“I Have Heard Your Prayers and I Have Seen Your Tears”

Pastor Shane Idleman encourages and pleads with parents to cover their families in prayer — your grip may be the only thing that leads the prodigal back home. “It’s time to go to war,” Idleman says. “Dust off the Bible, clean out the prayer closet, assassinate King Stomach, unfollow the ‘gossip group,’ and return to your first love.”

A parent’s prayer life guards the home — it shakes hell and dismantles demonic opposition. That’s why the enemy wants to destroy your prayer life. What other spiritual weapon has that much power? Nothing!

Tune into this 54-minue video if you want to strengthen your prayer life, resurrect dead dreams, regain lost hope, and overcome discouragement.

Editor’s Note: The transcript that follows was automatically generated and lightly edited, so please be aware there could be typos or other small errors. The Stream is working toward a transcription service that does fast, accurate, and reliable work; thank you in advance for your patience!

(00:00) I’m excited to get to this message. The title is, “I have heard your prayers and I have seen your tears.” That preaches God told the prophet to tell the king, “I have heard your prayers and I’ve seen your tears.” I came across this uh this week.

(00:20) At 5 years old, kids say, “Mom, I love you.” At 12 years old, “Mom, I can’t stand you.” At 16 years old, my my mother’s annoying. At 18, I’m leaving this house. At 25, Mom, you were right. At 30, I want to go to my mom’s house. And at 50, I don’t want to lose my [Music] mother. Thank God for moms. You guys need to be encouraged this morning.

(00:50) People take advantage of you. Kids don’t talk to you like they should. You sometimes feel steamrolled, but it’s because of that that caring, nurturing nature. And most people, all of us struggle with it. They’ll they’ll take advantage of those who are caring and concerning.

(01:07) What a wonderful compliment God has put together in our homes. And that’s why we as a church believe in complementarianism that the two roles, male and female, complement each other. But the Bible says they’re equal in Christ. There’s neither Jew nor Greek or male or female. They’re equal in Christ. But we realize here that there’s different roles.

(01:34) There’s different roles in our homes and and how we conduct ourselves. Thank God for that. They complement each other. But even in their brokenness and in their imperfection, women like us, there’s a caring, nurturing, considering considerate spirit that compliments our design. And in many cases, we’ve only given them trouble, but they’ve only given us grace. So, let’s talk about this.

(02:00) I’ve seen your tears and I’ve heard your prayers. Men, this will encourage you. I hope even more so. Young adults, teenagers, wake up. Turn off your phone and listen. And I want to tell you something up front. The promises of God have never let me down. The promises of God have never Can you name one time where the promises of God have ever let you down? There are times when things have not happened according to my timetable.

(02:33) How about you? I thought God was going to do something, but he didn’t. But the promises of God are yes and amen. The Bible says. Now, I’ll be honest with you. I never thought I would be in 2 Kings 20 on Mother’s Day. Set your house in order for you shall die. But I couldn’t get it out of my heart.

(02:57) And preachers know, pastors know, teachers know that when something grips you, that’s usually a good thing because it’s going to grip others. And that’s really when when somebody preaches, it’s theology coming through a person on fire for God. And that fire is designed to light others. It’s it’s to inspire, to motivate.

(03:24) And in those days, Hezekiah was sick and near death. Hezekiah was a king, somewhat controversial, had um you know, did some great things for the Lord. But then what came from him I believe was Manasseh and then Amman and then back to good king Josiah. And it was is that the family history there is very interesting. But he was sick and near death.

(03:50) And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amos went to him and said, “Thus says the Lord, set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.” What about if I just focused on that today? Hey moms, go ahead and get stuff in order because it’s not looking good for the future of our nation or our families.

(04:13) But he turned his face toward the wall. Have you ever done that? And he prayed to the Lord saying, “Remember now.” It’s okay to tell the Lord, “Remember?” I do that some. Remember, remember what you told me. Remember what your word said. Not for his benefit, but for my benefit and yours. I pray I pray. I pray, Lord, listen.

(04:37) I’ve walked before you in truth with a loyal heart. That’s a good combination. You want to get your prayers answered with God. He’s not the man upstairs. He’s not a doing grandfather. He’s not a cosmic ball of love. He is the Lord Jesus Christ. Embrace the truth. The truth propels your prayer life. The truth anchors your life.

(05:00) He’s not one of many ways. He is the only way. And a loyal heart. Lord, I’m going to obey you. I’ve been doing these things and I’ I’ve I’ve done what is good in your sight. And I in Hezekiah, he wept bitterly. Have you ever wept bitterly? But you need to know something this morning.

(05:22) From Josiah to the Apostle James, disciple James, the godly sufferer. I don’t like this topic. Wouldn’t you don’t you wish we could say the more godly you are, the more blessed you’ll be in your finances and your health, all the sick people, they just need to they need to have more faith. When you when you fully surrender, guys, when you’re when you’re walking with the Lord, no, you will not have any prodigals, health issues.

(05:49) Oh, you’re good. Around 909 95, you’ll just die in your sleep. No persecution. Unfortunately, the scripture does not read that way. And as I was reading this, I read Josiah. And I love Josiah. How many of you know that that that King Josiah? He became a king at what age? Eight, seven, eight, nine. It’s interesting.

(06:11) Only they only mention his mom once. Just one one. And I’m wondering, I wonder if she was a godly influence. She was married to a wicked king. But I’m wondering if that mom still had that influence on her child even though she was married to a wicked king. Very interesting. I mean, it could have been the priests and the prophets who who helped.

(06:32) But Josiah, I mean, he cleaned the house of God. He went in and he took out the the the the idols and the false worship. I mean, he was killing people, false prophets of Baal. And it’s just amazing. But then it’s kind of he gets the end of his life and he’s killed in battle. Like Lord, really? What about James? How did he suffer? We’ll read Fox’s Book of Martyrs.

(07:00) And I was listening to a worship set by Jason Upton. Had it on rewind. And he said, “What about if the mountain, you know, we pray move this mountain, move this mountain, move this mountain. What about if sometimes the mountain isn’t meant to be moved but climbed? Oh, I’m borrowing that for a sermon.

(07:20) Isn’t that true? That really shifted my thinking because I’m wanting some mountains to move. But what about if it’s meant to climb? What about it’s not not meant to be cast into the sea, but it’s being used to dismantle our pride? See, difficult things and suffering are really good for us spiritually.

(07:44) I I don’t want to hear a pastor who hasn’t suffered. Fresh out of seminary, young buck, three points in a poem, their sermon is great. Man, they got everything’s going good. and they’re going to tell me how to finish well in this walk of life where there’s there’s tragedy and triumph and and thorns in the flesh and and and things that are very difficult and you need to know that about suffering.

(08:10) It’s a good thing. The irony is not only spiritually but did you know suffering is good physically? How many of you have heard of a term hormesis? Hormesis. Okay, not too many. That’s okay. And at this church, you’re going to you’re going to learn a little bit more things than you might learn at a normal church uh in this area.

(08:35) But hormesis is this. Here’s the definition. It’s a biological phenomenon where a low dose of a potentially harmful stressor stimulates a beneficial adaptive response in an organism. Still confused? Basically, it means a little bad can turn into a lot of good. And how many of you have heard of cold water therapy? We did it last Sunday.

(08:59) And if people knew like say they fell in an icy cold lake, you don’t have to die. The power of the made up mind in the body, how it responds these little I mean that that little stressor something that will kill you if too much can help you if just enough hormesis physically. Same thing spiritually.

(09:19) How many of you heard of all those crazy people online recently in YouTube? Plants will kill you in the fitness industry. You know, plants will kill you. It’s because they produce oxalates and they have phytochemicals and but these little stressors are actually really good for the body. Really, not only that, you just turn to Genesis and God says, “I’ve given you all these things to to to help the body.

(09:41) ” But see, these these little stressors and many of you know I talk about fasting sometimes. Do you know that fasting is actually a stress? It’s a trigger. It wakes your cells up. Couple days, all the glycogen is gone. You’re like, “Uh-oh, what are we going to do? What are we going to do? We have no food.

(10:00) ” Well, now we’re going to start to attack the cancer cells and the tissues that are not that it breaks it down in a in a process called autophagy. It breaks down all the the things that are not that essential and begins to clean the body. It’s incredible what it begins to. So these little stressors are so important.

(10:21) Without hormesis, there is no autophagy and that’s what it’s called. And the cells get lazy. Okay, back to spiritual things. What does it have to do with us spiritually? You get lazy when there’s not some pressure and stress and suffering. Instead of getting lazy, get low. get low. Let the stress because I look back on my life.

(10:48) I’m sure some of you say the same thing. I would not do that that that that. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. But y’all say, you know what? Had it not been for that, I would probably be the most prideful, arrogant person in Los Angeles County. How about you? Because that’s what it does. Success puffs. It elevates.

(11:18) And God says, “Here’s here’s here’s a little suffering. Here’s a little difficulty.” But we also see this uh where God says, “Set your house in order for you shall die.” And we learn something here that’s called God’s permissive will. Here’s interesting about God’s will.

(11:40) And I’m not going to be one of those pastors who say I know all exactly how God’s will works because I have no clue other than what scripture says. It’s very interesting because God’s sovereign yet man has the ability to make choices and those choices can determine destiny. Yet certain destinies God sets in motion which cannot be altered.

(12:04) So theologians have come up with God’s perfect will and his permissive will. and a permissive will. It’s like God wills this. However, he can change direction. I mean, look at all the examples. He told Jonah, “Go and preach to Assyria, Nineveh, actually, the Assyrian capital, because in 40 days I’m going to judge it and destroy it.

(12:28) ” That that was this is happening. This is happening. But they repented and God spared them for about 150 years. And there’s there’s many other examples that, you know, God said basically told Mo Moses, “Move out. Move out of the way. I’m going to wipe out these this this people group and I’ll reestablish.

(12:51) ” And and Moses got in the way and interceded. So, you never know the power of your intercession. You never know how powerful your intercession is. And I hope we find out when we’re in heaven. And this and when he got this bad news, anybody got bad news, man, I’m I’m telling you, most people complain and get upset at God.

(13:18) Instead, what did he do? He he he was persuaded to seek God, and he didn’t complain. He pressed in even more. And of course, we see that truth and obedience turned God toward our prayers. I don’t think God would have heard the prayers of his son Manasseh when he was living in his wickedness because God sees the truth that we’re living out in our obedience to him.

(13:49) Do you know he doesn’t see this is going to help some of you? When God sees us living, he doesn’t see a perfect person. We are in Christ, the righteousness of Christ, of course, but he sees a broken, flawed individual with cracks who needs help. And he helps those who are contrite and lowly of spirit and broken and humble.

(14:19) He he said, “I have heard your prayers and I’ve seen your tears, not your perfection.” If you have an earnest desire to pray well, you must learn how to obey well. A whole lot of what we call struggling is simply delayed obedience. Pastor, I’m struggling. I’ve been struggling for a long time. Okay, maybe.

(14:47) But are you sure you’re being disobedient? Not being disobedient in a certain area. Sin cannot be controlled. It must be crucified. And thank God for verse four. So, and it happened before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court. So, he he comes out of the king’s presence. He’s going through the king’s palace.

(15:09) He’s going through the courts. He’s getting ready to to leave. He’s probably got stuff to do. The word of the Lord came to him saying, “Return and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, thus says the Lord God, I have heard your prayer and I have seen your tears. Surely I will heal you.

(15:43) ” On the third day, you shall go up to the house of the Lord, and I will add to your days 15 years. I will deliver you in this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own name’s sake and for the sake of my servant David. You know what? This is so refreshing for me sometimes.

(16:07) Sometimes God does does things for his own name’s sake. I’ve read this in the Bible so much, so have you, I’m sure, over the years, where it says, um, I will leave an inheritance. I will not strip Israel of all of its tribes. I will do this because of for my own name’s sake. And he rebuked Israel.

(16:29) He said, not because of your righteousness, but for my own name’s sake. I know there’s things he’s keeping together in ministry and different things because of his own name’s sake. That for me that means we can’t take too much pride in what we’ve accomplished. Especially up when I talk to pastors, oh p you guys look, if it wasn’t for the grace of God, no church would exist on planet earth in my opinion. It’s for his own name’s sake.

(17:02) But back to this point, I have seen your tears. I have seen your tears. Many verses we can look at. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Come to me all you who labor and heavy laden and I will give you rest. This is my comfort and my affliction that you’ve promises have given me life.

(17:23) The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Be encouraged this morning. If you are brokenhearted, God is near you today. There is comfort in your affliction. Those promises that God gives us, they give us life. But I don’t know how or what to pray. Have you ever said that? I don’t know how.

(17:49) I don’t know what to pray. Well, many years ago in the Salvation Army, a man by the William Booth who founded it, he got a correspondence. I think they what do they call it? telegraphs, those little things that they they went back and forth. Sometimes I wish we were back there, but that’s okay. We’re not there. So, they they they said, “Nobody’s coming to Saving Faith.

(18:15) Nothing’s really working. Our prayers are falling on deaf ears. We’re about ready to come back home and give up.” What do you think he responded? He responded with two words. Try tears. Try tears. When all else fails, get before God with weeping and brokenness and a contrite spirit. Cry out to God Almighty.

(18:45) Here’s why this is so important. If it doesn’t mean much to you, it’s not going to mean much to God. You’re only as powerful as your prayer life. If we just kind of go through the motions, it set on my schedule, I don’t know if we’re going to see as big of a breakthrough in things as we as we would if we were to push in and to pursue him.

(19:09) When he becomes your all consuming passion, that’s where change takes place. But also know this, tears may not restore your life like you once had it, but it will restore your relationship with the Lord. You you might not because many people are weeping over what used to be. Oh, if I could just get that back.

(19:36) Oh, if I could just get that back. And sometimes that won’t be repaired. Sometimes that won’t happen. But God knows. God knows what’s best. I shared with somebody actually this morning at morning worship that I sowed so many tears when God brought me home back to him and I sowed in tears and I sowed in tears and you know what there were prayers that were not answered never answered but do you know I thank God.

(20:19) Before Gar Brooks say s saying s saying s saying s saying s saying s saying s saying s saying s saying s saying thank god for unanswered prayers I was singing it cuz out of those ashes I met my wife and had the kids and looking back like oh thank God. Oh thank God take take back those take back everything I prayed for. Take I don’t know what was I thinking.

(20:40) Trust in God and God alone. Tears come with a reward. The reward of comfort with your savior, nearness to the cross, and the presence of God in your life. I can tell you and you can’t you, this is a topic you can’t manipulate. You ever seen those fake tears and oh whatever and you know try to okay Shane’s at a cry today and no it’s actually not.

(21:11) But there’s there’s an outflow of what’s going on internally there there there’s and and and and I’ve no wonder I was never close to God. I never [wept] over my sin. I never I never wept over how far I drifted from him. And and there nearness comes with that brokenness. Oh God, help me get this point across.

(21:36) God, help me get this point across. And I don’t want people coming up and crying and thinking it’s it’s really it’s really a brokenness of heart. It’s really when pride is crushed. It it it’s really when when we get to our wits end with life and we just and God says that’s the outflow that needed to happen.

(22:02) that that that weeping that that yearning that letting go of pride and ulterior motives and and it just out of that comes a mighty rush of the filling of the spirit. Some things have to be pushed out before he can flow in. Oh, I might shift gears on this sermon. You ready? I know many of you look tired, but you better wake up cuz we’re about ready to hit into fast forward gear, guys.

(22:26) Where would we be if the prayers of our moms if the prayers of our moms didn’t knock us didn’t knock on heaven’s door and capture the heart of God? Where? Think about where would we be if the prayers of our moms never existed. They they never knocked on heaven’s door to to get God to respond. And and and this morning, dads, this is a call to you. Rise to the challenge.

(22:54) Rise to the challenge. Do you know wives help meetats are not designed to carry all the burden? Hello. Hello. God has such a sense of humor this morning. I mean the altar, right? All the you saw the people up here. What? Two guys. It’s not my cheesemo. I’m tough guy. I’m a tough guy. That’s what I thought. Right. Men are tough.

(23:17) We’re going to beat people up. We’re going to rule our home with a rod of iron. Men, you’ve got a break. You’ve got a break. You’ve got to humble yourself. You know what? I’ve been I don’t even have my notes. I’ve been praying on it. Asked a few people, but I think it’s okay.

(23:37) I want to put up a picture of a time when my mom was praying for me. It’s next to a black truck. I think Luke knows where it at. That’s who God was praying for. I was about ready to go out on the town with with Jim and Jack. Anybody not know what that means? You want me to elaborate? Jim Beam, Jack Daniels. And I was on a highway to hell.

(24:02) And I live with that façade. That That’s what a man is. I got kicked out of Black Angus for life. I sneak in now and they don’t recognize me. It’s been so long. So, but that’s who she was praying for. I did not have a dad that prayed for me. He actually would encourage that. I just came across something that somebody told me about why God’s strongest women suffer the most by Billy Graham.

(24:35) I heard the message. It sounded like it was AI, but I don’t. It was pretty good. But he said, “You’re not being punished with suffering. You’re being prepared. You’re not being punished. You’re being positioned. Strength is not born on the mountaintop, but in the valley of pain.

(24:56) The oil flows from crushing and the light shines through the cracks. God’s greatest warriors weep deeply. That’s where true strength comes from. Look at all of God’s greatest warriors in the Bible. Did David weep? Did Moses? But but but not Jeremiah. His word is in my heart like a burning fire. Not that Jeremiah. Jeremiah called you when you were a young child.

(25:27) Get up and call this nation to me. Be strong, Jeremiah. No, he’s actually called the weeping prophet. You don’t know how much I’m just praying, Lord, just let me get through this. Because we need tears again. The prophets would actually pray, “Oh, God, my” They would say, “My tears are like rivers of water.

(25:55) My tears are like rivers of water.” God, heal heal your people, men and women of God. You’re not built only in triumph, but also in defeats. Those those those defeats break us. And I don’t know exactly how it works, but pride has to be broken out of you. That’s why you I love that quote Tozer said, and I remember I remember I don’t think what house we were in.

(26:25) I highlighted I put it down and Lord, that just helped me, but it also hurt me. Have you ever been helped and hurt? And it said, and I wasn’t yet pastoring. I think I was digging ditches. Before God uses a man greatly, he will hurt him deeply. And he knows how to hurt us in different ways, in a good way, because it draws us.

(26:54) Do you know how many You know what what what what I deal with a lot and what what it’s hard to watch in the church is pride. Pride. Prideful men. Prideful women. Pride. I mean, you can almost smell it, can’t you? I know. I joke about critical Kathy’s, judgmental Jerry’s, you know, um Pharisee. What? Ryan I don’t know. Oh yeah, Pharisee Frank.

(27:27) That’s a That’s a new one for me. But guys, it’s so true cuz you can have the word but not the worship. Suffering keeps you sensitive and pain teaches you what the pulpit cannot. Did you know there are some things I cannot teach you? I can’t I can I can show you. I can encourage you. I can forewarn you. I can prepare you. I can educate you.

(27:59) But at the end of the day, some things only come by paying our face on the floor before Almighty God and crying out say, “God, show me, rebuild me, conquer me, convict me.” I can even tell the atmosphere in this place right now. Many of you came in, you need to humble yourself before Almighty God. That’s just the truth.

(28:23) If that upsets you, do tell him, not me. I’m just a messenger. Pain teaches you what the pulpit cannot. Many Christians have head knowledge, but they have no heart engagement. That’s why women, you have to hold on. Look at all the women in the Bible. Hold on, Sarah. Hold on, Sarah. That promise is coming. Hold on, Hannah.

(28:49) That promise is coming. Hold on, Rachel. That promise is coming. Hold on, Esther. You’ve been called for such a time as this. Do you realize that? Moms, I only have one, two kids. I don’t have any kids. I don’t have I can’t do anything. I can’t make a difference. You plus God is the majority.

(29:15) You plus God is the majority. What about Mary? Hold on, Mary. Hold on, Mary. Your son’s being whipped and beaten. She must remember what the prophet said. A sword will pierce your own soul, too. A soul will pierce your own soul, too. Oh, you don’t think Mary suffered? Hold on, mom. Hold on, mom. This morning, hold on. Press in.

(29:44) Hold on. Press in. It doesn’t matter if you don’t see the results. You might be the only thing only thing that leads the prodigal back home. You might be the only thing that will lead that prodigal son or daughter home or spouse. You remember a couple Wednesdays ago I talked about the term take hold take hold of the altar.

(30:10) Take hold of the horns on the altar. This big altar in the Old Testament had they called it horns on the on the corner and people would would lay hold of the hands and of hold of the horns on the altar. And some of them would would go and they would they would and probably bigger, right? But they would cry out to God and and they would say some of them lost their lives, others were spared, but they would hold on to the hand the the horns of the altar.

(30:36) And I gave the image of the same thing. That’s what moms do with with one hand they’ve got the horn. with the other hand, they’re they’re holding on to that prodigal. They’re they’re they’re they’re between heaven and earth. They’re interceding. They’re Don’t let go, Mom. But they’re not here.

(30:51) They’re in a different state. God isn’t consider concerned about state lines. It doesn’t to God. It doesn’t matter where they’re at. Lay hold of God. Lay hold of that altar. Intercession must cost us something. Parents, you pray, but you also must press in. It’s time to go to war, moms and dads.

(31:15) Dust off the Bible, clean out the prayer closet, assassinate King’s Stomach, unfollow the gossip group, and return to your first love. Say, “As for me, in my house, we will serve the Lord.” Husbands, you need to help in that area. A mother’s prayer life guards the gates of the home. It shakes hell. It dismantles the demonic.

(31:48) That’s why the enemy is after your prayer life. I want to ask a question. The sermon is supposed to be over, but I got a lot of notes I made this morning, and I’ve been praying. Lord, I please don’t let me speak. What do you want to say? But when it comes to what I just said, prayer, what other weapon has that much power? Can can you can you share what what other spiritual weapon has that much power? Women.

(32:21) Oh, when I post things on social media. Oh, really? When I pressure my spouse, when I pressure my kids, when I when I when I when I text them versus When I go to the women’s study and when I read a devotional even this can get controversial. It’s going to upset the Pharisees. When I read the word, and I love reading the word. I do it every day. We encourage it.

(32:58) But if the word doesn’t break you and humble you and draw you closer to Christ and get your heart into a place of worship, it’s dead formality. The letter kleth, but the spirit gives life. You need to have the word and you need to be a worshipper. The power of the truth and the power of the spirit.

(33:20) That’s the only combination that works. So again, moms, what other weapons, what other weapon has that much power? Nothing, nothing has more power than men or women on their face before Almighty God crying out, interceding. The problem is is we get caught up in this this idea that we have to see the results. And I love to see the results.

(33:44) Don’t you? Four, five, six days on a diet, I don’t see any results. Keep going. Because at the cellular level, it takes a lot of [Music] time. Need to wake you guys up a little bit. So again, I want you to think about that this morning. What other weapon has that much power? You you in the in the in your heart, you own the greatest weapon ever given to mankind through prayer.

(34:20) I mean, I wish we could just Can you imagine if God would give us a glimpse into this this created the entire Have you ever seen videos on how big the universe is? Like, I can’t I have to shut it off. My head’s going to explode. the earth, all the the the oxygen, the hydrogen, the gravity, the it’s like how the body’s made and the the skeletal system and the and the end endocrine system and the and this and this works and it’s like Lord I can’t even that God says come to me.

(34:57) That God says I will I will hear that prayer. I will not turn away. I don’t care if it’s 2 a.m. I’m not tired. I’m not sleeping. I don’t care if it seems impossible. There’s I like those kind of prayers. I like those kind of prayers where man says no. But what does God say? You have the most powerful weapon at your The enemy’s got you bound in carnality.

(35:22) He’s got you hopeless in fear. You need to break out in that. Say, “I’m going to pursue Almighty God again like never before.” Try tears. Try tears. Oh, come on, moms. If I could get a witness, that balcony would run to this altar. You would stand up and you say, “Had it not been for the Lord on my side, I would have my my ship would have sunk.

(35:46) My kids would have been lost.” Oh, if we could get a witness, we know throughout this building, those listening later know that they tried tears and God answered. Psalm Psalm 107. Just listen. I’m going in fast forward mode now. There’s nothing to put on the screen cuz they won’t be able to keep up.

(36:06) But listen, then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and he saved them out of their distress. He brought them out of the darkness and the shadow of death and he broke their chains in pieces. God has a way of keeping us. People say, “Why why do you get so loud?” Look, I Why’ you get allow the Dodger game? I don’t I could care less because when you’re talking about the living God, there’s no there’s no other name one other topic that’s even remotely close.

(36:49) Nothing. Have you seen a prodigal come home weeping? Have you seen a drug addiction broken? Have you seen a healing take place? Have you It’s It’s God Almighty. There should be aren’t shouldn’t we be excited? Shouldn’t we be excited? When Isaiah wrote, “Oh, God ran the heavens.” Volume, volume. Oh, God.

(37:14) Jesus cried out. Oh, Jerusalem. Because there’s passion, there’s energy, there’s excitement, there’s zeal. Zeal for his house has consumed me. And it needs to consume you as well. And it goes on to say, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for his goodness. Oh, that we would come into the house of God with thanksgiving and praise, for he has broken the gates of bronze.

(37:42) He has cut the bars of iron in two.” Cut the bars of iron in two. I know how you guys like illustrations. This is That’s a bar of iron he’s talking about. cuts the bars of iron in two that you need to hear that sound in your heart. You need to hear that sound in your life. A bar nothing, nobody can, nothing can break this, but God says, “Give it to me.

(38:10) Whatever has bound you for years, whatever stronghold, whatever I will break the bars of iron.” What can man do to God? You got to get some hope back in your life. You got to get some zeal and some passion back in your life. You got to get back to prayer and fasting. I love that noise. Let that noise remind you that God breaks the strongholds.

(38:33) He conquers the demonic realm. Then they c then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and he saved them out of their distress. He sent his word and he healed them and it delivered them from all of their destructions. [Applause] Nothing is too impossible for God. I love this verse, too.

(39:05) Who who who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such a thing? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? The prophet is talking about what only God can do something like this. It says when Zion travails, sons and daughters are born. When you travail, when you break, because again, I don’t want to don’t fake emotions, please. I hate fakery. I hate mockery.

(39:38) I hate trying. But but there’s when you’re when you’re not Oh, God, help me with the right words. if you’re not travailing. Could it be that pride is blocking that? Could it be that that spiritual apathy is preventing it? Could it be that compromise is killing it? Now, again, you you can’t I can’t you think I can just let me just go up here and act.

(40:08) Let me go up and manufacture this stuff. It can’t. It has to come from above as God hears the prayers of his children. It’s never too impossible for God. This could have been the birth of a new nation or many commentaries here. Spiritual renewal. Spiritual renewal. As soon as Zion travailed, sons and daughters were born. Women, I mean, come on.

(40:41) There’s a there’s a little trivaling before you bring forth the child. I don’t know how I got talked into being in the delivery room five times. Thank you, Morgan. Remember on our first one I said no I think dad sit in the waiting room and that’s like my my dad that’s what I like have a good book and you just they’ll come tell you if you avoid the pain you’ll never find your purpose and many of you I know maybe you’re dead to the things of God maybe you’ve been living carnal carnal um 

(41:22) I mean I love Easter I love Mother’s Day well attended services but you get a lot of also people in there who are just checking off the and their heart’s not right. I’ll never talk to some of you ever, ever again. Now, I’ve got to shoot you straight. Say, “Shane, I hear you, but I don’t feel it.

(41:44) ” Remember, it’s not about feelings. You have to pray, “God, help me draw closer to you.” Travail is a period of hardship. It’s suffering. It’s spiritual preparation. God never uses a person mightily without hurting him deeply. There can be intense grief. There could be suffering. There could be anguish.

(42:13) There’s there’s toil. There’s toil. But with God, he who sews in tears. Have you How many of you know this verse? He who sews in tears. What is sewing in tears? sewing in tears. Look at what great ill illustrations. Like a farmer, you’re sewing the tears. You’re planting in the soil the brokenness of your heart your prayer requests.

(42:40) I’m sewing in tears and and eventually I will reap in joy. I will reap in joy. You know, I need to talk to the the altar critics for just a minute. You critics thinking people shouldn’t come to the altar. Don’t you see what we are sewing? Don’t you see what they’re sewing? And that’s my concern without offering that.

(43:14) I don’t know if we press in like we c we we we we could. There should be a time and a place where and again you you don’t go through the motions. Don’t do it just to do it. But we’ve got to give people the opportunity to sew in in and in in tears. And often what happens is you know what? I’m comfortable here in my chair.

(43:34) I don’t want who who wants to come forward. I still don’t like speaking. It’s been 25 years. But there there’s something happens when you say, “Lord, I’m humbling myself. I don’t care what people think. I don’t got it together. It’s going to be embarrassing. But Lord, I’m I’m humbling myself before you.

(44:00) That’s why it’s special. That’s why it does something in the hearts of many people, the altar critics. But Shane, you you talk too much about revival and repentance and worship in the altar. You know what I ask them? Like, have you looked around? Have you? This is alarming. Darkness is descending upon our churches and our homes.

(44:27) Children are transitioning as if that’s possible. Families are disintegrating. Marriages are failing. And the demonic assault on our nation, families is tightening its grip. I would actually challenge you. It’s not time to back away. It’s time to press in. Do you do you have no clue on what do you not see on what’s going on around you? What Christians used to gasp at now we gravitate towards.

(45:00) What used to shock them now satisfies them. I just I just thought this morning could what about if you could take the television programs that are on today and you you you you put them back in the 1960s in a Christian home. You got Sam Smith at the Grammys wearing spandex. That right there is already a problem.

(45:29) But now he’s dressed up as Satan and he’s got girls in cages being provocative and the believer. Oh, that’s probably not a good idea. But that’s interesting. They they would have thrown the TV out. Now, I’m not advocating that cuz you can throw that out and be a Pharisee. Wrong heart, right? Rules, rules, rules.

(45:52) Where’s the broken heart? We would have never allowed that. Wouldn’t that have shocked you? My mom would have put put her hand over my eyes today. It’s Hollywood for you. Why are you watching it? Why are you entertained? Why do you think it’s no big deal? It might be because you need spiritual resuscitation when you’re not sensitive to the things of God.

(46:18) That’s what I would tell the alter critics. Do you do you see what’s going on around you? I can also already hear the critics, but Shane, the kids got to grow up sometime. Well, the Bible I read says, “As for me in my house, we will serve the Lord.” As for me in my house, we will serve the Lord.

(46:38) Should we even get into the uh Taylor Swift lyrics and what she’s dressed in witches and it’s like we should be repulsed and alarmed. Now, I know it’s tough. I’m not I’m not rebuking as if I walk around my house with everything perfect on. It’s a challenge nowadays, isn’t it? So tears. So tears to to think about that.

(47:02) Think about everything I said. And again, you can’t work it up. You can’t just do it cuz I said it. But there’s got to be a a brokenness that happens. There’s got to be a a desire. If this kind of bothers you and you don’t like prefer it, you you can you can go. But the power of change usually comes through [Music] conviction.

(47:26) How many of you changed because you were convicted? I love the love of God. Some of you need to hear about the love of God. And and and and maybe that’s not my strong point, but he also uh carved me in a certain way and I do what he’s called me to do. Some of you need to hear that God loves you and he’s forgiven you.

(47:47) is graceful. Even abortions, it’s a same sex attraction. It’s whatever it is. His grace, his love. Thank God. If it wasn’t for God’s grace, I wouldn’t be here. His love. For God so loved the world. But if that’s all we tell [Music] people, they’ll never run from their sin because of the conviction.

(48:07) [Music] So I got baptized 25 years ago and my mom was [Music] there. I look a little bit different in that picture, don’t I? Than the tank top one. So glad I didn’t forget about [Music] those. And I think her prayers are outliving her. That’s what you you need to [Applause] realize.

(48:55) Moms, dads, your prayers will outlive you. We become so lethargic in our prayer life, so dead to the things of God. And I hope you I’m not saying this to upset people. I’m saying this to convict you, to challenge you to your very core. Are you pursuing God? Are you crying out for your daughter? Your oh, they’re married by now.

(49:18) They don’t need your prayers if they’re married. Hello, my grandkids. I have no control. Oh, you you you control God controls the hearts of those. You can intercede. That’s what I see it like. It’s just covering God. Cover my home. Cover my children. I know they’re not listening to the right music right now.

(49:39) I know they have the wrong friends, but guess what? You’re bigger. You’re bigger. And I pray over that. And I cover that. And I’m And God will wake you up. He will prompt you. But you have to you have to you have to um gravitate towards those special moments. I remember I came home one night and my mom’s already up and it’s like 2 3 in the morning.

(50:01) I’m like, “Why are you up?” She goes, “God woke me up and she’s crying. How how I just rolled my truck tonight with no seat belt on.” And I crawl out the window and all the tires are still spinning. How did you Mom, Dad, wake up. Wake up. It’s not about travel ball and your job and sports and the man cave.

(50:33) Your man cave better turn into a prayer cave, [Music] buddy. This is important. We’re losing kids to heroin overdoses and fentanyl overdoses and darkness, thinking they can become a girl if they’re a boy or an animal. This is demonic. And parents need to start start taking hold of the of the horns on the altar again.

(50:55) Grab that horn and don’t let go. Just grab it. Say, “Lord, I don’t care. I’m not going to let go. I’m going to pursue you. I’m going to seek you with all of my heart, with all of my strength.” God, bring them. Give me a glimpse of hope. There’s got to be travail.

(51:09) There’s got to be labor in your life. Famous pastor Jim Simba, his daughter was on the streets of New York shooting up. He’s a p. He wrote fresh wind, fresh fire. Want to listen to his sermons. What? I don’t understand. Nobody’s exempt from the grip of Satan. He said he got back from a Tuesday night prayer meeting.

(51:31) He’s he’s full of joy. His life his wife said, “What? What? Why are you so happy? Look what’s happened to Chrissy.” He said, “If there’s a God in heaven, she’ll be home. That room travailed. That room, folks. You the the the normal Christianity is not going to cut anymore. Push a button for a minute.

(51:50) Microwave. There’s there there’s got to be something that breaks our heart that we travail. Look at the condition of our children. Little boys, little girls saying, “Mommy, daddy, teach me how to be a boy. Teach me how to be a woman. Would you pray for me? Would you cry over me? Would you miss a meal at night for me? Would you would you labor in prayer for me? Where are they? Where are the prayer warriors, church? I haven’t mastered this [Music] area, but my God, if there is something more important, please tell

(52:25) [Music] me. Well, pastor, you forgot about salvation. I’m getting there. But if you’re saved, shouldn’t you be a prayer warrior? Shouldn’t you be pulling down heaven? Sometimes if we we’re saved, now I’m going to heaven. No, you’ve got a lot of work to do. You’ve got a lot of praying to do.

(52:54) And I’m also those if you’ve if you’ve come here this morning, you’ve been riding on your parents coattails, you’ve never repented and believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You must do that this morning. Yes. Amen. [Music] You have to say, “God, I’m sorry. I’m the parodical. I’m the wayward.

(53:14) I’ve been drifting. I’ve been following other cults and other religions. I’ve been I’ve been in this type of sin that’s so deep and destructive.” Just cry out to God. He sent his word and healed them and delivered them from their destruction. What exactly does that mean? What do you think I’ve just been doing the last 45 minutes? He sent his word.

(53:39) It can mean physical, but it often means God breathe. The scriptures are God breathe. He sends his word and heals them.