whatever must bear more fruit and the whatever brings us joy. Do not confuse what God has promised. He's not promised you health, wealth and prosperity. He's promised you a kingdom. He's promised you a son. He's promised you life eternal. This is helpful in the context. The world's going to hate you. They're going to cast you out. Some of you will die. All of us will suffer. That's one thing Christ does promise us. We will suffer for his name's sake. He also promised that he will be with us and he's for us. Do not let your joy be connected to how well you are doing in the life the world knows, advancing and being promoted and gaining more. As I was studying, I came across a challenge from John Calvin. Our hearts are enfeebled by prosperity so that we cannot make the effort to pray. Our hearts are enfeebled by prosperity so that we cannot make the effort to pray. Are you so weakened by the physical blessings that you've been granted that you are not going to God dependent in prayer? Has your prosperity made you impotent in prayer? I pray takes it away from you. This is Calvin speaking, this is 500 years ago when they did not have the prosperity we have today in America, they're being persecuted and they're being sought to kill them and to beat them. And he's speaking of their prosperity is keeping them from from praying. How much are they keeping us? Do not let your prosperity keep you from the power of prayer. There's two diagnoses here, one negative, one positive. There's a stick, then the carrot. Your level of dissatisfaction is directly related to your desire for others to boast in you. This is revealed in your inability to pray and trust God. Your level of joy is directly related to how much you are boasting in Christ. This is revealed in your rejoicing in Christ. Let your joy be in your identity as a child of God in communion with him committed according to his way. Are you a Christian struggling with rejoicing this morning? Anytime I counsel a Christian struggling rejoicing, there's two key questions. First, when did you stop rejoicing? Then I ask, what sin did you refuse to repent of around the same time? That's what keeps us from rejoicing. We don't repent of the sin that the Spirit is convicting us of, and therefore we quench the Spirit, the source of joy, that points us to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's not always that simple, but oftentimes it is. We have to realize that it's the lack of fruit, it's the lack of commitment to God's glory, it's the lack of commitment to following him that kills our joy. If you're struggling with rejoicing, there's one clear thing you need to do. Look to the risen Christ, see his glory, see his love. They give you more focus. Look to the glory of the cross where you see his absolute love for you. Christian. We have to hear. We have to recognize that the importance of prayer that this is by God's design, this is a great first sermon for you because you can hear the power of prayer, the most important part of a Christian's life. Prayer is aligning your heart with God's desires. Prayer is so that your goal can be God's glory. Prayer is so that you are delighting in what truly delights and satisfies, and that is God. A few truths about prayer. Prayer is the most important practice for the Christian. It's not optional. It's essential. The church, in Acts 2, they're community apostles, teaching to prayer and to fellowship. Prayer was a central part of the church from the very beginning. Men, Paul declares, he expects us to be praying in every place, 1 Timothy 2. Widows, Paul said a true Christian widow is one who prays and makes supplication day and night, 1 Timothy 5. All, all believers. We're called to pray for our leaders and those who are in authority. First Timothy 2. Luther says this to be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing. Charles Spurgeon, if any of you should ask me for an epitome of the Christian religion, I should say that it is one word prayer live and die without prayer and you will pray long enough when you go to hell. Prayer is essential. Second, recognize prayer is your joy. Prayer is how we rejoice in Christ, how we see him, how we know him, how we experience his resurrected power. Thirdly, pray for the happy life. Everybody prays for the happy life. That's just what everybody does. The Christians should be doing it differently. We pray for the life God designed. The big difference in how we pray for the happy life is this. That we will be changed rather than our circumstances. The big difference in praying for the happy life of the Christian is that we do not pray that our circumstances are changed. We pray that we are changed. Pray that we will see the glory of God in our circumstances. Pray that we will know the love of God in our circumstances. Pray that we will remain steadfast in our circumstances. The only thing that needs to change in prayer is our hearts. Fourth. Recognize prayer is your duty. Some Christians do not like that word. Duty, are you going to make us legalist? No, I'm going to make you more faithful Christians if you pray. Legalism is saying you have to do something the Bible does not command in order to be right with God. Ask yourself, does the Bible know of a Christian who does not pray? Romans 10, everyone who calls on me will be saved. You became a Christian through prayer. You will be sustained as a Christian through prayer. It's your duty. Praying is essential for salvation is essential for your life. I mean, we kind of say the wrong thing sometimes. Often, occasional, regular. Sometimes men will come in and they'll say, I would have been earlier, but I had to wait on my wife. One key word that was wrong there. No, you knucklehead, you get to wait on your wife. You don't have to wait on your wife. You get to. You're blessed that she's willing to go anywhere with you. It's by God's grace alone. She's wanting to go somewhere. You get to wait on your wife. That's the joy part. You get to pray to God. The duty is you have to. Unthankful men, you get that it's your duty to wait on your wife. You do not leave her behind. See, joy and duty, they go together. It's our joy to go to Christ in prayer. It's our duty to go to Christ in prayer. It's important to remember this because prayer is very difficult. It's changing our hearts. It's fighting against the flesh. Nobody is naturally good at prayer. No one is naturally good at prayer. Those who are prayer warriors, they're the ones who have seasoned themselves year after year, day by day, month by month. It has to begin with a time committed. No one's good at it naturally, but it's the changing of one's heart that's focusing on what God will do for us. And here's one clear way you can make yourself better at prayer. Stop making your prayers a wish list. That gets boring and old. If all we ever do is keep asking God for stuff that's not glorious enough. Ask God that you might see him more clearly. That's how you energize your prayer life. How to pray. Praise God in your prayers. Praise God in your prayers, particularly two kinds of prayers. There's a prayer of gratitude where you're thanking God for what he gives you. And there's a prayer of adoration, praising God for who he is. That must be the natural growth and progression. You praise God for what he does for you. You praise God for who he is. Pray recognizing your absolute dependency upon God. If you're not praying, knowing that it's the only source of real life and real joy and real power you have, you're not praying. You have to go humbly, knowing that your boast is only in Christ. Prayer must be to you as the oxygen tank is to the scuba diver. Prayer must be to you as food is to the hungry. It's absolutely needed. Do not let your prosperity keep you from seeing this need. Pray in such a way that you are being changed, not your circumstances. Another practical, helpful application, I hope, Make prayer a priority that's never rescheduled. Don't let anything get in the way of your scheduled prayer time. That's the most important thing you can do that day. Just like the most important thing you can do right now is be sitting here in a worship service. The most important thing you can do is have that time of scheduled prayer that's never rescheduled because nothing's more important. I ask you, join with Pastor Ben this summer to pray with him and others. Another practical way to help you pray, pray with the Bible. There are numerous prayers in Scripture. Pray from those, pray with those, take the Lord's Prayer and just make it your own prayer. I would encourage you to listen to Ron Pantuck. When he prays from Scripture, he models what this looks like. As we're hearing men come up and doing the service, when they read Scripture, they pray for it. Listen for how they're praying from Scripture. Friends, we get to pray for God's glory. We get to pray bearing fruit. We get to pray that our joy will be complete. This is essential to our lives as Christians. This is the power in our lives as Christians. Let's commit ourselves to pray. Will you pray with me? Father, forgive us. Your ears are constantly bent towards us to listen. Your hand constantly stretched out to give, and yet we. We're enfeebled by our own prosperity. We boast in what we can do and what we think is ours. Help us, Lord, to boast only in Christ. Help us to rejoice only in him. Help us as a church to know how we come together and pray in the name of the Son under his headship. To you, the Father, lead us by the Spirit to cry out with us and for us. So that we'll be changed for your glory. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.