June 24, 2018 - William Carrol - How To Pray When You Can’t

would you turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Romans we're just going to read one passage in Romans and they were going to consider the idea of the intercessor the message is entitled how to pray when you can't how to pray when you can't Romans 8:26 a very familiar portion of Scripture likewise the spirit also helps us in our weaknesses for we do not know what we should pray for I like this this version is nice but there are other versions it says for we do not know how we should pray as we ought to but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us now for us as Christians one of our chief responsibilities is to be intercessors it's not just a responsibility it's who we are we care for people we want to make a difference in people's lives but the longer we experience life the more we recognize the significant difficulties and the sometimes insurmountable circumstances of our generation things that seem almost impossible when you consider what goes on in our city when you consider some of the things that are going on even today we have to remind ourselves that the things that we are praying for as we intercede for this city or as we intercede for friends and loved ones sometimes it becomes overwhelming and there are times when the person whose responsibility it is to intercede needs and intercessor right now the term intercede just means to intervene to get in the way and a big part of our responsibility as Christian people is to get in the way to get in the way of what the enemy is trying to do in this generation a lot of the things that we see going on around us according to the enemy's plan should have gone on unchallenged unabated but God chose to set up a community of believers right in the midst of Times Square hallelujah all the other things that we're seeing those things are flowing with the natural flow what we're doing is something supernatural I'm not shocked by the things that are going on out there but the enemy is surprised by what's going on in here the enemy is shocked by what's going on in here because we have been called to get in the way but every now and again when we get in the way we do deal with hardships we deal with difficulties we feel overwhelmed we look at the circumstances and it seems insurmountable it seems impossible but at times like that we recognize that there is an intercessor who intercedes for the intercessor there is the holy spirit who intercedes on the behalf of those people who are interceding on the behalf of other people and when we get to a point where our intercession is no longer enough when we realize that we can't pray anymore when we've given it everything that we have and it seems like it's just getting worse and worse it's at times like that when we can't pray anymore that the holy spirit comes with an extra portion of grace we heard throughout the entire service today songs about grace and about grace and about grace and about the Holy Spirit there comes a time when the Holy Spirit comes with an extra portion of grace that allows the intercessor to continue in our responsibility so ultimately what we see in this text is when we get to a point where we can't pray the way we ought to when we don't know how to pray anymore when we don't know how to put words to it anymore when we sometimes can't put feelings behind it anymore when we sometimes are so overwhelmed that we can't even put thought into it anymore it's at times like that that the Holy Spirit comes to us and he begins to get in the way of all those things that are trying to get in our way and he begins to remind us of a particular reality that when the enemy comes in like a flood the Lord will raise up a standard hallelujah now that word standard just means a flag it just means that the Lord will remind us of what we are ultimately about the Bible calls the Lord our flag the Lord the Yahweh me see the Lord our flag right and basically what it means is that at a certain point when we are overwhelmed with the circumstances with the situation the things that we're praying for or when we are reminded of our own weaknesses and how we are getting tired and how we're sometimes growing weary and well doing the Lord raises up this one standard this one flag this one reminder this one emblem and says look here now that's what the Holy Spirit does the work of the son is to glorify the father to bear witness to the father to reveal the father and the work of the spirit is to do the same to the son the work of the Spirit is to cause us to look to Jesus to look to the banner to look to the standard to look to the cross the work of the Spirit is to say don't be overwhelmed with the circumstance don't be overcome by your own weaknesses don't be drawn in to the rhetoric of this generation but remember the Lord look to God look to who he is remind yourself of who he is and the Holy Spirit begins to draw a picture of Christ in our vision again reminding us that it's not about the bigness of the problem and it's not about the smallness of ourselves it is about the glory of God it is about the power of God it is about the name of God and so what the spirit tries to do is he begins to remind us of things about Jesus first as he comes to us and says I know the difficulties are real and I know sometimes you feel like you don't have enough in you to ask for the kinds of miracles that are necessary for the kind of change that must happen there are some times when we want to pray down miracles from heaven and then we look at our own lives and we say but Who am I to ask for this or to ask for that when I still seem to have this issue or that issue or the other issue well first and foremost don't get caught up with the situation don't get caught up with yourself remember Christ and the Spirit would say to us remember that when we pray we don't pray based upon our own merits we pray based upon the merit of Christ in other words we pray because Christ has earned it we pray for miracles christ has earned it we pray for victory because Christ has earned it we pray for great things because Christ has earned it if you and I are waiting for our own resume to suggest that we've earned anything we're gonna be waiting for a long time and we are not gonna be praying for anything great but we remind ourself of what Christ has done and we remind ourselves that we are co-heirs with Christ that we had joint heirs with Christ we remind ourselves of that scripture that says of his fullness we have received one grace upon another grace we remind ourselves that we pray based on what Christ has earned on Calvary's tree then we can pray for anything we can believe for anything when I pray and based on our own merit we're praying based upon the merit of Christ so likewise we're not praying God do this thing because somehow or another it is just or that it is the right thing to do even though we know God is right and God is just we look at our society and we can't really look at it and say God save this society because it's the right thing to do even though God is right and God is just we have to go beyond that and say God according to your many-fold mercies save this generation because if justice alone prevailed none of us would survive so we say God according to your merit and God according to your mercies the Bible says the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases his mercies never come to an end they are new every morning new every morning great is the faithfulness of God and sometimes we look at the circumstances of life and it seems like every morning something else happens every morning something else is coming down the pike every morning something else is challenging us and then we remind ourselves at the same time God's mercies are new every morning new every morning I don't care what they say on the news God's mercies are new every morning I don't care how it is you wake up in the morning and you hear some news report and you say I can't believe it could actually get worse than it was yesterday and not only that but it could also get better than it was because God's mercies are new every morning and we pray according to the mercy of God and that's what the Spirit is trying to get us to do to remind ourselves of who Jesus is pray according to his means in other words pray according to his riches according to his wealth according to his provision according to his prosperity not the prosperity that you hear about on television and that kind of a thing but the prosperity that suggests that everything that needs to be done in this generation everything that needs to be done in this time still falls under the canopy of God's prosperity of God's provision when we pray we are not praying to a god who is bankrupt when we pray when I pray to a God who spent all of his money 2,000 years ago and has nothing left we're not praying along with the cessationists that say basically God did all of his miracles back then ran out of miracles and now we're on our own no the God that we serve still has plenty of power hallelujah still has plenty of provision phil has plenty of prosperity he still knows how to feed the hungry he still knows how to take care of the needy he still knows how to pay your rent and how to pay mine hallelujah and so we pray according to his means Bible says all authority is given to Christ he has everything that he needs and so we fix our gaze upon him we put our eyes on that banner we allow the Holy Spirit to get in the way of the things that are getting in our way as we try to get into the way of the enemy so that we can do what God has called us to do we pray according to his manifest presence there's something about that passage of scripture that says I am with you always even until the end of the age always until the end of the age Jesus is not a fair-weather friend in other words he's not the kind of person that says man is getting rough in here on out unto the end of the age great it doesn't matter what is going on it doesn't matter what's in the news doesn't matter it doesn't matter it doesn't matter doesn't matter at what point in the age we happen to be it doesn't matter if the whole thing seems like it's about to blow up Jesus made a promise and for you and for me that's all that matters Jesus gave His Word and God that cannot lie hallelujah hallelujah he said lo I am with you until the end of the age and I believe that until the days run out on the calendar Jesus is with us until that final day on this side of eternity the Lord is manifestly with us heaven is still his throne but earth is his footstool he's still here by the power of the Spirit he's still here he's still God he's still mighty still powerful still glorious still wonderful still Jesus nothing has changed just as Jesus as ever where it is sad Joy's a day to the end of the age let the Holy Spirit remind you of his miraculous power a God that we serve still does miracles he still raises the dead he still heals the sick he still gives sight to the blind he still just here into the death he still does wonderful things there are things that he's going to do on this side of eternity since he's gone doing that side of eternity that should be left to his discretion he's still God but he's still doing wonderful things he's still doing miracles I'm still praying for miracles I'm still believing for miracles when I first started this walk a long time ago people might have said to me you know it's a little irrational maybe maybe he's a little crazy to believe a miracle and I might have given them a billionth of a second of my time but after 30 years in this kind of ministry doing this kind of thing and seeing what I've seen I would be insane to not believe in miracles I would have literally I would have faith lost my mind I would literally have to forget thirty years of my life just like that in order to not believe in the miraculous power of God because I've seen too much I've seen too many lives saved I've seen too many miracles I've seen stuff that we read about in the Holy Texas Scripture and I'm not ashamed to acknowledge miracle I believe in God today to God this is the God that we serve the God that we believe the God that we love he hasn't changed he hasn't left his just as God as he ever were Oh glory to his day [Applause] recognize when you pray allow the Holy Spirit to cause you to know the mind of God remember the Lord said I don't just call you servants I call you friends because you know what I do you know why I'm doing what I'm doing you understand my motives you understand my meaning you know why God does what he does at the rate that he does and I have a pace that he does you might not understand everything like we just said earlier in our prayer right there's this is that God is doing in our lives that we never even calculate but we know enough we know how God works we have that holy book we have the Holy Spirit we have each other to encourage one another we have the mind of Christ according to the Holy Scriptures and so sometimes instead of looking at the issues in a difficulties and so on or looking at all themselves in our own week this isn't we just we just look at the Lord and allow him to communicate his mind to us his calm to us his peace to us his loved his compassion to us to remind us and he still has everything under control a God has everything under control and to understand that and to be able to rejoice in it awesome so what a check the time I got a lot of points and I just listened to really quickly when we pray we pray also according to a knowledge of God's moral standard that is God is good it in some philosophical disciplines they have this concept of what they call the best possible world and basically what that means is that given everything that's involved the fall of humankind things like that even though our situation sometimes seems very difficult it is the best possible scenario that God can work in when he's engaging people who have a free will and he's dealing with not just Saints but he's also having to incorporate you know his dealings with people who rebelled against them and so on and so forth and so that we look at this world and we say shouldn't God do this that the other thing now there was wisdom that says yes this can change this can change that can change the other thing can change but with those kinds of changes is also going to be challenges difficulties hardships where we go in the attack there's going to be a counter-attack and so on and so forth we recognize that but we also recognize that this is the best possible scenario on this side of eternity given the fall of human time so we should never question whether or not God is good because that is the nature of the fall of humankind the enemy comes and basically says shouldn't you discern for yourself what's good and what's not now that's a whole expression called the elephant in the room elephant in the room is that one thing that is the most important thing of all so when the enemy comes and says shouldn't you'd be able to discern your self what's good or what's not he's not talking about the truth okay that's by the tree he's talking with the one who told him that to eat from the tree that's what he said you can't trust him he's not good so basically he's asking Adam and Eve to discern whether or not God is good that was the nature of the fall they decided that God is not good and they fell how did God save them he saved them by calling to them as they ran basically what he was saying was listen I know you blew it but do you trust me now will you stop running for me the Bible said that first they hit up the fig trees and the fig leaves in this area now about to hide under the cover of darkness right and what Jesus said this is the condemnation that middle of darkness rather than light so they better hide remember the Bible says the Sun is going down and God is calling to them again and again Adam where are you and where are you he's asking them do you trust me yes or no is God good yes or no I know what else you gave a little while ago you had time to think it over it is God good yes or no do you realize that is the only question you'll ever have to answer in this life ultimately if you're worried if you're struggling if you're fearful if you're doubtful it is God good yes or no I know it seems like an over simplification but it's a question I asked myself when I feel like I got a million questions and and all of a sudden the intercessor just comes and he points me to God and said easy good yes or no he puts me not to the nothing tree in the midst of the garden but but now to to Calvary Street he shows me what Jesus did for me but a defeat but it did for all of us he poisons him out in that sense of course he liked that once for all he's dead still over the cross but you're the same employee and he says is he good yes or no first that standard right that's that bad that's that flag right and we knew that they can not pocket looking for that rent check or whatever the case would be right no is he provided yes or no see and all we have to do is say yes then we begin to branch out we begin to pray for the people get the pray for the needs of the needed we gonna pay for that lost loved one and so it's over and the question is the same it's good and all we have to do is say yes but that's the spirits job that helped us to say yes they help us to say Amen they help us to cry Abba Father help us to say as it goes on right all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and we're the call the court is not a very complicated book but it goes so deep to the spiritually speaking to the atomic level of who we are and it really just asks us to say what we're born to say what we were created to say god is good god is good god is good god is good oh it sounds good to say if good to say it always leave it out its life its peace its help its truth god it's good when you were not walking to that the only thing the enemy has is this lie about Macau that's it that's all he has left when it comes out to the Christian for the loss he's got whole lot he's working with the ball Travis Lauren the image of God is deprecated the concept of family deprecated the concept of gender sold so far just with little part ripping apart living them apart for us he's got enough and the only thing that he tries to work with this gentleman if I can just get them to say that god it's not good we're not gonna fall for that and this because of some image where we kind of kind of clench our fists you know grinding pepper it's tough not a little bit we're allowing the Holy Spirit into our soul and the cause of the breathing the rarefied air you know the Bible you know that that term security is air fresh the breathing that truth that God is good so this is basically what we do now this is how the intercessor the intercessor intercedes on our behalf and this is what keeps us interceding on the behalf of others and so we just want to pray together here's how we want to pray those of us who choose to take on the heavy responsibility of caring for somebody and if you're Christian that's your choice your choice is to take on the heavy responsibility of caring for somebody that's the gift of the Spirit - you know the Bible says this is how we know that the Holy Spirit come upon us because we will become his martyrs that's what the Bible says in acts 1:8 right the Holy Spirit come upon you and you shall be my martyrs my witnesses so the whole spirit comes upon us gives us a desire to lay our lives down father and then when we get weary he comes and gives us nice trip new life so we're filled and they were filled again and filled again it fills again so what a pray Holy Spirit fill us we simply want to say intercessor into see you don't up yeah don't let me grow weary in well-doing help me to help somebody I know that there's somebody in this room who has somebody in their heart right now sometimes we think in general terms you know we think about the people that are marching them down the way in this any of its other we've any more specific terms people that we love there might be somebody that you love is marching down the way somebody in your family somebody that you care about and sometimes it gets a little harder tired pray for that person in your family or your whole family sometimes that your loved one your spouse sometimes a child sometimes your parents until it and then you just need spirit free and fixed my gaze upon Jesus again cuz the circumstance seems too big and sometimes I seem too small but God you know you know if you want to pray with me this morning on that topic God give me that focus again give me that fullness again strengthen that Commission again then in a moment we're gonna stand and I'm gonna ask you to come to the front of this auditorium those of you who are with us online and asked you stand if you're able those of you who are with us in New Jersey with this in the Annex yeah searchable instruct to you what needs to be done but we've been a pray so we're gonna ask the spirit of Jesus to believe on us let's stand together in the house of the Lord every now and again brothers and sisters we just need a breather we just need a breath we just need to be refocused we need to be reminded we need to be we commissioned if you will I know I do if God is speaking to you you just want to pray here at the front of this auditorium they even can begin to come sorry storm is a wonderful place and being here sometimes reminds you that you're not alone that you're part of a family that would have you go through there's all the people who are going through what they go through we would walk homes aware be family whether they're able to come together we're ready to help each other to strengthen each other alchemy will wait for you take your time God is moving on your heart you're as much a part of this congregation this community as anybody you're visiting you're just as welcome to come eat just as welcome to come it says one family one body you might even be somebody here who says very well I'm not even a Christian I just popped in but you come walk to if you understand what we were talking about with regard to who Jesus is and what he's done and you would put your heart in his hands your life in his hands and you come to me for the most part this is just for Christians who are crying out for men and women who've taken on the bird and caring for other people who can't see this world go the way it's going and say oh well as long as I'm saying now I know that everybody's gonna be able to come to the fund so if you are in your seat and your heart is here that's awesome too we're gonna pray together as a family [Music] you keep coming keep on coming we're gonna remind each other they were not a little ever word from the Lord as you come if you feel like you're alone you just feel like you're alone sometimes you can't even explain it sometimes you're alone the only Christian in your home the only Christian in your family a little Christian on your job sometimes you you can't even say you say I know other Christians but right now for some reason I just feel alone if that word resonates with you right now I just feel in big city like this I just feel alone but you come to because God has got a remind you that you're not alone you're not a part of the found the God who loves you and his family loves you you're not alone and let the devil isolate you don't let him lie to you you're not alone praise the Lord glory to his holy name I just feel spear to the Lord in the midst doing a wonderful thing with us through us the Lord is going to be glorified father in Jesus name we come to you because we simply need a breath we need you to breathe life strength hope health we need you to be glorified in us as you have been so do as you have filled us fill us again we have been called to make a difference in this generation we've been called to get in the way Lord we are not on the sidelines we are not backing down we will not be turned around we will not be stopped Lord you've called us to get in the way and we're asking you to keep us in the way Lord and in order to do that we need you to keep our eyes on Jesus we don't want to be overwhelmed with the circumstances we don't want to be overwhelmed with the difficulties and we don't want to be underwhelmed by our own selves by our own weaknesses and frailties we want God to be the center of our reality we want Jesus to be the center of our ministry and of our mission god help us to help somebody help us to make a difference in this generation God give us strength intercessor we need you to intercede on our we have to intervene on our we have to get in the way of anything that would try and get in our way so that your way might be the only way ultimately God we were expecting your way to be glorified your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven we're asking that your name be glorified oh Jesus Lord we ask for strength from our brothers and our sisters strength of God said that comes only from heaven we ask that your name be glorified in every life Lord we also come against any line that would suggest that any person in this room has got to do anything alone Lord there is no one who is alone Lord you are with us every day and we are a part of a glorious community hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah and we thank you Jesus we thank you Lord the Lord any person in this room who's made a decision to put that trust in you Lord we ask in Jesus name that you seal that decision today that they walk with you forever that they recognize that they have a family in Christ Lord and that they avail themselves to all of the strength and all the help that comes with this particular communion or to help us to help this person Lord and finally I pray your hand a blessing upon our brothers and our sisters we speak peace peace peace that passes all understanding but I thank you for this communion I thank you for this family I thank you for my brothers and my sisters Lord I love them from the depths of my soul and thank you for the privilege of serving them Lord and I just ask that somehow what we do here today resonates as we pour into the streets of this city so that it can be known that there is another way there is another voice there is a power there is a glory there is a God that the Lord is good o glorious still grace is still merciful and is still reaching out to humankind help us to be revival as we pour into the streets of this city and as we go to our respective homes and Lord bring us back throughout the course of this day so that your house can be full and that your people can be filled we thank you and bless you in Jesus Holy Name we pray amen amen

Channel: Times Square Church

Views: 10,260

Rating: 4.9328861 out of 5

Keywords: William Carrol, Sermon, Times Square Church

Id: AZ_Wd-gj9AA

Length: 39min 54sec (2394 seconds)

Published: Wed Jun 27 2018